What is thalassotherapy: concept, history of appearance and benefits

When thinking about what thalassotherapy is, most people associate this unfamiliar term with something distant and romantic. From this word emanates vacation, seaside vacation, sun, soft sand and positive emotions. For the most part, this is true, but still thalassotherapy is a treatment with the means provided to man by Mother Nature.

Scientific rationale for the term

From Greek, thalassotherapy means: thalassa – sea, therapia – treatment. Sea treatment. From the point of view of science, it is one of the directions of an alternative type of medicine, used to provide a therapeutic effect through the marine climate, as well as with the help of the healing gifts of the sea:

• sea ​​salt;

• various trace elements contained in sea water;

• healing mud;

• algae and planktonic plants;

• products derived from certain marine life.

The origin of the medical direction

The healing properties of the sea people discovered a long time ago, even in ancient times. Perhaps there is no such ancient civilization that would not come into contact with the sea in one way or another. The ancient Egyptian queen Cleopatra made face and body masks from healing sea mud mixed with the decay products of specially caught and outdoor-aged mollusks.

The Roman emperor Nero did not go far from his predecessor in his undertakings – his favorite medical procedure was baths from sea salt mixed with the blood of young buffaloes. The emperor firmly believed that the forces of these two components would elevate him above nature and bring him closer to immortality.

The Greek physician Hippocrates made complex lotions, which included such marine components as mud, finely crushed shells of mollusks and gruel from algae. In addition, additives from plants growing on the seashores – needles, acacia stalks, etc.

With these lotions, the ancient healer eased the suffering of people with joint diseases, gout, healed some dermatitis and even lichen and erysipelas of the skin. It was thanks to his activities that later the terms (baths) became widespread, which became popular first in Ancient Rome, and then in other territories. Nowadays, it is perhaps impossible to find countries that do not have their own national bath.

The term "thalassotherapy" was introduced into everyday life by the French doctor De La Bonadière. Despite the fact that people have been treated with sea components for a long time, thalassotherapy as a science was born only in 1869. This happened thanks to a scientific dissertation written by the English scientist Charles Russell. In his work, the Englishman clearly proved the healing effect of sea water on the human body, laying the foundation for thalassotherapy as a kind of scientific medicine.

The year 1899 became a landmark for the "sea therapy" in that the first research institute was opened to study it.

Modern science, based on the discoveries of past centuries, has stepped far ahead. Thalassotherapy is no exception. To date, there are many different types of medical and cosmetic procedures based on the healing properties of the sea and its products.

Beneficial effect on the body

Sea water is a unique storehouse of natural trace elements. In its composition, it is 90% similar to human blood plasma and includes a balanced complex of sodium, magnesium and potassium molecules, which affects the water-salt metabolism of the human body and contributes to the accumulation and preservation of beneficial moisture by the skin.

Calcium and phosphorus play a huge role in strengthening the musculoskeletal system and enhanced synthesis of vitamin D. The rich sulfur content promotes the body's synthesis of rare, but very energetically valuable amino acids, which keep a person in good condition long after the end of therapy.

It is precisely this that, over the next six to seven months, has a positive effect on the well-being of people who have visited sea resorts, and among peoples permanently residing on sea shores, it is genetically preserved in national psychology, making these peoples eternally cheerful, unhurried and careless. No wonder, since antiquity, people preferred to live near the sea.

In addition to sea water, sea products are of great benefit to human health: pomace from various algae, mud applications from clay raised to the surface from the depths of the sea, face and body masks from crushed shells of mollusks, which contain most of the elements from the periodic table.

A special place is occupied by the consumption of seafood for food – the so-called diet based on the principle of thalassotherapy. Do not underestimate the useful value of sea air. Charged with healing negative ions of various substances, it has good antiseptic properties, helps to strengthen weakened immunity. No wonder staying on it is indicated for people suffering from chronic forms of tonsillitis, bronchitis and other diseases of the nasopharynx. In the reasoned reports of modern medical scientists, the facts of long-term remissions in such patients have been repeatedly noted.

Varieties of medical procedures

Modern medicine, which has stepped far ahead, has forced us to take a fresh look at traditional methods of treatment, including thalassotherapy. To date, a huge number of varieties of medical procedures in this category are known.

Baths with sea water – the patient is in a bath filled with filtered and purified sea water, heated to a temperature of 37 °. This water temperature is considered optimal for the skin to absorb most of the beneficial substances contained in sea water. Both a single and a group type of reception of the procedure is possible.

Charcot shower with sea water – the patient takes shower massage procedures of both horizontal and vertical water outlets. In the process of point exposure to water, a massage effect is exerted on a certain area (or several areas of the body) in order to stimulate blood circulation and saturate the skin with essential nutrients.

Acting on the skin on the principle of tickling (positive stimulation of a group of external and internal receptors), water:

• increases the overall tone of the body, strengthens the immune system, has a positive effect in the prevention and treatment of cellulite;
• plays a big role in overall weight loss;
• reduces the depressive state of the nervous system.

SPA therapy is essentially the same baths, but with an additional massage effect. To date, there are several options for a massage jet:

• supply under increased pressure of the internal water jet;
• the same principle, but the air jet;
• some spas use multiple water and air jets.

Sometimes small stones are additionally laid out at the bottom of the bath or jacuzzi for additional stimulation of the foot receptors.

Mud therapy – treatment by using applications from clay extracted from coastal beaches or the seabed. There are a great many types of clay, among them white, red and blue varieties are especially popular:

1. White clay

   used mainly for cosmetic purposes, it saturates the skin with essential vitamins and microelements, as it is rich in magnesium, selenium, calcium and zinc. Tightens flabby skin, improving its tone. In addition, it promotes increased blood flow to the capillaries, thereby improving the complexion and body.

2. Red clay has a general relaxing and calming effect, improves skin tone. Due to the large amount of iodine in its composition, it helps to strengthen the immune system.

3. Blue clay is a healing option. With its help, chronic inflammation of the joints is removed, for a long time preventing further exacerbation of the disease. Its main mineral component is copper.

Algotherapy – treatment with algae. The main direction of this technique is cosmetic. Various combinations of cosmetic masks for hair, face, body are created from algal complexes. Some subspecies, for example, a group of red algae, heal deep trophic ulcers and postoperative wounds.

Cavitotherapy – treatment with sea air. Many people who have arrived at seaside resorts underestimate this type of thalassotherapy. Nevertheless, it is very valuable in its value, since the combination of oxygen ions and other elements that make up the air make it an excellent remedy against the destructive effects of anaerobic pathogenic microorganisms on the body.

Heliotherapy is a treatment associated with exposure to direct sunlight. Undoubtedly, sunbathing is important at the time set for these procedures: in the morning until 11.00 and in the evening from 16.30. Proper sun treatment can save a person from the manifestations of rickets. In the process of skin absorption of sunlight, vitamin D, valuable for the body, is actively synthesized, which directly affects the proper development of bones and the strengthening of immune processes in the body.

Diet therapy is the consumption of dietary products based on marine organisms. Many of them have a positive effect on metabolic processes in various organs and tissues, regulate the work of the cardiovascular system, digestive, sexual and many other areas.

Contraindications to the wellness method

Undoubtedly, most people have indications for natural therapy. Treatment with the sea and its components is useful for young children, whose body grows and adapts, and the brain is formed under the influence of external impressions.

However, there are a number of diseases in which sea treatment can adversely affect health:

• any diseases in the acute phase, when a person feels an ache, temperature;

• painful conditions in which the patient experiences nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;

• oncological neoplasms – the maritime climate enhances metabolic processes in the body, which will contribute to the growth of metastases in tissues and organs;

• in persons suffering from mental illness, climate change can adversely affect the mental state;

• some types (diet therapy and algotherapy) are contraindicated for individuals with individual intolerance and suffering from allergic reactions;

• with caution, thalassotherapy should be treated by people suffering from diseases of the cardiovascular system, since the effect of heat adversely affects the condition of the vessels;

• thyroid diseases based on excess iodine.

It is also recommended that pregnant women refrain from thalassotherapy. Due to constant hormonal fluctuations, women who are in the menopause should take water procedures with caution.