Thalassotherapy (from the Greek word thalassa, meaning "sea") is the use of seawater as a form of therapy.[ Note: Thalasso therapy is a sub-definition under the listing for Thalasso.] It also includes the systematic use of sea products and shore climate.[Roger Charlier and Marie-Claire P. Chaineux. "The Healing Sea: A Sustainable Coastal Ocean Resource: Thalassotherapy." Journal of Coastal Research, Number 254:838-856. 2009.] There is no scientific evidence that thalassotherapy is effective.
History
A particularly prominent practitioner was Dr. Richard Russell,
[Richard Russell, The Oeconomy of Nature in Acute and Chronical Diseases of the Glands (8th edition, John and James Rivington, London, 1755; and James Fletcher, Oxford), accessed 7 December 2009. Full text at Internet Archive (archive.org)][ First published 1750 as De Tabe Glandulari. Full text at Google Books.] whose efforts have been credited with playing a role in the populist "sea side mania of the second half of the eighteenth century",
[Gray, Fred. (2006), p.46] although broader social movements were also at play.
[Gray, Fred. (2006), p.47] In Póvoa de Varzim,
Portugal, an area believed to have high concentrations of iodine due to kelp forests, and subject to sea fog, the practice is in historical records since 1725 and was started by Benedictine monks; it expanded to farmers shortly after. In the 19th century, heated saltwater public baths opened and became especially popular with higher classes.
[Projecto para a Construção de Pavilhões na Praia da Póvoa (Maio a Junho de 1924) - Arquivo Municipal da Póvoa de Varzim (2008)] Others claim that the practice of thalassotherapy is older: "The origins of thermal baths and related treatments can be traced back to remote antiquity. Romans were firm believers in the virtues of thermalism and thalassotherapy".
[Charlier, Roger H 2009]
Application
The therapy is applied in various forms, as either showers of warmed seawater, application of marine
mud or of
algae paste, or the inhalation of sea
fog.
destination spa make hot seawater and provide mud and seaweed wrapping services.
See also
