Bentonite Clay

History

Clays have been used for thousands of years by people and cultures all around the world for both health and healing. Natural clays, especially the form known as “bentonite clay” or Montmorillonite clay, has, been rediscovered recent years, and has been increasingly used by holistic health practitioners in preventing and alleviating various health concerns. Many people are enjoying the benefits of bentonite clay by taking it internally, as well as using it externally.

The name “bentonite clay” refers to a clay that, although found throughout the world, is largely located in the Great Plains area of North America. It is a sedimentary clay composed of weathered and aged volcanic ash, the most active deposits of which are found in Wyoming and Montana.   Bentonite clay has over sixty vitamins, minerals, and trace minerals and has a strong negative charge which bonds to the positively charged toxins, bacteria, and heavy metals, essentially absorbing these impurities, as it passes through your digestive tract allowing your body to eliminate these harmful elements. Beyond using bentonite clay internally there are many external uses as well.  Some of these include healing eczema, soothing dermatitis & psoriasis, and adding it to a bath as a detox soak.

Internal Usage

Clay is one of the most effective and natural colon-cleansing agents available to us and has been used for hundreds of years by native tribes around the globe. Dr. Weston A. Price, in his book “Nutrition and Physical Degeneration” , states that in studying the diets of native tribes in the high Andes, in Central Africa and in Australia, he discovered that the natives’ knapsacks contained balls of volcanic ash clay, a little of which was dissolved in water. Pieces of food were then dipped into the clay.

Bentonite clay can also help to alleviate many digestive problems. Drinking bentonite clay should be part of a regular routine.  When your digestive system is healthy, it is in a better position to absorb the nutrients it needs. By removing toxins and heavy metals from the gut, bentonite clay helps to promote the good bacteria living in your gut wall and to decrease the amount of harmful bacteria. A healthy gut wall prevents us from experiencing malabsorption of nutrients from our food and increases our immunity to illnesses.

Studies

Results from one study carried out in 1998 showed that bentonite clay was extremely successful at absorbing harmful rotavirus and caronavirus toxins within the gut of young mammals. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9850994

Another study from Arizona State University found that bentonite clay was highly effective at killing many types of seriously harmful illnesses, like E. Coli and MRSA for example. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2413170/

Here are a couple ways to use this healing clay internally:

• Drink 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of bentonite clay once per day. Mix the clay with 8oz water until it dissolves. Then drink it right away. When taking bentonite clay internally, it is best to remember that more is NOT always better. Bentonite clay swells to absorbs the toxins and heavy metals, so a little goes a long way and is sufficient for optimum digestive health.
• Try gargling a teaspoon of the clay in your mouth with some water for 30 seconds to 1 minute, similarly to using mouth wash. Then spit out the clay and rinse your mouth with clean water. The mouth is one of the most susceptible areas of the body when it comes to harmful bacteria and toxins.

External Usage

Bentonite clay is able to bind to bacteria and toxins living on the surface of the skin and within pores. This helps to reduce the outbreak of blemishes, alleviate redness, fight allergic reactions and promote healing. The clay can also be added to your bath water and used as a soaking liquid to assist in the healing of skin conditions.

Here are some ideas for external use of Bentonite clay:

• Add a ¼ of a cup of the clay to your bath and allow the clay to dissolve into the water. Soak it in for as long as you’d like, then rinse your skin well with clean water.
• For scrapes or bug bites, make paste using the clay and a small amount of water. Apply directly to the affected area and cover with clean gauze and let it sit for about 2 hours, then rinse it off.
• Try this homemade calamine lotion on burns, poison ivy, and other skin reactions.

Bentonite clay normally comes in a gray or cream color. The clay should also be odorless and not have much of any taste at all. If you’re looking for a safe and inexpensive way to rid your body of toxins, consider trying Bentonite clay.

Recommended Product: Redmond Clay