One of my most cherished memories from a trip to Israel in 2004 is bobbing alongside my mother in the Dead Sea. We caked our bodies in mud, drunk on laughter, as dozens of elderly men and women from our tour group unsteadily inched their way along the lake's thick, mineral rich bottom so they, too, could slather on a clay mask. A few clutched desperately at one another and occasionally grabbed on to me, not quite trusting of their newfound buoyancy. One woman accused me of "stealing all the good mud." All of us were hoping to climb back into our bus with healthier, wrinkle-free skin, a promise made by our tour guide earlier in the day. Whether the mud had worked its magic or the shared romp had itself been transformative, the afternoon certainly made everyone feel younger. Only later would I find the studies that prove this legendary healing pool is anything but myth.

The Dead Sea, located on the border between the West Bank, Israel, and Jordan, is the densest body of water on earth, composed of 33 percent mineral salts compared to 3 percent for the oceans. It is also the lowest point on earth not covered by ice. For centuries, it has been viewed as a dermatologic wonder, and has attracted notable visitors from around the Mediterranean basin including Aristotle and Cleopatra.

As reported in a Dermatology Times articles in 2002, "According to Dr. Michael David, head of the department of dermatology at Rabin Medical Center at Tel Aviv University and past president of the Israel Dermatological Society, 'Most dermatologists are aware of the benefits of the Dead Sea and recommend that their patients go there for treatment of psoriasis, chronic eczema and other types of atopic dermatitis, vitiligo, and mycosis fungoides.'"

According to Wikipedia, the Dead Sea offers four popular therapies:

Climatotherapy: Treatment of disease by removal of the patient to a region having a climate more favorable for recovery.

Heliotherapy: The treatment of disease by exposing the body to the sun's rays; the therapeutic use of sunbathing.

Thalassotherapy: The therapeutic use of seaside resorts; includes treatment by sea air, sea voyages, and sea bathing.

Balneotherapy: The treatment of disease by baths and black mineral mud.

In 1994 scientists began a long-term study to better understand the healing properties associated with the Dead Sea basin. Dermatology Times explains that "The goal was to assess whether the basin's ultraviolet environment contributed to clinical results and, if so, how sun exposure protocol might be adjusted accordingly... Scientists determined that the microclimate of the basin was indeed unique."

Dermatologist David Abels, M.D., consultant to the Dead Sea Mor Clinic in Ein Bokek, states that "'The emphasis of the UV spectrum falls within the therapeutic action spectrum for psoriasis -- 311 to 313 nanometers.' To optimize treatment, he recommended limiting exposure to early morning and late afternoon hours.'" The climate at the Dead Sea is also believed to alleviate the symptoms of arthritis, which often accompanies psoriasis.

It is not yet clear whether the mineral rich water and mud of the Dead Sea contribute to the treatment of psoriasis, but studies do suggest the minerals could influence treatment.

"While bathing in Dead Sea water and mud does influence the blood concentration of minerals, Dr. Abels admitted, 'No one really knows if it's good for healthy skin. We do know that a selenium-dependent enzyme was shown to be elevated after four weeks of treatment. Selenium could affect the immune system and cell proliferation.'"

I realize that for many Americans, Israel is a subject brought up in conversation only when discussing where not to spend their summer vacation. Last summer's war in Lebanon, followed by yet another terrorist bombing in Eilat on January 29th of this year made international headlines. And as reported in the International Herald Tribune on March 6, 2007, "a new BBC poll of people in 27 countries has found strikingly negative attitudes toward Israel, placing it in company with three other countries viewed unfavorably: Iran, North Korea and the United States."

What most safety conscious travelers don't realize, however, is that Israeli security is the best in the world. In truth, I felt safer walking the streets in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem then I do in New York or Los Angeles. Whether you find yourself in the Golan Heights staring out over Syria, Jordan and Lebanon, at the Western Wall in Old Jerusalem, or make a visit to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Museum, Israel is truly a magical place, with a myriad of therapeutic influences beyond those found at the Dead Sea.