The Healing Power of the Sea: Understanding Thalassotherapy

Introduction to Thalassotherapy

Not to be confused with thalassophobia- the fear of the ocean, thalassotherapy is a health and wellness practice dating back thousands of years. Thalassotherapy, derived from the Greek words "thalassa" meaning sea and "therapeia" meaning treatment, is a therapeutic practice that relies on the healing properties of the sea. This holistic treatment involves the use of seawater, marine mud, algaes and seaweeds, and other marine plants to promote health and well-being. The origins of thalassotherapy can be traced back to ancient Greece and Rome, where the therapeutic benefits of the sea were well recognized and utilized. 

Hippocrates, the father of medicine and root inspiration for the modern-day Hippocratic Oath, wrote about beneficial effects of saltwater in his Treaty of Medicine, which dates back before 400BC. A century later another Greek by the name of Euripides detailed how ‘the sea heals man’s illnesses,’ while simultaneously salt baths and communal bathhouses exploded across Rome, building off of their Greek bathing house counterparts and reaching nearly 1000 bathhouses in the city at its height. As centuries wore on, the practice spread throughout the world to Japan, Britain, France, and by the 1920s, to the United States.

Another century later and science continues to discover more about the different types of hydrotherapy, and their connections to improved immunity and pain management (Mooventhan 2014) as well as improved mental and psychological health (Zhang 2021). Our Sea to Skin philosophy at Nama Fiji was developed by our founder, Debra Sadranu, via research with James Cook University in 2014, and through countless iterations and formulas showcasing different properties and benefits of the various algae species. 

The Difference Between Land-Based and Marine-Based Plants

One of the key distinctions in thalassotherapy is the use of marine-based plants like algae and seaweed, compared to their land-based counterparts that grow and thrive while exposed to air. While both types of plants have significant health benefits, marine-based plants are often richer in minerals, vitamins, and trace elements due to their unique environment. Seawater is known to contain nearly every element found in the human body, which marine plants absorb and concentrate. Just as us humans breathe air, marine plants breathe seawater.

Let’s look at seaweed as an example; its packed with iodine, calcium, iron, and magnesium, making it a potent ingredient in skincare and wellness treatments. In contrast, land-based plants, while nutritious, often lack the diversity and concentration of minerals found in marine plants. Spas throughout the globe tout thalassotherapy and hydrotherapy treatments, yet use skincare with ingredients made from animal compounds, grown in labs, or sourced miles above sea level instead of using what the ocean provides. Due to their composition, many types of marine-based plants are particularly beneficial for our skin health, detoxification, and anti-aging treatments; common skincare desires for us all. 

Nama, a type of sea grape, along with various species of seaweed have been integral to many cultures for centuries, particularly those in coastal communities. These marine plants have been harvested for their nutritional value, medicinal properties, and skincare benefits. In Fiji, nama is revered not just as a food source but also as a powerful ingredient in detoxifying elixirs and skincare. The Fijian tradition of using nama is rooted in the belief that the ocean's gifts can heal and rejuvenate.

This is how Debra landed on Caluerpa Racemosa as the active ingredient in Nama Fiji; its high mineral content, natural detoxification properties, and ability to hydrate skin at a cellular level makes it the perfect triple threat- a wild grown, vegan alternative to hyaluronic acid.   
 

Fijian Nama and Environmental Impacts of Clean Skincare

The environmental impact of ingredient sourcing is a growing concern for many organizations, driving the growth and interest in vegan, plant-based skincare. Natural beauty is a continually growing trend, often adopted by highly engaged consumers expecting products to actually stack up to their ethos. Animal-derived ingredients often rely on industries with significant environmental impacts and unsavory business realities. Negative footprints from industrial farming extend past livestock however; where some plants like almonds can require more water in a day than two dozen chickens need to survive.

Marine plants aren’t immune to sourcing problems either, luckily nama sea grapes are plentiful in the pristine waters and shallow lagoons surrounding Fiji, and completely regenerate within 30 days of harvest. Nama Fiji is lucky to partner with women in the local villages throughout the Yasawa Islands with a first-of-its-kind harvesting program, providing economic opportunity for women in remote islands throughout the country. For Nama Fiji, locally sourced marine-plants are a more ethical and sustainable option than nearly any alternative on the market. The impressive efficacy of nama in hydrating the skin is just an added thalassotherapy benefit.