Therapy //
A growing disenchantment with a disconnected capitalist lifestyle has left Western societies acknowledging what ancient communities have known since time immemorial – the natural world is a healer, and our connection to it is essential for our wellbeing. But often forgotten in the debate is the fact that civilisations have been turning to their geological environment as a form of therapy for millennia.
Mud isn't simply miraculous because it's life-giving, it can be medicinal too, and its use as a treatment dates back to Ancient Egypt. Pharaoh doctors used Nubian earth as an anti-inflammatory, and Cleopatra's beauty regime included a regular dip in Dead Sea mud.
Environmental writer Emma Latham Phillips and I travelled to Bulgaria, Ukraine and Columbia to explore the ancient relationship between humans and medicinal mud. Today, you can find miracle mud-seeking pilgrims wallowing in the visceral volcanic baths of South America or floating in the salty shallows of the Dead Sea and coastal lakes beside the Black Sea. The mud is a natural cosmetic, and visitors travel here to plump, preen and perfect their bodies. People lie sprawled out on the beach like seals. Wide-brimmed hats are worn with red lipstick, the flourish of human-made colours juxtapose against the monotone mud and salt landscapes. It’s almost a surreal beauty pageant.
The therapeutic mud is formed by the decaying of various organisms over thousands of years. It's rich in chemical and biological ingredients that can treat dermatological diseases, alleviate pain and inflammation, improve blood circulation and metabolic processes. It also acts as a cosmetic and skin conditioner. The medical term for the application of healing mud is peloid therapy. Today's popular peloids can be found in masks, powders, and creams scattered across the cosmetic industry. However, to be genuinely sustainable, this sticky substance should be enjoyed in its natural habitat.
Mud bathing is celebrating a renaissance, from face masks to volcanic baths. This series celebrates the visceral experience and healing ability of engaging in this form of natural beauty in its natural habitat.
Published by More or Less Magazine - ‘Generation Next’ issue.
Bethany Williams, Cozette McCreery and Holly Fulton //
Portrait of fashion designers; Bethany Williams, Cozette McCreery and Holly Fulton who set up the initiative ‘Emergency Designer Network’ - creating protective clothing for key workers in the NHS. Shot for More Or Less Magazine.