Are the benefits of the algae and mud used in most thalassotherapy institutes in France still the same?

Author: Dr. Marie Perez Siscar, Côté Thalasso, a member of ESPA Thalasso working group and President Thalasso section France
Contact: Marie.perez@cote-thalasso.fr

MUDS AND ALGAE IN POULTICES The evidence of the therapeutic qualities of marine algae and mud is now abundant. (BIKFALVI, A. Medical Use of Marine Algae. Bibliographic Summary Brest: Institute of Marine Studies, 1981; “Biochemical and Pharmacological Aspects of Algae” Doctoral Thesis in Medicine, University of Brittany, 1983.)

Muds Since ancient times, humans have used wet, malleable clay to heal their wounds. The imprints of mutilated hands found on the walls of certain prehistoric caves are proof of this. Nineteen centuries before our era, the Kahoun papyrus reveals that mud was part of the Egyptian
pharmaceutical arsenal. It was in Collioure in 1958 that this therapy (pelotherapy) was instituted in
France. Mud is a true ionic concentrate (disintegrated remains of marine flora and fauna): it acts
through its plasticity, water retention, and heat retention properties.

Algae, microalgae In thalassotherapy, they are applied to the skin for their mineralizing and
detoxifying effects. They are also used in micronized form in seawater baths (Thalaso Hotel Atlantico, Vigo).

Algae and skin tissue nourish themselves through the same mechanisms of intercellular exchange
with the surrounding environment. Algae provide 10 to 20 times more minerals and vitamins than
terrestrial foods. Algae are a concentrate of seawater, containing: minerals and trace elements in
balanced form (all are present!), vitamins (produced by living organisms), carbohydrates, enzymes
that aid digestion, and proteins in the form of amino acids. As part of a partnership with the Olmix
group, researchers from INRA (BIOTECH.INFO, INRA March 2016) have shown that a compound
extracted from green algae inhibits the growth of pathogenic bacteria in vitro and stimulates the
production of immunity mediators by intestinal epithelial cells (March 2016).

There are 2,500 species of algae in the world, only 20 of which are the subject of in-depth scientific studies. The most commonly used in thalassotherapy are laminaria and fucus. With an annual algae production of just over 70,000 tons, France ranks 10th in the world. 90% of French production comes from Brittany, mainly from the coasts of North Finistère and the Molène archipelago, where 35 seaweed boats bring about 65,000 tons of laminaria ashore each year.

ARE THE BENEFITS OF THE ALGAE AND MUD USED IN MOST THALASSOTHERAPY INSTITUTES STILL THE SAME WHEN THEIR METHOD OF USE HAS EVOLVED?

We used to receive micronized algae in our institutes. They were then mixed with freshly pumped
seawater. The resulting paste was heated in a bain-marie, gradually reaching the ideal temperature to be applied to the spa client’s skin.

In recent years, more and more thalassotherapy centers use compositions made by manufacturers
that include algae and mud, but also other elements. We know that the transcutaneous passage of
minerals contained in algae and mud depends not only on the form of the minerals but also on the
“transport vehicles” and the condition of the skin. We also know that enzymes from phytoplankton
and zooplankton contained in so-called “live” seawater can play an indirect role by making minerals
more available for absorption.

Industrials have adapted. They have designed “vehicles” that help transport minerals through the skin barrier: these vehicles can include liposomes, nanocapsules… They have created these “algae
cosmetics” capable of being preserved after opening thanks to synthetic or natural preservatives…
And to appeal to their customers, they have sometimes added colorants to make the algae “greener” and fragrances “to smell more like the sea.” Here is a non-exhaustive list of what I have found in this type of cosmetic paste, which is gradually replacing powdered algae in our thalassotherapy centers:

Excipients and texture agents:

• Gelling agents (such as agar-agar or carrageenan) to give the paste consistency.
• Thickeners (such as xanthan gum) to stabilize the paste and improve its texture.
  
  Natural or synthetic preservatives: Here is a list of preservatives commonly used in cosmetic and
  food products, including those based on algae:

• Parabens (methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben) used for their broadspectrum effectiveness against bacteria and fungi.
• Phenoxyethanol effective against bacteria and fungi, sometimes used as an alternative to
  parabens.
• Potassium sorbate, used mainly against molds and yeasts.
• Sodium benzoate, effective against bacteria, yeasts, and molds.
• Dehydroacetic acid, another antifungal.
• Benzyl alcohol, effective against bacteria and fungi, used both as a preservative and a solvent.
  
  In the case of “natural” or “organic” formulations, some manufacturers turn to essential oils (tea tree, lavender, rosemary), plant extracts, grapefruit seed extract, green tea, or rosemary, which have antimicrobial properties. There are also natural combined preservation systems using plant extracts, vitamins (such as vitamin E), and other natural ingredients to offer antimicrobial protection.
  
  Manufacturers of algae-based products, especially those aiming for natural or organic formulations,
  tend to favor natural or less controversial preservatives. Why this situation? The reason is mainly financial:
  
• The mixture made in the institute is time-consuming: a person must make the preparation,
  and the time spent is less profitable than if the person is attending to a spa client.
• The installation of bain-marie equipment is costly.
• The use of these “cosmetic algae” wraps can be done anywhere in the country, on the coast
  or even far from the sea.
  
  
  Is thalassotherapy with industrial algae and mud effective? Yes, of course! The core of our
  profession is seawater. A spa client who spends several days in a thalassotherapy institute will benefit from the marine elements they have breathed in and bathed in throughout their treatment. So yes, the beneficial effects will be present, especially those related to seawater. Can we say that the benefits of applying industrial algae and mud to painful joints are identical? Do their benefits last as long? We need to conduct more studies and evaluate the benefits of treatments in institutes that use the new formulas…
  
  
  IN CONCLUSION Even though transcutaneous absorption does not directly depend on the enzymes of phytoplankton and zooplankton, they can still play an indirect role in making minerals more available. Therefore, the use of seawater at the last moment seems necessary to me. Especially since the raw material is directly pumped in thalassotherapy institutes for all water treatments. I remain convinced that these effects can be maximized by using natural algae and mud, without preservatives or excipients, allowing seawater to bring all its benefits.