Iceland truly is the island of fire and ice. The elements there are astonishing. My family and I traveled there last week to experience the unique combination of cold, snow and Northern Lights. The country, which is less than 25 miles away from the Arctic Circle, did not disappoint.
Travel, for me, is both healing personally, and enriching professionally, as it allows me to expand my knowledge about health and wellness around the world.
Upon landing, my husband, two kids and I drove to our AirBnB in Mosfellsbaer (about 20 minutes from Reykjavik). After napping, we headed to the Blue Lagoon, which was otherworldly in a snowstorm. On the car ride over, we saw Iceland’s lava fields, the black tips of rocks poking out through a blanket of snow. The contrast was a sight to see. Iceland has over 125 volcanic mountains, one of which erupts every four years.
The milky blue waters of the Blue Lagoon are nearly indescribable. They are caused by the convergence of seawater from 6,500-feet below the surface of the earth, and groundwater closer to the surface.
Once in the water, attendants offered mud masks for both adults and children. There were three options — silica, algae, and mineral. My entire family chose the silica mask, which is made from the pure white mud at the bottom of the lagoon. The mask deep-cleanses and strengthens the skin’s barrier function. (Could the latter be related to the body’s external immune system, or Wei Qi? More on that to come in my post on Tuesday!) It also gives users a radiant appearance — we all wanted that, even the kids! Adults left the masks on for 20 minutes, and kids, for only 10 minutes.
Although we didn’t try them, I researched the other two masks. The algae mask is made from the unique algae that grow in the Lagoon’s ever-replenishing waters. (The waters entirely replenish every two days.) When used on the skin, the algae in the Blue Lagoon have been found to stimulate collagen production, as well as reduce the appearance of wrinkles. The mineral mask, which is derived from the geothermal seawater, hydrates and revitalizes the skin. If I had more time, I would have tried all three!
As it was, the silica mask was a nice addition to the experience. Our skin felt nice and smooth afterwards, adults and kids alike. The warm waters felt relaxing and healing, especially in contrast with the bitter cold air.
People of all ages enjoy the geothermal baths in Iceland, which are plentiful. Some have water slides, and some have lap pools. They are known for their therapeutic properties due to the high concentration of sulfur and minerals in the waters. The waters have been known to melt away pain and stiffness associated with rheumatoid arthritis, among other chronic conditions. They are also known for healing psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.
Go to Iceland, soak and relax anytime of the year! Even with kids, it’s really wonderful!
Acupuncturist, herbalist, Maya abdominal practitioner, and reflexologist Christina Morris is the founder of Element Natural Healing Arts. Writing about health and wellness gives her an outlet to express her care and concern for her beloved community. She believes everyone can achieve better health and happiness–emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually.