Happy Mud Season!

With spring, comes mud. But did you know that this deliciously squishy stuff that children love to play in and dogs love to track across the floor is also the base for a respected branch of natural medicine? According to ancient wisdom, the five fundamental building blocks of the universe are sky, air, fire, water and earth. It was believed that earth is a constituent part of the physical body and that its power could be harnessed for healing.

Today, this paradigm has found its way into both ultra chic spas and naturopathy. The results from mud therapy can be near-miraculous. Of course, this ain’t your average garden variety glop — we’re talking about the really good mud.

It’s important to follow strict guidelines in preparation. Mud should never be taken from the surface of the earth, but rather dug from a depth of 3 to 4 feet and mined from pure, uncontaminated sources. Before utilizing mud, it is essential that it be dried, powdered and thoroughly sieved to remove any bits of stone, sticks or bugs. Mud found in different parts of the world has very different properties, and composition varies with the place of origin.

Brine mud comes from highly saline coastal areas. The Dead Sea is one of the most prized sources of mud for healing skin disorders of all kinds. It is rumored to have been the beauty secret of both Cleopatra and the Queen of Sheba and contains more than 20 different salts and minerals. Brine mud is rich in calcium, magnesium, potassium bromide and myriad other beneficial organic elements. As a facial mask, it soothes, cleanses and moisturizes, nourishing the skin to restore its deepest vitality.

Moor mud, also referred to as black mud, may very well hail back to the age of the dinosaurs. It was produced over thousands of years from the organic residue of grasses, herbs and flowers. The resulting fine paste contains vitamins, amino acids and plant hormones, along with fulvic and humic acids. It has chelating properties, meaning it can absorb impurities and detoxify the body … sort of like an odor-eater insole for humans. It’s used in healing sports injuries and works wonders on inflammatory conditions such as arthritis.

Fango, a thermal mud from hot spring sources, is a slimy concoction that holds heat well and has been successfully applied to give relief to patients suffering from the chronic pain of fibromyalgia and arthritis, along with treating a wide range of immune disorders. The list of reported testimonials rivals that of the best snake oil salesmen: Bothered by tuberculosis, bronchitis, chronic dry skin or psoriasis of the liver? Mud’s got the cure for what ails you.

There are two basic types of mud treatments.

Mud packs in the form of poultices can cure ordinary boils, ease a headache and absorb a variety of toxins. Mud packs on the abdomen can cool the fires of indigestion or relieve constipation. A thin film of fine mud clay can calm irritated or infected skin and is a staple at better skin salons. When there is a high level of impurities present in the body, mud heats quickly in response and a new pack must be applied. Never re-use mud! Spent poultices are full of nasty stuff that was sucked out of your pores. Treatment techniques are different for every
ailment and condition, so do some research before you try any experiments on your own.

Mud baths involve the application of a special kind of mud that is rich in natural salts and minerals. It is slathered over the entire body to treat skin disorders and kept in place for up to an hour, ideally baked in natural sunlight. I do not recommend trying the process at home! This is precisely what healing spas were invented for.

But if you find yourself yearning for a do-it-yourself communion with Mommy Earth, there are enough products available online to keep you surfing for hours. Just keep in mind that this is an unregulated market, so be sure you are buying from reputable sources. If you really want the best, ask a naturopath. In the world of mud, they are the connoisseurs who leave the rest of us in the dirt.