Rosemary and sage aromatic mud baths in Muğla

Accredited by the Health Ministry, aromatic mud baths in Muğla's Dalyan district are drawing both local and international tourists. People first cover their body with the mud, wait under the sun until it dries and then take a shower. Mehmet Akkaya, the manager of Dalyan Peloid Mud Bath Wellness Center, said to Anadolu Agency (AA) that the facility was established three years ago in Dalyan's Ortaca neighborhood. "We host 400,00 people on an annual basis, mostly from Russia, Germany, the U.K., France, the Netherlands and Arab countries," adding that tourists are highly satisfied with the quality of the mud baths, which have rose oil, rosemary and sage added to them. Akkaya said that customers mostly prefer rose oil and rosemary. The center's health expert, Oya Korkmaz, said that the mud offered at the center is natural with a high mineral content. She said that the mud has antiviral and antibacterial qualities. "Mud can renew itself," Korkmaz said, adding that mud should not be only used for cosmetics purposes, as it has rejuvenating effects for the skin and joints. Ashley Wales, a British tourist trying a mud bath with her husband, said that they preferred the mud bath with rose oil. "It smells like strawberry. When we took a shower, we felt our skin softened," she said. İbrahim Küçük, a tourist from Istanbul, tried the mud bath with rosemary. "I heard mud baths are a remedy for many diseases. I will also try a mud bath with rose oil, which is good for the skin. I only felt a burning feeling when I left the mud bath with rosemary, but it was nice," he said.