What is Blue Medicine?
Hint: there’s something in the water.
Since 2020, after the pandemic forced the world to stay indoors without access to nature, Google searches for “wild swimming” have increased by 70%. Pinterest searches for “lake resorts” are up x2. Property searches for “homes by the coast” have more than doubled.
There’s a reason for that.
You are 70% water, and so is the planet.
Every person on Earth is hardwired with a deep biological connection to water. Studies show that just being near marine environments has a positive effect on our health, from producing mood-boosting neurochemicals to enhancing immune function.
But how?
Let’s Dive In
“Blue medicine” is a concept championed by Dr Wallace J. Nichols, author of Blue Mind. It is the belief that water has a positive impact on our mental and physical health, with scientific results proving its many benefits.
Just like the ocean, your brain is driven by waves (coincidence?) and these waves are the communication between neurons in the brain. They are the centre of the body; all thoughts, emotions and behaviours. It makes sense then, that just looking at water has the power to change our brain waves’ frequency to alpha. These are the brain waves we feel when in a relaxed, meditative state.
Recent studies show it’s not just the one sense water has an effect on. The sound of water can lower cortisol levels in the body, reducing feelings of stress. The sensory feeling of being in water stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, our “rest and digest” mode.
Spending time near water can even improve our natural immunity. When we breathe in the air around aquatic environments, like along the coast or by a lake, it’s scientifically proven to have a relaxing effect on our bodies. This is because the air near water is charged with negative ions: oxygen atoms with an extra electron. When these ions are breathed in, they have a cleansing effect on the body and can neutralise free radicals, enhance immune function and balance the autonomic nervous system. It’s why fresh sea air makes us feel so good.
“We are beginning to learn that our brains are hardwired to react positively to water and that being near it can calm and connect us, increase innovation and insight, and even heal what’s broken.” - Wallace J. Nichols
Ready to Take the Plunge?
If you’ve opened TikTok recently, you’ve probably seen videos of people stripping off and plunging into ice-cold baths. The #wimhofmethod has over 246.6 million views on TikTok. Made famous by Dutch extreme athlete Wim Hof, a.k.a. The Ice Man, whose strategy combines cold exposure and breathing techniques to improve wellbeing.
More than a viral content trend, in Scandinavian countries cold water immersion has long been used as a post-sauna method to cleanse toxins, increase blood flow and release endorphins. Recent studies suggest this daily ritual stimulates leukocytes, the white blood cells that fight illness, to strengthen the immune system. It also kickstarts lymphatic drainage to encourage the body to detox, and reduces inflammation. Plus, the boost of feel-good endorphins and dopamine hit is said to reduce depression and anxiety, improving overall mood.
To sum up: there’s something in the water, and it’s good for your health.
Refill with WATER THERAPY
Inspired by blue medicine, our NEW functional fragrance WATER THERAPY is formulated with olfactory technology to trigger our neurological connection to blue spaces.
Scent is a primal function and the fastest way to change your mood. The nose has around 450 olfactory receptors responsible for detecting scent, which send a signal to the brain to decode. This information is passed on to the limbic system, structures in the brain that scientists believe contribute to controlling mood and behaviour.
We added 4 volatile organic compounds to WATER THERAPY, which are naturally found in aquatic environments. They act like an invisible scent note at the heart of the formula to replicate the feeling of calm we have when in or around water. Performing a functional benefit that takes our body elsewhere by using the brain’s memory of blue spaces. Just spray onto pulse points, breathe in for 4, hold, and exhale for 4 to transport the mind and bring a moment of calm to you, wherever you are.
Do functional fragrances work? Learn more about the science behind our scent supplements.