Study shows benefits of radon and heat

Study shows benefits of radon and heat in arthritis

01/23/2014

Rheumatism affects nearly 22 million people in Germany and Austria, making it one of the major common diseases. A common form of inflammatory rheumatism is rheumatoid arthritis, also called chronic polyarthritis. The disease is based on a chronic inflammatory process that attacks cartilage, bones and ligaments. Despite all research progress in drug treatment, the disease is still not curable. In addition, this form of therapy has not inconsiderable side effects and risks. In addition, not all patients respond to this treatment, strong pain medications are often unavoidable, the quality of life drops significantly. For this reason, patients often look for alternative forms of treatment. A new study confirms that healing with radon and heat not only relieves pain, but also positively affects disease at the molecular level.

„At the beginning of the disease, there are usually unspecific symptoms such as tiredness, fatigue, loss of appetite and weight loss“, white Univ.-Doz. Dr. Bertram HölzI, medical director of the Gastein Heilstollen. Later, patients usually complain of pain, swelling, overheating, redness, and limited mobility of the affected joint. In addition, rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by nocturnal and morning joint pain, morning stiffness of the joints and swelling in the finger base and finger middle joints. Since the disease is caused by inflammation in the joints, arthritis patients often helps the so-called radon heat therapy. It reduces pain and inflammation in the body.

During such a cure lasting several weeks, patients travel several times into a thermal tunnel 600 meters below the ground. There is a special climate there. In addition to tropical temperature and high humidity, which relax in combination rheumatism-plagued muscles, acts primarily the noble gas radon. It occurs naturally in the earth crust of the tunnel and reduces the activity of painkillers and relieves inflammation. The latter phenomenon was only recently investigated in a study: The slightly radioactive radon enters the body via the skin and lungs and reduces pro-inflammatory molecules in the body of arthritis patients. At the same time, radon causes an increase in molecules that prevent inflammatory processes. „In some patients, this effect begins at the end of the treatment, in others it retards after a few weeks“, clarifies HölzI. „Patients describe pain relief or even complete symptom relief, which often lasts months.“ Bone metabolism is also positively influenced by radon heat therapy.