Microstructural and Microbiological Properties of Peloids and Clay Materials from Lixouri (Kefalonia Island, Greece) Used in Pelotherapy
Source abstract
Abstract
Clays have been applied for centuries by people for many uses. From pottery to medicine, clays and clay minerals constitute part of individuals’ daily routines. Natural fine-grained earth material, commonly found at Xi beach coastal area of Lixouri in Kefalonia island, was used during the last few decades by local people as well as from tourists for pelotherapy, even though this material has never been examined for its suitability for this use. This work was conducted aiming to characterize this material and determine if it is harmless and beneficial for therapeutic purposes or skin care. Field work revealed that the material is not homogenous and, therefore, some of its parts could be characterized as suitable, non-suitable or even harmful. The collected samples from Kefalonia were characterized according to their petrographic and chemical features using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Moreover, the microbial burden of the material was assessed analyzing the bacterial and fungi load. This study indicates that this geomaterial can be suitable for natural mud/peloid applications, but only in some parts of this area.
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Research context
OpenAlex topics: Therapeutic Uses of Natural Elements · Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies · Medical and Biological Ozone Research
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Section of Earth Materials, Department of Geology, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
Chemical Process & Energy Resources Institute, Centre for Research & Technology Hellas (CERTH), 15125 Athens, Greece
Department of Agriculture, University of Ioannina, 45100 Ioannina, Greece
ELGO-Demeter, Plant Protection Division of Patras, 26442 Patras, Greece
Section of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Pharmacy, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
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