埃及西部人熱衷用沙漠黃沙浴來治療多種疾病

The hot desert sands seem the Most unlikely place to 'take a bath' in the height of summer but locals in western Egypt believe it is the natural way to cure many medical conditions. At the hottest time of the day, sufferers of rheumatism, joint pain, infertility or impotence lie buried neck-deep in the sand of Siwa near Dakrour Mountain.

炎炎夏日，炎熱的沙漠似乎是最不可能“洗浴”的地方，但是埃及西部的當地居民相信沙浴是治癒許多醫療病症的天然良方。在達科山（Dakrour Mountain）旁的錫瓦（Siwa）沙洲，到了一天最熱的時候，風溼病、關節痛、不孕症、陽痿患者會把自己脖子以下的部位埋在沙裏。

Patients relax in the shade before treatment, which includes massages by the feet of health workers after they submerge their patients up to their neck in the desert. They spend between 10 and 15 minutes buried beneath the sands before being dug out and moving to tents that have been exposed to the sun to act like saunas. In case they are not hot enough already, they then indulge in a nice hot cup of herbal tea to round off the treatment.

治療前，患者先在陰涼處放鬆，患者把脖子以下部位埋進沙裏以後，保健員用腳給他們做肩部按摩。沙浴持續10至15分鐘，之後起身進入已經曝曬在太陽下的帳篷，就像桑拿浴一樣。如果患者還不夠熱，他們還要享受一杯熱騰騰的草藥茶，以完成治療。

Raafat El-Fiqi, a maths teacher and researcher from Alexandria, has been taking the sand baths of Siwa for a few years after it was recommended by his doctor. 'I always feel better here, it's good for my blood circulation, my breathing, and my immunity in general,' he said.

亞歷山大港研究員、數學老師拉法特·菲基（Raafat El-Fiqi）表示，聽了醫生的建議後，他已經連續好幾年都去錫瓦沙洲做沙浴了。他說：“在這裏我感覺很舒服，沙浴對於血液循環、呼吸以及整體的免疫力都大有裨益。”

They are then taken to a house to cool down before changing ready for dinner. It is recommended that they do not shower for three days after treatment or allow cold air onto their skin, for maximum effect.

在換衣服準備吃晚飯之前，患者被帶到一間屋子降溫。爲了達到最好的療效，進行黃沙浴治療後，建議患者三天內不洗澡，也不要讓皮膚受涼。

A course of treatment takes between three and nine days, costing between 300 to 400 Egyptian pounds a day which includes accommodation and food.

一個療程爲3至9天，食宿在內每天花銷爲300至400埃及鎊（約合人民幣244元至325元）。