Wilbur Spring Update!

In the recent video post we made about Wilbur Hot Spring, I showed a spring that appears to be bringing up petroleum oil!

No one there was able to explain this to me, and I was looking for some confirmation….

Special thanks to Lin for getting me this information! It is an old document describing the Wilbur Spring and surrounding area.  The bottom of the first paragraph makes reference to “Oil Spring” which tastes of petroleum!  That gives a bit of confirmation.

Then there was also this document which mentions springs of petroleum coming up in the area…

Now to see if the Balneologists know of any theraputic benefit to this naturally occuring compound!  Compounds like Radon and Arsenic, which are known to be poisonous are considered to have beneficial medicinal action in the art and science of balneotherapy.  Dose is everything!

My first reaction to seeing petroleum in the spring was notable concern.  As I began to contemplate this, I realized i didn’t have a reference point for naturally occurring “rock oil”.

If anyone finds a reference or more information on this, please leave it as a comment below!!

Deep Gratitude!

~Daniel

Post Script!  It is now April 5th, 2010, and this was just received from Wilbur HotSprings!

Dear Friends:

Some of you have expressed interest in the black  tar like substance that
Daniel Vitalis showed in his excellent,  and,  for me,  emotionally moving,
2 movie UTube  series on Wilbur Hot Springs.

Here is some information on that  healing  smelly substance.

A black,  tar like,  material can be seen in the mud around the Wilbur Hot
Springs source springs.  You cannot see this  black material in the hot
water since it is dissolved;   however, you can smell a very mild
petroleum  like odor in Wilbur's medicinal  mineral  water along with the
smell of  sulfur,  a well known,  and established,  anti bacterial agent. I
have witnessed dramatic reductions  in the symptoms of Psoriasis at Wilbur
Hot Springs.  My research  led me to the following article from the renowned
Mayo Clinic.
Treatments and drugs By Mayo Clinic staff
<http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/AboutThisSite/AM00057>

Psoriasis treatments aim to:

   - Interrupt the cycle that causes an increased production of skin cells,
   thereby reducing inflammation and plaque formation.
   - Remove scale and smooth the skin, which is particularly true of topical
   treatments that you apply to your skin.

*Topical treatments*
Used alone, creams and ointments that you apply to your skin can effectively
treat mild to moderate psoriasis.

   - *Coal tar. A thick, black byproduct of the manufacture of petroleum
   products and coal, coal tar is probably the oldest treatment for psoriasis.
   It reduces scaling, itching and inflammation. Exactly how it works isn't
   known. Coal tar has few known side effects, but it's messy, stains clothing
   and bedding, and has a strong odor. Coal tar is available in
   over-the-counter shampoos, creams and oils.*

In addition, Daniel Vitalis  personally  assimilated the depth of the
respectful and non cult  atmosphere  that we have created at Wilbur.
He is to be  commended,  and thanked,  for his making Wilbur a subject of
his professional,  guerrilla,   video journalism.

Richard

Richard Louis Miller, M.A., Ph.D.
Wilbur Caretaker in Chief since 1972