New alternative cave therapy is supposed to relieve asthma

Offers in natural caves or mine tunnels
Speleotherapy is the name given to specific cave therapies that are especially effective in treating respiratory problems such as asthma, hay fever or bronchitis. Where previously potash, coal or gold were mined, now relax sufferers to do something for their health. Stays in former mines or in natural caves usually take place in the context of a multi-week therapy, in which affected persons spend about one hour daily the climate.

Allergic and chronic inflammatory respiratory diseases have been increasing significantly for several years. "At least in part, relationships with environmental factors, lifestyle habits such as smoking or passive smoking or even occupational exposure are partly responsible," says Univ.-Doz. Dr. Bertram Hölzl, scientific director of the Gasteiner Heilstollen. "The air under the mountain, however, is largely free of pollen, particulate matter and germs." In humid caves, a high humidity binds suspended matter and allergens in the air. They beat down on the damp walls, the breathing air in the tunnel is therefore particularly pure. This has anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, mucous and antispasmodic.

In some tunnels, additional respiratory-specific factors are added. In addition to the high humidity, there are tunnels in which heat and a natural radon content in the Heilstollenluft are very effective. High temperatures between 37 ° - 41.5 ° Celsius cause a mild overheating of the body. As a result, the immune system stabilizes, which on the one hand relieves particularly allergic diseases and on the other hand has an antispasmodic effect. Also, the radon, which is absorbed through the lungs and skin, has a pronounced immune-stabilizing effect. Thus, this so-called Radonwärmetherapie particularly good against all immunologically co-determined diseases and especially in chronic respiratory diseases. The effect of radon in combination with heat and high humidity on the messengers of the immune system has been scientifically proven: "The anti-inflammatory and healing-promoting cytokine TGF-beta increases after a corresponding asthma cure," affirms Dr. med. hölzl.

Although such cures usually can not cure the diseases, the beneficial effects persist for many months in asthma patients, allergy sufferers, patients with chronic sinusitis or with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The attacks in bronchial asthma occur after a cure significantly less often and the cortisone consumption can - sometimes drastically - be reduced. In addition, breathing therapy and connective tissue massages are often prescribed as part of the therapy. (Pm)