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Ever wondered why a day at the beach leaves you feeling so calm and refreshed? The answer lies in thalassotherapy, a healthy treatment for enhancing body and soul. It utilizes the powerful gifts from the sea and transforms them into a rejuvenating spa experience.
Thalassotherapy comes from the Greek word thalassa, meaning sea, and uses seawater for healing. Many cultures have turned to the medicinal properties of the sea over millennia; the Romans loved thalassotherapy, while 18th-century Portuguese monks practiced seawater healing.
The concept rose to scientific stature in the early 1900s when biologist René Quinton discovered that seawater and human blood plasma share similar mineral profiles, concluding that the body would respond well to treatments from the sea, according to the organization AARP.
Harnessing the Healing Sea
France is considered the heart of thalassotherapy, with 38 specialized centers dotting its coastlines in areas including the English Channel and the Mediterranean. Spain, Croatia, Germany, and Estonia also offer treatments.
The experience combines everything coastal: seawater baths, sea salt scrubs, marine mud and algae treatments, and even breathing in sea mist. Sessions at a treatment center are refreshingly quick at 12 to 25 minutes each, typically scheduled within a three-hour morning or afternoon window.
Particularly beneficial to people over 50, the minerals in the salt water can help improve the immune system, regulate cellular activity, and create better circulation. Those with arthritis and osteoarthritis may feel pain relief through treatments from warm seawater, algae, and marine mud.
The secret is in seawater's incredible mix of minerals, the New York Post reports. As your skin soaks up these minerals through osmosis, the water opens the bloodstream for better detox and lowered retention of water.
Seawater could be a wonderful way to support musculoskeletal health. It has anti-inflammatory properties and may be of assistance for those with eczema. The movement of the water, combined with an underwater workout, could benefit lymphatic drainage. Plus, breathing in that mineral-rich sea air is also said to benefit the respiratory system.
The treatment may also help minor joint and muscle pain, improve chronic fatigue, and brighten skin, according to The Times of India.
Sea Soothes the Soul
While the experience heals the body, it also softens the soul. Although stress and pollution affect everyone physically, these irritants may even damage the soul — and thalassotherapy can soothe it. The treatment can also ease the mind, offering better focus and clarity.
With its salt spray and waves lapping the shore, there is a timeless quality about being by the ocean. Relaxing thalassotherapy can capture this magic with its seawater treatments, lifting the spirit and restoring energy. The sea has always been one of the greatest healers and now thalassotherapy blends age-old wisdom with medical science in a dreamy spa setting.
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