The 6 Top Health Benefits of Bentonite Clay and Tips on How to Use It
7 minute read
As advanced as society has become, we often forget the benefits of traditional and ancient practices. Before modern medicine, natural and traditional therapies were used to heal and prevent disease.
While modern medicine was created for very good reasons, the use of healing clays, such as bentonite, may still provide worthwhile benefits. Whether old or new, the important part of any medicinal substance is simply if it can help.
Healing Help From Mother Earth
Bentonite clay consists of aged volcanic ash and is a very soft, very fine texture that is gray in color. Clay like bentonite is considered to be healing clay because of the calcium, magnesium, sodium, iron, and potassium content. This type of clay also absorbs and removes heavy metals and other toxins from the body.
Bentonite clay has the ability to produce an electric charge when hydrated, creating a strong pull to any positive charges commonly found in toxins. When contact is made with a toxic compound, the clay absorbs it and releases any beneficial minerals for your body to use. Bentonite also helps your cells to pull in excess hydrogen molecules, so that the necessary oxygen molecules can reach their target cells.
Bentonite clay works to naturally detoxify your body and promote health from within. This means it can encourage numerous benefits, such as:
♦ Relief of common digestive troubles, like constipation, bloating, and acid reflux.
♦ Alleviation of allergy and skin conditions
♦ Overall detoxification, which promotes more efficient function of important organs like the liver and kidneys.
♦ Recovery from digestive-related illness, as the clay naturally soothes upset stomachs and can prevent vomiting and diarrhea.
♦ Clays like bentonite have long been used to remove harmful bacteria and are one of nature’s most potent antibacterial agents.
♦ When used externally, clay helps to promote rapid wound healing.
The Best Ways to Use Bentonite Clay
While research into the efficacy of bentonite clay for various ailments is ongoing, here are some of the most common ways people use it.
Skin treatment: A bentonite clay paste made with water applied to your skin helps to heal most skin irritations. Blemishes, bites, burns, eczema, and even chickenpox are all soothed under the cooling clay, which means less irritation for you.
For more severe rashes or irritations, apply a thicker layer of clay and add a wet gauze to create a poultice and get longer-lasting relief. The antibiotic nature of the clay helps to reduce irritation and can even calm the most irritating skin rashes, such as poison ivy.
Glowing facial: A bentonite clay face mask may be a good way to remove toxins and impurities from your pores. A mask is easy to make by mixing the clay with water, and you only need to let it sit for twenty minutes to have healthier, smoother skin. You should also consider adding apple cider vinegar to the mix to create a balancing face mask for better skin tone.
Weight loss support: As part of a diet program, bentonite clay, like probiotics, can promote natural weight loss. Alkaline foods are known to contribute to weight loss and bentonite clay is a very alkaline substance.
When used as a supplement, bentonite clay has been shown to stimulate weight loss and also decreases overall body cholesterol levels.
Muscle relaxant: A little bentonite clay added to your bath will only enhance the relaxation. Tense muscles release toxins and the clay in the surrounding water can pull them away from you, leaving you and your muscles relaxed and your skin nice and smooth.
Oral health care: With your mouth exposed to so many toxins every day through food, oral care is important in preventing the spread of bacteria. Bentonite clay is one of the best natural materials for removing toxins so makes ideal toothpaste. You can also mix it with water to make an alkalizing mouthwash.
Better respiratory health: There are certain respiratory viruses that we have trouble fighting, such as adenovirus. While they are not fatal, they can cause unpleasant respiratory infections. Bentonite may help fight adenoviruses because of its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, which can also mean that the clay might work to improve more common respiratory issues too.
| Related: 12 Subtle Signs That Your Lungs Are Unhealthy |
Mastitis relief: Mastitis is a breast tissue inflammatory condition experienced by many women. It is often associated with an infection of some kind, and using a bentonite clay mask externally can help remove the infection while soothing the inflamed area.
Healing baby powder: Plain bentonite clay can be used as a powder to soothe diaper rashes as well as any other skin irritation your baby may have. If there is a more severe infection and extended inflammation, consider making a paste to apply to the infected area for more efficient and long-lasting relief.
Of course, as bentonite clay is not regulated by the FDA, you should check with your family doctor before using it on infants and children.
Internal cleansing: As part of your regular diet, a glass of bentonite clay water will keep you clean from the inside out. By removing impurities along your digestive tract, you can benefit from improved digestion and increased energy.
There are different versions of bentonite clay available so if cleansing is your goal, be sure to use one that has been deemed safe for consumption.
The Bottom Line
When it comes to our health, nature has a way of providing what we need, but all too often we forget to look. Bentonite clay is one of many examples of healing compounds from the Earth that can improve your health by removing harmful toxins.
With exposure to toxins increasing with each day, natural cleaning seems to be a safe bet. After all, animals eat dirt and clay when they are ill and distressed, and maybe we should too.
