Healing Clays
"Everything in Nature contains all the powers of Nature.
Everything is made of one hidden stuff- Clay."
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Clay has been used throughout civilization to promote health and healing. The ancient Egyptians were the first to use clay cosmetically to improve the health of the skin by applying facial masks and taking clay baths. French sailors consumed clay to prevent and cure dysentery. People from many cultures have applied clay directly on themselves and their animals as a poultice to draw out infections in open wounds.
Clay baths have been safely used for centuries. These days, they're used to treat everything from tired, achy muscles to heavy metal poisoning, radiation and chemical/pesticide exposure. Very recently, some surprising and encouraging results have been reported when using clay baths to treat autism.
Toxins
We live in a very toxic environment so how do we cope with the high levels of chemicals, pharmaceuticals, pesticides toxins and radiation in our water supply, our food, our air, our soil? You can protect yourself with Bentonite clay to keep yourself healthy and vibrant. Used both externally and internally, Bentonite clay safely removes toxins from your system.
Every cell in our body excretes waste material, which becomes toxic and poisonous to our bodies if it is allowed to build up faster than it can be eliminated or filtered out of the body. The most common symptoms of toxic build-up within the body are mental dullness, aching-stiff joints, gas and bloat, high acidity, digestive problems with the stomach and colon, acid reflux and fatigue. Therefore, it is imperative to naturally detox to rid yourself of the deleterious effects of impurities and toxins. There are many methods of detoxifying the body, but many of them do the opposite – they stimulate the body to release toxic by-products stored in fat, organs and other tissues. The result is that these substances are dumped back into the active metabolism. The body then is placed under a great deal of toxic stress. The body has stored these substances for a reason – it has been incapable of eliminating them without causing significant damage. Therefore the short-cut ‘quick-fix’ methods to detoxify the body can actually be quite dangerous. and the natural and comprehensive methods can require a lot of attention and hard work.
Bentonite Clay therapy may be an ideal detoxification treatment because it is safe and when mixed with water, bentonite swells up and becomes very porous. The electrical and molecular components change and produce an electrical charge. Its highest power lies in the ability to absorb toxins, impurities, heavy metals and other internal contaminants.
Bentonite attracts and neutralizes poisons in the intestinal tract. It can eliminate food allergies, food poisoning, mucus colitis, spastic colitis, viral infections, stomach flu, and parasites (parasites are unable to reproduce in the presence of clay).
There is virtually no digestive disease that clay will not treat. It enriches and balances blood. It adsorbs radiation (think cell phones, microwaves, x-rays, TVs and irradiated food, for starters).
How does Calcium Bentonite/French Green Clay work?
Clay is basically inert super charged minerals, and it gets its negative electromagnetic energy charge from the thermo dynamic heat and volcanic action that created it. When activated by water the clay awakens with a strength that radiates throughout the body, stimulating energy for the rebuilding and revitalization of latent cells, and starts a healing process.
The body needs this energy to restore harmonic balance essential to healthy maintenance. In addition, this super power has the ability to absorb harmful, toxic substances from within the body, tightly bind them within the molecule, and carry them out of the body. Bentonite clay’s strong negative ionic charge causes it to `magnetically` attract any substance with a positive ionic charge (i.e., bacteria, toxins, metals, etc.). These substances are both adsorbed (sticking to the outside like Velcro) and absorbed (like a sponge) by the clay molecules. Your body doesn’t digest clay, so the clay passes through your system, collecting the toxins, and removing them as the clay is eliminated.
Clay can be taken internally, in baths, poultices and topical applications.
Uses of Clay
• Removal of heavy metals, general chemical toxicity, and radiation and chemotherapy recovery.
• Bacterial food poisoning, organic and inorganic toxicity
• It adsorbs radiation (think cell phones, microwaves, x-rays, TVs and irradiated food)
• To cleanse the colon and promote proper bacterial balance in the intestines
• To begin the process of detoxification of the liver and stimulate liver function
• Used externally, clay's ionic charge increases blood flow, circulation, lymphatic stimulation, and speeds cellular rejuvenation and repair.
• Used as an internal cleanser, it aids the colon's ability to absorb vitamins, minerals and other nutrients; thus giving the body more energy.
• Reduction of free radical damage (thus anti-aging )
• Improved immune system function
• Improved cellular respiration
• Most clays are naturally alkaline and as a result, balance the body's pH and reduce over acidity.
Clay - A Natural Remedy For Many Conditions
Clay alone will not always resolve these conditions, it is advised you educate yourself to other treatment methodologies and remedies for your condition, some of these will combine well with the action of clay.
• Any gastrointestinal disorder - including the most serious such as Ulcerative Colitis or Crohns Disease. Bad breath, Constipation, Diarrhoea, Diarrhoea from infections, even cholera and dysentery (take clay more frequently with acute infectious bowel disorders)
• Nausea and vomiting especially due to food poisoning.
• Intestinal Parasites - Also other parasites throughout the body. Take for some time, so that off-spring of the parasites from developing eggs are also eliminated.
• Poisoning can also be greatly alleviated with clay; the clay should be taken one teaspoon in water every one or two hours up to 48 hours after ingestion.
• Ulcers - The action is two fold, firstly clay helps to neutralise excess stomach acid, and secondly it provides elements to promote healing of the ulcer. One teaspoon of clay in water twice daily and when an aggravation occurs. Combine with Aloe Vera for long-term curative results.
• Allergies, hay fever and asthma - These conditions can be ameliorated or eliminated entirely with clay, depending on the individual patient. Partly as clay can absorb allergens and histamines.
• Arthritis and rheumatic symptoms
• Gum disease
• Headaches
• Acne, eczema, itching, hives. Clay can help to reduce these conditions, but as with all other health issues look to a holistic nutritional programme - skin disorders are often linked to a toxic bowel.
Choosing the Right Clay:
For clay baths, the experts agree that clean, unprocessed, natural swelling smectite clays are the best. This includes swelling bentonites and montmorillonites (French Green Clay). However, other types of clays are also extremely beneficial to health but have a different action. For optimum results I suggest you vary the type of clay.
Detox Baths
Instructions for use:
1 Sprinkle 1-2 cups of powder clay lightly over bath water. Soak for 15-20 minutes in a hot bath or longer in a warm bath. (For Calcium Bentonite: to avoid it clumping, sprinkle onto a hot bath and leave for 10 minutes, then add cold and keep swishing.)
Even more effective when 1 cup of Himalayan Crystal Salt or Magnesium Flakes or Dead Sea Salt is added.
2 Submerge as much of your body as possible during the bath. The more clay that is used, the more powerful the response. Start with 1 cup and increase if you feel energised.
3 Run lots of water to rinse the clay out of your tub.
Footbaths
For those who are very toxic soaking just your feet in a foot bath that contains a smaller amount of clay is recommended as this can also draw out significant amounts of toxins.
How Often Should I Take A Clay Bath?
The standard recommendation is two baths per week for 3 weeks and then a rest week. This can be increased providing your body is able to tolerate it. You should feel energised not drained.
HAVE A GLASS OF PURE WATER BEFORE AND AFTER YOUR BATH.
The body should be sufficiently hydrated. You can achieve thi by drinking alkalised (Sole)** water for at least three days before taking the first bath.
** Sole water is made from dissolved Himalayan Crystal Salts
OTHER APPLICATIONS
Internal Detox
I recommend you add 1 teaspoon of clay to a glass of water, leave overnight , stir with plastic spoon and drink before breakfast. We are all biochemically unique so listen to your body and adjust the amount according to what you feel comfortable with. Some may find it a more gentle detxo to only drink the clay water initially.
Standard Recommendations:
Add 1 teaspoon dry powder Bentonite/French Green clay to 8 parts energised* spring water WITHOUT STIRRING and leave overnight. In the morning stir with PLASTIC spoon. You can add lemon juice or cider vinegar to help assimilation.
The optimum amount is to take 3 ounces three times a day of the liquid on an empty stomach for 4-6 weeks and then gradually reduce to 1-2 ounces a day for maintenance.
Do not use metal spoons!
If you're taking any medication, it is recommended to wait 1-3 hours before ingesting clay, but please check with your physician, as medications vary in time release and content.
When taking clay internally, it is very important to keep the body hydrated by drinking plenty of water daily (preferably with a few drops of Sole solution). The water helps to soften and loosen impacted faecal material lining the walls of the small intestine and colon. This material is then absorbed by the clay and removed from the body through normal elimination.
Warning If you experience any side effects of concern, then reduce or discontinue usage.
* To Energise Water
Use a bag of mixed quartz crystals and leave in bottom of glass jug, add water and leave for a few hours. Handy to have 2 jugs on the go to keep topping up.
Face Mask
Using a plastic or glass container with a non-metal lid, mix 1 part dry powder clay to 3 parts water. Cov
er and shake vigorously for 1 minute or until all lumps are gone. Open the cover and allow it to breathe for 10-15 minutes until fully hydrated. Apply to face and leave to work for 10-15 minutes and rinse with clean warm water and pat the skin dry.
Calcium Bentonite masks have a natural bleaching effect, and can reduce blotches, pigmentation, etc. They are also excellent at restoring the natural pH of the skin and cleansing it. Acne/spots is another skin condition which benefits from clay applications.
Poultices/Compress
Bentonite clay can be made into a compress and applied to the skin to sooth muscle damage, carpel tunnel, bruises, cuts and wounds. You can prepare a bentonite clay pack by mixing the clay with water until it has a mud like consistency and apply it to the affected area. Applying a clay pack to bacterial and fungal infections can be beneficial. Other skin ailments such as eczema, psoriasis and rashes often respond well to bentonite clay pack and compress treatments.
Body Powder
Use dry clay powder on weeping eczema, ulcers, Athlete's foot, any sores and wounds which need disinfecting and healing.
Tooth Powder/ Mouth infections
Calcium Bentonite is an excellent bleaching and cleansing product for teeth. It is also great for the gums, preventing the formation of plaque and mouth ulcers. Do not over-indulge in brushing teeth with it - once every 3 days or even once a week is enough. If an inflammation of the gums or a mouth ulcer occurs, take some clay into your mouth and keep it there for a while (10-15 minutes). Do not swallow - rinse the mouth with warm water. Repeat the procedure frequently, until the inflammation goes away.
Contraindications:
• Bentonite and other healing clays are not to be taken internally concurrently with life- sustaining prescribed medications without careful medical supervision as it may lessen the effects of the medication, ie very high blood pressure.
• Bentonite and other healing clays should not be used by those with a clinically diagnosed iron intolerance (a rare condition) without seeing a laboratory analysis of the clay used or blood sample monitoring.
• Not recommended for those who are pregnant or nursing.
• Clay may be slippery – please take care when entering and exiting your bath.
ADJUNCTS
Psyllium
Some may find the clay slightly constipating so I suggest you take a teaspoon of psyllium powder at the same time.
Directions for Use: Put psyllium in glass of warm water or lemon juice and water (seems to dissolve better) and whisk thoroughly with a fork and drink immediately. It has no taste but the consistency can become thick with not enough water!
Available from www.naturaldispensary.co.uk
FRENCH GREEN CLAY
Green clays consist of curative volcanic ashes which are found near ancient volcanoes, 20-50 meters below the ground surface. It contains only natural material treated mechanically, without any chemical additives. They are rich in magnesium 
and trace elements, as well as organic plant matter which alongside iron oxide determines its soft green colour They detoxify, restore mineral balance and act as an absorbents. There are two types of Green clay used in natural medicine - Montmorillonite and Illite. Montmorillonite is part of the smectite group of clays and is named after a French region Montmorillon where it was first discovered, and Illite, named after the state
Montmorillonite of the South of France enjoys the sun 260 days per year. It lies in the Mediterranean basin and is rich in magnesium. Its sorptive properties are less than those of the Illite (it absorbs 20% of water), but its remineralisation properties are very high - 70%.
Cationic (ionic) exchange rate, alongside their sorptive properties, is one of the most important factors of clays. In fact, each type of clay exchanges mineral elements with the environment they are in and has a certain coefficient of absorption which varies from one clay to another. Montmorillonite has 60-70 Meq/g catioinic exchange rate, This fundamental property is used in natural treatments to neutralise toxins, poisons, as well as to bring to the body the minerals it needs to stay healthy. Magnesium plays a particularly important role in health maintenance taking part in about 350 reactions in the body, and is part of the ATP (the energy molecule). Without sufficient magnesium we develop all sorts of problems. Green montmorillonite clay is high in magnesium.
Montmorillonite clays absorb water. However, the Montmorillonite clay is call
THERAPEUTIC PROPERTIES
Recent research indicates that French Green clays have an ability to bind mycotoxins in the digestive system of animals as well as several bacteria in-vitro. "In experiments, the clay killed up to 99 per cent of superbug colonies within 24 hours. Control samples of MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) grew 45-fold in the same period. The clay has a similar effect on other deadly bacteria tested, including salmonella, E. coli, and a flesh-eating disease called buruli, a relative of leprosy which disfigures children across central and western
I recommend these websites as they have heaps of great information about clay.
www.eytonsearth.com
Eytons' Earth is a non-commercial website exploring the use of healing clays as used in natural medicine.
Lots of articles and information regarding clay
Disclaimer: This information should not be used to treat a serious ailment without prior consultation with a qualified health-care professional. A complete approach to help heal any health condition is recommended The body's ability and power to heal depends upon the totality of diet, nutrition, lifestyle and environmental factors.