Going back to the basics is the best way to get in touch with the healing power of nature! Salt is essential for life and balances many physiologic functions within the body. The Greeks have used sea salt topically for skin conditions and also internally for digestive problems for over 2,000 years.
Ever wondered where the term talassotherapy came from?
Thalassa is the old Greek word for sea! Talassotherapy is the use of sea water to support relaxation.
FOR THE MIND:
Have you ever just stopped your mind and listened to the waves hit the shore?
The simple act of listening to the sea can create a feeling of calmness inside of you. Walking into the water and letting your body float inside the sea is a type of meditative state in which you can relax your mind and body as you allow the water to take you away.
Sea salt is also rich in magnesium, a relaxing mineral that will soothe your muscles and clear you thoughts.
FOR THE BODY:
Bathing in salt helps the skin to regenerate while reducing inflammation, pain, supporting detoxification, and soothing sore muscles. It has been shown to treat psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, eczema, and dandruff.
DIY SALT SCRUB
A salt scrub gives you a beautiful glow because it exfoliates the skin while pulling impurities out of it.
1. Add 4 cups of unrefined Sea Salt to a large bowel (optional: for added detoxification add 1 cup of baking soda)
2. Add 1 cup of coconut oil with the salts into the bowel
3. Add 10-20 drops of calendula or lavender essential oil and mix until it becomes a paste.
4. Step into the shower and begin to apply a small amount of the paste to your feet and move up your body (similar to your lymphatic flow).
5. Rinse!
Every morning since I have arrived in Crete I start the day with Greek coffee and it's amazing! That's quite a compliment coming from a Seattlite, the birthplace of coffee in the U.S. (and Starbucks).
Why is Greek coffee so much better? Well, it's all in the preparation which creates a higher concentration of more protective compounds than your average cup of joe.