Social background

There are more than 170 hot springs in Tottori prefecture. It plays an important role as a tourist attraction and contributes to the local people’s health promotion and social activity.

Objectives of activity

The health efficacy of hot springs has been considered to be caused by multiple effects such as a psychological effect by the change of air or a physical effect by hyperthermia and hydrostatic pressure. However, there has not been enough empirical study on the direct pharmacological effect based on the chemical composition and physical property of hot springs that lead to the recovery from illness. A scientific approach is necessary in order to lead it to a high-quality basic health care service. 

Overview

We have developed the analytical method to demonstrate the correlation between the effect of hot springs and its water quality based on scientific evidence using the Comprehensive Analytical System for Terrestrial and Extraterrestrial Materials (CASTEM) of Institute for Planetary Materials to determine the chemical compositions of hot spring water with high accuracy and proceeded the analysis (Hoang et al., 2018）

Expected effects

We will provide the fundamental data of balneology based on the research result and lead it to the establishment of hot spring cure and recuperation system ahead of other areas, and ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages.

URL

http://www.okayama-u.ac.jp/user/grcweb/asrc.html