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“Just squat like you’re in a sitting position and then lie back.” Of course, I looked at her a little hesitantly, but figured, “What the heck! Here goes!” That is my first experience with the Dead Sea in Israel.

Floating in this Sea isn’t like floating in any salt water ocean. It contains three times the amount of salt as any ocean in the world and possesses innumerable minerals not found in any other body of water. It is 1350 feet below sea level and loses 7 million tons of water a day through evaporation. While it loses water, the minerals remain and this, in turn makes the salt content increase.
I felt the difference as soon as entering this pool of extremes. Every razor shaved pore and cut screamed from the salty sting. When I leaned as instructed my body suddenly became buoyant and was lifted up. It is impossible to drown in this sea. One of my fellow travelers sent a picture of me lounging like I was sitting in the water on a lawn chaise with the back slightly inclined. There was no need to be straight as a board, the water makes you that light without fear of sinking.
My next task was to remove myself from this watery paradise. It felt as if a suction cup had a hold of my body and wanted to keep me there. I finally broke free and went to the mud hole. My one regret was that it was too salty for a mud fight. I rubbed the black, coarse stuff all over my arms and legs and let it set for a while before returning to rinse it off. This was better than my days on the farm getting muddy from the rainy puddles and rinsing off in the kiddy pool with a hose!
In all seriousness though. Many people tout the healing powers of the Dead Sea. My husband and I were speaking with the manager of a restaurant recently, who happened to come from Pakistan. When discovering we had been to Israel, he asked if we visited the Dead Sea while we were there. He apparently goes for a swim whenever visiting his Pakistani family because it helps his arthritis. I can vouch that for about 2 days afterward; I definitely had more movement without the stiffness of stroke related spasticity in my right arm. I brought a zip-lock baggy of the mud home with me. When the weather gets warmer, I’ll mix it with the water in my daughter’s kiddy pool and soak, soak, soak. My husband who had very dry hands and feet definitely felt the difference after being in the water. He felt like he had “baby skin” and his feet really felt refreshed.
As is the case with most tours, our guides took us to a plant that made Dead Sea Beauty Products. It is AHAVA-Dead Sea Laboratories. We bought their 6.8 ounce bottle of Pure Treat, which is liquid Dead Sea Salt, for $22.00. Whenever we are feeling dried up skin-wise, we apply this, let it set, and then rinse off. We also purchased the Dead Sea Mineral Remedies called Clineral for his sister who has a skin condition called; psoriasis. It says it has been worldwide clinically proven to help in skin disorders. These products are priced comparably to other great products that truly do work, such as Mary Kaye. If you want to know more, then check out their website at http://ahava.com . The website states that all AHAVA face and body products are: parabin free, allergy tested, and produced without petroleum, harsh synthetic ingredients, or GMOS. They are SLS/SLES Free, and approved for sensitive skin. Try it and experience a piece of Israel for yourself.

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