Sources of Ancient Healing Thermalism

Celsus 3.21.6

Way of Transmission
Literature
Datation
1st century CE
Language
Latin
Literary Genre
Medicine
Canonical Reference
Cels. 3.21.6
Thermal Spa Related
Baiae

6Euocandus est sudor non per exercitationem tantum, sed etiam in harena calida uel Laconico uel clibano similibusque aliis; maximeque utiles naturales et siccae sudationes sunt, quales super Baiias in murtetis habemus. Balineum atque omnis umor alienus est.

6Sweating is also to be procured, not only by exercise, but also by heated sand, or in the Laconicum, or with a clibanus and such-like; especially serviceable are the natural and dry sweating places, such as we have in the myrtle groves above Baiae. The bath and moisture of every kind is wrong.

6Hay que provocar el sudor no solo con el ejercicio, sino también con baños de arena caliente, estufas, hornos u otros medios semejantes. Son sobre todo útiles las saunas naturales y las secas, como las que tenemos en los campos de mirtos de la zona de Bayas. El balneario y cualquier otra humedad no son apropiados.

Commentary

El capítulo 21 del libro 3 está dedicado a la hidropesía. Recomienda tratamientos con calor seco, y desaconseja la humedad.

Related Sources

Plinius Naturalis historia 31.4

Pliny the Elder indicates the importance of mineral and thermal springs were for humans, and how in some occassions, these springs caused the creation of some urbes because the value of these waters for health. In this case, he includes the examples of some of those cities: Puteolos (Puteoli, Italy), (Aquae) Statiellas (Acqui Terme, Italy) and (Aquae) Sextias (Aix-en-Provence, in France)

Read more »

Related Sources

Celsus 4.12(5).7

Recomendaciones para tratar el relajamiento o parálisis del estómago: recomienda aguas termales frías. Da a entender que balneumLugar para bañarse. Edificio acondicionado para el uso del agua en forma de

Read more »