One of my favorite little personal discoveries of last year is bentonite clay. It was suggested to me by a friend for detox purposes and I am forever grateful. It makes the most amazing facial mask ever, but there are so many other benefits of bentonite clay.
Bentonite clay or montmorillonite, which is also scientifically known as smectite, can be found at most health food stores in powder form, capsules, as a detox drink, or pre hydrated gel. It’s been used for thousands of years by indigenous cultures for medicinal purposes. It is volcanic ash which contains montmorillonite which is the main mineral that is responsible for so many of the beneficial qualities. It also contains magnesium and over 25 trace minerals including silica, calcium, sodium, potassium and iron. It also contains aluminum, but don’t worry your body cannot absorb it.
In the bentonite family, there is calcium bentonite and sodium bentonite. Geologists say that the calcium bentonite is volcanic ash that fell in fresh water and that the sodium bentonite is volcanic ash, which fell in sea water. Bentonite is a volcanic ash that was blown into the sky by volcanic action and then it sifted down to help fertilize the earth’s soil with over 30 trace minerals. Under a microscope, bentonite is seen as rectangular particles like the shape of a business card. When the clay is hydrated, it generates and maintains an electromagnetic field and attracts toxins, pathogens including bacteria, pesticides and metals which are mostly positively charged and they are drawn to the clay because of its negative charge. Bentonite clay helps to rid the boy of toxins, viral infections like the stomach flu, food poisoning, parasites and heavy metals like radioactive uranium, plutonium or cesium from the digestive tract and skin. One gram of bentonite clay has a surface area of 800 square meters.
Bentonite clay has also been used to treat conditions such as muscle damage, bruises, bone fractures, sprains, headaches, psoriasis, eczema, wounds, staph infection, insect bites, bee stings, boils, rashes, acne and burns. Mixing food grade bentonite clay with water is a treatment for constipation, diarrhea, candidas, stomach ache, heartburn, acid indigestion, reflux and other digestive problems. It’s also useful for animals including cats and dogs.
Pour a 1/2 cup into your foot bath for a detox or better yet put some into your bathtub, your skin will be incredibly soft. It’s also an excellent clarifier for your hair. You can even use it to make a homemade toothpaste. One of my favorite benefits of bentonite clay is what it does for my skin. I love mixing clay with some apple cider vinegar and some water and letting it dry on my face. It deep cleans, makes it skin very tight, smooth and soft and it will leave you a little red sunburn on your face for up to an hour after rinsing it off, but I promise you will love the results. Oh and it doesn’t taste so bad mixed with water either, kind of tastes creamy.
One thing to remember is keep the clay away from metal and use glass bowl and wooden spoon when mixing clay with water to keep the clay’s electrical charge intact. Stainless steel is fine.