Climatotherapy the Need for Novel Applications in Nigeria

Climatotherapy is the application of climatic elements for the treatments of skin diseases and infections which are vitiligo, atopic dermatitis, eczema etc. It also employs the utilization of springs, muds and clays of medicinal values through the inhalation, exposure and immersion for the treatment of chronic skin infections. Climatotherapy originated during the roman-empire and was a ritual practice amongst the Greeks, Babylonians and the Mesopotamians. It was founded by Hippocrates over 500 BC and has remain relevant since then even with the discovery and applications of pharmaceutical medicines. Climatotherapy also functions with other similar therapies which are balneotherapy, heliotherapy, fangotherapy, hydrotherapy, crenotherapy etc. The climate and geography of an area is the major determining factor in the application of spa therapy and climatotherapy and as such the most organized climatotherapy center is the Bulgaria coast of the black sea and the most widely visited and recognized climatotherapy center is the dead sea region in the middle east. Other areas of the world blessed with such sites for therapeutic use are the west Virginia springs, hot springs of Arkansas, Bedford’s springs of Pennsylvania, Safaga area of Egypt amongst others. The Nigerian environments which include her sedimentary and basements terrains are replete with potentials for climatotherapy, balneotherapy, hydrotherapy etc. from the Ikogosi, Zuwan Zafi Numan and the Yankari springs to the Niger delta formation waters and the caves and fountains that dots the entire landscape of Nigeria. These are novel areas for the application of alternative medicine using rich natural medicinal waters and lakes. This research is a review to enunciate and elucidates on the full potentials of Nigeria as a promising climatotherapy and other forms of spa therapy hub in Africa. There is a need for the utilization of these sites for climatotherapy and their documentations. Nigeria has the potentials from these sites to compete with the great dead-sea region of the middle-east and others. This review also discovered areas for empirical research on climatotherapy and spa therapy in Nigeria through collaborations and synergy between medical practitioners, dermatologists, climatologist, geologist and other experts who are interested in exploring the natural environments for alternative and sustainable therapies.