Duzdag: Unveiling the Healing Wonders of an Asian Salt Mine Health Spa

Nakhchivan, an exclave located about 260 miles west of Azerbaijan's capital Baku, is rich with historical attractions such as towers, castles, tombs, and wish-making caves.

The highlight of the area is Duzdag, also known as "Salt Mountain," which is the largest medical tourism facility in the region. Located 360 feet (110 meters) below ground, this unique destination provides alternative treatment for respiratory diseases in chambers carved out nearly 5,000 years ago.

Mountain retreat

The Duzdag Physiotherapy Center was founded in 1979.

Camilla Rzayeva

Located just a short seven-mile drive from Nakhchivan city, these caves are nestled in the mountains at an impressive altitude of 3,848 feet (1,173 meters).

Established in 1979, the modern Physiotherapy Center sits on the grounds of salt mines that were excavated by archaeologists in the 1970s. It is believed that salt mining took place here as far back as the third millennium BCE, with the salt being exported to the Middle East.

The origins of the caves' renowned healing properties are unclear, as there are several rival origin stories. According to legend, locals have revered the caves for their restorative powers for centuries, considering Duzdag salt to be sacred. In the 20th century, archaeologists reportedly found relief for their bronchitis and asthma during excavation works.

Near the caves, there is a story of a young boy who suffered from serious breathing problems. He would often visit the caves to play and sketch animals on the walls. His drawings can still be seen on the walls, and according to locals, his illness was miraculously cured.

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Salt therapy

Legend has it a local child carved these pictures inside Duzdag salt caves.

Camilla Rzayeva

Salt-based cures have been around for a long time. In the mid-19th century, Feliks Boczkowski, a physician at a salt mine in Poland, noticed that miners rarely suffered from respiratory diseases and seemed to be exceptionally healthy.

Boczkowski is credited as the pioneer of halotherapy, which involves inhaling air with minuscule salt particles to enhance breathing.

Halotherapy has gained popularity in recent years, but the scientific community remains divided on its benefits. Some experts believe that the inhalation of salt can help to thin mucus in the respiratory system and attract moisture. In addition, salty environments are usually free of allergens.

However, since there is no solid evidence to support the use of halotherapy for medical purposes, the American Lung Association advises consulting with a doctor before pursuing halotherapy or salt therapy.

Speleotherapy, also known as salt therapy, is conducted below the Earth’s surface using the climate conditions and salt air found in naturally occurring caves. These salt caves are found all over the world, including in Ukraine, Hungary, Poland, Turkey, Germany, and Switzerland, and are widely used by asthma patients as an alternative treatment.

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Salty sparkle

The salt walls are nearly 27 feet thick.

The unique feature of the Duzdag complex is its horizontal layout, allowing patients to acclimate slowly to the cave conditions as they make their way to their rooms, located nearly 900 feet (300 meters) from the main entrance.

As the serpentine road winds its way into the mine, the first sight is the tidy one-story wooden Physiotherapy Center, a stark contrast to the shimmering, mysterious walls within the tunnel. What is immediately noticeable, even before stepping into the caves, is the unmistakable scent of Duzdag salt, a sharp contrast to the faint salty breeze from the nearby Caspian Sea.

The walls are coated with glistening layers of salt, measuring 8.2 meters thick (almost 27 feet). Despite its size, the tunnel is spacious and features benches, a rest area with TV and tables, and doesn't feel cramped. Upon closer examination, even the small pinkish rocks near the walls are found to be made of salt. Some people collect larger pieces and keep them at home, believing that the crystals have the power to remove negativity.

The strong scent of salt may take some time to adjust to, but breathing in the tunnel is not difficult. Natural ventilation in the cave prevents the build-up of harmful gases like carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrogen, according to the facility. They claim that the ideal combination of factors such as altitude, temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, oxygen ion composition, and bacterial composition has played a key role in effectively treating conditions such as bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis, pollinosis, and allergic rhinitis.

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Microclimate

There's no denying the serene aura inside the caves.

Camilla Rzayeva

The caves maintain a consistent microclimate year-round with a humidity of 20-25% and a temperature of 18-20C (64-68F), despite the outside temperature being 3C (37F) during CNN's visit. The facility has grown to accommodate 474 patients, and the Duzdag Hotel was built in 2008, located just over a mile from the caves as part of the Duzdag Physiotherapy Complex, where patients are examined and acclimate for a few days.

The caves are typically visited by an average of 3,500-4,000 patients per year, with the majority of visitors coming in the summer months when children are out of school and adults can take time off work. Despite this, the caves are relatively quiet, with only one other group of tourists visiting during a December walk. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the health destination has developed a specialized rehabilitation program to address the impact of the virus on the respiratory system. The caves are also believed to have healing powers that strengthen immune systems, improve circulation and skin conditions, and relieve stress.

The claims may not have independent proof, but the unusual aura in the caves cannot be denied. As you sit on the bench, surrounded by the serenity of the glistening walls, believed by generations to quietly heal, it's easy to become immersed in the quiet atmosphere and leave your worries at the entrance.