Picture a mud bath and a dip into brown filth may come to mind. Spa-grade mud baths, however, are something else entirely. High-grade mud that’s gray in color (and frequently imported from exotic locales) is used in wraps, soaks and facials in spas all over the world.
Where do spa muds come from?
The remnants of volcanic ash combined with natural water sources make up the traditional mud bath. The most popular natural mud baths in the world are in the volcanic graveyards of sites like the Dead Sea, Malaysia, California and Columbia.
What kinds of spa mud are available?
There are three main kinds of spa mud: hot spring, lake and sea. 
Hot spring mud is found in and around natural thermal hot springs. It boasts a high mineral content, which replenishes skin, draws toxins out of the body and relieves muscle aches and pains.
Lake mud normally comes from beneath ancient lakes in Europe. The most famous of these is in the moors of Austria. Known as Moor mud, this black mud exfoliates and tightens skin, as well as replenishes nutrients lost through daily living.
Sea mud most reputably hails from the Dead Sea in Israel. It’s located at the lowest part of the earth, causing the sun’s rays to linger the longest there. This is believed to impart the most health benefits to the mud, which is why it’s imported all over the world for both beauty and pain relief purposes.
What do mud treatments accomplish?
Because spa mud contains natural salts, detoxification is the premiere benefit of a mud bath. In addition to detox, mud also extracts impurities from the pores and gently exfoliates the entire body.
At Burke Williams, we like to combine our mud with wax for the most effective treatment possible. We call it Parafango - a mix between paraffin wax and fango sea mud. Learn more about this indulgent treatment from our blog post What Is Parafango and How Does It Work?
