Abstract: Clays are natural ingredients used to prepare therapeutic cataplasms suitable for topical application. The knowledge about these formulations and their preparations to be applied on humans and animals has been orally transmitted since ancient times. Several empirical methods using clays have demonstrated fast and effective results in the reduction of the inflammatory response and the formation of edemas in horse limbs. The use of traditional and alternative medicine, such as pelotherapy, is now becoming more popular in veterinarian medical practice, alone or combined with other therapies in horse muscle and tendon rehabilitation. This study characterizes the use of commercial equine clays and an old therapeutic clay cataplasm formulation, using acetic acid, to treat tendon injuries in horses. This work might contribute to a major database characterization of clays used empirically on equine health, the potential of dermal absorption, the risks of exposure to some toxic elements, and safety assessment for these formulations. The present study was carried out to characterize the suitability of four commercial equine clays (Group II) and a protocoled healing mixture: "clay acetic acid cataplasm", (Group III), to treat tendon injuries in horses. In this mixture, three conventional "green" clays (Group I) without any mineralogical specificity were used and blended with acetic acid. The mineralogical composition was determined through X-ray powder diffraction and X-ray fluorescence data. To determine the performance of the samples, cooling kinetics, oil absorption, expandability, and specific surface area were measured. According to the mineralogical composition, Group I was mainly composed of carbonates and silicates, while Group II was much richer in silicates with the main clay minerals kaolinite and illite. Group II exhibited the highest values for As, Pb, Cr, Ni, and Zn, considered potentially toxic. Both groups showed low cation exchange capacities and exchanged mainly Ca, with the exception of VET.1 and VET.7, which also highlight Na, and VET.5 and VET.6, which have K as an exchangeable main cation. The addition of acetic acid (Group III) does not reveal any significant chemical changes. The results confirm that both clay groups are adequate for the therapeutic propose. They have good plastic properties (skin adherence), good oil absorptive capabilities (cleaning), and exchange an essential physiological element, calcium. Group II has prior industrial preparation, which is probably why it showed better results. Group I presented lower heat retention capacity and higher abrasiveness, which could be improved using cosmetic additives. The clinical benefit of the "clay acetic acid cataplasm" (Group III) could be the systemic anti-inflammatory effect established by the acetic acid.
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The research paper discusses a study investigating the effectiveness of using clay formulations, specifically equine clays and “clay acetic acid cataplasm”, for treating tendon injuries in horses. The study aims to characterize these formulations, their potential for skin absorption, any exposure risk to toxic elements, and the safety of their application.
Study Design
The study divided the clay formulations into three groups. Group I included three traditional “green” clays with no mineralogical specificity; Group II consisted of four commercially available equine clays; and Group III was a “clay acetic acid cataplasm”, a therapeutic mixture known to aid in healing. The mineralogical composition within these groups was analyzed through X-ray powder diffraction and X-ray fluorescence data.
The researchers then examined the performance of the clay samples by measuring several properties such as the cooling kinetics, oil absorption, expandability, and specific surface area.
Findings
Based on the mineralogical compositions, Group I primarily contained carbonates and silicates, while Group II had a higher concentration of silicates with kaolinite and illite being major clay minerals. Group II also showed the highest levels of potentially toxic elements such as Arsenic, Lead, Chromium, Nickel, and Zinc.
Both groups exhibited low cation exchange capacities and mainly exchanged Calcium with notable exceptions in certain formulations. The addition of acetic acid (Group III) did not introduce any significant chemical changes.
Both clay groups were found suitable for therapeutic use as they demonstrated good plastic properties for skin adherence, good oil absorptive capabilities for cleaning, and an ability to exchange essential physiological element, Calcium.
Group II, with prior industrial preparation, showed better results. Group I, however, demonstrated lower heat retention capacity and higher abrasiveness, which could be improved by adding cosmetic additives.
The therapeutic value of “clay acetic acid cataplasm” (Group III) likely stems from the systemic anti-inflammatory effects of acetic acid.
Implications
The results suggest that clay formulations, particularly commercially prepared equine clays, can be effectively used as therapeutic agents in treating tendon injuries in horses.
The study also underscores the necessity to further improve traditional clay formulations (Group I) by adding cosmetic additives to enhance heat retention capacity while reducing their abrasiveness.
Cite This Article
APA
Bastos CM, Rocha F, Cerqueira Â, Terroso D, Sequeira C, Tilley P.
(2020).
Assessment of Clayey Peloid Formulations Prior to Clinical Use in Equine Rehabilitation.
Int J Environ Res Public Health, 17(10), 3365.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17103365
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