Dr. TAMAS BENDER
Head of the Hungarian Balneological Society
Head of the ISMH

Dear Dr. Bender
I would be grateful, if you consider it appropriate, you would present
my remarks concerning the discussion at the Hungarian-Turkish Balneology meeting on May 20-23rd
with the participation of representatives from other countries.
And maybe you would like to place these remarks on the ISMH Website?
I am including the text below in Polish at the Web address:
www.busko.com.pl/fundacjabz

A statement for discussion
Motto:
1). More medicine in balneology
2). The clinical facts and research results gained so far need interpreting.
ISMH would do well to undertake one or two research topics with
international cooperation.
Innovative research may gain some EU structural money funding, even at the
stage of research projects preparation.
Membership of ISMH could become more widespread if the ISMH Website would allow participation on the Discussion link in some national languages.
The search engine translation facility could provide the possibility of
translating these texts into English on the ISMH Website. It would be my
wish that Polish be included among those languages, with the possibility of
English translation (e.g. financed by the EU structural funds).
Proposed two research topics:
1). System redox in balneological treatment
This system is of basic importance for human physiology, his life and
health.
Based on the research on sulphur water of Busko-Zdrój, we have ample proof, including conclusions of doctoral dissertations, that in patients
undergoing treatment with this water there takes place:
a. increase of blood SH groups levels;
b. increase of liver glutathione levels;
c. increased hyperdoxide dismutase activity;
d. increased catalase activity and decreased malone dialdehyde in blood
(erythrocytes).
Research may also concern other indicators of the redox system like
glutathione oxydase related to glutathione levels, and their interrelations
in healthy and sick subjects under balneological treatment.
Yuko Agishi et al. proved that the skin redox system is influenced by:
a. temperature of the bath;
b. pH of the bath administered.
It is a known fact that a change in the diet from alkaline to acidifying
influences the process of containing bacterial infection of the urinary
tract resistant to treatment with antibiotics.
And what about blood-there is the homeostasis (the stability of the pH and
the dependent redox system). Are there no changes of regulation in these systems?
The same process probably takes place during a soak in the bath and drinking of water under the influence:
a. water temperature
b. bioelements absorption, also of radioactive nature.
Conclusion: The hypothesis that waters in balneology should have healing
properties, due to their concrete sickness action, on pH regulating systems and redox system.
2). Dioxines in balneological treatment (chlorines compound of aromatic
hydrocarbons)
I. The main problem is the synthesis of dioxins for research purposes that
is not harmful to man:
A. in vitro ( to change the compound from chlorines to sulphone etc)
B. on animals.
II. Testing intoxication that has taken place naturally in human subjects
and evaluation of effects of balneological treatment from the point of view
of changes in redox system.
The effects may relate to:
A. self-repair mechanisms in existing damages
B. detoxication.

With best regards,
K. Kucharski