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Thalassotherapy
Thalassotherapy refers to the medical use of sea and seawater products to enhance
a person’s overall health. Emerging from the Greek word, “Thalassa” that can
be translated as sea, thalassotherapy is a popular alternative treatment in
Europe and is gaining popularity internationally. Although sea and seawater
products were recommended as a medical agent as early as 1578, the term thalassotherapy
was invented by Doctor de la Bonnardière, a French pioneer who owned a resort
that used sea bathing as a medical treatment, in 1865 to describe “treatments
with the sea.”
In 1906, the French biologist René Quinton published the book, “L’eau de Mer,
Milieu Organic,” or “Sea Water, Organic Medium,” which states the scientific
benefits of seawater. Demonstrating the chemical similarity between blood plasma
and seawater, particularly in the composition of mineral salts, proteins, and
various other elements. Theorizing that human cells could continue to live in
seawater where it would break down instantly in any other medium, Quinton popularized
the idea that seawater and seawater products contain a number of healing properties.
Seawater is considered to be medical agent as it contains a minimum of 60 different
minerals and trace elements that are essential to the human organism. Such elements
include: copper, iodine, iron, plankton, zinc, and a variety of vitamins. Additionally,
seaweed contains these natural elements but at concentrations that are 50,000
to 100,000 times higher than those found in seawater. The presence of plankton
provides a number of health benefits due to its anti-batteric effect.
Thalassotherapy provides an effective treatment for the human body as it combines
the highly concentrated mineral elements of seawater and seawater products with
the use of hot water. The use of hot water dilates the patient’s pores and blood
vessels allowing the skin to be more receptive to the active ingredients contained
in seawater and seawater products. Thalassotherapy is a highly relaxing treatment
that nourishes your skin, reduce cellulite, and perform detoxifying actions.
It is available in a variety of different formats that includes:
· Massage with oils that use seawater ingredients.
· Seawater bath that is heated to 104° F that aids blood circulation and relieving
muscle aches.
· Seawater bubble bath that aids tissue oxygenation and general relaxation.
· Seaweed wrap, which aids in muscular relaxation and general detoxifying.
· Seaweed bath that usually lasts twenty minutes and promotes general relaxation.
· Marine balls, which involves immersing your hands in warm seaweed mud, which
helps relieve aches and improves suppleness in the wrists.
· Sprays that combine seawater with essential oils that is used to stimulate
breathing and clear the nose mucous membranes.
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