The Many Uses and Benefits of Bentonite Clay

Chance are you've never heard of Bentonite Clay, I hadn't until a few months ago, but after reading about it, I promptly ordered a couple of jars. I just received my second order and plan to make it a staple in my household.

WHAT IS BENTONITE CLAY?

This Very Good Explanation of What Bentonite Clay is comes from  Quinn Smith

What is bentonite clay?

Bentonite is an impure clay that usually forms from the weathering of volcanic ash and in the presence of water. There are several types of bentonite, each named after the respective dominant element, like potassium, sodium, calcium, and aluminum.

Clays like bentonite have long been used to help rid the body of toxins and to provide it with nutrients. Sometimes animals turn to eating dirt and clay to help remove poisons from their systems or in times of illness or distress.

Bentonite can be used externally as a poultice, mud pack or in the bath and, in skin care recipes. Good quality bentonite should be a grey or cream color and anything that appears to be “pure white” is suspect. It is often times packaged and distributed in powder form and should have a very fine, velvet-like feel. It is odorless and non-staining.

Bentonite clay is made of aged volcanic ash and is quite unique due to its ability to produce an electrical charge when hydrated. Upon contact with fluid, its electrical components change, giving it the ability to absorb toxins. Bentonite is known for its ability to absorb and remove toxins, heavy metals, impurities and chemicals.

How to use it

When it becomes mixed with water, bentonite clay rapidly swells open like a highly porous sponge, allowing toxins to be drawn into the sponge through electrical attraction and once there, they are bound inside of it. The clay then releases its minerals for the body to use.

Bentonite also helps oxygenate the cells, as it pulls excess hydrogen and allows the cells to replace it with oxygen instead. NEVER let bentonite come in to contact with anything metal, as this will reduce the effectiveness. You can mix it with water, apple cider vinegar, or extra virgin olive oil in a glass or plastic vessel and use plastic utensils to thoroughly mix.

There are many uses for bentonite:

1. A paste of bentonite clay and water can be used on the skin for any irritation like blemishes, insect bites, cuts, skin itching or burns. Leave it on until it dries and then wash it off. This can be especially calming to skin suffering from eczema, psoriasis, chicken pox, etc.
2. For more severe issues (like burns), you can create a poultice by putting a thick layer of clay on the skin and applying a wet gauze or cloth over it, then wrap the area and leave the poultice on, changing every 2 hours.
3. For smooth and healthy skin, make a paste of bentonite and water and apply to your face as a mask. Leave it on for 20 minutes and wash off. This can be done once or twice a week.
4. Adding a ¼ cup of bentonite to a bath can serve as a very relaxing and detoxifying bath that soothes and softens the skin.
5. Bentonite can be used to clarify AND condition the hair (in one step!), by effectively removing product build-up without stripping the hair like shampoo, leaving your hair conditioned and moisturized throughout

Why do we need to detox?

NaturalNews has this to say:

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 buildup 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 is a lot of popular sharing of results of clay users suggesting that Calcium Bentonite Clay therapy may be an ideal detoxification treatment because it is safe and effective. Clay has many healing abilities due to its alkaline pH and high negative ionic charge, and it works on the entire organism. Take control of your body by detoxing to help regain and achieve the pinnacle of your health!

Kathryn Alexander, one of the leading experts in detoxification and dietary healing, succinctly states on her Web site:

"The legacy of 50 years exposure to persistent man-made chemicals combined with the denigration of the food chain has increased our susceptibility to chronic degenerative disease and cancer. Reversal can only come about by resolving these primary causes of disease. By releasing the toxic burden of the body and restoring its nutritional status, we can change our internal environment and achieve good health" (Get a Life).

Resolving the primary causes of disease is facilitated by proper nutrition, exercise, and detoxing. Drinking plenty of water and simple sweating helps to flush your system of toxins, but clay therapy, which has been used for thousands of years by indigenous people around the world, has passed the test of time to be a superior natural detoxification method.

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.

Learn more:
http://www.naturalnews.com/025854_clay_body_detox.html#ixzz2WCfbrpBF

Stephanie at Keeper of the Home has a wonderful blog about Redmond Bentonity Clay. I urge you to take the time to read it, she has lots of information on how to use it in your home daily.

You can read it here:

Clay As A Natural Home Remedy(Yes, Really)

My favorite detox bath recipe comes from Jillee at 

One Good Thing By Jillee

(photo by Jillee)

THE ULTIMATE DETOX BATH:

• 2 cups Epsom Salt (or Sea Salt) - draws out toxins from your body while relieving aches and pains
• 1 cup Apple Cider Vinegar - soothes and soften dry, itchy skin while balancing the bodies and neutralizing the bodies pH.
• 1/2 cup Bentonite Clay  - stimulates the lymphatic system to deeply cleanse the body’s largest breathing organ, the skin.
• 5-10 drops of your favorite Essential Oil - lavender, geranium, sandalwood, ylang ylang and blue tansy are all known for their detoxifying properties.

Run your bath water as hot as you like. Add your “ingredients” and agitate to dissolve. Soak for 20-40 minutes. Drink a full glass of water when you’re finished.

ALWAYS DRINK PLENTY OF WATER AFTER ANY DETOX TO FLUSH THE TOXINS OUT OF YOUR BODY.

You can find Redmond Bentonite Clay and other great natural clay products at  Redmondclay.com  I got my first clay from Redmond and they also sent me some free stuff, natural toothpaste and all natural sea salt.

However, the best price I've found is from Swanson Vitamins 

patti