Seaweed contains countless minerals, vitamins, and other beneficial ingredients in high concentration making it the perfect solution for replenishing the body’s minerals, protecting skin against free radicals. It can also be helpful in treating skin conditions including psoriasis, eczema, and acne.
Seaweed naturally cleanses and purifies the skin helping to improve its suppleness and elasticity.
Seaweed baths can help to
- Re-mineralise the body
- Hydrate and moisturise nails, hair and skin
- Soothe aches and pains
- Deeply detoxify
- Aid healing process of skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema
- Stimulate the circulation and lymphatic system
- Break down lactic acid
The seaweed bath is a 300 year old tradition in Ireland, and having sampled my first one at Inishbofin Marine Spa, I was eager to talk to someone from Voya, who run the busiest spa in Ireland at Strandhill, Co Sligo. I was amazed by the level of activity – young, fit surfers running out of the sea, across the road in their wetsuits, and into the multi-roomed steamy bath house! Obviously a very popular facility……
Although Fucus Serratus is often used for baths, I generally use Laminaria just because I prefer its broad leaves….. if you are at all nervous about being in the bath with sea vegetables you could always place them in a net and suspend it below the hot water tap……
The downside to using Laminaria is that the kelps are lower littoral seaweeds, so only accessible at low tide on Springs…….
All the wracks, of which fucus serratus is one, can be found at upper, mid and lower littoral levels so are always accessible, and very plentiful on Atlantic shores.
My experiments with the different seaweeds caused me to stick with Laminaria Digitata for my products, mainly because I liked it so much! Scientific research shows that both Laminaria Digitata and Fucus Serratus improve Type 1 Collagen production in skin, protect the skin from the environment, and help plump the skin thus reducing the signs of ageing. Laminaria also has anti-inflammatory properties.*
*see Voya.ie for scientific facts
SUPERFOOD!
Isn’t it staggering that something that is lying around on our shores can not only be bathed in, used in the cosmetics industry, made into wound dressings, used both to thicken desserts and added to slimming aids, made into animal feed, put into fertilisers to allow us to grow more food, etc, etc, etc, but can also be included directly in our diet? Goodness, we’ll be wearing it next……well actually, some of us apparently already are! Look at www.theswatchbook.offsetwarehouse.com
Seaweeds assimilate minerals directly from the sea and are thought to be the single most nutritious food that you can eat. They are much more nutrient-dense than any land-grown vegetables, and an excellent source of micronutrients including folate, calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, and selenium. And, of course, iodine……*
*those with existing thyroid disease, or those pre-disposed to it, should talk to their GP before introducing seaweed into their diet on a regular basis.
More surprising facts about seaweed:
- Seaweeds and microscopic algae are the basis of the food chain in the oceans, and together make up roughly nine tenths of all plant life on earth.
- Most of the world’s oxygen comes from them.
- Seaweeds support primary production levels that are 6-10 times greater than the most intensive land-based agricultural systems
- Seaweeds are amongst the fastest growing organisms on the planet. For example, under optimal conditions, the giant kelp Macrocystis Pyrifera, can grow nearly a metre a day!
Disclaimer
Islandelements makes no claim to cure any pre-existing condition