The Benefits of a Seaweed Bath for Well-Being

The Benefits of a Seaweed Bath for Well-Being
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Healing with the Sea

Why is seaweed so beneficial? The natural greens from the sea are concentrated with valuable vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals. This

rich dose of nourishment feeds the blood, the skin, the nerves, and helps to detoxify the body. Taking a seaweed bath is a way to absorb all of the beneficial compounds through the skin and into the bloodstream. As a result you will feel relaxed, revitalized, and cleansed.

Seaweed Benefits

What exactly are all of the benefits of seaweed? What does this bathing experience have to offer? By soaking in waters infused with the nutrients of the sea your cells will release excess fluids and fatty wastes through the skin. These toxins are then replaced with minerals, which feed cells and nourish body systems. The high iodine content strengthens the thyroid gland, helping the body metabolize food. The vitamin K in seaweed nourishes the adrenals. Potassium regulates blood pressure and the transfer of nutrients through cell membranes. Magnesium helps to prevent the calcification of tissue and is important for healthy nerves. Other important nutrients that are found in seaweed include iron, calcium, and vitamin A. These baths can be used to :

  • Increase circulation

  • Reduce stress and tension

    seaweed

  • Relieve allergies

  • Treat congestion

  • Relieve arthritis

  • Slow the effects of aging

  • Detoxify

  • Maintain hormone balance

  • Increase fat burning

  • Nourish the skin

How to Make a Therapeutic Bath

To make a bath from seaweed you can use freshly harvested seaweed from the water if you live near the ocean. Place the sea greens in the tub and add enough hot water to soak in. The water should be very hot, preferably 101 to 104 degrees F. Make it as hot as you can stand, allowing it to cool to a bearable level before stepping in. Soak for twenty to forty minutes. A layer of film will form on your body as the benefits of the seaweed enter your body. As the film dissolves, your bath is done. Be careful to remove the greens before draining the water so you do not clog your tub.

If you do not live next to the sea you can simply use dried seaweed to make a bath. Use about four ounces of one or more types of seaweed, for example try combining kelp and dulse. Place the dried greens in a muslin bag and add directly to the hot bath or first steep in a pot of freshly boiled water for about twenty minutes, then adding the infusion and the muslin bag to the bath water.

If you have any serious health conditions, in particular high blood pressure, or if you are pregnant, talk to your doctor before soaking in very hot water. Also, allow yourself time to relax after the bath.

Try taking a therapeutic seaweed bath once a week to enjoy the healing benefits of the sea’s natural greens. Enjoy improving your well-being!

References

“Sea Gardens: Vegetables from the Sea.” (The Green Scene Gazette, March, 2008) <www.walkergreenscene.com/gazettes/3_08.pdf>

Page, Linda. “Healthy Healing: A Guide to Self-Healing for Everyone, 11th Edition” (Traditional Wisdom, 2003).

photo by Karen and kerry (CC/flickr) https://www.flickr.com/photos/karenandkerry/504547655/

photo by Hans Karlberg (CC/flickr) https://www.flickr.com/photos/visulogik/218631019/

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