About Dead Sea Salt

The Dead Sea is situated 400 m below sea level. No other site in the world provides such an extraordinary combination of natural elements with the capability to rehabilitate and restore physiological functions. Over millions of years, the hot dry air and high evaporation rate have contributed to the high salt concentration present in the Dead Sea making it one of the saltiest lakes in the world. Compared to the 3% salt content of ordinary seawater, Dead Sea water contains 32% salts with relatively high concentration of minerals such as magnesium, calcium, bromide and potassium. The hot sulphur springs and mud deposits provide treatment for a variety of ailments. The heat, concentration of salts on the skin and the enforced relaxation are all-helpful, particularly for muscular and joint conditions such as rheumatism and arthritis, fractures, and several skin diseases including psoriasis. Compared to regular seawater, the water of the Dead Sea contains 20 times as much bromine, 15 times as much magnesium and 10 times as much iodine. Bromine, a component of many sedatives, relaxes the nerves; magnesium counteracts skin allergies and clears the bronchial passages while iodine has a beneficial effect on certain glandular functions. Research has found that manganese and lithium may play a role in the effectiveness of balneotherapy with Dead Sea bath salt for psoriasis.