Caucasian mineral waters have been popular since tsarist Russia. The healing power of mineral water does not need proof, it has been confirmed for centuries.
Essentuki is a balneological resort town of federal significance, geographically located in the Stavropol Territory, not far from Pyatigorsk.
Mineral springs in Essentuki found not only all-Russian, but also worldwide popularity. Every year, thousands of foreigners visit the city to improve their health, cure kidney and liver diseases, and the gastrointestinal tract.
Resort Description
In the resort there are many hotels, health resorts, at which health and medical centers operate. Here they drink mineral water of springs in Essentuki, take baths with it, make inhalations and irrigate the oral cavity. For therapeutic purposes, mud is also used. Water from some sources is a dining room, you can drink it yourself, without a doctor's prescription. In some mineral springs of Essentuki, the water is medicinal-table, it is allowed to drink it only after consulting with a specialist. The doctor prescribes the dosage, the frequency of taking such water per day and the duration of the course of treatment.
The healing properties of mineral springs in Essentuki (photos can be seen in the article) are associated with their chemical composition, rich in cations of chlorine, hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, calcium and sodium, magnesium, etc. Sources have a significant underground length and have time to "get enough saturated" before going to the surface "or enriched in volcanic gases, as well as mineral salts useful to the body.
History of creation
At the beginning of the XIX century, it was a marshland near the river, where the Cossacks defeated the village and called it Essentuki. Once it was noticed that the horses preferred to drink unpleasant-looking water from the swamps instead of clean and fresh river. This seemed very strange to the Cossacks, they called a scientist from the capital, who went around all the sources (there were 23 of them). The surname of the doctor was Nelyubin, and the numbering of the sources given to him back in 1823 is preserved to this day. Some sources of Essentuki were unfit for drinking, others were drying.
Essentuki for a long time remained in the shadow of the glory of Pyatigorsk and Mineral waters, carefully the composition of the water was hardly studied. In 1905, the first drilling and exploration work began. Essentuki became popular only in 1925, when the development of the city, galleries of springs, and the construction of health resorts continued.
Characterization of mineral springs in Essentuki
In simple terms, the mineral water of this region belongs to salt-alkaline. 20 Essentuki sources are potable. Sources No. 17 and No. 4 are widely known everywhere. Due to its composition, which is rich not only in hydrocarbons, sulfates, calcium and magnesium chlorides, sodium and potassium cations, but also in the content of elements such as sulfur, zinc, copper, sources are used in the treatment of many pathologies. So, most often these are the following:
- diseases of the liver, kidneys;
- gastrointestinal pathology;
- diseases associated with metabolic disorders of the body;
- diseases of the pancreas and biliary tract;
- MVP diseases;
- violations by the CCC.
Yessentuki number 17
The gallery of this spring in Essentuki is the oldest and most beautiful, it was opened in the middle of the XIX century and is located in front of the main entrance leading to the Medical Park. Inside the building there is marble decoration and ancient Greek sculptures, the pool with water is highlighted. Low-thermal, thermal, and high-thermal are fed, heated to 25-30, 35-40, and 40 degrees, respectively, of spring water 17 in Essentuki.
This water is enriched with Na bicarbonates, has a high degree of mineralization and is medicinal and drinking. There are wells with cold water about 10 degrees and thermal springs in Essentuki (about 36 degrees). What temperature and dosage is necessary for the patient, only the doctor decides. Doctors prescribe treatment with such water for chronic gastritis, colitis with low acidity, with difficulty in intestinal motility, metabolic diseases. At the same time, exercises, physiotherapy are prescribed.
Healthy people can also use Essentuki 17, but in moderation. There are no calories in water, which is especially important because it is usually prescribed in fairly large dosages (700-1200 ml per day in three doses). It also does not contain proteins, carbohydrates, fats.
Essentuki №4
The water of this spring also contains sodium chlorides and hydrocarbons, but its mineralization is not as high as that of Essentuki 17. It is warm (thermal) and cold.
Mineral water of the source belongs to the medical-canteens, it is allowed to drink it after the doctor’s prescription in cases of diseases of the digestive tract (gastritis, colitis), diseases of the liver and pancreas (pancreatitis), in complex therapy for diabetes. Water also increases intestinal motility and stabilizes metabolic processes in the body. During periods of exacerbation of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, "Essentuki-4" is not recommended. The main indications for drinking are chronic forms of disease.
Mineral water alkalizes the gastrointestinal tract, while the pathological mucus formed during inflammation and having an acidic environment liquefies and is gradually eliminated from the body. A similar effect occurs in inflammatory processes of the urinary tract and organs of the respiratory system.
It is important to remember that uncontrolled intake of water can adversely affect your health.
"Essentuki number 20"
This is table water with a low degree of mineralization. Previously, it was extracted from a source with the same number, then its operation was stopped. Now it is obtained by mixing weakly mineralized water from two sources, the Old Source company in Essentuki bottled it. The patent for the production of Essentuki 20 is also held by Wimm-Bill-Dann.
You can drink it like ordinary water, without the consent of a doctor. It has a weak therapeutic effect in case of disorders of the genitourinary system due to the content of bicarbonates, sulfates, Cl anions, Ca, Mg, Na and K.
Essentuki-Novaya, Nagutskaya No. 26, other types of water
Water "Essentuki-New" is also called "Essentuki Narzan". Its extraction is conducted from a well with a depth of more than 330 m. It is water with a temperature of about 25-26 degrees, due to the content of hydrogen sulfide in it, it has a slightly unpleasant odor (similar to the smell of rotten eggs). The discovery in Yessentuki of a source with such a composition of water allowed its successful use in the treatment of disorders of the heart and blood vessels.
It also contains silicon and bicarbonates, which makes it possible to use it in the treatment of diseases of the genitourinary and digestive systems.
Baths with the "Essentuki Narzan" are very popular among women, as water smoothes fine wrinkles, restores skin elasticity and firmness, and tightens small folds.
Water "Nagutskaya 26" - medical and dining room type "Borjomi". It has a very pleasant taste, well refreshes and quenches thirst. It helps with peptic ulcers of the stomach and duodenum, pancreatitis, colitis, heart and vascular diseases, metabolic disorders, and also the genitourinary system.
Other mineral springs in Essentuki, having a hydrogen sulfide and complexionic composition, are used for therapeutic drinking, but to a greater extent in balneology (taking various kinds of baths and showers, irrigation, washing).
Medical Park in Essentuki
The territory of the park is relatively small, but very beautiful: buildings with columns, lots of greenery, alleys, fountains, flower beds. The park is divided into upper and lower parts, which are called so.
Immediately at the entrance is the Upton Gallery with lower baths. The building of the theater-park, in which Chaliapin performed, was attached to it. To the left of the theater is the Left Terrace and to the right is the Right. Here are the remains of the old spring 17, which was destroyed. Nearby is a differentiating pool, created so that iron ions settle from the water of source 17. Of the interesting structures here is the Musical gazebo with excellent acoustics, as well as a building with a "mechanotherapeutic" hall - the prototype of a modern fitness center, which houses 19th-century gym equipment.
On the avenue of springs in Yessentuki there are 4 galleries and 3 drinking pump rooms. The oldest gallery has a source 17, it is named after the architect who designed the building in 1858. The Upton Gallery serves cold, warm and hot water from sources 17 and 20.
In the lower alley is the new 4/2 source gallery building. Here is the water "Essentuki 4". And also from sources whose pump rooms no longer function.
The newest gallery 4/33 is open in the center of the resort part of the city, here the water of spring 4 and "Essentuki-Novaya" are supplied.
Gallery 4/17, which is interesting from an architectural point of view for drinking, ends with water springs 17 and 4. They are located in the upper part of the park and near gallery 17. The third and fourth are in the lower alleys of the park.
Bottled water
Original mineral water can only be of the manufacturer, which is located territorially in the city of Essentuki, Stavropol Territory. Water is sold in carbonated form, which allows for a long time to keep bicarbonates, sulfates, chlorides and cations in a dissolved state. Ideally, the water should be transparent, but a small amount of precipitate may form in the form of salts. The longer it is stored, the more cloudy and less useful it becomes.
Store purchased water in a cool dark place in a closed form and preferably in a lying position. It is recommended that you release gas from the bottle before use.
Contraindications
You can not drink water sources in the acute phase of diseases of the digestive tract, pancreas. A person should not have signs of hepatic spasm, infectious diseases. The use of such water is not recommended when prescribing a low-salt or salt-free diet.
In each case, consultation with a doctor is required, who will prescribe an adequate dose, frequency and duration of water intake in Yessentuki.
Reviews
Most of all positive reviews were received by water sources 17 and 4. Young mothers share their experience in treating young children with biliary dyskinesia with water as prescribed by a doctor. She helps some after overeating at a holiday. People drink about a glass of Essentuki No. 17 and note an improvement in digestion.
Women vacationing at the resort share their joy from the effect of rejuvenation after taking the hydrogen sulfide baths of springs in Essentuki. They call water the "elixir of youth" and everyone is advised to undergo such procedures.
Many people note that 1-2 bottles of water of sources No. 4 or No. 17, which is used for inhalation with a nebulizer for colds, are constantly stored in the refrigerator.