A traditional process that generates not one but two valuable natural products
In Bulgaria, salt has been produced the traditional way for ages, in Burgas with the Atanasovsko salt lake and Pomorie with the Pomorie salt lake. This process generates not one but two extremely valuable natural products.
Everything starts with these unique salt lakes, which contain water much more concentrated in salt than sea water. In addition to their higher salinity, these waters also have a very rich organic and mineral composition. These saltier water from the lakes are then used to fill smaller salt pans, in which the natural process of evaporation will begin.
Colorful salt pans on the outskirt of Burgas, Bulgaria
Once the evaporation is completed, the salt crystallizes and settles at the bottom of the salt pans, forming a layer of salt of about 10 cm. Just above it, unveils a thick oily liquid with a brownish-red color and a slight odor of hydrogen sulfide, extremely rich in magnesium salts. This is the lye.
The lye being a natural product, its color and smell can vary throughout the year depending on the weather for instance. The lye will mature until it is suitable for medical use, at this moment, it is called medicinal lye and is usually ready between August and September, when it reaches a certain density and quantitative composition of active substances.
But what is Black Sea lye made of?
The unique healing properties of the Black Sea lye come from its rich mineral and organic composition. It contains all the ingredients of seawater and lake water, but in higher proportions.
In terms of composition, the lye is close to the healing Pomorie estuarine mud, which is extracted from the lake of the same name, and that presents similar effect and healing properties. The red oily lye sitting above crystallized salt in a salt pans in Bulgaria. Lye contains many elements such as magnesium, calcium, sodium, chlorine, bromine, sulfates, bicarbonates, hydrocarbons, trace elements and organic substances.
The red oily lye sitting above crystallized salt in a salt pans in Bulgaria.
The main ingredient is magnesium salts - magnesium chloride (MgCl2) and magnesium sulfate (MgSO4). Magnesium is an extremely important element that plays important roles in the human body. From the production of energy in cells, to the balance of the nervous and muscular systems, the reduction of muscle pain and prevention of cramps, it also has beneficial effects on hair, skin and nails.
Stress and fatigue, both physical or mental, drain magnesium from the cells in the body. Therefore, after physical or mental stress, the body needs to get enough of this valuable mineral for our body. In addition to its rich mineral composition, the lye also contains many biologically active substances such as microalgae that are rich in chlorophyll and vitamins and zooplankton and bacteria, which are characteristic of the waters of our salt lakes.
Before it can be used, the Black Sea lye must be stabilized
The Black Sea lye that you see in the salt pans is almost ready, but there is one last step before it can be used in cosmetics. After filtering the lye from the pool, in which it was stored, it must be filtered and stabilized within 24 hours. Otherwise, it would lose too much of its valuable healing properties.
ANCHIALO Black Sea lye massage gel
All ANCHIALO products using Black Sea lye are produced with stabilized Black Sea lye, extracted in the basins of the Pomorie and Burgas salt pans. Stabilization and filtration of lye is a process in which unwanted impurities are removed and valuable properties, biologically active substances, minerals and microelements are preserved for a long period of time and at different temperatures. This ensures the Black Sea lye is safe to use for cosmetic products and procedures. ANCHIALO products are a benchmark for quality and safety.
The endless health benefits and uses of Black Sea lye
Once we know all the good stuff that is present in the medicinal Black Sea lye, let’s talk about what it can do to our body. The possible uses of Black Sea lye are endless due to its wide range of health benefits:
- Strong anti-inflammatory and antiseptic action;
- Tones and relaxes the whole body;
- Releases fatigue and heaviness in the limbs;
- Nourishes, rejuvenates the skin and slows down its aging;
- Mineralizes the body and stimulates the immune system;
- Reduces gum swelling, normalizes the acid-base balance in the oral cavity, helps maintain the normal microflora in the mouth, strengthens tooth enamel and significantly reduces the likelihood of caries
A lady suffering from neck pain
The healing effects of Black Sea lye has been proven efficient in the treatment of many diseases such as:
- Diseases and injuries of the musculoskeletal, rheumatic and neurological systems;
- Joint pain, arthritis, arthrosis, neuritis, inflammation of the surrounding tissues, sprains, sprains, fractures, neuralgia, plexitis, discopathy;
- Muscle pain, cramps;
- Skin diseases - psoriasis, acne, fungal infections, difficult to heal wounds;
- Colds and inflammations of the upper respiratory tract Inflammations in the oral cavity - periodontitis, canker sores, gingivitis…;
- Hemorrhoids;
- Dandruff.
Now that you know everything about Black Sea lye, visit our shop and try it for yourself.