Fango treatment

The practice has ancient origins: there are, in fact, testimonies that confirm the existence of this treatment since the time of ancient Egypt. The mud mixed with clay obtained from the silt present on the banks of the Nile, was used to improve the elasticity and appearance of the skin.

There is evidence to suggest that fango therapy might have been practiced in ancient Greece, near hot springs and volcanic mud baths. The ancient Greek physician Hippocrates, often referred to as the "father of medicine," is said to have recommended the use of hot springs and mud baths for a variety of health conditions.

Later, during the Roman era, mud therapy began to be a common practice in Italy. During the Roman Empire’s period of maximum growth, the treatment reached the peak of popularity in Europe. Today, the opportunity to travel and combine your holiday with a relaxing spa therapy like fango therapy is not to be missed!

Mud therapy must be prescribed and supervised by a thermal physician. Before each treatment, amedical examination takes place, during which the physician decides on which parts of the body the healing mud should be applied and what temperature and duration are best suited for each treatment. The treatment is usually performed in the morning on an empty stomach. A typical mud therapy in Italian spas usually involves four steps:

1) The mud pack, in which mud at a temperature between 38°C and 42°C is applied by a "fanghini" to the affected areas. The patient is then wrapped in cloths and blankets to enhance the warming properties of the mud. The treatment lasts between 15 and 30 minutes.

2) The thermal bath, in which the patient, after cleansing the mud with a short shower, takes a bath for about 10 to 15 minutes in thermal water at about 37°C. Sometimes the water is also enriched with ozone to stimulate circulation.

3) The sweat response, in which the patient is dried off after the bath and allowed to rest for at least 30 minutes, well covered, while the body's biological response to the mud pack continues.

4) The massage, which usually marks the end of mud therapy, but can also be supplemented by other treatments.

Indications and effects

Disorders of the musculoskeletal system

Fango packs have been shown to relieve pain. Thus, fango treatments have been observed to be helpful for motor system disorders, such as osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, joint pain, and limited range of motion, as well as for primary and secondary forms of osteoarthritis.

They may also be beneficial in post-accident and post-surgery treatment, gout, cartilage calcification, articular rheumatism, inflammatory rheumatism (except acute forms), rheumatoid fibrosis, rheumatoid tendonitis, rheumatoid hip pain, soft tissue rheumatism, and rheumatoid arthritis (at rest).

Skin diseases

Also, fango is used as therapy for skin diseases. These include atopic dermatitis, skin redness, fungal infections, hives, acne and sun allergy. Fango mud has pain and itch-relieving effects and provides the skin with moisture.

Nerves and Stress

Finally, mud treatments can also have a relaxing effect due to the heat. Thus, mud therapy is not only used in the elimination of stress, but also applied to general nervousness and psychosomatic and psychological disorders.

Contraindications and side effects

Contraindications for the fango treatment are:

• acute arthropathy
• pregnancy
• epilepsy
• hemorrhagic ulcers
• circulatory problems
• severe endocrine, infectious, or cardiac disease

So far, no side effects have been reported with mud therapy.

In Italy, the origin of mud therapy, there are several wonderful places to choose from, thanks to the numerous.

Among the most famous destinations for a mud therapy retreat in Italy are theEuganean Hills, including Abano Terme and Montegrotto Terme. Somewhat lesser known, but equally fascinating, are Levico Terme, Monteortone Terme and Bagno di Romagna.

In the south is the island of Ischia, immersed in the crystal clear waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea opposite Naples, whose thermal springs, with their unique composition of minerals, make it one of the best destinations for mud therapy.

Italy can undoubtedly be called "the land of mud therapy". The retreats practiced there, especially in the Euganean Hills, use certified mud as the main ingredient, according to researchers at the University of Padua.