They arrive at Lima’s coast shortly before dawn and wade into the Pacific Ocean, seeking relief from the ailments doctors have been unable to cure.
Some come in groups, jumping, laughing and running along the shore. Others bathe alone silently in the calm, gray sea.
Under overcast skies at Playa de Pescadores, or Fishermen’s Beach, the bathers practice thalassotherapy, which derives from the Greek “thalasso,” for “sea,” and draws on the ocean’s healing properties.
Most of the bathers practice an informal, self-directed sea therapy. Others work with leaders such as natural therapy promoter Jose Cusquisiban.
“The sea is the pharmacy of humanity,” said Cusquisiban. “It has many minerals, vitamins.”
He has his patients jog barefoot on the sand. “Then we make a harmonious circle of prayer. Afterward, we sing, we practice laugh therapy, we hug and finally we enter the sea and teach those who don’t know how to swim,” Cusquisiban said.
Other medical practitioners at the beach include chiropractor Felix Retamoso, who treats people for back problems.
Oswaldo Salaverry, an expert at Peru’s National Institute of Health in intercultural medicine — the combination of native and Western medicine — said that “being in contact with the sea, with cleaner air, with a certain type of sand, can grant general health benefits.”
Salaverry said there is no evidence that it cures chronic illnesses.
Berto Nestaris covers his body with sand on Fishermen’s Beach in Lima, Peru, May 14, 2015. Berto, a 55-year-old sociologist, said therapeutic massages using sea sand helps his circulation and nervous system. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
But the people who come here have faith in the sea.
Sitting on the beach recently, 25-year-old Gisela Sanchez described how rheumatoid arthritis in her joints makes her feel “as if my bones were breaking.” She’s been unable to walk for four years and at times isn’t even strong enough to hold a glass of water.
“The sand calms the inflammation in my joints and the sea gives me tranquility,” said Sanchez, who traveled from Patapo, a village at the foot of the Andes mountains about 700 kilometers (1,690 miles) north of Lima.
Other bathers include Berto Nestaris, a 55-year-old sociologist. He smears himself with sand — a massage he says helps his circulation and nervous system. Graciela Meneses, 67, works out in the sea using a makeshift float, and says it has helped her lose 39 kilograms (85 pounds).
Fabian Espinel said he has been coming to the beach early every morning for 10 years to treat his gout. The 65-year-old also feeds the birds while he’s here.
“The sea heals,” he said, “gives strength, is essential.”
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Esquibel, 50, enters the Pacific Ocean on Fishermen’s Beach in Lima, Peru, April 9, 2015. Under overcast skies, the bathers practice thalassotherapy, which derives from the Greek ‘thalasso,’ for ‘sea,’ and draws on the ocean’s healing properties. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
Friends help Gisela Sanchez who suffers with rheumatoid arthritis walk in the water off Fishermen’s Beach in Lima, Peru, May 8, 2015. ‘The sand calms the inflammation in my joints and the sea gives me tranquility,’ said Sanchez, who traveled here from Patapo, a village at the foot of the Andes mountains about 700 kilometers (1,690 miles) north of Lima. Sanchez, 25, says she hasn’t been able to walk on her own for the past four years, and that she’s hoping the sea will help her walk again. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
A man reads the paper next to a wall decorated with a sun and the Spanish word “Health” on Fishermen’s Beach, where bathers come for therapeutic swimming in Lima, Peru, April 25, 2015. Some hug each other and go in as a group, jumping, laughing and running along the shore. Others bathe silently by themselves in the calm, gray sea water. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
People get dressed on Fishermen’s Beach after a therapeutic swimming session in the Pacific Ocean in Lima, Peru, May 15, 2015. Most of the bathers practice an informal and self-directed type of the sea therapy. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
People swim in the Pacific Ocean off Fishermen’s Beach in Lima, Peru on April 9, 2015. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
Juana Coripuna stretches and meditates on Fishermen’s Beach in Lima, Peru on May 15, 2015. Juana, 44, said she started going to the beach six years ago, and that thanks to meditation and swimming, she’s improved both physically and mentally. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
Chiropractor Felix Retamoso treats a patient on Fishermen’s Beach in Lima, Peru, April 25, 2015. Felix charges 30 peruvian Soles, around 10 US Dollars, for each session on the beach. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
Women embrace rocks before taking a therapeutic swimming in the Pacific Ocean off Fishermen’s Beach in Lima, Peru on April 9, 2015 . After meditating, the group lays on rocks as a way to connect with nature, as they do with the sea water, sun and sand. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
Fabian Espinel feeds pigeons on Fishermen’s Beach in Lima, Peru, May 13, 2015. Espinel, who’s been going to the beach every morning at 5:30am for that past 10 years, says he uses the sea to help treat gout. The 65-year-old says the sea is essential, heals and gives strength. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
Swimmers eat breakfast on Fishermen’s Beach in the Pacific Ocean in Lima, Peru, May 15, 2015. The swimmers bought their breakfast from a vendor selling “health food” after their therapeutic swimming session. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
Graciela Meneses poses for a picture on Fishermen’s Beach, holding her self-made float, decorated with fake, plastic plants, after swimming in the Pacific Ocean in Lima, Peru on May 7, 2015. Graciela, 67, says she lost 39 kilograms (85 pounds) by exercising in the sea. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
A man and dog rest on Fishermen’s Beach before a therapeutic swimming session in Lima, Peru, April 25, 2015. Along Lima’s coast, people seek relief from the ailments doctors have been unable to cure. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
People smile during a laugh therapy session on Fishermen’s Beach in Lima, Peru on May 8, 2015. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
Victor Villanueva rests in the sand on Fishermen’s Beach during his therapeutic session of “sand therapy” on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Lima, Peru, April 25, 2015. Villanueva is one of many along Lima’s coast practicing thalassotherapy, in search of relief from the ailments doctors have been unable to cure. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
Sisters Zoraida Infante, left, and Graciela Trujillo pray on Fishermen’s Beach before therapeutic swimming in the Pacific Ocean in Lima, Peru, May 8, 2015. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
Women sit on Fishermen’s Beach as they let the tide splash their legs during a therapeutic session in Lima, Peru, May 14, 2015. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
Chiropractor Felix Retamoso treats Virginia Espinoza’s lower back pain on Fishermen’s Beach, where she took a therapeutic swim in the Pacific Ocean in Lima, Peru, May 15, 2015. “He’s not only cheaper, but we’re outdoors in direct contact with nature,” said the 67-year-old. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
People get dressed on Fishermen’s Beach after swimming in the Pacific Ocean in Lima, Peru on May 13, 2015. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
A therapy group who have become friends pray on Fishermen’s Beach before taking a therapeutic swim in the Pacific Ocean in Lima, Peru, April 9, 2015. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
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