Heliotherapy, also known as sun therapy, is the use of sunlight to treat a variety of medical conditions. It has been used for centuries to treat conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, and rickets.
Sunlight contains ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which has a number of beneficial effects on the body. UVB radiation helps the body produce vitamin D, which is important for bone health. UVA radiation helps to kill bacteria and viruses, and it can also improve mood and reduce inflammation.
Utilizing the therapeutic benefits of sunlight was considered an important component of the health benefits of naturism in the earliest days of modern naturism. 1 Origins of the naturist movement around the world -INF-INI . Naturist sanitariums used heliotherapy as treatments for many and various illnesses and diseases in adults and children. 2 Our Friend, the Sun: Images of Light Therapeutics from the
Osler Library Collection, c.1901-1944 Modern medicine has drawn on the early naturopathic medicine for modern treatments. 3 Woloshyn TA, editor. Soaking Up the Rays: Light Therapy and Visual Culture in Britain, c. 1890–1940. Manchester (UK): Manchester University Press; 2017. PMID: 29364621. Modern naturists continue to take advantage of all the therapeutics benefits of the sun. 4 Heliotherapy – Chicago Reader
Heliotherapy is most effective when it is done in moderation. Too much sun exposure can lead to sunburn, skin cancer, and other health problems. It is important to start slowly and gradually increase the amount of time you spend in the sun.
Also see: Naturism and heliotherapy
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