일본의 온천요법과 국민건강

Abstract

In this study, the results from the previous studies were summarized on the relationship among types of balneotherapy, its efficacy, and medical costs using hot springs. What balneotherapy had been contributed to the public health enhancement was the best way in Japan, the super-aged society, that should aim. In the real research results, significant effect was found to lower the medical costs. It showed the financial stabilization of the national health insurance by lowering medical costs as well as intangible effects such as mental, social, and cultural supports to the elderly. According to the report of ‘a study on the role of hot springs and utilization plans,’ there was a linkage between public health project and health project using balneotherapy. Also, there were so many positive outcomes such as disease prevention and counselling in alignment with local public centers, making hot springs as the socializing place, facilitation of outing of the elderly who lived alone, expansion of exchanges with local community citizens, and so on. Few cases were reported to be continued to use balneotherapy in the famous tourist attractions or facilities of hot springs. Well known hot springs in Japan to us are anticipated with the economic effects of tourism income only, but their contribution to the public health for the local citizens can be considered to be minimal. Compared to Japan, ‘hot spring power,’ Korea has the unsurpassed history on the hot spring cure, balneotherapy, and so on though the number of hot springs, yield of hot spring water, facilities, and so on may not be competitive. In addition, many hot springs are located nationwide in Korea despite with smaller number. Balneotherapy and efforts to enhance public health in Japan may implicate very significant to us that enters the super-aged society faster and more seriously. As reviewed in this study, 14 days are required for the traditional balneotherapy. In the modern society, its effects can be anticipated with at least 7 days of balneotherapy. Tour to hot spring for one day, one night and two days, can only provide with simple bathing effect far from balneotherapy. As a solution to enhance people’s physical and mental health, it is necessary to utilize the nursing facilities with hot springs actively. Also, it is required for the research institutions to investigate and research the hot spring cure using balneotherapy; and for the government to establish the systems on balneotherapy and consultants for hot springs and to review the alignment plans with national health insurance system.