Page 8 Huckleberry Press November 5, 2015 SOAP LAKE HEALING WATERS: THE PROOF IS IN THE OIL, PART 2 By: Kathleen Kiefer when they lap against the extensively to treat skin dis- shore on windy days are eases and eventually became Soap Lake is meromic- beaten into great masses of universally prescribed for a tic, it has two layers of water white foam like soap suds. wide variety of maladies. that do not intermix. The lower level of the lake is At Soap Lake the rain- A Wikkipedia search much more dense, containing fall is slight and the evapora- of Ichthyol reveals that it is a significantly higher concen- tion high. In fact, so high that a product of natural origin tration of minerals and mi- by the 1940’s the lake water obtained by dry distillation croorganisms. Being denser consisted of 20% more total of sulfur-rich oil shale (bi- and thus “heavier” the lower dissolved solids than seawa- tuminous schists). Further layer of water does not mix ter. The lake has no outlet. processing of the oily sub- with the upper layer. In the The bottom is covered by stance with ammonia results early 1900’s sanitarium own- clay, making it a self con- in a water-soluble substance ers and mud bath purveyors tained bowl holding the ac- called Ammonium bitumi- offered their customers “deep cumulated salts which have nosulfonate that can be pur- sea baths.” It took some effort seeped into it for tens of chased at most drug stores to retrieve the water from a thousands of years from sur- as Ichthammol. This com- boat perched near the north rounding basalt flows. mon drawing salve has anti- end of the lake where the wa- inflamatory, bactericidal and ter was deeper. In 1970 a granite slab fungcidal properties and is monument was erected on the used to treat eczema, psoria- According to stories East Beach to commemorate sis, rosacea, and acne, and it it once was. A documentary the town and includes sev- vest, but most of all, it would told by Native Americans the efforts of former mayor decreases microorganisms produced about Soap Lake eral hundred historic photo- be a great place to take your who have been visiting Soap M.R.Newell who lobbied the in the area surrounding a in 2002 includes interviews graphs. shoes off, lay on the beach Lake for centuries, the lake United States Congress to skin condition. The list of with people who grew up in A survey of visitors to and rest in between swims in was once much smaller than protect the lake from fresh therapeutic values goes on. A Soap Lake witnessing sick the lake on recent summer water like none other on the it is now. The lake was at one water incursions by Bureau mixture of Ichthammol and and injured people come for outings reveals that it has planet. Hard to say what it time nothing more than a of Reclamation irrigation ca- glycerol is used for topical treatment to then be cured. become popular with East- will be like in the little town muddy pond. The evidence of nals which were built along treatment of ear infections. It Many of those cured stayed ern Europeans, particularly on the shores of the lake once lower water levels in the past three sides of the lake. On the also has extraordinary anti- in town, running businesses those from Slavic countries it is discovered, again. can be seen in shallow water monument is engraved min- inflammatory properties. It and getting involved in city who have long indulged in along the west shore of the eral content of the lake: is recommended by derma- government. salt springs and mineral spas Kathleen Kiefer, formerly of lake. On a summer day when tologists and is available in in their home nations where Soap Lake, Washington now the water is usually clear, Sodium – Carbonate – Sul- pharmacies for compounding There is not another these places continue to be living in Baker City, Oregon is a writer, photographer and fate – Bicarbonate – Chlo- medications. body of water anywhere on popular destinations for peo- remnants of calcified sage- filmmaker. Her articles have the planet like Soap Lake. It ple seeking rejuvenation and brush can be seen at varying rine – Silica – Magnesium appeared in newspapers, mag- depths beneath the surface. – Potassium – Organic Nitro- A rare book published is truly one-of-a-kind. Lo- treatment for some medical azines, annual reports and gen – Calcium – Aluminum – by Merck and Company in cated in the heart of East- conditions. hydropower industry publica- There are several fresh Lithium – Fluoride – Copper 1913 titled, ICHTHYOL: ern Washington’s Columbia tions. Her photographs have water springs along the west – Iron – Rubidium – Phos- It’s History, Properties and Basin Irrigation Project and A beautiful facelift won awards and can be found side of the lake. In a detailed phorus and Oil (Icthyol). Therapeutics is loaded with surrounded by farms grow- of the downtown area and a published in books, magazines, report written in 1915 by Pe- research and case studies of ing food for the world. It is few new businesses paint an calendars, posters, and numer- ter Spaberg, a scientist from The presence of Ich- Ichthyol and how it was used a stunningly beautiful place. inviting picture. The City of ous websites. Her documentary films have won AVA Gold, Telly the State College of Pullman, thyol in Soap Lake water to treat dozens of maladies On a quiet summer day, Soap Lake is one of the old- the lake is a perfect mirror est and smallest communities Bronze and Silver awards in- now known as Washington is remarkable, especially including dermatitis, herpes, cluding a Telly People’s Choice State University, appeared considering that in 1905 gonorrhea, inflammation, framed by basalt cliffs. in Eastern Washington. Real award. Her YouTube channel is over several weeks in the the medical profession rec- abscesses, laryngitis, burns, estate prices remain low, Kiefdom1. Her favorite subject Grant County Journal, Spa- ognized this oily organic measles, mumps, Typhoid A review of archives but are beginning to rise. It to photograph, write-about, and berg noted the following: sulphurous preparation as Fever and more. The book in- back to the 1920’s from the would be a great place to in- to document is People. a remedy with universal ap- cludes the chemistry, bacteri- Grant County Journal pub- The lakes in the northern plication. A note in the Medi- cidal action and therapeutics lished in nearby Ephrata re- section of the Grand Coulee cal Summary published in as well as methods of admin- veal a thriving community are successively higher from November 1915 indicated: “It istering and using Ichthyol. packed with visitors. There south to north. It follows that cures everything from corns were eight large sanitariums water from the northernmost to consumption.” Early stud- In a country where nat- and dozens of cabins and cot- of these lakes is compara- ies of Ichthyol demonstrated ural medicines and homeo- tage for rent. Those arriving tively fresh and palatable, physiological properties that pathic cures are finding new without reservations could the waters of the others be- allowed it to penetrate unbro- and growing audiences with rent a tent from one of the lo- come more alkaline. Soap ken skin. It was first brought those looking for alternatives, cal stores. The documentary Lake, the most southerly, is into commercial use in Ger- it’s amazing that Soap Lake is the best source of infor- extremely alkaline; its waters many in 1882 and was used hasn’t become a mecca like mation about the history of Siloam Sanatarium, Soap Lake.