Can mudpacks relieve arthritic joint pain? Part 1

One of the oldest treatments for arthritis and muscle pains has been mudpacks. The Egyptians, Romans, and Incas frequently applied mudpacks for treatment of various rheumatic disorders. Over the centuries, mudpacks have gained more influence in cosmetics and many beauty parlors use mudpacks to sooth and beautify skin.

There was a time when mud was collected from wet grounds but today, it is believed that mud collected from mineral springs and hot spas probably has the most therapeutic benefit.

For mud to be of therapeutic value, it must contain very little or no clay, and contain organic residue of herbs, flowers and grasses. With time, this residue is transformed into a fine paste that easily dissolves in water and contains a high concentration of minerals, trace elements, vitamins, amino acids, various proteins, and fatty acids.

Today, many alternative health care practitioners prescribe mud baths for treatment of joint pain, muscle aches, improve eczema, acne, psoriasis, and help muscle recovery after injury. Cosmetologists recommend mudpacks to help soften skin and keep it looking younger.

One area where mud baths have been reported to be of value is treatment of joint pains from osteoarthritis. Over the years, there have been many anecdotal reports of mudpack having the ability to relieve joint pain and decrease swelling. To determine if mudpacks are truly beneficial, a clinical study was recently undertaken.

Patients with bilateral osteoarthritis were divided into two groups and treated with daily mudpacks on weekdays for 3 weeks. The mudpacks were applied to both knees for 30 mins. The control group received pain control with acetaminophen. Patients were evaluated immediately after the treatment was completed and once again a month after treatment.

Compared to the control groups, patients treated with mudpacks had superior outcomes in terms of pain control and joint swelling.