ABSTRACT
We investigated the effects of artificial mineral bathing in water containing sodium sulfate and sodium bicarbonate on venous blood gas, blood pressure, heart rate, and deep body temperature in 10 patients with hypertension or history of hypertension. After a 10-minute bathing at 40°C, the parameters described above were carefully checked. The pH and P<sub>O<sub>2</sub></sub> levels in venous blood increased and the P<sub>CO<sub>2</sub></sub> level decreased after the artificial mineral bathing in comparison with plain water bathing. However, these changes were not statistically significant. The systolic blood pressure tended to decrease up to 10 hours after the artificial mineral bathing. The heart rate markedly reduced after the artificial mineral bathing and remained at a low level for 10 hours. The deep body temperature began to decrease 40 minutes after the artificial mineral bathing. However, it increased over the base-line level 6 hours later. From the above result, it is considered that artificial mineral bathing is useful for patients with hypertension.