Peat

Materials

Also: peat mud, therapeutic peat, balneological peat, cosmetic peat, Moor, Heilmoor, turvas

Solubility: Partially soluble — humic/fulvic fractions are alkaline-soluble

Peat is a naturally occurring organic sediment formed over thousands of years by the partial decomposition of plant material — primarily sphagnum moss — in waterlogged, acidic, oxygen-poor conditions. It is the source material for all cosmetic and balneological peat applications.

Composition

Peat is a complex mixture of humic substances (humic acids, fulvic acids, humin), minerals, phenolic compounds, lipids, polysaccharides, and water. The exact composition varies by peat type, depth, geographic origin, and degree of decomposition (humification). Sphagnum-derived peat from raised bogs differs significantly from sedge-derived lowland peat.

Types Relevant to Cosmetics

Sphagnum peat (raised bog) — lower mineral content, higher fulvic acid ratio, lighter color, more acidic (pH 3.5–4.5). Primary type used in Estonian and Nordic cosmetic applications.

Lowland peat (fen peat) — higher mineral content, higher humic acid concentration, darker, less acidic. Traditionally used in Central European balneotherapy (Czech Republic, Hungary, Germany).

Physical Properties

High water-holding capacity (up to 20× its dry weight). Exceptional thermal retention — holds heat significantly longer than water or clay, making it effective for thermotherapy. Naturally acidic pH aligns with skin’s acid mantle.

Evidence & Claims

contains humic-acids (verified)

10–40% of dry peat mass (up to 39.3% in Parika peatland); Finnish data: Sphagnum 24.8%, Carex 26.8% DW

stevenson-1994 — Chapter 2 — humic substance content of organic soils

szajdak-2009 — Chemical properties of balneological peat — humic acid content

flaig-1992 — Humic substances from peats in balneology

orru-2011 — Parika peatland: HA 39.3%, highest of three Estonian peatlands studied

korhonen-2008 — Finnish data: HA Sphagnum 24.8%, Carex 26.8% DW; clear positive correlation with humification; quality threshold >20% DW

contains fulvic-acids (verified)

Lower molecular weight fraction, 1–3% in Estonian peat, 9.6% in Finnish peat (both Sphagnum and Carex)

stevenson-1994 — Chapter 2 — fulvic/humic ratio varies by peat type

orru-2011 — FA 1.3% in Parika, up to 3% in Kõverdama; FA correlates with trace metals (Cd r=0.91, Th r=0.86)

korhonen-2008 — Average FA 9.6% DW in both Sphagnum and Carex peat across 23 Finnish mires; negative correlation with humification degree

contains humin (verified)

Insoluble organic fraction, structural role

stevenson-1994 — Chapter 2 — humin as residual fraction

contains hymatomelanic-acids (verified)

Ethanol-soluble subfraction of humic acids, up to 19.3% in Parika peatland

orru-2010 — Hymatomelanic acids found in all 7 Estonian peatlands

orru-2011 — Parika: HMA 19.3% of dry weight, strongly correlated with lipids (r=0.93)

orru-2005 — Foundational data: Parika HMA 19.32%, Kõverdama 9.66-16.39%, Sangla 3.32-6.44% — Pärnu College fractionation

contains ulmic-acids (verified)

Low-molecular-weight fraction identified in aqueous peat extracts

beer-2003b — HPLC identification of ulmic acid derivatives in aqueous peat extract

contains minerals (verified)

Iron, zinc, magnesium, calcium, manganese and trace elements

szilágyi-1971 — Mineral analysis of Hungarian peat samples

orru-2010 — 34 trace elements analyzed in Estonian peat — all below hazardous levels