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Medical Uses for Peat Moss

Peat moss is often used in gardening and composting. It has an immense ability to hold water and also provides soil with essential nutrients. Peat moss has medicinal uses and has been used throughout history to dress wounds, absorb liquids and even block the formation of certain bacteria and pathogens.

  1. Wound Dressing

    • Peat moss is highly absorbent and makes excellent dressings for wounds. Scottish soldiers used Sphagnum moss for dressings at the Battle of Flodden in the 1500s. During World War I, peat moss was used again for wound dressings as the number of injured soldiers was soon going to outstrip the supply of cotton dressings that were available. Cotton is a good absorbent material but only works until it becomes saturated. Peat moss has the ability to redirect liquids away from wounds, increasing its usefulness and ability to keep wounds dry.

    Sanitary Towels

    • Peat moss is incredibly absorbent due to its structure of overlapping fibers. Moisture flows in, allowing it to inflate. Each fiber can hold up to 25 times its own weight in liquid. For centuries, ancient civilizations used peat to make homemade sanitary towels and diapers. Its ability to absorb and redirect liquids made it the idea material.

    Bacteria Immobilization

    • Peat bogs contain sphagnan, a extract of carbohydrate. Within the sphagnan is a compound known as carbonyl. This compound has the ability to stop the formation of bacteria cells and other excretions released by pathogens. The medical possibilities are yet unknown, but experiments in food preservation have proven promising.

    Antiseptic

    • The water that is extracted from peat moss has antiseptic properties. Peat water has proven effective in treating eczema, psoriasis, acne, scabies and other skin diseases. Peat water brings relief from many insect bites.

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