Want to learn the amazing health benefits of sand therapy and the main sand therapy uses for health? Keep on reading.
The therapeutic potential of hot sand has been acknowledged since the times of Ancient Egypt. Over time, sand therapy, also known as psammotherapy, has gained widespread recognition and appreciation. Without further ado, let’s get straight to the health benefits of sand therapy, sand therapy uses, and how to use sand therapy at home.
In This Article You Will Find:
Health Benefits of Sand Therapy
The unique quality of sand is its ability to retain warmth. During the summer, the sun naturally heats the beach sand to up to 60°C/140°F offering it its therapeutical powers. But you can also use artificially heated sand (up to 40-50°C/104-122°F) in the oven at home to enjoy the healing properties of sand. The outcomes are remarkable.
Sand heat promotes blood and lymph circulation, boosts metabolism, increases sweating and elimination, boosts oxygen levels, and helps in muscle relaxation. Additionally, sand therapy alleviates pain related to degenerative joint conditions and osteoporosis. Currently, sand therapy is popular worldwide and is incorporated in physical rehabilitation hospitals, outpatient recovery centers, physiotherapy clinics, and other medical establishments.
Sand Therapy Uses
Sand therapy (also known as psammotherapy) is effective for bone and joint pain, neuralgias, genital organ inflammations, kidney and UTI, as well as neurological symptoms, namely:
- Lower back pain
- Degenerative joint and spine disorders
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Osteoporosis
- Neuralgia, chronic neuritis, and myelitis
- Inflammation of the female genital organs
- Chronic prostatitis
- Chronic pelvic inflammation
- Kidney and urinary tract conditions
- Nervous system disorders
- Chronic digestive problems
- Post-polio syndrome and rickets
- Rheumatism
- Respiratory conditions
- Obesity
Choosing the Right Sand for Sand Therapy
There are various types of sand. Over millions of years, specific climatic conditions and mineral erosion have resulted in sands with diverse mineral compositions.
- Quartz sand is the most common and is typically yellow-brown in color.
- Other sands even have vibrant colors. For instance, many Caribbean beaches have white sand composed of remnants from marine organisms like shells or corals.
- Black sand owes its hue to the black lava on some Canary Islands.
The best therapeutic sand is either collected from the beach or several miles offshore, then is fully dried before being heated to the desired temperature.
Typically, very hot sand (48-60°C) is used in sand therapy. However, due to its properties, it doesn’t scald the skin as it releases heat gradually, allowing the body to absorb it. A standard sand therapy session can last between 20 to 40 minutes, depending on the type of sand utilized. There are two types of psammotherapy: general – where the body is fully covered in the warm sand, excluding the head, and local – targeting specific body parts such as hands, feet, or the lumbar region.
How to Use Sand Therapy at Home
But the best part is that you can enjoy the health benefits of sand therapy in the comfort of your home, and here’s how.
- Gather a few kilograms of marine, river, or lake sand.
- Sift to remove small pebbles, shells, and silt.
- Wash the sand in running warm water and strain.
- Heat the sand in the oven for 1.5 hours at 115-120°C/ 239-248°F, stirring occasionally.
- Cool and store in a suitable container.
Using sand therapy at home is exclusively for specific purposes such as weight loss, cellulite, skincare, or beauty uses. Or for healing a certain part of the body such as a hurting hand or leg. You can use this sand at home in two ways: for sand bathing or for sandbag applications, as follows.
How to Sand Bathe at Home
Heat up the sand, prepared beforehand, in the oven at 50°C/122°F, and put it in a deep box, tub, or washing basin. Submerge the affected part of the body in it – usually to a depth of 15-20 cm (for example the hands or feet), and put a blanket on top. After 20-30 minutes, wash the sand off with warm water and pad the skin dry with a towel. Depending on the severity of the problems, you can make 15 and 30 sand therapy procedures. Pause after one or two consecutive days of doing the procedure. The used sand is once again washed, and heated again in the oven to 120°C/248°F, cooled, and stored in a container until the next use.
How to Use Sandbag Therapy at Home
Heat up the beforehand prepared sand in the oven to a temperature of 60°C/140°F and pour it into a small bag (made of cotton, suede, etc.). Seal the bag tightly and apply it to the affected area, on dry skin. Wrap a woolen scarf around the sandbag to keep it in place. Remove the sandbag after 30-40 minutes. To enjoy the health benefits of sand therapy with sandbags, 15-20 procedures are recommended, preferably done before sleep. You can safely do this procedure every day or once every two days (to allow the body to rest).
Sand Therapy Contraindications
We do not recommend sand therapy during acute phases of chronic illnesses. Psamotherapy is not suitable for people suffering from cardiovascular conditions, atherosclerosis, various infections, endometriosis and mastopathy, cancerous conditions, bleeding (including menstruation), diabetes, hypertension, hypotension, ulcerative skin diseases, etc. Always consult a therapist before using sand therapy. Proper guidance or thorough research ensures that you benefit from this age-old therapeutic method.
Read Also: 3 Amazing Health Benefits of Hay Flower Baths & How to Prepare
The easiest way to enjoy a good sand therapy session is to go to the beach and lay down on the hot sand. This will help you both enjoy the healing properties of sand, but also ground. If you’ve enjoyed learning about the health benefits of sand therapy, the most important sand therapy uses, and how to use sand therapy at home, please share this article. This way we can help more people reach this information and use the healing properties of sand in the comfort of their homes. Stay healthy, naturally!
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