The sulphurous waters are immediately recognizable: not so much to the eye as to the smell: if you are near a sulfur source it is very likely that you will feel the unmistakable and acrid smell of rotten eggs . What is sulphurous
water Sulphurous water is water that has a content greater than one milligram of hydrogen sulphide (H2S) and generally has a rather alkaline pH , which almost never exceeds 8. The difference between sulphate and sulphurous waters consists in the form of sulfur: in the former and hexavalent; in the second bivalent. In reality, each source has its own typicality in terms of elements, which is not only characterized by the amount of sulfur but also by the other compounds: generally bicarbonates, calcium and chlorides .How sulphurous water originates Sulphurous
water originates from the depths of the Earth, a place where high temperatures cause steam and hot water to rise . A natural anti-inflammatory
The peculiarity of sulphurous water and its anti-inflammatory action , combined with its antibacterial and antifungal action . For centuries, in fact, the springs of sulphurous waters have been used as a hydrotherapy remedy to reduce endogenous or exogenous inflammation. Some studies have shown how sulphurous waters are able to effectively counteract the inflammation typical of old age . The antiseptic virtues
Few microorganisms manage to survive in sulphurous waters: hydrogen sulphide forms sulphates and sulfur following oxidation, this allows the microorganisms to remove the oxygen necessary for survival. For this they have antiseptic and antibacterial properties . Sulphurous waters and respiratory tract treatment
Recent studies have confirmed what has long been believed: sulphurous waters can reduce chronic inflammation of the upper respiratory tract, or airways. In fact, hydrogen sulphide exerts a vasodilation which, among other things, also allows better drainage of the mucusand its fluidification. This also seems to be due to vagal stimulation which allows an increase in secretions. Some research has shown that the inhalation of sulphurous waters has considerably reduced inflammatory diseases of the respiratory system such as laryngitis, pharyngitis and rhinitis, with an excellent tolerance to treatment.
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Some scientists wanted to investigate the treatment of Acqua Politzer against recurrent ear infections in children between five and nine years of age. The results showed that the subjects, following inhalation therapy, witnessed an evident improvement in hearing function.
Sulphurous waters and acne
Sulphurous waters are also successfully used in the treatment of acne , thanks to their anti-inflammatory and antibacterial action. In some subjects, however, it could cause irritation. They reduce sebum and at the same time carry out an exfoliating action which also appears to be useful for reducing the appearance of wrinkles . Sulphurous waters eliminate toxic substances from the body
It seems that waters with a high content of hydrogen sulphide are able to carry out antitoxic actions on various metals (lead), chemical elements (bismuth) and toxins (botulinum and diphtheria). Sulphurous waters and liver protection
The waters that contain sulfur have a detoxifying action on the liver . On the other hand, sulphurous waters also have the peculiarity of stimulating the vagus nerve, improving the functions of expelling bile . Stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system can improve intestinal functions (mild laxative) and gastric secretion. Furthermore, they appear to protect liver cells from degeneration caused by various substances such as arsenic and phosphorus. Finally, they improve prothrombin activity and seem to partially reduce azotemia. A natural pain reliever
The use of sulphurous waters has been known for many years in people suffering from arthritis. According to some theories, people suffering from this condition have very low levels of sulfur in the body. The ideal is to immerse yourself in the thermal waters with cycles of a few days. If this is not possible, potassium sulphate can be poured into the water of the bath . The shape is not identical because it is a sulphate and non-sulfur compound. However, some benefits appear to be there nonetheless.
[1] Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol. 2013 Jul-Sep; 26 (3): 633-46. Sulphurous thermal water increases the release of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 and modulates antioxidant enzyme activity. Prandelli C, Parola C, Buizza L, Delbarba A, Marziano M, Salvi V, Zacchi V, Memo M, Sozzani S, Calza S, Uberti D, Bosisio D.
[2] Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital. 1996 Dec;16(6 Suppl 55):91-4. [Treatment of chronic inflammation of the upper respiratory airways by inhalation thermal therapy with sulfur-sulfate-bicarbonate- carbonate-alkaline earth mineral water: a study of nasal cytology]. [Article in Italian] Cristalli G, Abramo A, Pollastrini L.
[3] Clin Ter. 2003 Nov-Dec;154(6):395-400. [Inhalation therapy with sulphur water in ORL: clinical-experimental study]. [Article in Italian] Costantino M, Rossi F, Lampa E.
[4] Clin Exp Otorhinolaryngol. 2013 Mar; 6(1): 7–11. Published online 2013 Mar 8. doi: 0.3342/ceo.2013.6.1.7 PMCID: PMC3604273 Impact of Sulphurous Water Politzer Inhalation on Audiometric Parameters in Children with Otitis Media with Effusion Prisco Mirandola, Giuliana Gobbi, Chiara Malinverno, Cecilia Carubbi, Filippo M. Ferne, Marco Artico, Marco Vitale, Mauro Vaccarezza.
