12. Psammotherapy or Arenotherapy

Psammotherapy or arenotherapy or yet sand-bathing is a traditional practice in some countries which have appropriate natural mineral resources for that. This chapter reports examples of sand-bathing based on three distinctive types of sand: biogenic carbonate sand, radioactive monazite-rich sand, and volcanic basaltic black sand. Attempts are recorded in order to scientifically explain the therapeutic effects of these traditional practices, particularly those involving the biogenic carbonate sand in Porto Santo, Madeira Archipelago, Portugal, and the radioactive monazite-rich sand in Guarapari, Vitória do Espírito Santo, Brazil. In the particular case of Porto Santo, the methodologies employed in sand-bathing, which can be taken either in the natural environment (in the transition zone beach/frontal dune) or inside the facilities of spas, for the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders are described and interpreted.