Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies
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Focus Alternat Complement Ther©2005 Pharmaceutical Press
Focus Altern Complement Ther 1997; 2: 189–90
Phytobalneotherapy using Flores Graminis (hay “flowers”) is a commonly employed complementary medical treatment, in particular for diseases of the musculoskeletal system. The postulated active agent in full baths (standardised oil, dissolved in water) is transdermally absorbed coumarin. In a pilot study, we have investigated the transdermal absorption of coumarin in the traditional hay bath (full bath in wet hay).
Prospective study conducted in 12 healthy male subjects (age: 18 to 30 years). Exclusion criteria included allergies and pre-existing diseases. The hay bath was taken for a period of 60 minutes and was followed by a rest period of 90 minutes. The target parameter was the plasma concentration of coumarin on conclusion of the hay bath and immediately following the rest period. It was determined by thin-layer and high-performance liquid chromatography.
Mean age of the subjects: 25.5 ± 3.3 years, body mass index: 23.3 ± 2.3 kg/m2. Neither immediately following the hay bath, nor after the rest period was coumarin detected in the plasma.
The therapeutic effects of the traditional hay bath cannot be explained by the transdermal absorption of coumarin. Since side effects such as, for example, allergies caused by hay constituents may occur during phytobalneotherapy with Flores Graminis, the benefits and risks of the hay bath must be carefully weighed up.
