Sanatorium (in Latin "sano" means "heal, healing") - a health-preventive institution where used for healing or prevention of diseases thank to climate, mineral water, healing mud, sea baths, sports, physiotherapy, diet and other foods.

Sanatorium and Recreation Complexes of Azerbaijan provide a wide range of services, aimed at the treatment of the following diseases:

• Diseases of gastrointestinal tract
• Neurological diseases
• Diseases of the musculoskeletal system
• Diseases of the genitourinary system
• Dermatological Diseases
• Gynecological/Urological diseases
• Respiratory diseases

So, in which regions of Azerbaijan can we benefit from these natural resources? In this post, we will cover Top 5 destinations famous for these sources.

Thanks to its unique nature, fresh air, favorable natural environment and rich natural resources, Azerbaijan has recently become one of the most preferred tourist countries in terms of health tourism.

The unique natural resources of Azerbaijan are widely used for the treatment and medical purposes since ancient times. The most popular of them are: crude oil, mineral waters, thermal springs, salt caves, volcanic mud. 

1.Crude oil – Naftalan Sanatorium

Naftalan, located in central Azerbaijan, is home to natural spas and facilities that have curative crude oil. The unique grade of black-brown, thick oil found here is reported to have a composition that has helped patients suffering from rheumatism, arthritis and psoriasis, as well as 67 other illnesses.

Crude oil is found in great quantities in the city of Naftalan, but its properties are noticeably different with naphthalene, a hydrocarbon that is most famously found in mothballs. Making up 50% of the oil's composition, it is said to be beneficial especially in the treatment of dermatological diseases, arthritis, joint pain, urogenital, and cardiovascular ailments. There are significant antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effects of oil, and it has been recommended for peripheral vascular diseases. The oil can stimulate nerve endings, and, as a result, reduce pain relief and speed up the recovery from lesions. It has been used in various forms for treatment including oil baths, massages, and creams. TO READ MORE INFORMATION ABOUT NAFTALAN SANATORIUM AND TREATMENT PROCEDURES CLICK THIS LINK

2.Thermal spring – Istisu Masalli

Istisu (Hot Water) in Masalli in the south of Azerbaijan– Isti su – is one of the therapeutic water of Azerbaijan. It is situated at 13 km distance form Masalli city, on the bank of Vilash river.

This water contains hydrogen sulphite, sodium chlorite, magnesium, hydrocarbonate and 30 milligrams of iodine in 1 litre. This water is extracted from 90-250 km depth of the earth at temperature more than 60 degrees.

The following diseases can be treated with this water: rheumatism and its complications (arthritis, polyarthritis, joint pains, arthrosis); skin diseases (psariosis, dermatitis, neurodermatitis, fungus, eczema); diseases of kidney and urinary tract (pielitis, uretritis, pielonefritis, pielocystitis); radiculitis; prostate; hypertension; diseases of liver and bile duct; female diseases (metritis, endometritis, erosion of the neck of uterus, herbicide, colpitis); female and male childlessness; gastrointestinal diseases (gastritis, esofogitis, colitis, intestinal defecation); traumatic injuries.

The healing power of Istisu was even confirmed by 12 scientists coming from the Soviet Union in the 1960s. TO READ MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ISTISU MASALLI SANATORIUM AND TREATMENT PROCEDURES CLICK THIS LINK

3.Mineral water, mud volcanoes and oil – Galaalti, Shabran

The medical resort is located 122 km away from Baku and provides visitors with a unique Naftsu water, mud volcanoes and oil. Here you can also find the latest technology, restaurants, and pools to have a convenient place to relax.

The sulfur-rich waters found at the Galaalti resort in the northeastern city of Shabran are said to help normalize metabolism, reduce the formation of uric acid and acidity of gastric juices, lower the permeability of cellular membranes, decrease dieresis, strengthen the immune system, and even prevent premature aging. TO READ MORE INFORMATION ABOUT GALAALTI RESORT SHABRAN AND TREATMENT PRECEDURES CLICK THР ”Р’°S LINK

4.Salt caves - Duzdag (Salt Mountain) in Nakhchivan

 The Duzdag Physiotherapy Center, which is 300 meters far below the mountain and covered with salt rocks, has no analogy in the world. In the sanatorium,, patients can get some medication, physic procedure, therapeutic physical training, thorax massage and so on for the treatment of pre-asthma, bronchial asthmas, allergic rhino sinusoid pathologies, pollinates disease and other. TO READ MORE INFORMATION ABOUT NAKHCHIVAN SALT CAVES AND TREATMENT PROCEDURES CLР ”Р’°CK THР ”Р’°S LР ”Р’°NK

5.Volcanic mud – Mud volcanoes in Gobustan

Volcanic mud is a natural raw material commonly used in construction, but it has therapeutic benefits as well. Since the volcanic waters are rich in iodine, boron, bromate, and salt compounds, they are used successfully in the treatment of certain diseases. In the 1980s, in the 16 medical institutions of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the volcano mud was applied in the treatment of polyarthritis, radiculitis, hepatitis and many skin and joint diseases, and nervous system diseases. Volcanic mud is also used in Cosmetology. Volcanic mud is composed of 24 kinds of minerals such as copper, iodine, potassium, magnesium. The volcanic mud that the Ministry of Health of Azerbaijan gives permission to sell is also used for dental treatment.

The Gobustan area of РІР‚‹вЂвЂ№the Garadagh region is also a major tourist destination, famous for such mud volcanoes. The mud bath season here is mostly summer. Tourists enter the mud baths here, then swim in the nearby salt lake to clean the mud. TO READ MORE INFORMATION ABOUT MUD BATH TREATMENT IN GOBUSTAN CLICK THIS LINK

Azerbaijan is one of the countries that are generously endowed with a lot of natural resources, and people often come to these places to improve their health. Infrastructure of resort areas in the republic is growing rapidly, many hotels and boarding houses are being built for every taste and prosperity.