Contents
- What makes Pomorie mud unique?
- Why is sulphur so important for the joints?
- Which conditions do mud treatments help with?
- Musculoskeletal system
- Peripheral nervous system
- Skin conditions
- Gynaecology and urology
- What is lye and how is it used?
- Is a medical examination mandatory?
- How is mud therapy combined with modern physiotherapy?
- Can the treatment be covered by the National Social Security Institute?
- Watch the interview
Dr Stefan Shishkov is a doctor with many years of experience in physiotherapy and balneology. He studied medicine in Plovdiv and specialised in physiotherapy and health management. For many years he was head physician at the military sanatorium in Pomorie, ran the Anchialos balneotherapy centre at the Grand Hotel Pomorie, and later a Specialised Medical Centre in the town. He works with Pomorie mud, lye and saline mineral water, drawing up individual programmes based on each patient’s condition.
Gathered here are his answers from two interviews — what makes Pomorie liman mud different, which conditions mud and lye help with, how they are applied, and why a medical examination is always needed before treatment.
In brief
- Pomorie mud is liman mud — high in sulphur and iron. In terms of sulphur content, it is considered one of the richest in the world.
- Sulphur is found in the synovial fluid that nourishes the joints — which is why the mud helps above all with osteoarthritis, back pain and discopathy.
- It also helps with diabetic polyneuropathy, dermatitis and psoriasis, as well as inflammatory conditions of the reproductive system.
- Lye has a strong anti-inflammatory action — it is applied as a compress to the affected area.
- A medical examination is mandatory before any treatment — there are serious contraindications.
- The best results come when mud therapy is combined with physiotherapy. The treatment may be covered by the National Social Security Institute.
Dr Stefan Shishkov
What makes Pomorie mud unique?
This is liman mud — different from the mud found at other mud therapy deposits around the world, such as those in Italy, France, Spain and Japan. What makes it unique is its chemical composition: the high content of sulphur and iron.
“The best-known deposit of therapeutic mud in Bulgaria is the one in Pomorie. In terms of sulphur content it is considered the richest not only in Europe, but in the entire world,” says Dr Shishkov.
Why is sulphur so important for the joints?
Sulphur is involved in every movement the human body makes. It is found in what is known as synovial fluid, which nourishes the joints and gives them their full range of motion. Over the years sulphur becomes depleted, and there is no medication that can restore it to normal levels.
This is where balneology and Pomorie mud come in, applied in two forms (see the treatments):
- mud application — pure mud is applied;
- mud bath — mud in saline mineral water.
Which conditions do mud treatments help with?
Musculoskeletal system
This is the main group — all osteoarthritic conditions and lower back pain:
- knee joint — gonarthrosis;
- hip joint — coxarthrosis;
- spine — osteochondrosis (so-called bone spurs);
- shoulder joint — periarthritis, bursitis, plexitis.
Peripheral nervous system
Discopathy, herniated disc, plexitis and periarthritis, as well as complications of diabetes — diabetic polyneuropathy.
Skin conditions
The mud has a good effect on dermatitis and is highly effective for the treatment and prevention of psoriasis. Following drug therapy, sunlight treatment and mud baths are used to prevent the severe form — psoriatic arthritis.
Gynaecology and urology
The mud is used for inflammatory conditions of the female and male reproductive systems and for infertility, with very good results.
What is lye and how is it used?
Lye is extracted from Pomorie Lake and the Burgas salt pans. It is an electrolyte solution containing elements from across the periodic table, but sodium and chlorine, calcium, magnesium and iron predominate. It has a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect.
It is applied as compresses on painful areas — knees, back, hip and ankle joints. See how to make a lye compress at home.
“The combination of mud therapy and lye therapy also works well as a preventative measure against various conditions,” Dr Shishkov concludes.
Is a medical examination mandatory?
Yes. Every patient admitted for mud therapy must first undergo a compulsory medical examination.
When mud treatments are contraindicated
- cardiovascular conditions — a previous heart attack, stage two or three hypertension;
- pregnancy;
- certain malignant conditions.
How is mud therapy combined with modern physiotherapy?
Combining mud and lye therapy with modern physiotherapy and modern medicines is a real asset for the patient. It aids recovery far more than applying the methods separately.
That is why the balneo centres are equipped with modern apparatus. In addition to the mud treatments, the following are used:
- laser therapy and magnetic therapy;
- treatment with low-, medium- and high-frequency currents;
- PUVA therapy and ultraphonophoresis.
“Combining mud and lye therapy with the natural resources of Pomorie and modern medicines delivers a very good therapeutic effect,” says Dr Shishkov.
Grand Hotel Pomorie — one of the town’s spa hotels
Can the treatment be covered by the National Social Security Institute?
Pomorie has two sanatoriums and one balneo hotel offering mud therapy treatments. Besides paying privately, treatment is also available through the National Social Security Institute programme, under which insured citizens can receive 10–15 days of treatment.
You will need social security contributions and a referral from your GP. With these, you apply to your local National Social Security Institute office to be admitted for balneotherapy.
“There are 64 balneotherapy facilities in the country, but by international standards we lag behind when it comes to prevention. It is everyone’s duty to pay attention to their health.”
Watch the interview
Sources: interview for health.bg (2015) and a second interview with Dr Shishkov, published on luga.bg (2021).
About Luga.bg
Maker of natural products with Black Sea lye and liman mud from Pomorie. We have been writing about lye, mud and sea minerals since 2015 — with doctors, physiotherapists and our own experience.
