You can visit a spa in Naftalan, Azerbaijan and relax in a bath of crude oil, a “medicinal treatment” that apparently goes back to the 6th century. Careful though, the oil contains naphthalene, a possible human carcinogen.
Pshaw says Naftalan Health Centre doctor Hashim Hashimov: “Naftalan kills everything, viruses, bacteria and fungi. It’s consistence is unique and pure, it does not contain any dirt.”
Except maybe the previous bather’s grime.
“Usually we lose some material on each person, and every time we add material for each person. But to dump the whole thing is impossible, as the material is expensive,” Hashimov says.