Research shows arthritis pain is greatly relieved by highly concentrated sea water.

Well-known Maltese entrepreneur and hotelier Michael Zammit Tabona’s insistence on the great importance of the use of highly concentrated sea water as an important medical treatment has finally been vindicated, according to a revealing front page article in the UK’s Daily Express this week.

Very recent research by Manchester University’s Department of Life Sciences has clearly shown that salt water pools – especially those of high salt concentration similar to the Dead Sea – eases the agony of arthritis. The scientists have found that the saline medium reduces painful inflammation of the joints.

Vincent Compan, head of the research, said: “This research opens up exciting opportunities. What we have identified has the potential to be used to help many patients.”

Dr Compan and Dr Paolo Pelegrin found that the cells in the bodies of arthritis sufferers expand but that salt water can reduce the swelling by dehydrating them. The salt worked the same whether it was injected directly into the patient or absorbed through the skin by means of immersion in a pool.

When asked for his views on the research, Michael Zammit Tabona commented: “Really, this is nothing new for us! Alan Zammit, our head physiotherapist, together with all our medical staff, has been treating a whole range of conditions from arthritis, post-operative patients and sports injuries to stroke patients for the past 14 years with great success. World class athletes have visited, Man. Utd and Sheffield Utd players, top class sprinter Marlene Ottey, famous actors Rufus Swell (Zorro, The Illusionist), Matthew Marsdon (Helen of Troy) Dominic Cooper (Mamma Mia) and recently Angelina Jolie, as well as many local champions in all sports, have all benefited from the high salt content of our pool water. We based our confidence on the thousands of years of anecdotal evidence in which we have always had faith. We have been told by our forefathers and ancient civilisations of how important immersion in sea water is. We are surrounded by sea water and we never use it or prescribe it.

“We went a step further and duplicated the concentration of Dead Sea salt water for the benefit of those who have taken our advice over the years. And not only that; we have also been insisting that athletes and people suffering from physical and mental exhaustion, or following strenuous exercise, should use our salt water pools as a means of recovery.

“Yes, our insistence and background knowledge and 14 years of experience have finally been vindicated.”