Balneoterapeutyczne wykorzystanie solanek w uzdrowisku Kopalnia Soli „Wieliczka”

Abstract

Balneotherapy use of brines in the Spa Salt Mine „Wieliczka”.A b s t r a c t: Salt mining at the Wieliczka mine that had lasted over a period of 700 years came to a stop on 30 June 1996. Currently the mine represents an object of culture, a museum, and also a balneotherapeutic facility. It is the place of birth of the so called subterraneotherapy, i.e., an innovative method of curing that utilizes a specific microclimate in underground chambers of inoperative salt workings. The method was finally developed by Professor Mieczysław Skulimowski, who revived the efforts of a 19th century mine physician Feliks Boczkowski. The salt mine has currently obtained a spa status, and its mineral waters (brines) from the outflows No’s W-VII-16 and W-VI-32 have been recognized as therapeutic ones. The most commonly treated are the patients with non-infectious problems of upper and lower respiratory tracts. Since November 2014 the Spa of the Wieliczka Salt Mine has also a graduation tower in the Kinga Park. In these tower is used the brine from the flow-VII-16 with a depth of 250 m. It is water Cl-Na type and 68.9 g/dm3 mineralization. The yield of salt water from this flow is 9 m3/h.