Dead Sea Mineral Mud is a natural element yielded by and harvested from the mineral-rich Dead Sea, a small body of water nestled in the Jordan Rift Valley between Israel to the East and Jordan to the West. Known to be the world’s deepest salt lake, it is also commonly referred to by the names Sea of Salt, Stinking Sea, Sea of Sodom and Gomorrah, the Devil's Sea, and Lake Asphaltites.

Nearly 10 times saltier than the ocean, the name of this salt lake is derived from the fact that its hyper salinity makes it uninhabitable for plants and animals. The Dead Sea does not have any channels for its waters, thus there is nowhere for the water to go but up – that is to say it evaporates. Millions of years of hot, dry desert air combined with a high rate of evaporation have been partly responsible for the Dead Sea’s profuse cumulation of salt and minerals that are essential for skin health. The mud at the bottom of the sea absorbs these natural resources, and this mud is then harvested. After being filtered and purified, it is packaged.

According to legends, the first historical figure to acknowledge the healing powers of the Dead Sea was the Queen of Sheba. Eventually, Cleopatra came to learn of its alleged mystical efficacy and travelled there from Egypt in order to build the world’s first spa. It is also believed that, in the time of King David, the Dead Sea became an early natural spa due to its high contents of salt and other minerals as well as its low pollen content, factors that allured the King himself. According to historical sources, the Dead Sea also became a location for Herod the Great to build fortresses as well as a health resort for himself, which would be one of the world's first. According to anecdotal evidence, throughout the years there has been a common belief that bathing in the tranquil and restful backdrop of the Dead Sea accelerates the healing process faster than it would progress in a sterile hospital setting.

Historically, the Dead Sea was a contributor for the resinous bitumen or "asphalt" required in Egyptian mummification. Hence, the Egyptian word for "mummy" – mūmiyā – is the same as the Egyptian word for asphalt. In more recent times, the Dead Sea has come to be a supplier of potash required for fertilizers, and the salt and minerals found within have traditionally been used to manufacture cosmetics and herbal pouches, further establishing this body of water as a lasting beauty aid. At present, this region continues to be known as a "fountain of youth" for not only having water that is exceptionally saline and abounding with valuable organic matter but also for yielding a nourishing, mineral-rich, therapeutic mud with restorative and rejuvenating properties. This "Brine Mud" or "Silt" is better known as Dead Sea Mineral Mud.

Since ancient and medieval times, it was a common practice to apply earths, clays, peat, and muds to the body for their remedial properties, thus the term Mud Therapy was coined. The practice was further established by the “Clay Pastor” Emanuel Felke, a German therapist. Furthermore, Adolph Just, a German naturopath and proponent of returning to nature in order to cure diseases organically also underscored the advantages of Mud Therapy as an agent for enhancing overall well-being. For hundreds of years, Dead Sea Mud has been known to exhibit therapeutic benefits and general well-being. In 1959, treatments that used its benefits became popular applications, and from the 17th to the 19th centuries Mud Therapy was commonly practiced in Europe, where chronic illnesses were treated with mineral water and mudpacks of varying compositions and varying degrees of warmth. Despite multiple experiments to determine the ideal regularity, duration, and temperatures of mudpack application, the remedial processes of Mud Therapy remained unknown; it was simply understood that mud was effective in promoting faster healing.

Alongside its hydrating and beautifying properties, Dead Sea Mineral Mud maintains its reputation for having cleansing and purgative properties. These are known to relieve various symptoms of health issues ranging from skin ailments such as psoriasis to musculoskeletal ailments such as arthritis. This article highlights various benefits and safe uses for this classic, timeless cosmetic and health product.