# Naftalan: The Azerbaijani Resort Where Guests Bathe in Crude Oil > Naftalan in Azerbaijan offers crude oil baths said to treat more than 70 conditions. Here is how this unusual resort works and why people keep coming back. - URL: https://langandtrip.com.ua/en/article/naftalan-kurort-v-azerbaidzhani-de-hosti-kupaiutsia-v-syrii-nafti/ - Language: en - Published: 2024-06-28 - Categories: Culture, Historic Sites, Leisure, Hotels, Azerbaijan, Relaxation --- Ever since the world's first oil well was drilled here in 1847, Azerbaijan has made the most of its abundant reserves of "black gold." More than 170 years later, Azerbaijan's light crude oil remains the country's most valuable resource. But in the small town of Naftalan, some 320 kilometers west of Baku in the foothills of the Lesser Caucasus, an unusual local oil (also called naftalan) has been drawing travelers for hundreds of years. This crude is far too thick for commercial use and not much good for burning. Yet it is believed to have healing properties, which is why people have been bathing in it since ancient times. Lately, treatments that involve soaking in the dark, tarry substance have become popular all over again. ## "The Thick Blood of the Earth" The Naftalan resort, with its nine hotels, was founded in 1926 at the dawn of the Soviet era in Azerbaijan, when physical fitness was a widespread passion. These days, spring and autumn are the peak seasons, when the hotels fill up completely with guests arriving from all over the world. It is easy to see why. Roses bloom across the entire resort, and butterflies drift in through open windows along with the fresh mountain air. Around 15,000 people a year come here to sit in baths of warm oil, soaking up what locals call "the thick blood of the Earth." Naftalan oil is believed to relieve more than 70 conditions of the skin, joints and bones. It is used as a disinfectant, an anti-inflammatory and even an anesthetic. "It has been proven to be an effective treatment for musculoskeletal conditions, skin conditions, gynecological and urological conditions, with especially good results in treating rheumatism," says Azer Vagifov, chief physician at the Qarabagh Spa-Hotel. ## A Local Legend ![](/storage/image/prev/august-article-image-12-1-2024.jpg) Locals have known about the therapeutic qualities of naftalan oil for a very long time. The earliest mention dates back to the 12th century, when the Azerbaijani poet Nizami Ganjavi wrote about how it was exported to neighboring countries by trading caravans. According to legend, its healing powers were first discovered when a sick camel was left behind by a caravan. The camel rolled into a pool of oil, and when the caravan returned a few weeks later, the herder found the animal completely recovered. In the 13th century, the Italian traveler Marco Polo wrote in his "Travels" about oil used "to anoint camels that have the mange and for other purposes; and for this reason people come from a long distance to fetch it." ## The Science Behind It So what makes this oil so special? Its effectiveness is mainly down to an unusually high concentration of naphthalene (about 50%), a hydrocarbon that is the active ingredient in coal tar soap (often used to treat skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema), but also commonly used as a moth repellent. At the Naftalan resort, treatments are preceded by a full medical examination. The therapy is not recommended for people with heart or nervous system conditions, or for anyone undergoing cancer treatment. After an initial blood test, patients undergo an ultrasound and inhalation tests. If no contraindications are found, the patient is sent for their first oil bath. Oil therapy can be applied externally or internally, depending on the patient's condition and the doctor's instructions. The average patient is around 40 years old, but children as young as six are allowed to undergo treatment. While no link between the oil baths and cancer has been established, EU and US regulations have recognized naphthalene as a possible human carcinogen, as has the World Health Organization's (WHO) International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). The Naftalan resort maintains that the treatment is harmless and scientifically proven, pointing to some 1,500 research projects and 270 dissertations on the subject. ## Hot and Fragrant If you have ever wondered what it feels like to sit in a bath filled with crude oil, the sensation is probably not far off from hot chocolate, given that the oil in the bath sits at 39°C (102°F). Heated crude oil is certainly fragrant, and while some complain about the smell, it is honestly not all that strong. One guest, who came here from Saint Petersburg with her son, said she was happy to put up with the sulfurous smell because "you arrive with psoriasis and leave with beauty." Each bath lasts 10 minutes, and treatment courses run from three days to three weeks. You can bathe half-submerged, or the bath can be filled up to your neck. It all depends on the doctor's prescription. If a full bath is not recommended, there is equipment for applying the treatment locally to the arms and legs. Trying to do anything yourself is strictly forbidden and, frankly, impossible, since moving around in a huge pool of oil is naturally very slippery. ![](/storage/image/prev/august-article-image-12-2-2024.jpg) Once the treatment is over, an assistant uses a scraper brush to help remove the layer of oil, then leads you to the shower area. The oil takes a good deal of washing and scrubbing to remove, and the scent lingers. Whether it is a reaction to the 39°C heat or to the oil itself, the immediate feeling after the treatment is tiredness, and patients are advised to rest for at least 40 minutes. ## A Complete Treatment There is far more to the Naftalan resort than just oil baths. Depending on their treatment plan, guests can round out their visit with physiotherapy, hydromassage, paraffin treatments and aromatherapy hydrobaths. There is also a cedar barrel sauna, said to boost the already metabolism-stimulating effects of the oil bath. The grounds also feature a gym, yoga and pilates studios, an outdoor pool, open-air massage areas, a vitamin bar and a tea room. The long-term results of the treatments are said to show within a month, though some patients report seeing results after just three baths. One guest, who suffered from pain in his back and leg joints, said he was so motivated by his improved health that he walked about a kilometer to the Naftalan River to go fishing with friends. A woman named Elena said this was her fourth visit in two years, and that the baths had given her the chance to live a full life free of pain. And if you have been wondering what happens to the oil after someone has bathed in it, it gets recycled. All of it goes back into a shared reservoir for future bathers. "Black gold" is, after all, a precious commodity. For information about the town's resorts and spa centers, visit NaftalanBooking.com. Prices vary depending on the choice of resort, hotel and treatment. At the Qarabagh Spa-Hotel, a minimum seven-day stay costs 189 AZN ($111) for one person or 229 AZN ($134) for two. This includes meals, a medical examination, naftalan oil baths, physiotherapy and use of the spa. Kamilla Rzayeva earned a degree in international relations and political science from Gonzaga University in Washington, then completed professional training in photography at the New York Institute of Photography. She writes about her homeland for "Visions of Azerbaijan" magazine.