Then a few weeks ago, the idea occurred to me - why not take Natasha to the baths in Tbilisi? According to the guide book they are also supposed to be helpful in the treatment of eczema and psoriasis. Unlike the baths that Jeremy went to in Moscow, the focus of which was a sauna or steam room followed by a brisk dip in a cold indoor pool, these baths are built over sulphur springs, which supply them generously with very hot water.
So today, we went to the Royal Bath.
The lounge is pretty snazzy, in a post-Soviet-furniture-meets-Turkish-tiles sort of a way.
We paid $25 for an hour's use of a small private room with a deep, HOT bath.
I mentioned that these are sulphur springs, right?
Rotten-egg smell notwithstanding, we spent about half an hour dipping in the water and then cooling off in the adjacent sitting room.
All clean, we headed across the street to a cafe with cool mist to enjoy a drink. I ordered iced tea. What I got was two-tone concoction on the left, which I think was actually grenadine and OJ. Too sweet for me but Natasha enjoyed it.
Did it help her skin? I don't know. We will try to hit the baths about once a week for the next couple months. I cling to the hope that it will ultimately soothe her eczema. If not, at least it will be a fun mother-daughter date.
Y'know, Ani has eczema as well - I wonder if it has something to do with all the toxins in our food/water/air supply - while in utero they get all this nasty stuff which never really leaves their system because it's everywhere. We use free/clear laundry and dish soap, are trying to eat more organic food, stay away from processed foods, etc. But her skin doesn't clear up.
ReplyDeleteArgh - so frustrating! I hope you all find a remedy and share it with the world! :)
Colleen