"All Medicine is in the Earth" - Paracelsus

Introduction of Mud Baths

Mud bath is a detox therapy, which has become extremely popular around the globe. Until rather recently, many European practitioners promoted mud baths as a treatment for arthritis. This back to the basics, relatively simplest of alternative therapies, tends to help relax muscles, soothe aches, improve blood circulation and smoothen the skin.

With today's emerging trends mud baths are often recommended to help reduce stress and leave us feel rejuvenated at the end of the session.

Skin and Detoxification

Conscious detoxing is a great way to achieve optimum health. The best ways to detox is through the skin. Detoxification is one of the most effective methods to eliminate toxic substances that build up throughout our system. The toxins present in the environment constantly attack the body. These toxins get accumulated in the body's fat layers. Accumulation of toxins in the body cause harm to the biological processes. Hence, it becomes essential to remove the toxins regularly from the body otherwise; a high toxin load may cause skin problem, frequent or recurring colds, chronic pains, low energy levels, allergies and other illness.

The skin is the largest breathing human organ. Keeping the skin healthy promotes general health and well-being. Taking a hot bath or sauna promotes sweating that flushes the toxins away from the body. Mud baths draw out the toxins and impurities from the body, exfoliating and nourishing the skin.

Mud and Clay

Mud is an element of the earth that is said to possess therapeutic properties. It is made of a combination of soil, silt, clay and water. It is rich in vitamins, minerals and plant substance. Scholars believe that it was the Romans who discovered the therapy of Mud baths as early as 120 B.C. Today we know that Mud, helps to draw out excess heat and cool the body. Its property of water solubility allows the skin to absorb nourishing nutrients when applied. One of the additional benefits with Mud is that, due to its nature other ingredients can be added to the mixture to further boost treatment results.

Clay like mud comes from the earth. However, due to its composition nature it has a tendency to soak up or dry, hence it is used in cosmetic products as a drying agent. It is a component found in many cosmetic products like foundation and powders. Clay has the ability to remove matter suspended in liquid, as its natural property is oil balancing. Thus, clay helps to assist the body in the systemic removal of many industrial chemicals that the body would otherwise have difficulty eliminating.

Types of Mud Across the World

Mud is used as a healing agent for cracks, bites, burns and other skin afflictions. Pure mud helps to de-toxify, remineralize and is anti-inflammatory. Every region on earth, according to its geographic and climatic conditions produces Mud that is unique in its mineral and biological content. Depending upon the region, where the Mud is obtained it may contain high concentrations of Iron, Manganese, Zinc Copper or Selenium. This can be used to treat various ailments, when used in a variety of combination.

About Dead Sea Mud

One of the world's best and most sought after mud comes from The Dead Sea. The Jordanian Dead Sea has black mud enriched with healing minerals such as magnesium, calcium, potassium bromide and organic remains of plants and animals. It contains 100% natural Dead Sea mineral clay, known for its therapeutic properties.

This brand of mud is used by clinics to revitalize the skin by removing dry cell tissue. This helps to increase the supply of oxygen to the skin tissues and removes toxins from the body. It penetrates deep into the pores and helps the skin absorb the 26 Minerals and trace elements. The rich in minerals black mud can be used as contouring body wrap over the entire body for thirty minutes. A thermal wrap sheet is used to wrap the mud over the body to prevent the mud from drying out. The body is covered from below the neck and the mud can be rinsed away with warm water after 30 minutes. This is followed by the application of herbal massage cream to relax the body and further rejuvenate it.

About Moor Mud

The rich black mud from the Moors of Austria is known for its healing properties. It is formed as a result of plant matter deposited thousands of years ago deep beneath the earth. It contains 100% Austrian Moor peat with water. The mud is odorless, containing just over 1000 plant extracts and trace elements. It is however not a clay based mud. In fact it contains only 3% clay. The rest of the ingredients for this natural healing magic are organic residue of herbs, flowers and grasses. It consists of 97% of decomposed botanicals, high amounts of humic and fulvic acids, bio-minerals, trace elements, vitamins, amino acids, plant hormones and fatty acids. It contains no aluminium oxide a metal that is considered harmful by many detox therapists.

Moor mud has been used in the European spas since 1800's. For over 200 years, it has been referred to as having magical properties, which today can be explained through science. Its popularity has however not decreased and is still being used to:

Cleanse the body of toxins
Hydrate the skin
Cure health problems like arthritis, chronic skin conditions and stomach ailments.
Helps to ease joint problems, muscle tension and rheumatism.
It induces relaxation, as it helps to stimulate the body's natural production of cortisones.
It helps to deliver nutrients and anti-inflammatory elements to the body, improve circulation, boost the immune system and rejuvenate the body tissues.
It is very effective in clearing acne and calms inflammation in the skin.
Due to its richness' in humic acid, which helps in the absorption of moisture and nutrients into skin tissue, it helps to fight ageing of the skin.

This natural mud is applied and wrapped around the body for thirty minutes. Then it is rinsed thoroughly in warm water. An herbal relaxing oil is applied over the body after the bath.

The moor mud is a fine paste that dissolves in water without clogging. Absence of clay makes it safe for septic systems. It does not clog the pipes and is suitable for normal bathtubs.

About Volcanic Mud Bath - Calistoga (California)

Mud baths have been a tradition in Calistoga since the time of Maya camas Indians. Calistoga was formed after a series of volcanic eruptions 2-6 million years ago. It is blessed with geothermal waters rich in magnesium and calcium that burst gently upon the earth into steaming pools and rivers. Calistoga is found at the foot of Mt. St. Helena and at the top of the Napa Valley. The combination of mineral water from local springs and the volcanic ash from Mt. St. Helena make up the key components of the Calistoga Mud.

The combination of clay, peat and hot mineral waters in the mud bath relaxes muscles and joints, cleanses impurities and leaves the skin soft and renewed. The mud treatment detoxifies, soothes aching muscles, reduces stress and induces relaxation.

The treatment begins by slipping into a tub of fine clay based mud for 10-15 minutes. Mud treatments are considered wet treatments, which means they require a special wet room or shower treatment in the spa, to rinse away the mud after treatment.

In the 1930's and 40's people suffering from arthritis came to Calistoga spas to take a mud bath every day to get healed. These days, people come to these spas to relieve stress and experience peace and relaxation.

About Great Salt Lake Mud Body Wrap

The Great Salt Lake in Utah is an island sea that contains minerals and trace elements in abundance. It is 6-10 times more concentrated than regular seawater. On average approximately 500 inches of snow falls on the mountain ranges surrounding the Great Salt Lake every year. During summer the water of the melted snow wash over the mountains, drawing minerals and trace elements from the rich soil. Mountain Rivers and streams wash these elements away into the Great Salt Lake. Since the lake has no outlet all of these minerals remain in the lake. The salt content in the Utah's great salt lake makes it unique.

Many clinics used this mud to treat people with psoriasis, eczema, body ache or other skin irritations. It helps to calm and soothe reactive skin. A Body Wrap is prepared. The body wrap is done to remove the old dead skin. The heat from the wrap helps to unclog the pores that increase the rate of respiration. Thereby it helps to increase the skin tone and texture. One of the beneficial effects of body wraps is its ability to bring positive influences to one's mind, body and spirit.

About Hungarian Wellness Mud

Hungarian Wellness Mud is a therapeutic mud used in medicinal spas in Hungary to treat ailments like chronic diseases of the joints and spine, sports related injuries, fibrositis syndrome, chronic joint inflammation and stress management. In the late 1800's, this fine mud was found in a natural spring in a place about 130 kilometers south east of Budapest. This mud was used to treat various aches and pains. Hungarian wellness mud has over 60% silicon dioxide, which helps to firm and strengthen body tissues. It also contains iron and sulphur known for stimulating blood circulation. When used as a body wrap, it promotes firmness and strength to body tissues and draws out toxins from the body. It is known for detoxification, cellulite, cell renewal and deep skin cleansing.

About Clay Baths

This is one of the most effective methods to eliminate toxic substances that have accumulated in the body. They cleanse the skin and stimulate the lymphatic system. The goal of a clay bath is to relax the conscious mind and release stress.

It is recommended to have clay baths without a combination of herbs. The best water to use with clay baths is natural, high quality spring water or if not possible, reverse osmosis water can be used. Adding natural sea salt to a clay bath is a good idea. Sea salt acts as a tonic and increases the ion exchange capability of clay in a clay bath. A healing clay bath should predominantly consist of green or grey sodium or calcium smectite. Natural raw clays are best, agricultural grade clays are next best and technical grade class are third. A warm or tepid clay bath lasts for 20-30 minutes. The bathtub should be filled with water at a temperature of 98-100 degrees Fahrenheit. The bath should be discontinued if the heart rate accelerates or if extreme fatigue occurs. Any systemic shock indicates that the bath should be discontinued.

Clay can ruin standard plumbing, so the water in the tub after a clay bath should be either pumped out or be left to dry outside. Once the water evaporates the clay can be disposed easily into the garbage. One can also install an inline-pressurized filter to remove clay from water.

About Ischia Mud - Italy

Ischia is the eight largest Italian islands and the largest in the Bay of Naples. This volcanic island is known for its volcanic mud and thermal waters. Ischia mud originates from many volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. The mud contains sodium, chlorine, potassium, calcium and sulphur. It is hence suitable for therapeutic treatment like arthrosis, psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema, respiratory diseases and intestinal disorders.

About Bad Wilsnack - Germany

Bad Wilsnack, pronounced as But Wilsnack, is a town in Germany. Since 1928, it is recognized as a spa town. The brownish black mud in Bad Wilsnack in Germany has been used to ease back pain and arthritis for more than a century. The mud bath in Bad Wilsnack has healing properties because of its high mineral content. People take mud baths in tubs with the mud heated up to 39 or 43 degrees Celsius. The heat creates an artificial fever, stirring up a person's enzymes and this makes the immune system function better. This mud therapy is recommended for people with joint problems, arthritis, skin diseases or menopausal problems.

About Ayurvedic Mud Bath - India

About Multani Mitti - India

It is known as Indian Fullers earth. It is highly absorbent and formed due to the decomposition of volcanic ash. It is good for drawing excess oils from the skin and stimulates circulation to the skin. This clay is used by many Indian women to wash their hair, as it makes it soft and shiny.

Multani Mitti or Indian Fullers earth as its called in the west is popularly used to cool the skin. With India being a tropical country, this mud has been popularly used to take care of the skin during the prickly heat season of summer. It is applied as a paste on the skin's surface for 15- 20 mints and then washed off. This leaves the skin feeling smooth, soft, moist and rejuvenated.

Multani Mitti is popularly mixed with other products such as oils and herbs to match the skin type of the patient. The positive result can be immediately felt and seen once washed off. It is however impeccable that the mud is left on for the right duration of time. If left for too long, it can in fact cause discomfort and dry the skin. Many spas, in India use this mud for beauty treatments. It is widely used as a core element in many herbal face packs.

Mud Pack

Mudpacks are the most common form of beauty treatment used extensively around the world by women. Mudpacks are produced by some of the top beauty brands with easy to use instructions. Over the years there have been a variety of mudpacks introduced in the market. Due to this, most skin types can find the right pack at the right price.

The Mudpack has to be made in to a paste before being applied on the face. However the Eye area and the lips are to be avoided. Usually most packs are left on for anywhere between 15 to 20 mints before being washed off with luke warm water. It is always best to read the instructions on the pack.

The result of a Mud Pack treatment is to leave the skin feeling clean, smooth, soft and rejuvenated. Regular use helps to cut down wrinkles forming in the skin. However it is advised by experts not to over use this treatment as it can have adverse effects. Usually Mud Pack treatments are done once in every 1 or 3 months depending on the client's age and skin tone.