Earth's Healing Methods in Naturopathy

Treatment By Earth 

Earth is a medicine which is cheap and can be stored in the house. Many illnesses are removed, as if by magic, by the use of  wet earth.

I had already mentioned the restorative properties of earth in my previous blog, now in this blog I'm gonna mention all kinds of treatment methods by Earth.

Just as wet bandage is used in Nature Cure Treatment, bandage with wet earth is also used. It is more effective than wet bandage because the wet earth absorbs the heat and poison of the body where it is placed. That's why earth is used in Nature Cure Treatment in many ways.

Even difficult diseases also go away after persistent application of wet earth bandage. Whether a disease is inside or on the surface of the body, wet earth sucks it and destroys it from the root.

Steps to prepare earth for treatment :

1. Use local earth but it should be clean and free of small pieces of stone or any hard substances.
2. Earth found on the banks of river is regarded good for this purpose.
3. Use a mixture of smooth earth (chikni mitti) and sand in equal quantities.
4. If you desire to take earth from a field, you should dig at least 1 foot before you take earth from it.
5. Care should be taken that it has no fertilizer or any decayed matter.
6. The best earth to apply on wounds is to take from earthen fireplace where food is cooked by burning wood. As this earth has been burnt by fire it does not have any harmful effect on the wound but it sucks the poison in it.
7. If the earth has been stored for long time, it should be kept in the sun for some time before it is used to make earth bandage. Stored earth can be used for upto 7 days without exposing it to sun.
8. Pure dry earth should be thoroughly pounded and then sieved through a cloth and then water should be added to it while it is stirred by a piece of wood or a spoon. It should not be touched by fingers.

Different Methods of Application of Earth in Various Diseases

In case of any diseases Earth can be used in following six ways :

1. Hot Bandage Of Earth
2. Cold Bandage Of Earth
3. Bandage of Hot Earth
4. Dry Earth Bath
5. Mud Bath
6. Eating Sand

1) Hot bandage of Earth

Take a half inch thick cloth which is of the size of the body part where it has to be applied. Make sure that the mixture of earth and water should neither be too hard nor should be too thin. Now place the wet earth on the cloth with spoon place it on the body where it is required, so that wet earth touches the skin and covers completely the part of the body. Now wrap it with a woolen cloth and put a safety pin to make the bandage remains in place.

If the Wet Earth bandage has to be applied on the abdomen, a big piece of cloth should be wrap after putting woolen cloth or flannel on it. And the patient should be allowed to take rest. The bandage may be kept for 10 to 30 minutes or even during the night if it is needed.

After removing the bandage, clean the particular body part with a wet cloth and give a dry massage for 2 to 3 minutes. Remember to put earth bandage on an empty abdomen or on 2 to 3 hours of gap from the last meal.

This is known as Hot Bandage of Earth because when it is covered by a woolen cloth the wet earth is warmed up by body temperature. The effect of this bandage is not cooling but giving wet heat to the inner organs. 

If there is itching on the skin after applying the bandage then don't panic, if there is too much discomfort take steam bath at that place and again put the hot bandage.

Note: Earth which has been used once should not be used again, because it would have poisonous matter of disease. If the cloth that has been used in the bandage doesn't have pus, it can be washed and used again.

Benefits and Usefulness of the Hot Bandage of Earth :

1. This bandage is very useful in all cases of serious and ordinary diseases, whether they are chronic or new.
2. It is especially effective in case of chronic constipation, loose motion, indigestion and other ailments of stomach and fever. 
3. Many diseases are removed merely by putting earth bandage on the abdomen. In case of chronic diseases this bandage should be applied twice a day for several days. In case of such diseases it is desirable to take Stomach Bath after the bandage has been removed. If Enima and Stomach Bath both have to be taken, first Enima should be taken and half an hour later Stomach Bath should be taken.
4. Most of the diseases are caused by bad condition of stomach and digestive system. Therefore, while putting earth bandage where there is pain one should also put it on the abdomen. This would clean the abdomen and the disease would subside soon.
5. When one is ill, beside putting earth bandage one should also fast or live on fruits and juices or on fruits and milk. During fasting Enima should be certainly taken.
6. It is very effective in removing the heat of the body after any disease.
7.  It is more effective than taking water baths. It increases the blood flow to remove chronic pain like muscle pain, stiffness and arthritis.
8. It soothes tight and sore muscles, promotes overall relaxation and stress relief.
9. Mud pack can be put on any part of the body, such as throat in case of throat ailments and on chest in case of chest ailments, on spinal column if there is nervous ailment, on the eyes if there is eye problem, on sex organs and on entire body.

2) Cold Bandage of Earth 

When wet mud pack is put on any body part and it is not covered by flannel or woolen cloth, it is known as Cold Bandage of Earth. As it is not covered by flannel it doesn't heat up. The moisture evaporates and keeps the earth of the bandage cold. Mud has properties to retain coolness for a longer duration than a typical cold water compress. It is applied for a short period typically 15 to 20 minutes, for a long term cooling a fresh pack can be reapplied. It shouldn't be applied on the stiff muscles or joints as it can worsen the tension. Avoid applying for too long to prevent nerve, tissue and skin damage.

Benefits and Usefulness :

1. It reduces blood flow by constricting, reducing circulation to the affected area. That's why it is ideal for fresh sprains, strains, bruises and other injuries that are swollen and inflammed.
2. The reduced blood flood decreases the inflammation. It soothes skin irritation and allergic conditions by doing so.
3. It provides a numbing effect. The cold temperature dulls pain signals which offers relief.
4. A cold mud pack on the forehead or eyes can provide relief from headache and help lower body temperature during fever.
5. It increases the skin complexion by absorbing excess oil and toxins, treats acne and reduce dark spots or dark circles under the eyes.
6. It enhances the lymphatic drainage. The detoxifying properties of earth stimulate lymphatic circulation, which helps the body eliminate waste and excess fluids.

3) Bandage of Hot Earth

In this bandage earth is mixed with water and it is warmed on fire. It is usually applied in case of sprain for pain relief by improved circulation and skin detoxification. The heated earth which retains warmth for a long time soothes muscles and joints while promoting relaxation. It has been used to treat chronic pain conditions due to its analgesic effects.

4) Dry Earth Bath

Rub the entire body with the specially prepared dry earth. Sit in Sun for 10 to 20 minutes. Then take bath with cold water. This is known as dry Earth Bath. It opens the pores of the skin and makes it soft and flexible. In Ayurveda it is known as Raj Bath. When the pores of the skin are opened up, foreign matter comes out of them through sweat and the skin begins to breath through them.

In Shrimad Bhagwat Puran , there is a story that when Kashyap Muni wished to have a son, for 12 days he took only milk and rubbed his entire body with dry earth and then took bath in a river. While rubbing dry Earth on his body he praised the Mother Earth with the following couplet:

"O Mother Earth! I salute you.

God Varah has brought you from rasatal.

Destroy all my sins."

5) Wet Earth Bath or Mud Bath

Fine grounded earth is mixed with water to prepare it for taking Wet Earth Bath. It should have the same consistency as mud. Mud found in river bed or a pond is very beneficial for mud bath. If sand is mixed in it, it becomes even more effective because sand has some radium particles in it which enhances the power of this mixture to destroy any disease. For head one should use black earth. The mixture should be applied all over the naked body then the patient should sit in the Sun. when one layer has dried , the second layer should be applied. This should be done for 15 to 60 minutes till the wet earth on the skin dries up. Then take the bath with cold water. 

Benefits

1. Bath with wet earth removes all the dirt from the skin and opens up the pores. It is very useful in case of boils which are running.
2. This bath has curative effects on all skin and blood diseases like itching, eczema and leprosy.
3. In western countries ladies use special earth on their skin to enhance their beauty. Generally it is used on face to tighten and brighten the skin.

Another way of mud bath is to dig a pit in which the patient may stand up to his chest. Then the patient may stay there for 15 minutes to 1 hour. If this is done daily for one month, many ailments are cured. Such as gout, skin diseases, pain in waist, headache, stomachache, swelling, constipation, pain in nerves and blood vessels. The poison of snake bite is also removed.

6) Eating Sand

In Hindu religious books to eat sand is regarded as a religious act. This is an example of the quality of sand to improve the digestive system. Nature Cure experts know the health giving properties of sand that's why they say that vegetables should be eaten in their natural form because they have particles of sand on it. These sand particles help to keep our digestive ability in good condition. In mountain spring there are sand particles in water. That is why we feel hungry when we drink water of a mountain spring. Similarly the water of well pases through the pile of sand and bring with it small particles of sand. The rivers which descend from the mountains have some sand particles which is good for digestion. Sand is a medicine given to us by nature which can kill poison. 

Louis Kunhe has said:

"If one has a stomach ailment, if he is suffering from constipation and he takes a pinch of fine sea sand after meal two or three times a day and swallows it, the very next day his intestine would loosen and the foreign matter would easily go out and in the end constipation will be removed."