Mud baths: India creates rules for safe, authentic wellness experiences

India wants to make sure it gets its mud baths right.

- Dhirendra Kumar

Mud baths, a traditional treatment that has exfoliating and peripheral circulation benefits, have gained popularity across the world—from Bali in Indonesia to Mugla in Turkey to Varkala in India—in recent years as millions, the young and the old alike, flock to the therapy as part of their wellness regimen.

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), under the ministry of consumer affairs, is finalizing standards for mud baths and other forms of naturopathy treatment, two government officials said. These include protocols for hydrotherapy, massage therapy, diet and nutrition therapy, fasting, yoga and pranayama, sun therapy, chromotherapy, acupressure and reflexology, herbal therapy, magnet therapy and lifestyle counselling.