Featured therapies at a hospital in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region take advantage of dry air, hot sunlight and fine sand, Thepaper.cn reported on Jan. 4.

The Turpan Uighur Medicine Hospital began research on sand therapy for the treatment of rheumatism in 1981. The therapy was found to be effective in treating diseases including rheumatic arthritis, osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, some urological and gynecological conditions, dyspepsia and anorexia, according to the vice director of the hospital. The vice director added that the period between June and August every year is the best time for sand therapy, when the temperature is generally between 40 and 50 degrees Celsius during the day. The therapy does not work if the temperature is below 40 C, and it can burn patients' skin if above 50 C.

“I have been suffering from severe rheumatoid arthritis. I came for the sand therapy, which is very famous here,” said Hao Jiangping, a patient from Kuitun. Hao added that the sand can absorb perspiration, which she had to get used to at the beginning. However, within a few days she reported feeling much more comfortable.

Researchers explained that the local sand is effective at absorbing perspiration from the body's surface. It possesses abundant minerals and microelements, as well as a high magnetic content -- nine times that of normal sand.

In addition, rhinitis can be treated in Xinjiang by smoking Shisha, which replaces tobacco with traditional Uygur herbs like solanum nigrum, hollyhock seed and coptis chinensis. These elements are made especially effective when volatilized by smoking.

“Shisha therapy was recorded in ancient medical books; it has been around for a very long time. We want to make it available again, as it is such a simple way to treat disease,” said one doctor, explaining that many patients improved significantly after receiving Shisha therapy.