On a hot summer day on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul, one can observe a strange sight. Adults, seemingly respectable, walk covered in mud. Their legs and arms are especially abundantly coated in clay. Some even manage to smear their bellies. Others—what a wonder!—completely bury themselves, leaving only their heads above the fine sandy shore of the lake.
But do not doubt, any tourist will do the same upon learning what it is all about.
In the famous Code of Health, known as the Salernitan Code, written in the 14th century by the philosopher and physician Arnold of Villanova, the results of centuries of observations on the effects of natural factors on the human body are summarized.
"When your hands awaken, wash them and your eyes with cold water. Walk moderately back and forth, stretch, and straighten your limbs. Comb your hair and brush your teeth. All this strengthens the mind and infuses strength into the other limbs. Take a bath, and after eating, walk or stand; beware of cooling. The smoothness of springs and grass is a comfort to the eyes. In the morning, turn your gaze to the mountains, and in the evening—to the waters."
As we can see, the recommendations of doctors from the fourteenth century have hardly changed at all. Healing in harmony with nature—this commandment is still relevant today. However, the ancient physicians could not have imagined how mineral water, climate, and healing mud affect a person. Although for centuries people have traveled to natural springs to heal their ailments, they did so without knowing the essence of their effects, believing in them only because they brought healing.
In Kyrgyzstan alone, there is a rich variety of mineral waters: radon, carbonic, hydrogen sulfide, chloride, sodium, and others.
The "father of medicine," Hippocrates, also widely utilized natural factors. According to legend, Hippocrates' residence was on the island of Kos in Greece. The giant plane tree, under which the famous healer received patients and conversed with students, has survived to this day. Once, it was an entire grove, sheltering the majestic temple of the god Asclepius. Here, twenty-four centuries ago, the genius of medicine worked, creating his teachings, and whose oath is still recited by every physician today. The temple served not only for prayers but also for medical procedures, surrounded by many courtyards, each of which necessarily had pools for washing and therapeutic baths.
No matter where tourists travel in Kyrgyzstan, they will not miss the mineral water springs, of which there are many in the republic. The southern part of Kyrgyzstan and the Issyk-Kul basin are especially rich in mineral and thermal water deposits. For those travelers who understand their quality, it is possible to receive treatment right along the way. In general, balneotherapy can become a very attractive accompanying service for guests of the republic and local tourists.
Currently, most of the springs remain undeveloped. Only through the efforts of local residents have some of them been turned into balneotherapy centers. There are, of course, resorts, among which "Jalal-Abad," "Altyn-Arashan," "Issyk-Ata," and "Jety-Oguz" are well-known.
Among the mineral waters of Kyrgyzstan, there are many that, in their composition and taste qualities, are very close to the world-famous waters like "Borjomi" (Kulung, Terek springs, and several others), "Essentuki" (Konur-Tube, Seok, Kyzyl-Beles, Chavay), "Arzni" (Kolubek, Surtrash, Kara-Kuldja, Uselek, and others), "Lastochkin" (Karakol Western, Kara-Kuldja, Uselek, and others). The waters of the Sary-Jaz springs at the eastern end of the Inylchek ridge, Ak-Suu, sixteen kilometers from Karakol, Keregetash in the gorge of the Jilik River in the Issyk-Kul basin, Jili-Suu in the upper reaches of the Kodjo-Ashkhan River, and Sulyukta in the upper reaches of the Koz-Bala River in southern Kyrgyzstan, as well as Issyk-Ata in the Chui Valley and Alamedin near Bishkek, have temperatures exceeding fifty degrees in summer and winter. There are many springs with water heated above forty degrees. The sources of Kara-Shoro are intensively used.
Kyrgyzstan also has many deposits of healing mud—peat and silt—that can improve the nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, musculoskeletal organs, and liver. Almost all of them help with gynecological and urological diseases.
Almost all of these natural treasures are still waiting to be utilized for the benefit of people's health.
