The Ayurvedic Tradition of Mud Therapy

According to Ayurveda, all things in the visible universe – including the human body – are made up of five elements (called the pañcabhūta). While there are many different types of therapy in Ayurveda, one class of therapy is naturopathic therapy involving the five elements. Mud therapy (mṛttikā cikitsā) is one of these five-element therapies corresponding to the element Earth (bhūmi or pṛthvī).

In the ancient Ayurvedic text the Harita Samhita (said to be composed around the 6th or 7th century CE), five different types of mud / clay are described, each with their different therapeutic qualities and distinguishable by their color: black, red, white, yellow & blue (kṛṣṇa, rakta, sīta, pīta, nīla). The very popular multanni mitti or clay of Multan (also known as Fuller’s Earth) used in cosmetics is one type of white clay. The various clays used in Ayurvedic mud therapy are usually sourced from pristine locations like clean rivers and lakes.

Traditionally, mud is generally applied locally as a moist mask, pack or poultice combined with special Ayurvedic herbs, though it can also be used in a full-body mud bath or as a body scrub (or even used internally in very specific therapies). The mud poultice remains active as long as it remains moist, and after about 20-30 mins it dries and is washed off.

Therapeutic and cosmetic benefits

Cosmetically, use of mud exfoliates dead skin cells and unclogs the pores, drawing out and removing toxins, excess oils and other impurities. The skin and pores are tightened as the mud dries and afterwards the skin is refreshed and rejuvenated. It can be helpful in dealing with blackheads and other mild forms of acne and other superficial blemishes of the skin, eczema and psoriasis and improves the appearance of wrinkles. The many minerals contained in clay nourish the skin and the special herbs in the mud formula also contribute with their astringent, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties.

Therapeutically, the Ayurvedic mud formula improves the local circulation in the soft tissues under the skin, reducing swelling, inflammation and pain in the muscles and joints (due to arthritis or injury) and inducing relaxation. It is generally balancing to the three doshas in the body, though depending on the types of clay and herbs used in the formula it may be targeted to act stronger one one or other of the three doshas.

Mud therapy may also be used on the head area and eyelids to reduce stress and tension and reduce tension headaches and eyeaches.

Further resources: Mud therapy: A type of Panchbhautic Chikitsa of Ayurveda (Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry)

Auromere Ayurvedic Mud Bath and Mask

Auromere Ayurvedic Mud Bath and Mask is a high-quality tri-doshic formula balancing to all body types, containing a mixture of four of the five types of clay mentioned in Ayurvedic texts: black, yellow, red and white (Fuller’s Earth). It is additionally formulated with 12 special Ayurvedic herbs all noted for their purifying and rejuvenating effects on the skin and soft tissues, including amalaki, bibhitaki, haritaki, balharitaki and others.

This general-use Ayurvedic formula is rich in skin-nourishing minerals like Calcium, Cobalt, Copper, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Potassium, Selenium and other trace minerals. The clays are sustainably sourced from highland lakes and rivers in Northern India. It is great for using as a face mask, mud pack, or body scrub.

Use promo code “MUDBATH25” during checkout for a 25% discount on the 16 oz jar.