Examination by the resort physician
On arrival the physician reviews your documents, examines you and may order an ECG or blood tests. The course plan is set only after this examination.
Signature of Azerbaijan
Naftalan oil therapy in Azerbaijan
Therapeutic baths with Naftalan oil, a natural resource with its historic home in Azerbaijan.
Time in Azerbaijan12 to 16 days
Course length10 to 14 days
ProceduresDaily, as prescribed
Trips neededOne per course
Typical figures. The exact plan is confirmed by the treating doctor after the medical review.
Naftalan oil is a rare natural therapeutic oil, and the town of Naftalan in western Azerbaijan is the historic home of its medical use. It has been used in local resort medicine for more than a century, mainly as warm baths and local applications. Courses are traditionally used for chronic skin, joint and back conditions, and many patients repeat them over the years.
A course usually lasts 10 to 14 days and is prescribed by the resort physician after an examination on arrival. Before you travel, we review your medical reports, check them against the known contraindications and prepare a written cost estimate. We then organise the visa, transfers from Baku or Ganja, accommodation at the resort and an interpreter, and stay in touch after you return home.
Who this may suit
- Adults with psoriasis or chronic dermatitis outside an acute flare
- Patients with arthritis or arthrosis of the joints
- People with chronic back or neck pain
- Patients recovering from injuries of the joints or spine
- Patients with certain neurological or gynaecological conditions, after assessment by a doctor
What we can arrange
The list below shows the most common requests. The doctor recommends the right option after reviewing your documents.
Naftalan baths
Short warm baths in Naftalan oil, each usually lasting several minutes. The physician decides how many baths you take and how often.
Local applications
Warmed Naftalan oil is applied to specific joints, the spine or areas of skin. This option is often used when full baths are not suitable.
Refined Naftalan for skin
A refined form of the oil may be used in ointments and applications for psoriasis and dermatitis. The physician chooses it according to the condition of the skin.
Supporting treatments
Courses are often combined with physiotherapy, massage and therapeutic exercise. These help with back pain and joint mobility alongside the oil procedures.
Specialised procedures
For some neurological and gynaecological conditions, the resort may offer targeted Naftalan procedures. They are prescribed only after a consultation with a specialist at the resort.
Why Azerbaijan, and why with us
Treatment at the source
Naftalan oil is extracted right next to the resorts, so a full course takes place where the therapy began. We arrange the whole trip around it.
Medical review before travel
We check your reports against the known contraindications before you book. If something is unclear, we ask for further tests or advise you to wait.
Support from arrival to return
Our team arranges transfers, accommodation and an interpreter at the resort. After the course we stay in touch and pass your questions to the physician.
How your trip is organised
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1
Send your request
Describe your condition and attach any reports, scans or test results you have.
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2
Medical review
A specialist studies your documents. You receive a treatment plan and a written cost estimate.
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3
Trip planning
We book the clinic dates, help with the visa and arrange flights, hotel and transfers.
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4
Treatment in Azerbaijan
Your coordinator and interpreter are with you at every appointment.
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5
Follow-up at home
You receive translated documents and stay in touch with your doctor online.
Included in our coordination
- Personal coordinator
- Medical review
- Interpreter at the clinic
- Visa and invitation
- Airport and clinic transfers
- Accommodation
- Support for companions
- Follow-up at home
Documents for the medical review
Send whatever you already have. If something is missing, the doctor will tell you what else is needed.
- A recent report from your doctor with the main diagnosis
- Recent blood test results
- A recent ECG, especially if you are over 40 or have heart problems
- X-ray or MRI images and reports for joint or spine conditions
- Photos of the affected skin areas for skin conditions
- A list of the medicines you currently take
Frequently asked questions
Who should not take Naftalan therapy?
Naftalan therapy is not suitable for everyone. Contraindications include cancer, severe heart failure, pregnancy, acute infections and blood disorders, among others. We review your documents before travel, and the resort physician makes the final decision after examining you.
How long is a Naftalan course?
A standard course usually lasts 10 to 14 days. The number of baths and other procedures depends on your condition and is set by the resort physician. Some patients repeat the course after several months if their doctor advises it.
Where is Naftalan and how do I get there?
Naftalan is a small resort town in western Azerbaijan, near Goranboy. Most patients fly to Baku or Ganja, and we arrange the transfer by car to the resort. The journey from Ganja is much shorter than from Baku.
Will I see results after one course?
Responses vary from person to person, and no result can be promised. Some patients notice changes during the course, while for others the effect appears later or is limited. The resort physician can tell you what to expect after examining you.
What does Naftalan oil treat?
Naftalan therapy is traditionally used for chronic skin conditions such as psoriasis and dermatitis, for joint and spine conditions, and for some neurological and gynaecological problems. Scientific evidence is limited and results vary, so the resort physician decides whether a course suits you after an examination.
Can I use Naftalan ointment or cream at home?
Pharmacy products with refined Naftalan exist, but they differ from the baths and applications used at the resort. Use them only on the advice of your doctor. A full course with Naftalan oil takes place at the resort under medical supervision.
Journal
From the journal
How many days of Naftalan treatment you need
A Naftalan course usually includes about 10 to 14 baths spread over two to three weeks. The first day is set aside for the examination, procedures then follow every day or with breaks as the resort physician prescribes, and travel days come on top. Shorter stays are possible, but the physician decides how many procedures make sense for you.
Naftalan ointment and cream from the pharmacy and how to use them safely
Pharmacy Naftalan products are ointments, creams and liniments made with refined Naftalan for local use on the skin or over painful joints. They come with a package leaflet, and the leaflet together with your doctor decides how and for how long to use them. Crude oil sold online is a different product and is not meant for home use.
Naftalan reviews and how to read them critically
Reviews of Naftalan resorts can be useful, but they mix very different things, from rooms and food to the effect of the procedures. The medical result depends on the diagnosis, the stage of the disease and the programme itself, so the story of one person says little about yours. Here we explain how to read reviews critically and which questions give a clearer picture.
Best time to visit Naftalan for a treatment course
Naftalan procedures take place indoors, so the resort works all year and there is no strict season. Spring and autumn are usually the most comfortable months for travel, while July and August can be hot. In the end, the best time for you depends more on your condition, the advice of your doctor and your own plans than on the calendar.
How to get from Baku to Naftalan by car, train or plane
Naftalan lies in western Azerbaijan, about 330 km from Baku and about 50 km from Ganja. Most patients fly into Baku and continue by car, which takes 4 to 5 hours, or take the evening train to Goran station. Flying to Ganja shortens the road to about 45 minutes. Below we explain how to choose the route that suits your health and your plans.
Naftalan for psoriasis, what to know before you travel
Naftalan is traditionally used for chronic plaque psoriasis outside an acute flare. Some patients notice less scaling and itching after a course, but results vary, may not last and the scientific evidence is limited. Here we explain how a course is organised, who it may suit, who should wait and which questions are worth asking the resort physician.
Related treatments
Rehabilitation
Physiotherapy and recovery programmes after surgery, stroke and injuries.
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Orthopedics
Hip and knee replacement, arthroscopy, spine surgery and sports injuries.
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Check-up and diagnostics
Full body check-up with MRI, CT and laboratory tests completed in one or two days.
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Send your reports and receive a treatment plan
Tell us about your condition. A coordinator will reply in your language, and the specialist will review your documents.