Dead Sea Mud Disease Treatment

The Dead Sea is world renowned as a place to seek health and wellness. The rare conditions present at the Dead Sea have been proven to heal ailments of the skin and joints while providing mental refreshment and rejuvenation. It is not possible for everyone to make the journey to the Dead Sea, but you can purchase the mineral-rich mud and water online.

The Dead Sea

• The Dead Sea is located in the Judean Desert between the nations of Israel and Jordan. It lies 400 meters below sea level and has only one river that empties into it: the Jordan River. The Jordan River is fed by mineral-rich springs and carries these minerals to the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea is a terminal lake, meaning that no water leaves it, albeit via evaporation. This ensures that the Dead Sea is the most saline water in the world, having between 20 and 30 times more salt than the ocean. The atmosphere above the Dead Sea contains higher amounts of oxygen as well as an additional protective layer against the sun's rays.

Dead Sea Mud

• Dead Sea mud is the alluvial sediment that surrounds the banks of the water. In this mud lies all of the necessary minerals for hydrated skin: bromine, calcium, potassium and magnesium; the Dead Sea has the highest concentration of bromine in the world. The mud, which is dark brown to black in color, also is an excellent conductor of heat because it contains many layers of clay from the surrounding landscape. The clay also makes the mud extremely elastic. Dead Sea mud is most effective at treating conditions of the skin and joints.

Skin Conditions

• The first skin condition to be treated at the Dead Sea in modern times was psoriasis in 1958. The red, scaly patches of skin that are characteristic of psoriasis disappear completely in some cases, but at the very least the itching is relieved with baths and mudpacks. Dead Sea mud is also effective for treating eczema, acne, atopic dermatitis, vitiligo and mycosis fungoides. According to the Dead Sea Research Center, the mud stimulates blood circulation, assists in the healing of wounds and cleanses the skin removing dirt, bacteria and toxins.

Joint Conditions

• Because Dead Sea mud conducts heat, mud packs effectively relieve joint pain, including rheumatism, fibromyalgia, tendonitis, bursitis and all forms of arthritis like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. The mud has pain-relieving properties but is most effective when used in combination with medicinal massage.

Considerations

• Commercially sold cosmetic products often contain toxic elements that are absorbed by the skin and end up in the bloodstream and, due to recent potash mining around the Jordan River, consumers have raised concerns about Dead Sea mud. Eight toxic elements have been found and collected from the Dead Sea region, prompting the testing of 16 cosmetic products containing Dead Sea mud. The products have been found to be safe for consumers.