埃及人热衷沙漠黄沙浴，称可治疗多种疾病

The hot desert sands seem the most unlikely place to 'take a bath' in the height of summer but locals in western Egypt believe it is the natural way to cure many medical conditions. At the hottest time of the day, sufferers of rheumatism, joint pain, infertility or impotence lie buried neck-deep in the sand of Siwa near Dakrour Mountain.

炎炎夏日，炎热的沙漠似乎是最不可能“洗浴的地方，但是埃及西部的当地居民相信沙浴是治愈许多医疗病症的天然良方。在达科山(Dakrour Mountain)旁的锡瓦(Siwa)沙洲，到了一天最热的时候，风湿病、关节痛、不孕症、阳痿患者会把自己脖子以下的部位埋在沙里。

Patients relax in the shade before treatment, which includes massages by the feet of health workers after they submerge their patients up to their neck in the desert. They spend between 10 and 15 minutes buried beneath the sands before being dug out and moving to tents that have been exposed to the sun to act like saunas. In case they are not hot enough already, they then indulge in a nice hot cup of herbal tea to round off the treatment.

治疗前，患者先在阴凉处放松，患者把脖子以下部位埋进沙里以后，保健员用脚给他们做肩部按摩。沙浴持续10至15分钟，之后起身进入已经曝晒在太阳下的帐篷，就像桑拿浴一样。如果患者还不够热，他们还要享受一杯热腾腾的草药茶，以完成治疗。

Raafat El-Fiqi, a maths teacher and researcher from Alexandria, has been taking the sand baths of Siwa for a few years after it was recommended by his doctor. 'I always feel better here, it's good for my blood circulation, my breathing, and my immunity in general,' he said.

亚历山大港研究员、数学老师拉法特·菲基(Raafat El-Fiqi)表示，听了医生的建议后，他已经连续好几年都去锡瓦沙洲做沙浴了。他说：“在这里我感觉很舒服，沙浴对于血液循环、呼吸以及整体的免疫力都大有裨益。

They are then taken to a house to cool down before changing ready for dinner. It is recommended that they do not shower for three days after treatment or allow cold air onto their skin, for maximum effect.

在换衣服准备吃晚饭之前，患者被带到一间屋子降温。为了达到最好的疗效，进行黄沙浴治疗后，建议患者三天内不洗澡，也不要让皮肤受凉。

A course of treatment takes between three and nine days, costing between 300 to 400 Egyptian pounds a day which includes accommodation and food.

一个疗程为3至9天，食宿在内每天花销为300至400埃及镑(约合人民币244元至325元)。

Vocabulary

rheumatism: 风湿病

round off: 圆满完成