Turvehoidot saunassa.

Peat, mud or clay?

Peat, mud and clay are all well-known traditional treatments; but are they one and the same thing or three completely different things?

A versatile bog harvest

Peat treatments are ancient folk healing skills that have been passed down from generation to generation. Throughout the ages, folk healers have made extensive use of the bog’s plentiful produce. Walking barefoot in the bog stimulates blood circulation and the bog’s yields has been collected into various baths and wraps. In the summer, a pit was dug in the swamp where swamp baths could be taken.

 

Nourishing peat from a deep swamp

Peat has been sought especially for skin problems and for the treatment of various aches and pains. Peat is formed in a deep, untouched swamp, hundreds of years old, in which several layers of vegetation have slowly disintegrated into a uniform mass. Because each bog and its flora are unique, there are no two similar peat treatments.
Peat contains several therapeutic ingredients: humic acids, fulvic acids, pectin, hemicellulose, humic, lignin, cellulose, bitumens, minerals and water.
The amount of phytoestrogens (phytohormones) is particularly high in peat moss and is therefore used, for example, to treat menopausal ailments in women.
Peat is believed to clean up impurities; it binds waste to itself in a detoxifying fashion and the active substances are thus absorbed into the peat. Peat stimulates metabolism and increases skin elasticity thanks to flavonoids. Peat is used for skin care as well as for the treatment of muscle and joint injuries and to increase hormonal well-being.


In home care, peat can be used to make masks, local wraps and baths.

 

Antibacterial clay

Clay also has a long tradition in folk healing and has been used by humans for a wide variety of cleansings. The clay is lifted from the ground, from a depth of at least one meter. Clay is very rich in minerals and trace elements. Clay is considered to be a strong hair growth enhancer and is especially suitable for oily, scaly or otherwise irritated scalp due to its antiseptic properties. As a full-body treatment, clay is said to be especially suitable for psoriasis based on the aforementioned antiseptic properties. Clay contains silicon, magnesium, aluminum, titanium, sodium, mineral salts, iron and copper that strengthen the skin, bones, nails and hair. All of these have qualities that promote one’s well-being. Antibacterial and disinfectant clay effectively absorbs body impurities, waste products, inflammation and heavy metals.

 

Clay cleans effectively

As it dries, clay encloses the impurities giving it its healing properties. When the clay absorbs the impurities, it stimulates the body’s metabolism. It is well suited for the treatment of acne, for example. Clay also acts as a good pain reliever due to its fluid-removing properties.

 

Mud treatments remove waste products

Mud treatments are especially popular in Estonian treatment facilities. Mud is dug especially from Estonian lakes and the Gulf of Bothnia: it is a layer of land created as a result of long-term organic processes. The mud is rich in trace elements, humic acids and other bioactive substances, which is why the mud smells rather special. There is a comprehensive list of benefits and healing effects of mud treatment, and mud is said to affect the body thermally, mechanically and chemically. Mud is said to relieve pain, speed up metabolism and thus remove fluids and waste products from the body.

 

Peat, mud or clay?

How do you know what is the best and most original, the traditional treatment, that is just right for you? And is there really a difference?
All are effective balneological, i.e. soil treatments, that bring relief to a number of different ailments. Clay and mud are from the mineral kingdom, while peat comes from the plant side. It is necessary to always consider which of the treatments is best at any given time on a case-by-case basis. But if you want to condense it, peat, mud and clay can be divided as follows, for example:


Peat – increases hormonal well-being, binds impurities and allows therapeutic agents to be absorbed into the body. Plant based.

Mud – relieves pain, binds waste products, reduces inflammation and pain factors. Mineral based.
Clay – reduces inflammation, binds waste products, reduces inflammation and pain factors. Mineral based.

Whether you choose peat, mud or clay, always choose raw materials that are researched and are as pure as possible and follow the instructions for use.

Enjoy playing with peat, mud and clay, 

Terhi