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Dead Sea Salt: The Ultimate Guide to Uses, Origins, Benefits

Posted by The Salt Box on 21st May 2020

Since ancient times, people have lauded the benefits of Dead Sea salt. Not for its use in cooking (it’s far too bitter for that), but for its fantastic health and therapeutic properties. Its use can be dated all the way back to the Ancient Egyptians, notably to Queen Cleopatra, who went to great lengths to secure exclusive reign over the Dead Sea; she attributed her great beauty and complexion to the secrets of the sea and its salts.

Dead Sea salt is wonderful stuff, with a range of benefits for your skin. Here we take a look at its origins in Ancient Egypt, its health and therapeutic benefits, and how you can use it on your body.

The Origins of Dead Sea Salts

The Dead Sea is a landlocked salt lake bordered by Jordan to the east and Israel and Palestine to the west. With 34.2% salinity, it is one of the world's saltiest bodies of water, rivalled only by hyper-saline lakes in Antarctica, Djibouti, and The Caspian Sea.

Documented origins of Dead Sea salt being used for health and therapeutic properties can be traced as far back as biblical times. According to the Book of Samuel, King Solomon presented the Queen of Sheba with Dead Sea salts as a gift when she visited the Holy Land.

It’s also said that Cleopatra urged Marc Antony to conquer the regions surrounding the Dead Sea so that she would have access and a bountiful supply of all the fruits it offered. Cleopatra used the Dead Sea extensively in her beauty regimen, and she commanded that infrastructure be built around the Sea so that she could establish pharmaceutical and cosmetic clinics to offer salt therapies to privileged guests.

What Makes Dead Sea Salt So Special?

Dead Sea Salt contains 10X more minerals than normal sea salt.  Minerals which can assist in cleansing, detoxifying, and restoring a healthy status quo to the body, especially the skin and muscles.  These minerals include:

Magnesium - Magnesium is great for detoxifying and cleansing the epidermis. It promotes the cell metabolism, and in turn helps heal damaged or inflamed skin.

Calcium - Calcium also promotes skin growth and regeneration, moisture retention through the production of sebum, and stimulates the production of antioxidants.

Sodium - Sodium helps cleanse and exfoliate the skin, neutralise free radicals which can degenerate skin cells, and relieve sore muscles.

Zinc - Zinc also helps heal and rejuvenate skin, ward off acne, and protects the skin’s lipids and fibroblasts cells that create collagen.

Potassium - Potassium is great for keeping skin moist and plump, and for reducing puffiness.

Sulphur - Sulphur helps decongest pores. It also has powerful healing, antifungal, antimicrobial, and antibacterial propoerties.

What Are The Benefits of Dead Sea Salt For You?

  • A natural exfoliator: The gentle, yet abrasive texture of Dead Sea salt makes it an excellent exfoliator, which combined with its high sodium content, helps slough off dead skin cells and flakes, leaving you with fresh, revitalised skin.
  • Replenishes skin moisture: Minerals like calcium, zinc and potassium work to promote moisture retention, helping your skin stay soft, plump and hydrated.
  • Purifies your pores: Dead Sea salt has wonderful antifungal, antimicrobial, and antibacterial properties that help cleanse and detoxify the pores by driving out oils, dirt and other impurities. This helps to eliminate acne, pimples, blackheads and whiteheads.
  • Helps calm skin allergies, eczema, and psoriasis: A soothing bath in Dead Sea salt water can work wonders for skin allergies and conditions. The rich minerals work to exfoliate dead skin, help calm inflammation, and fight off allergens and microbes.
  • Help fight off pro-aging free radicals: Many of the minerals in Dead Sea salt fight off oxidation in the skill cells by eliminating free radicals, helping your skin looking younger and more vibrant. It’s fibroblast-protecting and hydrating properties also help to keep the skin looking plump and refreshed.
  • Soothes sore joints and muscles: A long, hot soak in Dead Sea salt water is a brilliant way to relax, unwind, and sooth those aching joints and muscles. Bromide helps ease muscle cramps, while the anti-inflammatory and detoxifying agents help reduce joint swelling, soreness and stiffness.
  • How Do You Use Dead Sea Salts?

    Whether you’re a bath person, or prefer a shower or quick scrub, the benefits of Dead Sea salt can be enjoyed in a number of ways.

    In the bath - Dissolve up to two cups of Dead Sea salt in warm bathwater, stirring to distribute evenly, and soak in it for at least 20 minutes. Will you are soaking, rub the salt into your skin in smooth circular motions to remove dead skin cells and other impurities.

    As a face scrub - Dissolve a handful of Dead Sea salt into a basin of tepid water, and rub the salt softly against the skin of your face to remove dirt, oils and dead skin to leave it feeling soft and rejuvenated.

    As a foot scrub - Do the same for your feet! Add a handful of salt to a foot bath for a relaxing foot soak. Use the grains to scrub away dirt and dead skin for fresh, smooth feet.

    In the shower - Keep a jar of Dead Sea salt handy in your shower to use as an invigorating body scrub. Massage gently into your neck, shoulders, arms and legs and rinse.

    Update: November 11, 2019: Make sure you choose a Dead Sea Salt brand that has been thoroughly cleaned (but not with chemicals!!) to ensure the most benefit.  We pick the SaltWorks brand Bokek, as it is cleaned with air and optics to produce a wonderful clean product.

    At The Salt Box, we think there is no better way to relax than a long, soothing soak in Dead Sea salts. It’s a brilliant, natural way to make your skin look and feel better, and will help you to relax and unwind. If you’d like to browse our range of Dead Sea salts, click here. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do!