February 7, 2011/ altair / European SPA Resorts

There are some places on our Earth that you have to visit before you die. Israel is one of them. No kidding. It’s a must to go to the land where three world’s religions were born. Even once in a lifetime. We know what we are talking about; we have been there many times. We can tell you a lot but you have to see it with your own eyes. And if you decide to go to Israel, then combine tourism, vacations and healing your body. Improving your health, getting cured or just for preventive purposes (you regularly do oil change in your car, don’t you) – take a week of majestic treatment by salty water and black mud of the Dead Sea. It’s exactly what our story is about. And it is only 98km from Tel Aviv, 39km from Jerusalem, and 220km from Eilat!

The Saltiest Sea in the World!

Actually, the Dead Sea is a salt lake of 67km (42mi) long and 18km (11mi) wide that lies 423m (1388ft) below sea level. It is the lowest point in the world! And also the deepest hypersaline lake in the world – 377m (1237ft) deep! The Jordan River is the only major water source flowing into the Dead Sea and there are no outlet streams. Its 33.7% salinity (which is 8.6 times more salty than the ocean water!) makes any marine life almost impossible, hence its name. Only minuscule quantities of bacteria and microbial fungi can survive that harsh environment.

When you entering the sea water you feel like it is greasy. And again, the salt makes the water so dense (1.24 kg/L) that you cannot dive and can hardly swim. But … you can experience absolutely wonderful relaxing floating! A popular fad by visitors is to have their picture taken while reading a newspaper and floating on the surface of the water.

The water in the Dead Sea is extremely salty, and has been estimated to be the second saltiest major body of water in the world. Due to irrigation and domestic use the overall flow of the Jordan River has been reduced (the river waters are 70-90 % used for human purposes) and the high evaporation rate, the Dead Sea is shrinking. All the shallow waters of the southern end of the sea have been drained and are now salt flats. Although the Dead Sea would never entirely disappear (because evaporation slows down as surface area decreases and saltiness increases), measures are currently being proposed to siphon water from the Red Sea through a series of tunnels or canals in order to replenish the rapidly shrinking waters and also provide electrical power to the surrounding countries.

The mineral content

The mineral content of the Dead Sea is very different from that of ocean water. The composition of the salt, as anhydrous chlorides on a weight percentage basis, is calcium chloride (CaCl₂) 14.4%, potassium chloride (KCl) 4.4%, magnesium chloride (MgCl₂) 50.8% and sodium chloride (common salt, NaCl) 30.4%. In comparison, the salt in the water of most oceans and seas is approximately 97% sodium chloride. The concentration of sulfate ions (SO₄^2?) is very low, and the concentration of bromide ions (Br^?) is the highest of all waters on Earth. An unusual feature of the Dead Sea is its discharge of asphalt. From deep seeps, the Dead Sea constantly spits up small pebbles and blocks of the black substance. Egyptian mummification processes used asphalt imported from the Dead Sea region.

Climate

The Dead Sea’s sky is blue and sunny and air is dry all year-round. It has less than 100mm of annual rainfall. The area receives an average of 330 days of sunshine per year, with rainy days occurring only during winter (if at all).

Sometimes flood happens, salinity drops down, and for a short while the Dead Sea comes to life. In 1980, very interesting natural phenomenon occurred: the normally dark blue Dead Sea turned red. It was because the Dead Sea to be teeming with a type of algae called Dunaliella. The Dunaliella in turn nourished carotenoid-containing (red-pigmented) halobacteria, whose presence caused the color change. Since 1980, for more than 30 years, the weather has been dry and the algae and the bacteria have not returned in measurable numbers.

The average summer temperature is 32-39°C, and winter temperature is between 20 and 23°C. Due to the high barometric pressure, the atmosphere is characterized by high oxygen content and weakened ultraviolet radiation.

Healing Power of the Dead Sea

The Dead Sea is a gift to us from Mother Nature. It is the most unusual, magic, fantastic etc. etc. therapeutic resort. Nowhere on our planet you can find such a unique combination of natural resources and climatic conditions that have amazing healing power.

For thousands of years, the Dead Sea has attracted visitors from around the Mediterranean basin. Biblically, it was a place of refuge for King David. It was one of the world’s first health resorts (for Herod the Great), and it has been the supplier of a wide variety of products, from balms for Egyptian mummification and cosmetics to potash for fertilizers.

The Dead Sea area has become a major center for health research and treatment for several reasons. The mineral content of the water, the very low content of pollens and other allergens in the atmosphere, the reduced ultraviolet component of solar radiation, and the higher atmospheric pressure at this great depth each have specific health effects.

Although the Dead Sea is very sunny the low altitude and extra atmosphere makes the sunlight weaker. This quality of the Dead Sea sunlight is the real secret behind its mythological curing ability for several diseases, especially skin diseases. This is, in fact, natural phototherapy.

Bathing in the Dead Sea water for 20-30 minutes 2-3 times a day is usually recommended.

The mud along the shore of the Dead Sea contains many minerals and has medicinal and therapeutic effects. It is not uncommon for visitors to cover their bodies with the dark mud.

The Dead Sea treatments present a unique mix of several major types of therapies:

• Thalassotherapy (from the Greek word thalassa, meaning “sea”): Treatment is applied in various forms: bathing in Dead Sea water, showers of warmed seawater, application of marine mud or of algae paste, or the inhalation of sea fog.
• Climatotherapy: Treatment which exploits local climatic features such as temperature, humidity, sunshine, barometric pressure and special atmospheric constituents
• Heliotherapy: Treatment that exploits the biological effects of the sun’s radiation

And last but not least: the Dead Sea treatments are not only pleasant and natural but the most cost effective! Moreover, you can combine tourism and cure!

Skin Diseases

Worldwide, the Dead Sea region is recognized for its efficacy in the treatment of skin diseases such as: psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, vitiligo, acne vulgaris, neonatal jaundice, and mycosis fungoides. A doctor will prescribe you the time of exposure to the sun, in a proportion and duration which depends on the skin type, season of the year, time of the day, and the medical diagnosis. No corticosteroids!

Respiratory Diseases

The highest barometric pressure on the planet (800mm of Hg), unpolluted, allergen-free, dry and oxygen-rich air (3.3-4.8%) can cure people having different respiratory diseases: asthma, cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive lung disease. In fact, it is the simplest and most pleasant way of treatment!

Rheumatic Diseases

People suffering from any kind of arthritis undergo their treatment including bathing in the Dead Sea, bathing in pools containing Dead Sea water or thermal sulfur spring water, self application of black mud at the Sea shore, envelopment of warm mud packs to the joints and medical massage.

Reumatic conditions and diseases treated at the Dead Sea:

Inflamentary and degenerative arthritis:

• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Seronegative Spondylarthropathies : Bechterew disease (Ankylosing Spondylitis), Psoriatic Arthritis, Reactive Arthritis (e.g. Reiters syndrome)

• Osteoarthritis
• Back and Neck Problems
• Chronic or Acute Low Back pain and Cervical Syndrome

Other conditions:

• Fibromyalgia
• Tendonitis
• Bursitis
• Recovery from different orthopedic surgeries

Others conditions and diseases

The unique qualities of the Dead Sea can also successfully cure the following conditions and diseases:

Uveitis is swelling and irritation of the uvea, the middle layer of the eye. The uvea provides most of the blood supply to the retina. Uveitis can affect one or both eyes.

Crohn’s disease is a form of inflammatory bowel disease. It usually affects the intestines, but may occur anywhere from the mouth to the end of the rectum (anus).

Heart disease: It is a proven fact that it is not only safe for people with heart disease to stay at the Dead Sea but also their conditions improved subjectively and objectively.

Hypertension: regardless of your age or high blood pressure, you will benefit out of the Dead Sea treatment.

Orthopedic Rehabilitation:

The Dead Sea area is considered as a natural treatment for physical rehabilitation, most sutable for people after surgery, personal injuries or car accidents.

Whatever you might suffer from, you will be welcome and treated not as a patient in hospital but as a guest in spa resort.

Tips and Cautions

First of all, a few words of caution. Please be considerate. Remember, your safety is your responsibility.

Beware! During winter and spring there is a danger of floods on rainy days. The Dead Sea basin receives rainwater from relatively far-off areas like the Jerusalem Mountains. This means that sometimes during a sunny day a flood will suddenly and unexpectedly occur. Therefore, be careful when hiking to distant narrow places during these seasons and stay tuned to the weather news. The weather forecast always gives warnings if there is a possibility of flooding. Always do as national reserves staff order – they know the terrain very well. In 2007, several Israelis who had been rappelling were killed by a flood because they did not obey national reserve staff orders.

Beware! Several people drown every year in the Dead Sea because they do not obey the rule: Only float on your back. Accidents happen when someone tries to swim normally (stomach first) in the water – the legs will float better than usual and the head will be submerged. Note that this applies to weaker swimmers, and specifically to attempts to swim breaststroke. Breaststroke is also made difficult by the fact that the legs are raised too high in the water to provide normal forward motion when kicking. Moreover, the salt in the water stings cuts and causes great pain if it comes in contact with the eyes, adding to the panic if one’s head is under water. A strong swimmer can easily swim freestyle; if you plan to try this, goggles are essential and should be tightly fitted. Although safe for a strong swimmer, and an unusual sensation because of the buoyancy of the water, it is not an undertaking most people are likely to sustain for long. Even with the eyes protected by goggles, water will get into the nose and sting, and onto the lips and inevitably into the mouth. It tastes disgusting.

There are many salt deposits and crystals scattered along the shoreline. Many visitors walk the beach in search of large pieces as souvenirs. Do not forget to wear waterproof sandals: the salt is very jagged and can easily cut your feet.

And one more tip: do not use your towel after sea-bathing! Wash the salt off in the beach showers first. Otherwise the towel will get salty and leave salt on your skin when you use it after your shower making you itchy bitchy.

Go to the Dead Sea! You’ll never regret! And if you decide to do so – take the most out of it!

Tags The Dead Sea: New Life for Your Body