The treatment of psoriasis at the Terme di Cervia thermal baths

Psoriasis is treated with a natural mud–bath therapy, following the traditional spa method used in Cervia

The Raw Materials

The raw materials used for the therapy are Mother Water and “Liman” thermal mud, natural healing elements that are formed through the slow sedimentation of mineral salts and organic substances in the salt-harvesting basins.

Mother Water and Liman mud from the Terme di Cervia are unique materials in the Italian spa landscape, with hypertonic properties and a mineral composition similar to the waters and muds of the Dead Sea, whose therapeutic effectiveness in psoriasis patients has been confirmed by numerous studies.

The main chemical elements found in the waters of the Dead Sea and in the Mother Water used at the Terme di Cervia are magnesium, potassium, sodium, chlorine (chlorides), sulfur, sulfate ion, bicarbonate, bromine and iodine. These elements are present in higher concentrations both in the Dead Sea and in the Mother Water used at Cervia, thanks to the concentrating effect of evaporation in the salt pans.

The muds of the Dead Sea and of the Terme di Cervia are known for their antimicrobial properties in vitro and for their high wound-healing power in vivo.

Unlike other types of clay muds, whose therapeutic effect is mainly linked to heat, the muds of the Dead Sea and the Liman mud of the Terme di Cervia are characterized by maturation in hypertonic waters and by a high plasticity, which makes them extremely suitable for adhering to the skin of psoriasis patients.

Since the 1960s, the mud from the Cervia salt pans has been used for the care and treatment of dermatological diseases.

lavorazione dei fanghi alle saline di Cervia

The Application

The method of applying Liman mud in the heliotherapy department is based on techniques used in the first thermal facility, built directly inside the Cervia salt pans, where, until the 1950s, patients underwent treatments under medical supervision.

After extraction, Liman mud is mixed with the brine from the salt pans, called Mother Water, until it forms a homogeneous, creamy, shiny dark grey paste with a characteristic smell.

The salt concentration of Mediterranean Sea water is approximately 3.4–3.5 degrees Baumé, whereas Mother Water from the salt pans is used at the Terme di Cervia for therapeutic purposes at a salinity of 6 degrees Baumé, comparable to the 7 degrees Baumé of the surface waters of the Dead Sea.

Unlike other spa centers in Italy, the traditional Cervia method involves applying the mud in a heliotherapy unit with a solarium terrace equipped with a sliding roof, allowing exposure to sunlight during the treatment. Because the silts have a greater covering capacity than standard muds, they adapt to the body surface and allow patients to move freely while covered by a thin layer of mud.

The response obtained over the years from our patients treated with mud therapy using the traditional method in the solarium department has always been very positive.
The satisfaction expressed by many clients treated at the Terme di Cervia for osteoarticular problems—who also experienced improvements in their psoriatic skin lesions—encouraged us to begin a dedicated clinical trial on psoriasis treatments.

Treatment Cycles with Liman Mud

The raw materials used for the therapy are Mother Water and “Liman” thermal mud, natural healing elements formed through the slow sedimentation of mineral salts and organic substances in the salt-harvesting basins.

Mother Water and Liman mud: unique materials

Mother Water and Liman mud from the Terme di Cervia are unique materials in the Italian spa landscape, with hypertonic characteristics and a percentage mineral composition similar to the waters and muds of the Dead Sea, for which numerous studies have recognized therapeutic effectiveness in psoriasis patients.

CHIEDI AI NOSTRI MEDICI