Dead Sea products refers to cosmetic products based on materials extracted from the Dead Sea, such as salt, mud, and potash.[1][2]

History

Ziva Gilad, a spa technician, came up with the idea of marketing Dead Sea mud after watching women tourists scooping up the mud to take home.[3] In 1988, a single stand selling bottles of Ahava body scrub to tourists earned $1 million.[4] The Dead Sea Works is the world's fourth largest producer and supplier of potash products.[5] The company also produces magnesium chloride, industrial salts, de-icers, bath salts, table salt, and raw materials for the cosmetic industry.[5]

Health benefits

Dead sea salt

A 2007 study was published that tested the effectiveness of Dead Sea mouthwash and moisturizing cream on cancer patients who were experiencing dermatitis and mucositis while receiving a mixture of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The study showed that the patients receiving the Dead Sea products saw an improvement in their condition, although further randomized studies were warranted.[6]

Rhinosinusitis patients receiving Dead Sea saline nasal irrigation exhibited significantly better symptom relief compared to standard hypertonic saline spray.[7]

Mud pack therapy

Dead Sea mud pack therapy is believed to temporarily relieve pain in patients with osteoarthritis of the knees. According to researchers of the Ben Gurion University of the Negev, treatment with mineral-rich mud compresses can be used to augment conventional medical therapy.[8]

Salt bath therapy

Dead sea salt body scrub

In 1989, an Israeli dermatologist tested the effect of Dead Sea salts on 50 patients with psoriasis. 47 patients out of 50 (94%) experienced significant relief. The most improvement was shown in patients who soaked in a solution of 1 kg (2 pounds) of salt 3 times a week for 6 weeks in a row.[9]

Criticism

Lack of long-term research

While some dermatologists claim that the minerals found in Dead Sea products can be helpful for ailments such as skin rashes,[1] others have expressed skepticism due to a lack of long term scientific research backing up the claims.[10]

Environmental damage

In July 2011, a Dead Sea Protection and Rehabilitation bill was proposed that would regulate the industry Dead Sea Works, as well as a bill that would tax products produced from Dead Sea components.[11] The bill was supported by Gilad Erdan as well as by several members of the Knesset, but did not pass.[12] Environmentalists have stated that the vaporizing of the sea's water to produce commercial products as well as the water being piped to hotels have contributed to the lowering of the Dead Sea's water levels.[13]

Political issues

Some consumers and human rights groups have endorsed boycotts of Dead Sea products and other materials made in or along the West Bank of the Dead Sea,[14] citing concerns such as blatant violation of human rights in Israel or of certain companies being "economically linked to Israel's illegal occupation of the Palestinian territories."[15][16]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Beauty Secrets From the Dead Sea". ABC News. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  2. ↑ As It Shrinks, the Dead Sea Nourishes Promises of an Economic Bloom, The New York Times
  3. ↑ Ahava turns Dead Sea Mud into Money
  4. ↑ Export Now: Five Keys to Entering New Markets, Frank Lavin, Peter Cohan
  5. 1 2 "Case Study: Dead Sea Works - Sdom, Israel". Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2012-12-23.
  6. ↑ Matceyevsky, D; Diana Matceyevsky; Neora Yaal Hahoshen; Akiva Vexler; Noam Asna; Avi Khafif; Rami Ben-Yosef (June 2007). "Assessing the Effectiveness of Dead Sea Products as Prophylactic Agents for Acute Radiochemotherapy‑Induced Skin and Mucosal Toxicity in Patients with Head and Neck Cancers: A Phase 2 study" (PDF). Israel Medical Association Journal. 9 (6): 439–442. PMID 17642390. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  7. ↑ A Randomized, Prospective, Double-Blind Study on the Efficacy of Dead Sea Salt Nasal Irrigations. Michael Friedman, Ramakrishnan Vidyasagar, Ninos Joseph. doi:10.1097/01.mlg.0000216798.10007. The Laryngoscope, Volume 116, Issue 6, pages 878–882, June 2006
  8. ↑ Therapy With Mud Compresses for Knee Osteoarthritis: Comparison of Natural Mud Preparations With Mineral-Depleted Mud. Flusser, Daniel; Abu-Shakra, Mahmoud; Friger, Michael; Codish, Shlomi; Sukenik, Shaul. Journal of Clinical Rheumatology. August 2002 - Volume 8 - Issue 4 - pp 197-203
  9. ↑ Dead Sea Salt Psoriasis Treatment
  10. ↑ JOHANNES, LAURA. "Can Dead Sea Products Liven Up Your Skin?". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  11. ↑ "Bills seek to save Dead Sea". Globes. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
  12. ↑ "Cabinet quashes plan to rehabilitate Dead Sea". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  13. ↑ "Dead Sea clings on for dear life". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  14. ↑ "Arab Israelis Boycott West Bank Products". Shalom Life. Archived from the original on 25 November 2015. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  15. ↑ "Spat over Israeli skin products". Independent Online (South Africa). Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  16. ↑ "South African Pharmacy Faces Boycott over Dead Sea Products". Arutz Sheva. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
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