I’ve never been in one, but getting into mud that a whole bunch of other people have been soaking in, supposedly leeching toxins from the body, definitely getting sweat, body oils, and other misc. detritus doesn’t seem that clean an idea. How hygenic is it?
Probably depends on the temperature and components of the mud. If it’s hot or acidic or salty or caustic enough, you’re probably not going to get any infections from it, though you may not want to ingest it. Think chlorine in swimming pools.
By the way, I’ve not ever seen any credible evidence that “leeching toxins” or “detoxing” is even theoretically possible or useful.
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Where are you taking your mud bath - at an accredited spa hotel at a place known for its good earth, or from a buddy?
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Why are you taking a mud bath - to leech toxins out, etc., or to lessen/ cure specifc ailments, as described by the spa hotel, certified by the doctors and scientists recommending this place, and your own doctor prescribing mud baths for you (usually as part of a spa hotel stay with other measures)?
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How are you taking the mudbath - naked or wearing a swimming suit? Coming down from your hotel room, and showering afterwards? With open sores or cuts or eczema on your body (not recommended)?
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Where is the “mud” coming from - did your buddy just dig a hole in the ground and mix the “mud” (clay?) with water for you to jump in, or did the spa hotel get the mud from the nearby peat bog.
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Whoever told you nonsense about leeching toxins from your body, or how mud baths work, has no idea, and you shouldn’t trust that person with your health.
Mud baths work in two ways basically: peat bog have a high heat holding capacity. So the spa hotel warms it up, you slip in and the heat is transferred into your joints. So it’s a good way to relax, less sweaty (because it’s slower and more even) than a Sauna and helps with joints-related problems. Only rednecks would fart in a mudbath! Most spa hotels also change the mud after each person, and some have started to sell mud packages so you can do it at home.
Doctors recommend it for those illnesses like Rheuma or menopausal problems where warmth and relaxation are useful in relieving the symptoms. It’s not used if you have any open sores on your skin - because of hygiene - or high pressure and similar problems that heat might worsen.
There is some speculation that the acid typically found in peat bogs may be part in the healing process, but it’s not been researched definitely yet.
The second method of mud baths is for example the dead sea clay: the mineral content and composition of the Earth in this particular place has been proven to help with skin problems, so you mix the Earth with water to make a paste, apply to skin, wait while it works, and scrape or shower off.
Mike Rowe on Dirty Jobs did a whole mud bath segment, from digging up the volcanic mud, preparing it, and then sitting his fine self down in a tub o’ hot mud. The owner of the place said the mud was hygenic and didn’t harbor germs, but I don’t know if that was scientific fact.
I’m looking into spas in the Calistoga, California area.
Mostly for relaxation and a new, unique experience.
I’m assuming coming from the hotel room and then showering afterwards. Not sure about the suit/no suit idea. Does it affect the experience much?
The hotels I’ve looked at say volcanic ash, peat, and a few other things I can’t remember, mixed with Calistoga mineral water.
Hence the word “supposedly”. A few spas mention it in their advertisements.
I would totally get all up into Mike Rowe’s mud. Just sayin’.
Generally speaking, I’m with you there… although it would depend on just what dirty job he’s been doing!
I was confused at first why you guys are all upset about “mud” = Earth being unhygienic, or who brought up that idiocy about leeching toxins from the body with them. Because earth itself is not unhygienic or harmful. You don’t want earth to get into open wounds because there might be Tetanus bacteria spores there. You don’t want to eat blue berries in areas where fox worm is current, or stand in African water that might harbour bilharziosis. But normal earth applied externally is not harmful.
But then I remembered that in the US, because “there’s so much empty space”, dangerous waste is put into landfills instead of being properly treated; sewage spills over because EPA was reduced and nobody cares to enforce laws; nuclear power is good, so nuclear waste is dumped on Indian reservation and other “empty” lands, and as a result, your earth is pretty likely very polluted.
Added to that, it seems the US has no tradition of spa hotels (I can’t even find a proper translation for Kurhotel or Kurort) or Health resorts. I don’t know if this is a consequence of the US health system, were preventive and rehabilitive measures both are apparently not covered. It seems the only connection to mud you have is with mud-fighting by women to appeal to men, hence your confusion about several people getting inside.
Wow, I love it when people who aren’t Americans tell me what Americans are like! That’s so cool and insightful!