The so-called Tuzla in Balchik consists of two lakes located in close proximity to each other, literally meters away from the seashore. Besides being beautiful, the place is healing. The water here is very salty, almost as salty as that of the Dead Sea - the saltiest body of water on the planet. This is probably due to the unique composition of the mud formed at the bottom of the lake. This mud has become legendary with its properties.

Its healing qualities were already known back in the 1930s when the so-called Tuzla baths, equipped with women's and men's cabins for access to the mud, existed. The "estuary miracle" helps in relieving arthrosis, tenosynovitis, neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's, but also skin diseases, radiculitis, plexitis, as well as conditions after a stroke, etc. The specialized rehabilitation hospital "Tuzlata", built in the 1950s, overlooks the lakes:

"This method of treatment and prevention, or the so-called Egyptian method, has been known since ancient times. And we are the only ones in Bulgaria who are able to offer it to patients, as the treatment takes place on the very shore of the estuary lake, where we take the mud from. We fill the bathtubs with it," Dr. Kamelia Kircheva, manager of the hospital says. The Egyptian method the doctor talks about is based entirely on the beneficial effects of the sun, mud, estuary and mineral water. This is how the mud treatment works:

"You need to sunbathe for about 30-40 minutes, so that the pores of the skin can be opened, then you smear yourself with a layer of healing mud, about half a centimeter thick. When the mud is taken out of the lake it is mushy with dark gray color. When applied to the body, the liquid evaporates and the mud dries turning ash-gray in color. After it dries, people need to go into the lake to wash it off. No detergents are used, as some of the components of the mud may interact with them and cause allergic reactions. That's why it's good to just wash with the salt water from the estuary lake and then with the mineral water we have," Dr. Kircheva says.

In order to have an effect, one procedure lasts a maximum of 2 to 3 hours. The hospital has a special corner at the lake itself, which is also accessible to tourists for a minimal fee. Here, they have all the necessary amenities:

"We have a sector at the hospital called 'Outdoor Mud Treatment'. There are two separate wards – for men and women. There is a sandbox where people can lay down and use the sun rays, there are benches; the infrastructure is very well maintained. There are 2-3 bathtubs in which we pour healing mud from the lake continuously, as well as umbrellas, changing rooms, etc.,” Dr. Kircheva says.

Tuzlata is part of the Natura 2000 network and is a refuge for several species of birds, including the white heron. That is why as you put dark gray mud on yourself and enjoy the beautiful view of the lakes, herons and other feathered creatures will be flying overhead.

English: Al. Markov

Photos: Veneta Nikolova, Specialized Rehabilitation Hospital Tuzlata (sbrtuzlata.com)