The ocean is the richest source of life-sustaining minerals. It is not surprising that sea vegetables are considered to be the most nourishing source of essential vitamins and minerals for our health. Sea Vegetables such as Kelp, Nori, Bladderwrack, Dulse and Irish Moss contain significant amounts of vitamin A, B, E, D, K, and C, carotenes and iodine. They contain minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, silica, iron and zinc.
There are tremendous benefits of using these vegetables in the bath. Sea plants are said to help increase blood circulation to the skin, promote lymphatic draining, re-mineralize the skin, restore elasticity to the skin, and leave the skin feeling smoother and more supple.
Powdered sea vegetables can be used in facial packs, hair wraps, soaps and salt scrubs. Combine sea vegetables with other herbs, essential oils, Dead Sea or Moor mud and sea salts for a detoxifying body wrap.
The practice of using mineral-rich sea vegetables to detoxify the body is called "Thalassotherapy." "Thalasso" comes from the Greek word that means ocean, and the word "therapy" comes from the Greek word "therapeia" for care.
Thalassotherapy involves using a therapeutic combination of fresh seawater (or brine), seaweed, marine derivatives, sea muds, and heat to induce an exchange of minerals and toxins between our body and the water. The bath draws out the toxins while the skin absorbs the nutrients, namely sodium, iodine, magnesium, potassium, fluoride, sulfur, carbonates, phosphates, chloride, vitamins, minerals, amino acids and trace elements from the bath. The temperature of the bath should be around 100°F for maximum vasodilatation and exchange of toxins/nutrients. |