DOCTOR A.S. ZALMANOV AND HIS TURPENTINE BATHS

The life and activities of A.S. Zalmanov, an outstanding Russian scientist and physician, are briefly outlined. Zalmanov is described as a pioneer of capillarotherapy based on the use of turpentine baths for the achievement of high therapeutic effect during the treatment of the patients presenting with various chronic diseases. The turpentine bath technology makes use of the natural pine essential oils and terpenes that effectively penetrate into the surface skin layers where they exert non-specific irritating effect, induce the release of active biological substances, stimulate functioning of capillaries, and thereby increase resistance of the body to the action adverse environmental factors. The methods for the preparation of turpentine baths using “white” emulsions and “yellow” solutions and their influence on different systems of the body are described. Recommendations are proposed for the application of such baths under practical clinical conditions based on A.S. Zalmanov’s methods and on the relevant experience gained at the Central Institute of Balneotherapeutics and Physiotherapy in the subsequent years. Indications and contraindications for the use of turpentine baths are discussed.

A.S. Zalmanov, capillarotherapy, hydrobalneotherapy, turpentine baths, indications, contraindications