Resort Offers Unique Bath Treatment

Naftalan [nuhf-tuh-LUHN] Resort in Azerbaijan /ˌæzɚˌbaɪˈʤɑːn/, a country in Eastern Europe and Western Asia, offers an unusual bath treatment. Established in 1926, the resort lets guests bathe in crude oil or unprocessed petroleum. Approximately 15,000 guests flock to the resort each year to experience the treatment. While adults around 40 years old are the usual patients, young children are also allowed to receive the treatment. Guests can take the treatment for three days up to three weeks. Before taking the treatment, guests are required to complete a medical checkup. Once they get permission from the doctor, guests can submerge themselves in oil, which is heated to 39 degrees Celsius, for 10 minutes. Crude oil is known for its ability to relieve over 70 illnesses related to the bones, joints, and skin. The therapeutic properties of the oil can be credited to its high concentration of naphthalene [NAF-thuh-leen], a substance used by dermatologists to cure skin conditions like psoriasis / səˈrajəsəs / and eczema /ˈɛgzəmə /. Like the Naftalan Resort, Yunessun Spa Resort in Hakone, Japan, also offers unusual bathing treatments such as drink-themed baths. Guests can bathe in pools filled with actual beverages like sake and green tea. Apart from having relaxing effects, these drink-themed baths also provide rejuvenating health benefits. For instance, the sake bath can help solve skin problems like freckles and age spots. On the other hand, the green tea bath is not just good for the skin but also for the immune system.