Mud named also „black gold” is natural resource, which arised in consequence of decomposition dead marshy vegetation (moss, fern, seed plant) in wet habitat, rich in non-oxygen and oxygen bacterias. Mud includes some inorganic constituents (magnesium, potassium, sodium, iron, calcium compounds) and its properties come from organic constituents: bitumens ( waxes, resin, fats, compounds of oestrogen origin), pectins ( tannins and products of fibre and vegetable protein distribution), humus acids and enzymes. Polish mud occurs chiefly in northern and southern parts of our country. It includes over 90% of organic constituents and is one of the best in whole Europe. In Poland, mud was used for therapeutic aims in Krynica Morska in 1858 (in the world - in Mariańskie Łaźnie in Orava in 1815). Mud was excavated from mountain peat bogs overgrow by coniferous forest. That is why name „mud” was and still is applied.

Characteristic of mud

In balneotherapy mud is used because of its features:

• thermal; mud has a big thermal capacity and a little conduction which helps overheating of tissues during procedure. Warmth increases metabolism, prevents inflammations, decreases pain and tension of muscles;
• mechanical; ticklish pressure of mud’s layer improves health condition;
• adsorption and replace – these functions are important in antiseptic actions and after injuries. This mechanism is connecting with active exchange of ions and absorption organic constituents from mud to skin and inversely. Penetration is possibile because of presence of humus acids. Products of metabolism are removed with sweat, then absorbs by humus acids and being present in mud. Constituents passed to skin have regenerating properties (treat demaged tissuess) by activating natural biochemical processes.

Mud’s procedures realizing in our health resort:

• mud’s compress APS
• bath in mud’s emulsion
• mud-swathing
• illness and condition after injury of movement organs
• degeneration of backbone and joints
• rheumatologic diseases
• joints’ inflammations
• neuralgia