Sludge: list, properties and benefits

When we talk about mud, we generally refer to the role they play in the field of curative cosmetics. Mud means a mixture composed of finely dispersed solid clayey material and a certain amount of liquid, generally thermal water. The beneficial properties of the mud are used not only in the cosmetic field, but also in the medical field for the treatment of various diseases.

The properties of sludge

Mud is a fine-grained sediment, consisting of a mixture of water and silt (a loose sediment with a grain size between 1/16 and 1/256 mm) or clay.

To make the most of all the properties, the mud is also matured. The maturation of the mud is obtained by leaving it in thermal water for at least 6-12 months. In doing so, the clay that makes up the mud absorbs and absorbs all the chemical-physical properties of the thermal water.

Depending on the type of thermal water used and the type of trace elements that make it up, the mud can be classified as sulphurous, chlorinated (the most popular in thermal centers), sulphurous, salsoiodic, ferruginous and arsenicated .

There are different types of sludge:

fanghi guam,
venus mud,
geomar mud,
anti-cellulite angels,
slimming sludge,
activated sludge,
draining mud,
bentonite muds,
mud from the Dead Sea .

Cures with muds

Mud-based treatments are in great demand by all those who wish to improve some skin blemishes or restore their skin.

The mud goes to treat locally blemishes such as acne, blackheads, cellulite, stretch marks or rugh e. Mud packs are also indicated for the treatment of dandruff: applied to the hair. Many doctors recommend them for their anti-inflammatory properties in the presence of osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatic and joint pain, neuralgia and osteoporosis.

To enhance the beneficial effect, the mud is often enriched with essential oils or other herbal extracts . For example, an anti-cellulite mud is typically enriched with extracts of Centella asiatica, horse-chestnut, butcher's broom and ivy, active ingredients chosen to stimulate microcirculation, promote the drainage of liquids and thus help eliminate toxins.

Sometimes they are also mixed with warm sea water and seaweed.

What is mud therapy

Mud therapy is a thermal therapy that is carried out using mature thermal mud. The mud is applied directly to the skin at a temperature between 37 ° C and 38 ° C, for about 15-20 minutes .

At the end of the application, the patient, after having been subjected to a hot shower, is immersed in the thermal bath at a temperature of 37-38 ° C for about ten minutes. Finally, it is dried with warm cloths and massaged.

The cosmetic and therapeutic benefits that are obtained from the mud packs are the result of the union between the biological properties of the thermal waters and the effect of heat on the skin.

You can learn more about what mud therapy is and how it works

Contraindications of sludge

Although it is not a proper medicine, mud packs are not suitable for everyone. The main contraindications to the use of mud as a cosmetic or medical treatment are acute arthropathies, pregnancy, epilepsy, bleeding ulcers.