Dead Sea Mud
The Dead Sea is a salt water lake in the Middle East, bordered by Israel and the West Bank to the west, and Jordan to the East. The geographical features of the Dead Sea — including the fact that the lake is at the lowest sea level of any body of water on earth and surrounded by mountains — makes the surrounding silt and mud rich with a unique combination of minerals like magnesium, sodium, and potassium.
People use Dead Sea mud to treat health conditions ranging from psoriasis to back pain. A great deal of research backs up claims that Dead Sea mud can relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and more.
Benefits of Dead Sea Mud
Helps treat psoriasis
Dead Sea mud can be applied as a compress to psoriasis flares. Researchers have established that the high concentrations of salt and other chemical compounds in the mud can be used to treat psoriasis effectively.
Using Dead Sea mud as a mud compress in areas where your psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis is, can decrease symptoms and relieve pain caused by inflammation.
Reduces skin impurities
If you have dry skin, try a Dead Sea mud mask. Mud masks can work to remove impurities and dead skin on your body.
An added benefit of Dead Sea mud is that the salt and magnesium in it can improve your skin’s functionality by making it more elastic.
Provides relief for arthritis
In one experiment, heated mud packs were applied to the extremities of people with arthritis for 20 minutes, once per day, over a span of 2 weeks. This study used Dead Sea mud and people saw a marked decrease in their arthritis symptoms that lasted up to three months.
People with inflammatory arthritis, like rheumatoid arthritis or psoriatic arthritis, are more likely to experience this benefit.
Helps soothe chronic back pain
Data from a 2014 studyTrusted Source indicated that a Dead Sea mud compress applied five times a week for three consecutive weeks, led to a significant improvement in symptoms for people with chronic lower back pain.
Helps treat acne
Dead Sea mud has been tested and proven to have an antimicrobial effect on strains of bacteria that live on human skin.
Using Dead Sea mud in a mud mask, or getting face creams and lotions that contain Dead Sea mud, might help you to have fewer acne.