Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge

Vol. 11 (3), July 2012, pp. 556-559

Therapeutic uses of Mud therapy in Naturopathy
Rajiv Rastogi
Central Council for Research in Yoga & Naturopathy (CCRYN), 61-65, Institutional Area, Janakpuri, New Delhi 110058
E-mail: [email protected]
Received 02.07.10, revised 20.12.10
Earth is one among five elements having an immense impact on human body. It has been adopted as a treatment modality,
i.e. mud therapy in naturopathy. It is a simple, cost effective and efficacious treatment used in the treatment of various disorders.
Mud is used as a medicine since long as various references are found available in ancient texts indicating its therapeutic uses.
Mud has various therapeutic properties which are highly useful in the treatment of various disease conditions. The paper
highlights the therapeutic uses of mud as a therapy and its importance, possible role and usefulness in the modern times.
Keywords: Naturopathy, Mud Therapy, Mud pack, Mud bath
IPC Int. Cl.8:A61K 8/00, A61Q, A61J, A61K
Oriental wisdom of healthcare believes the universe to
be composed of five primary elements; Akash, Vayu,
Agni, Jala and Prithvi. For their being as the
formative components of a living body, a balance or
other wise among them is proposed to be cause of
health or disease. Though in classical sense, these
elements are not proposed as the treatment modalities
in reference to their namely resemblance to the
similar components available to our surroundings,
Naturopathy on contrary adopts each one of them as a
distinct therapeutic measure. Earth, as an integral
component of our body, has an immense impact upon
our health and sickness. It is essential for our physical
as well as mental fitness. Most Naturopathy Centres
adopt Mud therapy as principal therapy where mud is
used as the core component. Mud therapy,
conventionally is prescribed to the patients alongside
with other eliminative therapies. Mud pack and mud
bath are best and popular forms of mud therapy.
Various references pertaining to therapeutic uses of
mud are available in traditional texts like Vedas and
Sushruta Kalpa, etc. saying antiquity of using mud in
the treatment of various disease conditions
1
.
Interestingly, Gandhiji was found to be a firm believer
of Naturopathy.
2
The mud poultice applied to the
head, relives headache in most cases. Headache may
be due to several causes, but whatever the cause, as a
general rule, an application of mud poultice relieves it
for the time being
3
. Mud poultices cure ordinary
boils
3
. In high fever, an application of mud poultice
on the head and abdomen is very useful
3
.
Mud therapy is a very simple, cost effective and
efficacious treatment modality of Naturopathy. The
mud used for this should be clean and taken from 122
to 153 cm depth from the surface of the ground. It
should be free from contamination of stone pieces and
chemical manures, etc. Before using, mud should be
dried in sun rays, powdered and sieved to separate
stones, grass particles and other impurities. If there is
any doubt as to its cleanliness, it should be well
heated and thus sterilized
3
. Simple and effective
treatments of Mud therapy are included in the
techniques of healthy living. These treatments can be
used at home too. Mud therapy is used for giving
coolness to body. Mud dilutes and absorbs the toxic
substances of body and ultimately eliminates them
from body. Mud packs and mud baths are two main
and popular forms of mud therapy. In different
disease conditions like constipation, headache due to
tension, high blood pressure and skin diseases, etc.
mud is used successfully. In the condition of headache
and high blood pressure mud pack is applied on
forehead too
4
.
Another good mode of mud therapy is the barefoot
walking in the dewy grass or walking on wet
pavements or slabs. The wet grass or pavements make
a good conductor for the transmission of earth
magnetism into the body of the patients. The barefoot
walking should be followed by drying the feet
thoroughly and the patient should then take a brisk
walk in dry shoes and stockings
5
. Mud has a unique
property to absorb heat and toxins from the body. It
RASTOGI: THERAPEUTICS OF MUD THERAPY IN NATUROPATHY


557
also dissolves and transforms the toxins within the
body into such a state whereby they could be easily
driven out from the body. It reduces the rigidity of
muscles, softens the hard tissues and dissolves hard
fatty glands within or over the body. It starts its
function right from the moment of its application over
the affected site and consequently the patient observes
relief from the symptoms. During the state of
presence of additional amount of toxins in the body,
mud gets hot sooner after application in accordance of
the body temperature. It should be replaced by
another mud pack over the same site in such
condition. Besides its local uses, mud can also be used
in various generalized conditions like fever,
diarrhoea, piles, dysentery, constipation, insomnia,
headache, high blood pressure and anxiety, etc
6
.
The water applications produce fully as good
results as mud, clay or other materials; besides, it has
the advantage of being more cleanly and more easily
applied
8
. However, it is true that in many cases of
chronic inflammation resulting either from internal
disease, bruises or sprains, clay packs have proved of
great benefit. One advantage he found is that this
substance retains moisture and coolness much longer
than a water pack or compress. They are, therefore, of
special benefit in cases of sub acute and chronic
inflammations, of persistent soreness, and for all night
packs or bandages
7
.

Procedure

Mud pack on abdomen
Mud is soaked in a big vessel of clay at night. In
the morning by kneading and is prepared like dough.
It should not be too wet to flow. The mud is kept on
the clean cotton cloth and is spread on it with the help
of a wooden stick. The size of the pack is approx.
22.86 15.24 1.27 cm. However, it is changed
according to the shape and size of the patient as well
as the region of application. Thereafter, the mud pack
is placed over pelvis below umbilical region of the
abdomen in such a way that entire mud pack is in
contact of skin. It is the covered with a dry cloth or
with a woolen cloth in winters. The pack may be
removed after 20 minutes and that part is cleaned with
a wet cloth followed by a gentle rubbing with palms
to warm it up. Mud pack for other parts of body like
forehead etc. are also prepared and used in the same
way
4
.
Mud pack relieves indigestion, decreases intestinal
heat and stimulates peristalsis. In congestive
headache, it is applied on forehead and relieves the
headache immediately. It is recommended when a
prolonged cold application is required. It is applied
over the eyes in cases of conjunctivitis, hemorrhages
in the eyeball, itching, allergy, errors of refraction like
short sight and long sight and especially useful in
glaucoma where it helps to reduce eye ball tension.
The effect of the wet pack, poultice or compress is
very much the same whether the material used is mud,
clay, water, cottage cheese, flaxseed or any other mild
acting substance. The beneficial results are brought
about because the cool moisture in and under the
packs or poultices relaxes the pores of the skin, draws
the blood into the surface, relieves inner congestion
and pain and promotes heat radiation and elimination
of morbid matter
4
.

Mud pack on face
Fine paste of soaked mud is applied on the face for
20 minutes after which face is washed gently with
cold water. It helps in improving the skin complexion
and removes pimples as well. It also opens skin pores
which in turn facilitate the elimination process. Mud
application on face helps in elimination of dark circles
around the eyes too.

Mud bath
Mud bath is one of the most popular treatments
given in the Naturopathy Hospitals. In mud bath, a
fine paste of mud is applied to the entire body of the
patient. The duration of mud bath is 45 to 60 minutes.
It improves the skin condition by increasing the
circulation and energizing the skin tissues. Care must
be taken that the mud used for such treatments is free
from impurities and should not be taken from
localities contaminated by human refuse. The mud
bath is followed by a cleansing warm spray and rub,
and finished with a quick tonic cold spray
4
. Mud bath
revitalizes and rejuvenates the skin and can be used in
routine as well as during the skin disease conditions
6
.
Mud therapy is found useful in certain other
conditions like osteoarthritis. A study on the efficacy
of treatment with mud packs and baths with Sillene
mineral water (Chianciano Spa Itlay) in patients
suffering from knee osteoarthritis was conducted to
assess the efficacy of mud-bath therapy with mineral
water from the Sillene Spring at Italys Chianciano
Spa in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee
9
.
Patients (n=61) were divided into two groups. Group
A underwent three cycles of mud based spa therapy
over a years time, whereas group B did not. Clinical
conditions, visual analogue scale pain ratings, and
INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL. 11, NO. 3, JULY 2012


558
Lequesne indexes of the two groups were compared.
They also compared same parameters in the patients
of the two groups that were following the therapy
with drugs and in the patients of the group A before
and after Spa treatment. The percentage of patients
with no symptoms or mild symptoms was higher in
group A than in group B. Within group A, this
percentage was higher after treatment than before Spa
therapy. Even in the comparison between the patients
of the two groups that were following the therapy
with drug, in group A the percentage of patients with
no symptoms or mild symptoms was higher than in
group B. Statistical analyses based on various tests
revealed that almost all these differences were highly
significant. No adverse effects were observed in any
of the patients in group A. In conclusion, the mud-
bath therapy performed at Chianciano Spa with
Sillene Spring water remarkably improved the clinical
conditions of patients with knee arthritis and
significantly reduces the frequency and severity of
symptoms and the disability they cause
9
.

Another similar study on efficacy of mud-bath
therapy with mineral water from the Sillene spring at
Itlays Chianciano Spa for osteoarthritis of the knee,
physical examination of the knee joint, visual
analogue scale (VAS) assessment of pain, and
Lequesne Algo-functional Index were compared
10
.
Tests were performed in 61 patients divided into 2
groups. The group A underwent three full cycles of
mud-bath therapy over 1 years time, the group B did
not. An observational longitudinal study was also
conducted on the patients of group A, before and after
completion of the treatment protocol. Statistical
analyses were based on use of Pearsons chi2 test,
Students t tests for paired and unpaired data. The
results revealed that the percentage of patients with no
symptoms or mild symptoms was higher in group A
than in group B (differences were highly significant);
the mean value of VAS and the overall Lequesne
indexes mean score reported in group A was
significantly lower than that reported in group B. The
same was observed comparing the clinical conditions
of group A patients before and after mud-bath
therapy. No adverse effects were observed in any of
the patients in group A. The study concluded that the
mud-bath therapy at Chianciano Spa significantly
improves the clinical conditions of patients with knee
osteoarthritis and significantly
10
.

A randomized controlled clinical study was done to
study the efficacy of mud pack treatment in patients
with knee osteoarthritis and to find the contribution of
chemical factors to the build up of these effects
11
. The
study revealed that mud pack treatment significantly
improved the pain and functional status of patients
with knee osteoarthritis, whether applied directly or
coated with nylon. Direct application was found to be
superior, which implies chemical properties of the
mud contribute to the build up of therapeutic effect
11
.
In another study mud was found to have a place as a
non-pharmacological tool in certain clinical settings,
such as degenerative articular processes, skin
disorders and others
12
. Mud modifies nitric oxide,
myeloperoxidase and glutathione peroxidase serum
levels in arthritic patients and beta-endorphin and
stress hormones in patients affected by osteoarthritis
by reducing inflammation, pain and therefore
diminishes the cause of stress
12
. In a randomized
clinical trial on effects of mud- bath treatment on
fibromyalgia patients a significant improvement of all
evaluation parameters after mud-bath therapy after 16
weeks was found
13
. Mud packs were well tolerated
and no drop-outs were recorded. The results suggests
the efficacy and the tolerability of mud-bath treatment
in primary fibromyalgia syndrome (FS)
13
.

Conclusion
Based on the references made above, it is
concluded that mud is an important treatment
modality used in naturopathy which plays an effective
role in the treatment and management of various
disease conditions. It is equally important and useful
in modern times. It has traditional references;
however, focused and scientific more studies are
required to be conducted in this field to establish the
efficacy and usefulness of mud therapy in
ameliorating various disorders.

References
1 Anonymous, Vaidic Vangamaya mein Prakritik Chikitsa,
(CCRYN, New Delhi), 2004.
2 Gandhi MK, Diet and Diet Reform, (Navajivan Publishing
House, Ahmedabad), 1987.
3 Gandhi MK, Key to Health, (Navajivan Publishing House,
Ahmedabad), 1999.
4 Anonymous, Yogic & Naturopathic Treatment for Common
Ailments, (CCRYN, New Delhi), 2005.
5 Davidson Stanley V, A Popular Guide to Nature Cure,
(Thorson Publishers Ltd, London), 1952.
6 Rastogi Rajiv, Walk can do a lot, Nisargopachar Varta,
(National Institute of Naturopathy, Pune), Vol 2, Issue 9,
Sept, 2010.
7 Rastogi Rajiv, An Introduction to Naturopathy, (Asha
Prakashan, Agra), 2001.
RASTOGI: THERAPEUTICS OF MUD THERAPY IN NATUROPATHY


559
8 Lindlahr H, Practice of Natural Therapeutics, (Sat Sahitya
Sahayogi Sangh, Hyderabad), 1995.
9 Fraioli A, Serio A, Mennuni G, Ceccarelli F, Petraccia L et
al., A study on the efficacy of treatment with mud packs
and baths with Sillene mineral water (Chianciano Spa Italy)
in patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis, Rheumatol
Int 2010 Apr 14 [Epub ahead of print].
10 Fraioli A, Serio A, Mennuni G, Ceccarelli F, Petraccia L et
al., Efficacy of mud-bath therapy with Mineral Water from
the Sillene spring at Italys Chianciano Spa for
osteoarthritis of the knee: A clinical statistical study
(Article in Italian), Clin Ter, 2009 Nov-Dec;160 (6):e63-
e74.
11 Odabasi E, Turan M, Erdem H, Tekbas F, Does mud pack
treatment have any chemical effect?, J Altenn Complement
Med, 14 (5) (2008) 559-565.
12 Giacomino MI & de Michele DF, Is mud an anti-
inflammatory?, An Med Interna, 24 (7) (2007) 352-353.
13 Fioravanti A, Perpignano G, Tirri G, Cardinale G, Gianniti
C, Lanza CE, Loi A, Tirri E, Sfriso P & Cozzi F, Effects of
mud- bath treatment on fibromyalgia patients :a
randomized clinical trial, Rheumatol Int, 2007 May 23.