Dr Stefan Shishkov: Pomorie mud and lye are a remedy for dozens of illnesses

Dr Stefan Shishkov is a physician with many years of experience in physiotherapy. He applies treatment with Pomorie mud, lye and saline mineral water. He has developed individual therapy programmes tailored to each patient’s specific condition. He graduated in medicine in Plovdiv.

He holds specialisations in physiotherapy and health management. For many years he was head physician of the military sanatorium in the town of Pomorie. He is currently the director of the Specialised Medical Centre in the town. We spoke with Dr Shishkov about the proven therapeutic properties of Pomorie mud and lye in a wide range of widespread conditions.

– Dr Shishkov, what health benefits does treatment with mud and lye bring?

– As far as mud therapy is concerned, the best-known deposit in Bulgaria is Pomorie mud. In terms of its sulphur content, it is considered the richest not only in Europe, but in the entire world. The role of sulphur in the human body is extremely important. It is found in the so-called synovial fluid, which nourishes and ensures the range of movement in all the joints of the human body.

And since sulphur cannot be taken as a medicine, it is applied above all through balneology and procedures in two forms: a mud application (pure mud is applied) and a mud bath (mud in saline mineral water).

Mud therapy is primarily effective for diseases of the musculoskeletal system – the knee joint, gonarthrosis, the hip joint, the so-called coxarthrosis, conditions affecting the entire spine – osteochondrosis, the shoulder joint – periarthritis, bursitis, plexitis and others. It helps with disorders of the peripheral nervous system such as discopathy, herniated disc, or complications resulting from diabetes – diabetic polyneuropathy. That is with regard to the musculoskeletal system.

Other conditions that respond well are skin dermatitis. Pomorie mud is also highly effective in the treatment and prevention of psoriasis. Following drug therapy, sun treatment and the mud bath are applied in order to prevent the development of the severe form of psoriasis – psoriatic arthritis. In gynaecology it is used for the treatment of infertility and inflammatory conditions of the female and male reproductive systems, with very good results observed.

Lye is extracted from the Pomorie lake, as well as from the Burgas salt pans. It is an electrolyte solution containing elements from across the whole periodic table, but sodium and chlorine predominate, as a saline solution, along with calcium, magnesium and iron. They have a strongly pronounced anti-inflammatory effect. It is applied in the form of compresses to areas where there is pain – knees, back, hips, ankle joints. The combination of mud therapy and lye therapy works well as a preventive measure against various types of conditions.