Naftalan oil

Naftalan is a unique grade of black oil, found in Naftalan, Azerbaijan, known for its naphthalene content and healing properties.[1]

While Naftalan crude oil is too heavy for normal export uses (unlike Azerbaijan's plentiful Caspian Sea oil), it contains about 50 percent naphthalene, a hydrocarbon that is the active ingredient in coal tar soaps, which are used to treat psoriasis.[2] As such, it is only used for medicinal purposes.[3] People using the oil generally sit in a bath and are covered in oil up to their necks.[2] There are numerous petroleum spas in the city of Naftalan itself.[2]

The naphthalene in the oil is claimed to give it therapeutic properties, however Western experts say it, and bathing in crude oil in general, might actually be carcinogenic.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Dr. D. Y. Huseinov and Dr. A. I. Rustamov, Naftalan: The Oil that Heals, Azerbaijan International, (3.4) Winter 1995, Accessed on December 4, 2006
  2. 1 2 3 Andrew E. Kramer, Bathing in Black Gold for Health and Profit in Azerbaijan, The New York Times, December 4, 2006.
  3. 1 2 Eldar Abbasov, Naftalan - The Miracle Oil: Azerbaijan's Therapeutic Oil, Azerbaijan International, (10.2) Summer 2002, Accessed on December 4, 2006
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