Yahoo Finance Would you soak in a tub of crude oil?
Azerbaijan is an oil-rich country. The republic, situated in the South Caucasus Mountains and flanked by Russia, Iran, Georgia and Armenia, depends on energy for 75% of its income and 95% of its exports. The country has a long history of oil production, it produced 80% of the oil used by Russia during WWII.
Azerbajian is so rich in oil that its citizens bathe in it, literally. The country’s capital, Baku is filled with spas that offer a soak in a tub full of Naftalan oil. Local legend has is that the tradition dates back to the 6th century when a camel was cured of its ailments after coming into contact with it. During his travels through Baku, Marco Polo wrote accounts of men using the crude as salve.
Today, spas are attempting to appeal to foreign tourists-- claiming that Naftalan oil can aide in the curing of over 70 ailments including skin conditions, joint problems, neurological diseases and even impotence. The crude, however, is made largely of naphthalene which is a possible human carcinogen. According to the EPA, acute dermal contact with naphthalene can cause “hemolytic anemia, damage to the liver, neurological damage and cataracts.”
The bath lasts about 10 minutes and is described as tingly and relatively odorless. The consistency of the substance is like melted chocolate. After 10 minutes, spa-goers have the excess oil scraped off of them to be reused. "Naftalan kills everything, viruses, bacteria and fungi. Its consistency is unique and pure, it does not contain any dirt,” says Naftalan Health Centre doctor Hashim Hashimov. An overnight stay at a Naftalan spa can range between $34 and $139.
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