Contents
Pomorie (Black Sea) lye has an anti-inflammatory action, stimulates the body’s defences and saturates it with minerals. One of its most important components is magnesium — key to healthy joints, muscles and a healthy nervous system. In this article you will learn what lye helps with and how to use it at home.
In brief
- Lye is a concentrated natural solution left behind by salt production — far richer in minerals than seawater.
- It is used mainly for joint and muscle pain, disc problems, rheumatism and certain skin conditions.
- It is applied through baths, compresses and rubs; a course of compresses consists of 12–14 treatments.
- With high blood pressure, lye is not warmed, and with varicose veins the compresses are cold.
What exactly is lye?
Black Sea lye is a natural product obtained during salt production in the Burgas and Pomorie salt lakes. Once the water in the salt pans has evaporated and the salt has crystallised, a thick, cloudy, oil-like liquid with a yellow-brown colour and a reddish tint remains above the salt layer.
Its properties come from its rich mineral and organic composition: in terms of biologically active substances, it is considerably superior to seawater. Its composition is close to that of the mud solution, which is why its action resembles that of the therapeutic mud from the same lakes.
What are the benefits of Pomorie lye?
- it has an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial action;
- it tones and relaxes the whole body, relieving fatigue and heaviness in the limbs;
- its minerals penetrate through the skin — during massage, for example;
- it nourishes the skin and slows its ageing;
- it stimulates the body’s natural defences and tissue regeneration.
Which complaints is it used for?
- Joints and the musculoskeletal system — arthritis, osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, inflammation of the periarticular tissues, sprains, dislocations and recovery after fractures.
- Nervous system — neuralgia, neuritis, plexitis, disc problems, sciatica.
- Muscles — muscle pain and cramps.
- Skin — psoriasis, acne, fungal infections.
- Respiratory tract — colds; it also helps with recovery after chronic bronchitis.
- Oral cavity — periodontitis, mouth ulcers and gingivitis; lye reduces swelling of the gums and maintains the normal microflora in the mouth.
Lye treatments are also used for varicose veins and in anti-cellulite care.
How to use lye at home
It works best through compresses, baths and rubs.
Bath
Pour 500–2000 ml of lye into 60–80 l of water at a temperature of around 38 °C. Stay in the bath for 15–30 minutes, then rinse your body thoroughly with water.
Local foot bath
Pour 150–200 ml of lye into a basin with enough water to cover the ankles. You can also use lye on its own, without water. The treatment lasts 20–30 minutes and is particularly suitable for rheumatic pain in the ankles and for nail fungus.
Rub (friction)
Soak a sponge or cotton cloth in lye and rub it over the body. Dilute it according to your skin’s sensitivity — at most 1 part lye to 5 parts water. After 15–20 minutes, rinse with water, without soap or shower gel.
Compress for a painful joint
- Warm the lye in a water bath to 38–40 °C.
- Soak a cotton fabric or cloth and wrap the area twice.
- Insulate with plastic or cling film and cover with a towel.
- Leave on for 20–40 minutes, once or twice a day. The recommended course is 12–14 treatments.
Caution
- With high blood pressure, the lye is not warmed.
- With varicose veins, the compresses are made with unwarmed lye.
How to choose lye
Choose stabilised Black Sea lye. Stabilisation is a process in which the valuable components of the lye — biologically active substances, minerals and trace elements — are preserved for a long time and at various temperatures.
ANCHIALO Stabilised Black Sea Lye
ANCHIALO stabilised Black Sea lye is produced in Pomorie using an original technology that preserves the quality of the lye for a long time. Its colour and smell — sometimes sharp, of hydrogen sulphide — are natural and vary according to the year and month of extraction. It contains a high level of magnesium (MgCl₂ and MgSO₄).
It is suitable for cosmetic, restorative, rehabilitation and therapeutic treatments at home, in spa and wellness centres, in balneological, physiotherapy and fitness centres, and in saunas. Besides working on the joints and muscles, it has a relaxing effect and hydrates the skin.
Composition (INGREDIENTS/INCI): AQUA, MAGNESIUM SULFATE, MAGNESIUM CHLORIDE, SODIUM CHLORIDE, HYDROXYETHYLCELLULOSE
Natural Bulgarian cosmetics, produced by Azimut 6000 EOOD, Pomorie.
About Luga.bg
Maker of natural products with Black Sea lye and liman mud from Pomorie. We have been writing about lye, mud and sea minerals since 2015 — with doctors, physiotherapists and our own experience.
