In this spotlight, Ph.D. Candidate Ebru Erginbas elaborates on a yearlong fellowship where she spent time in the U.S. and Europe focusing on distinctive therapeutic practices in hydrotherapy, mineral therapy, and inhalation therapy. 

During her fellowship year, Ebru Erginbas conducted research in various archives and libraries in the United States and Europe. While each visit was insightful, her time at the Austrian State Archives (Österreichisches Staatsarchiv) proved particularly productive, thanks to its kind and helpful staff. Her primary focus centered on the practice of psychiatry, alchemy, and pharmaceuticals in Europe, and the interconnections between Viennese medicine and the medical practices of the Ottoman Empire and the Turkish Republic.

Additionally, she continued gathering data from historic spa towns, spanning from Spa in Belgium to Karlovy Vary in Czechia. Each town has developed its own unique cultural traditions centered around the therapeutic use of mineral waters and hydrothermal energy. Ebru is mapping the distinctive therapeutic practices in hydrotherapy, mineral therapy, and inhalation therapy, while also analyzing how the wellness traditions of these locations contribute to medical tourism and the global wellness economy.