What is Dead Sea salt, anyway?

As you probably know, Dead Sea salt comes from the Dead Sea in Israel, and the Dead Sea has been a therapeutic site for thousands of years. Pliny the Elder, in the first century A.D., wrote about the healing waters of the Dead Sea.

So, Dead Sea salt is what is left after the water evaporates, and it is a highly potent combination of minerals. It usually is coarser than table salt and not perfectly white (if it is perfectly white, then it's been refined, and you don't want that!) With Dead Sea salt, you can recreate the healing waters in your own bathtub.

High mineral content of salt may have health benefits.

What does Dead Sea salt do that other bath salts don't? It has many more minerals than Epsom salt or regular sea salt, though those are mineral-rich as well. In addition to sodium chloride, Dead Sea salt contains magnesium chloride, potassium chloride, calcium chloride, and bromium, which are said to promote tissue healing, relieve muscle cramps, balance body fluid levels, and increase circulation.

Dead Sea salt may help with many skin problems.

There have been a few clinical studies (you know, the scientific method with controls and variables) that showed that Dead Sea salt helps certain skin conditions, such as psoriasis. All I know is that my own skin got really soft and didn't dry out as a result of many Dead Sea salt baths. And it certainly helped my muscles recover from hard workout sessions! It has been recommended by doctors for eczema, psoriasis, and other skin disorders; whether or not it really works for those is another story. Your best bet is to get a small amount and see if Dead Sea salt works for you.

Ideal temperature for your mineral bath

By the way, don't make the bath water too hot! It should be tepid, otherwise your pores will close off and you won't be able to absorb the minerals. The best bath temperature for Dead Sea salt is only a few degrees above body temperature. It should feel warm, but not hot.

Where to find Dead Sea Salt.

Unless you live near a spa supplier, your best bet is to buy Dead Sea salt online, in bulk, even though the shipping will cost some. You can buy it from Whole Paycheck Foods, but it is really expensive, like $6 per pound, when in bulk it's $2 - $3 per pound. Since you need 1 or 2 cups of Dead Sea salt to make a good bath, it's totally worth it to buy 5 - 50 pounds at a time. I recommend a company called Saltworks; they have a lot of good information and a great sales staff who really know their stuff!

Other things to make:

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