Holistic health care, Soviet style

The information on health care in the USSR available in the literature is limited and the requests of U.S. tourists to visit Soviet hospitals are frequently denied by Intourist, the government tourist bureau. However, we were able to visit several facilities which are part of the Soviet sanatorium system. Here a naturalistic approach to holistic health is clearly evident. Healing Matsesta spring water baths, beach sun, Black Sea swimming, rest and recreation, in a resort setting, offer one approach to health restoration and/or maintenance and illness prevention.