•Definition: Speleotherapy is a method, using the specific and unique properties of environment of the underground space of karst caves to treat the chronic and allergic respiratory disorders. The basic treating factor of speleotherapy is the cave aerosol. From this point of view the karst cave is the natural inhalatorium. It is not possible to create artificially this unique cave aerosol and environmental properties, especially their stability and prompt self regeneration. The connection of this effects with complex medical care will bring the desirable healing effect.

Speleotherapy in the 20th Century: • The modern speleotherapy started in Germany, after 2nd World War, based on observation and experience of Prof. Dr. Spannagel in his patients who were hidden in the cave Kluttert against heavy bombing during 2nd World War. After the karst cave stay their respiratory difficulties disappeared. Professor Spannagel established the baseline for exact studies of speleotherapy in adult asthmatic patients. In Slovakia, immediatelly after this, the first favourable results were observed at karst cave Gombaek in children with asthma and repeated wheezy bronchitis. • Speleotherapy was widespreading in many countries and during the 60thies the Commission of Speleotherapy as a branch of the Union International of Speleology (CS-UIS) was founded with participation of many European and Asian countries. • In CS-UIS scientific symposia the first clinically controlled studies presented the surprisingly favourable results of this mode of treatment, and other studies oriented to the cave aerosol parameters gradually eluciated and defined its unique properties. Speleotherapy, originally starting as a natural medicine, has got over the barrier of the cognition and definitively has been considered as a balneo - climatologic method of treatment of the chronic and allergic respiratory disorders.