Water, air and light--Arnold Rikli (1823-1906).

Abstract

This article is a reminder of a famous Swiss healer, Arnold Rikli, who is also considered to be one of the pioneers of the modern health tourism in Slovenia. Rikli moved to the Alpine region of Lake Bled in 1855 to build a health resort after having established his own natural healing method based on the effects of light, air and water on the human body. His resort was visited by rich patients who were treated for numerous diseases under special, "revolutionary" conditions. The inhabitants of Bled and the official medicine strongly opposed Rikli's activities, also because of Rikli's particular character, but some of his practices are still relevant today.