We are all familiar with the natural sponges found in any body shop or drugstore, but they are typically salt water sponges. The health and skin benefits are abundant from fresh water sponges of the genus Spongilla.
Approximately twenty species of freshwater sponges within the genus Spongilla are currently known to dwell in lakes and slow streams. They are found attached to rocks and logs, filtering the water of microscopic aquatic organisms – protozoa, bacteria, and other free-floating pond organisms. Fresh-water sponges, unlike salt-water sponges, are exposed to more varied and adverse environmental conditions. This hostile environment causes Spongilla to develop gemmules, internal buds resulting from asexual reproduction, as a means of dormancy. The gemmules develop during extreme cold or other harsh conditions and are resistant to drying out (desiccation), freezing, and a lack of oxygen (anoxia). Even after the “mother sponge” has died, the gemmules can lie around for long periods of time until conditions improve and the gemmules resume growing into new sponges.
Spongilla is very popular in Europe & Asia, but is just now coming on to the natural health scene and in use by cosmetologists in the United States. Spongilla contains seaweed that penetrates the skin. Spongilla crystals have shown to assist in the healing of bruises, arthritis, radiculitis, and rheumatism by reducing inflammation and improving localized circulation of the blood.
In cosmetology, Spongilla is usually used in the form of facial masks and professional peels. Once ground into a fine powder, Spongilla is beneficial in: reducing acne, bruises, spots from pimples and boils, blackheads, hyperpigmentation, blemishes, large pores, sun damage, loss of elasticity, wrinkles, uneven surface texture, sagging skin, and clarifying other skin impurities. Spongilla is beneficial to all skin types, even dry and aging skin.
Nature and its benefits continue to be a never-ending source of new surprises and pure beauty!
