At the hottest time of the day, sufferers of rheumatism¹, joint² pain, infertility³ or impotence lie buried neck-deep in the sand of Siwa near Dakrour Mountain.

 

Patients relax in the shade before treatment, which includes massages⁴ by the feet of health workers after they submerge their patients up to their neck in the desert. They spend between 10 and 15 minutes buried beneath the sands before being dug out and moving to tents that have been exposed to the sun to act like saunas. In case they are not hot enough already, they then indulge⁵ in a nice hot cup of herbal tea to round off the treatment.

 

Raafat El-Fiqi, a maths teacher and researcher from Alexandria, has been taking the sand baths of Siwa for a few years after it was recommended by his doctor. 'I always feel better here, it's good for my blood circulation⁶, my breathing, and my immunity⁷ in general,' he said.

 

They are then taken to a house to cool down before changing ready for dinner. It is recommended that they do not shower for three days after treatment or allow cold air onto their skin, for maximum effect.

 

A course of treatment takes between three and nine days, costing between 300 to 400 Egyptian pounds a day which includes accommodation and food.

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