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 rheumatism¹, joint² pain, infertility³ 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 massages⁴ 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 indulge⁵ 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。

　　埃及人热衷沙漠黄沙浴，称可治疗多种疾病

　　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 circulation⁶, my breathing, and my immunity⁷ 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

1 rheumatism   

n.风湿病

参考例句：

• The damp weather plays the very devil with my rheumatism.潮湿的天气加重了我的风湿病。
• The hot weather gave the old man a truce from rheumatism.热天使这位老人暂时免受风湿病之苦。

2 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

3 infertility   

n.不肥沃，不毛；不育

参考例句：

• It is the Geneva, Switzerland-based Biotech Company's second recombinant infertility drug. 它是瑞士生物技术公司在日内瓦的公司生产的第二种重组治疗不孕症的药。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 生物技术制药疫苗
• Endometritis is a cause of infertility. 子宫内膜炎是不育的原子。 来自辞典例句

4 massages   

按摩，推拿( massage的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• At present the doctor is giving him daily massages to help restore the function of his limbs. 目前医生每天在给他按摩，帮助他恢复腿臂的功能。
• His father massages his nose and chin. 他爸爸揉了揉鼻子和下巴。

5 indulge   

vt.沉溺（于），纵容，迁就，肆意从事

参考例句：

• I never indulge children with plenty of pocket money.我从不放任子女，给他们大量零用钱。
• Everyone should indulge in fantasy on occasion.每个人都应偶尔沉浸在想像之中。

6 circulation   

n.循环，流通，传播，发行，发行量

参考例句：

• There is a large circulation in the musical public.在音乐界销路很广。
• The ideas have been in circulation for some time.这些想法已经流行了一段时间。

7 immunity   

n.优惠；免除；豁免，豁免权

参考例句：

• The law gives public schools immunity from taxation.法律免除公立学校的纳税义务。
• He claims diplomatic immunity to avoid being arrested.他要求外交豁免以便避免被捕。