The sand bath is a Berber treatment used since antiquity to relieve rheumatism.
The bath consists of covering the body by the sand – from the chest to the toes, in a hole of about 30 cm (1ft) deep, for an average of 10 minutes. The baths are prepared by curists, who dig the hole and care for the patient.
At first, the sand is very hot, but after a few minutes the body adapts to the temperature of the sand and a generalized sweating begins and the patient feels a comfortable relief. During the bath, patients drink small sips of mineral water to cool off and rehydrate.
After 10 minutes, the patient leaves the bath, and the curist covers the patient a wool blanket in order to fight against the cold caused by difference in temperature between the sand and the air.
