The historical-scientific foundations of thalassotherapy: state of the art [Le basi storico-scientifiche della talassoterapia: Stato dell’arte]

Throughout the ages the interest in the use of sea water in medicine has fluctuated from century to century and from nation to nation. In this paper, the historical development of sea medicine from the ancient Egyptians until the 20th century is given. The medical world has viewed it with different opinions, from very enthusiastic to extremely critical, and from beneficial to harmful. In the last decades, thalassotherapy is receiving renewed attention from many medical specialties and health tourists. The aim of this review is that of offer an update on the real therapeutic possibility of the thalassotherapy. However, the exact therapeutic potential of thalassotherapy still remains largely unknown. Better and more profound scientific evidence for its efficacy is therefore warranted, in particular for its effects on the musculoskeletal system and skin. The main researches belong to the activity of thalassotherapy and the clinic outcomes, namely in osteoarthritis patients, were referred.