Mud treatment: possibilities of pilotherapy, indications and contraindications

Muds used for Pilotherapy have one common property – therapeutic effect of mud. The origin, chemical composition, conditions of formation and source material of the muds used for the treatment of diseases are different, so the application of this therapeutic method is quite wide – from trauma to dental disease. Today estet-portal.com will introduce you to various types of therapeutic use of mud and tell you about the indications and contraindications for their use.

What is the therapeutic effect of mud?

When in contact with the human body, dirt has two types of effects on it:

1. Heat

High heat capacity, low thermal conductivity and the ability to retain heat underlie the thermal effects of mud on the human body. Such properties contribute to vasodilation and improvement of blood flow, acceleration of metabolic processes and an increase in temperature in tissues.

Muds have a chemical and thermal effect on the body.

2. Chemical

The human skin contains thermo- and chemoreceptors that are sensitive to the effects of mud treatment. The chemicals in the mud stimulate the endocrine glands and connective tissues. As a result, blood flow to the skin increases, and beneficial minerals act on the foci of pathology. The analgesic and resolving action also helps in the fight against ailments.

Next we will look at:

• types of therapeutic mud;
• types of mud therapy;
• contraindications for mud therapy.

Types of therapeutic muds used to improve health

For the purpose of mud therapy, organic, inorganic, mixed or artificial mud products may be used. The composition and properties of muds vary depending on their origin, namely:

1. Black – silt deposits in salt water bodies. They contain a minimum of organic substances and a lot of salts, as well as lipoproteins. They have bactericidal and adsorption properties.
2. Sapropel – silt deposits with a predominance of organic substances, which are mined from fresh lakes.
3. Sopochnye (pseudovolcanic) – rich in minerals, but rare, as they arise due to high hydrostatic pressure in the aquifers of the earth's crust.
4. Peat – mined in swamps. Humic substances determine the high bioactivity of such muds, and chloride anions and ammonium cations are also very important for providing a therapeutic effect.
5. Clay – mineral sediments at the bottom of drying water bodies, which contain a minimum of organic matter.
6. Hydrothermal – the result of the impact of hydrogen sulfide vapor and CO₂ on volcanic rocks. A small amount of minerals and an acidic reaction – the main distinguishing features of such mud.

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Types of mud treatment and diseases for which they are used

Among the types of mud treatment, the following are distinguished:

1. Mud Wrap

• used dirt – volcanic, peaty or marine;
• healing effect – breakdown of fat, increased perspiration, elimination of toxins, resulting in weight loss, stretch marks after childbirth are eliminated and skin is rejuvenated.

2. Mud baths

They ensure full contact of therapeutic mud with the skin, as well as a uniform effect of beneficial components on the skin.

3. Mud applications

There are two sub-types of this mud therapy, which can be presented as gloves, socks, stockings and even mud collars:

• cold applications (mud temperature does not exceed 25 degrees);
• hot applications.

The appropriateness of the application, the temperature and the consistency of the mud used are determined by the doctor.

4. Creopelidotherapy

This type of mud treatment is used in acute inflammatory processes. The main feature of the – gradual cooling of the mud to 8 degrees.

5. Thin layer thermal contrast application

A feature of this method of using mud is heating the skin, as a result of which the sweat and sebaceous glands are freed from bacteria and impurities and absorb the beneficial substances of the mud.

6. Dental applications

To treat periodontal disease, hilly mud is also used, which is characterized by a high content of iodine.

When Pilotherapy is Harmful: Contraindications to Mud Treatment

Like any therapeutic method, mud treatment has its own contraindications, namely:

• acute inflammatory processes;
• blood diseases and bleeding;
• neoplasms;
• tuberculosis;
• severe form of atherosclerosis;
• jaundice;
• cirrhosis of the liver;
• progressive polyarthritis;
• mental illness;
• endocrine diseases;
• metabolic disorder.

The success and safety of mud treatment largely depends on the correct choice of the type of therapeutic mud and the absence of contraindications. In any case, it is the doctor who prescribes the necessary procedures, based on the patient's state of health. Remember that self-medication can do more harm than good.