In modern times, we’ve largely forgotten many traditional remedies. We know the health benefits of essential oils, but other ancient remedies are less well-known and may seem odd. Bentonite clay is one of these natural remedies that isn’t as widely known but is extremely effective.
Mother Nature offers natural therapy all around us. Animals instinctively eat dirt and clay to remove poisons from their systems or during times of illness or distress. Taking a cue from nature, bentonite clay might be a good option for detoxing.
In the past decade, bentonite (and other healing clays) has become increasingly popular. It has so many detoxification benefits, both internally and externally. Because of its healing properties, bentonite is worth adding to your natural medicine cabinet.
What Is Bentonite Clay?
Bentonite clay consists of aged volcanic ash. The name comes from the largest known deposit of bentonite clay located in Fort Benton, Wyoming. It’s also known as “Montmorillonite clay” after the Montmorillon region of France, where it was first discovered.
It’s an odorless grayish-cream color with an almost soft, very fine consistency. Unlike other clays, it doesn’t stain and is easy to work with in beauty and natural remedy recipes.
Healing clays like bentonite have a high concentration of minerals. These include silica, calcium, magnesium, sodium, iron, and potassium. They adsorb and remove toxins, heavy metals, and impurities, making bentonite an excellent natural remedy.
Where Is Bentonite Clay Found?
Although 70% of the world’s bentonite comes from Wyoming, it’s also found in Montana, California, Arizona, and Colorado. It’s also found internationally in Italy, Germany, Greece, Japan, and other countries.
Is Bentonite Clay Safe For Humans?
Yes, bentonite is considered safe for human use. But make sure you buy a reputable food-grade brand. This is especially true if you plan to use it internally. Some supplement brands have heavy metals in them and have been banned by the FDA. I like this brand.
Benefits of Bentonite Clay
The benefits of bentonite are numerous. It offers amazing health benefits from digestive issues to detoxification and skin irritations. But it also provides many benefits to your wellness routine. From cleansing skin to helping with breakouts, it’s a great tool to include in your skincare recipes.
Bentonite’s benefits include:
- Relief from digestive issues like irritable bowel syndrome, acid reflux, constipation, bloating, gas, etc.
- Help with skin and allergy issues like breakouts and dermatitis
- Provides minerals for the body
- Recovery from vomiting and diarrhea
- Detoxification
- Oral health support
In his book Nutrition and Physical Degeneration, Dr. Weston A. Price reported several native cultures ate clay regularly. Often, they carried balls of dried clay in their bags. When they ate, they dissolved a small amount of clay in water to prevent poisoning from any possible toxins.
Bentonite Clay for Detox
Bentonite clay is unique because it produces an “electrical charge” when hydrated. When wet, its electrical components change, creating a negative charge that bonds to a positive charge in many toxins.
When it comes in contact with a toxin, chemical, or heavy metal, the clay absorbs the toxin and releases its minerals for the body to use. Bentonite also helps get oxygen to cells as it pulls excess hydrogen and allows the cells to replace it with oxygen instead.
Bentonite clay is an excellent option for natural detoxification because it binds to toxins and draws them out.
What Toxins Does Bentonite Clay Remove?
Because bentonite can bind to toxins and remove them from our systems, it can remove heavy metals. This includes metals like lead, copper, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic. It’s also been found to remove T-2 toxicosis (a toxic mycotoxin), aflatoxins (a cancer-causing chemical), toxic pesticides, and toxins in food. This article summarizes the studies done on the many detoxification abilities of bentonite.
In addition, it can help remove toxins like MRSA and other bacteria. A study from Arizona State University showed that bentonite clay was highly effective at killing MRSA, Salmonella, E. coli, and others. What’s promising is that depending on how the clay kills the infection, it may not be possible for the MRSA or other bacteria to develop a resistance to it as it does with antibiotics.
Uses of Bentonite Clay
Bentonite is a staple in my natural medicine chest. I’ve used it internally and externally on myself and my kids for various issues. It’s inexpensive and can be used for so many home remedies.
Because of its detoxifying properties, it’s a common ingredient in detoxifying and cleansing products. When used internally, it has an alkalizing effect on the body, and it can help balance gut bacteria.
Skin and Allergy Uses
Because it’s highly adsorbent and can remove toxins, bentonite is a great option for caring for skin issues. You can use it on insect bites or stings, cuts, itching, burns, or blemishes. I make a paste of bentonite and water, leave it on until it dries, and wash it off. It’s especially calming for itching from eczema, psoriasis, chickenpox, etc. For those with acne, it helps with excess sebum for clearer skin.
For more severe skin issues, I create a poultice. I put a thick layer of clay on the skin and apply wet gauze or a cloth over it. I wrap the area and leave it on, changing it every 2 hours. I’ve even used it for allergic reactions to poison ivy.
When transitioning to natural deodorant, it’s helpful to detox your armpits. You can read more about why here. I use a mixture of bentonite clay and apple cider vinegar for this detox. I’ve also used it to detox my hair!
If your baby has a diaper rash, bentonite clay makes a soothing baby powder. You can also make it into a clay “mask” to help speed recovery in this area.
When I had mastitis, I created a poultice or mask of bentonite clay and water and applied it to the skin. externally to the area. I repeated as needed every hour until the infection was gone. I also took it internally during the infection.
Beauty and Skin Care Uses
Bentonite is a very common clay used in DIY beauty and skin care products. Its ability to bind with and remove impurities makes it an excellent ingredient in cleansers, face masks, mud masks, soaps, and detox baths. It also helps remove dead skin cells, clear clogged pores, and deep clean pores.
For smooth and healthy skin, I make a bentonite clay mask by mixing a paste of bentonite and water. I leave it on for 20 minutes and wash it off with warm water. I do this once or twice a week. Bentonite clay powder mixed with apple cider vinegar also makes an excellent balancing face mask.
For cleansing, I add clay to my homemade soap to give it a silky feel. I also make this facial cleansing bar. Bentonite clay soap is great for oily skin types and pimples.
When I take a detox bath, I often add 1/4 cup of bentonite clay to the water. This creates a relaxing bath that softens the skin. If I don’t have time for a full bath, I’ll take a detox foot bath instead.
Oral Health Uses
Because of its excellent ability to bind to heavy metals and toxins and provide minerals, I use bentonite clay in my remineralizing tooth powder recipe. It can also be used alone for brushing. It’s tasteless and relatively textureless.
No time to make your own? We also use this clay-based toothpaste when we travel. The kids love the taste, and I love that we’re keeping up with our oral health routine away from home!
In addition, I mix bentonite with water for an alkalizing and toxin-removing mouth rinse. I mix 1/2 teaspoon of clay in 1/4 cup water in a small jar with a plastic lid and shake well. Then, I rinse with the water for 1-2 minutes and repeat until I’ve used it all.
Internal Uses
Bentonite is great for digestive issues, including IBS symptoms, nausea, constipation, and acid reflux. During early pregnancy, I took 1/2 tsp of bentonite clay dissolved in water to ward off morning sickness. It helped me feel better. My midwife gave me the okay but check with your healthcare provider before using during pregnancy.
For internal cleansing, I drink 1/2 to 1 teaspoon most days in a cup of water. It helps draw out the toxins from the body. I’ve noticed it improves my digestion and gives me more energy. I’ve also noticed my nails and hair grow more quickly. Make sure any clay taken internally is labeled safe for internal use. This is the one we use.
Though I haven’t tried it personally, I’ve read about bentonite and other healing clays being used internally to help reduce radiation exposure, in alternative cancer treatments, and in MRSA infections. It’s also said to help in parasite removal, though I haven’t tried this either.
If your pet is vomiting or showing signs of illness, give them bentonite. Add it to their water or mix it with water and give it orally with a dropper. I’ve seen several cases where this helped pets recover quickly from what would have otherwise been serious illnesses.
Bentonite Clay Precautions
As with any natural remedy, there are some precautions you’ll want to follow when using bentonite clay.
Metal reduces its effectiveness. So, don’t let it come into contact with anything metal. This includes bowls or mixing utensils. I mix mine by shaking it in a glass jar with a plastic lid or using a plastic whisk.
If taking it internally, don’t take it within an hour of eating for best results. In addition, don’t take it within 2 hours of medications or supplements, as it might reduce their effectiveness.
Bentonite and Lead
As mentioned earlier, you want to buy bentonite from a reliable, quality source. This is because there are concerns that it can contain lead. Bentonite is a naturally occurring substance from the earth and contains various trace elements, as with anything that comes from the earth (including vegetables!). You can read my full thoughts on that here.
Even though there are trace amounts of unabsorbable lead in bentonite, you want to buy brands that don’t contain high levels of lead. Several brands were banned by the FDA for this reason. For example, a 2016 FDA study warned consumers not to buy a brand called “Best Bentonite Clay” out of Guthrie, Oklahoma, due to high lead levels.
Of course, I always recommend doing your own research, especially on controversial topics like lead exposure. Based on my findings, I feel perfectly comfortable using it externally and internally for my family. However, if you have any medical conditions, always check with your doctor before using it.
Final Thoughts on Bentonite Clay
The benefits of this healing clay are far-reaching and pretty amazing. From skincare to digestive issues and detox, the list is long for what it can help with. And because it’s inexpensive, I highly recommend adding this ancient natural remedy to your wellness routine and natural medicine cabinet.
This article was medically reviewed by Dr. Mariza Snyder, a functional practitioner. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.
Have you ever used bentonite clay or other healing clays? What did you use it for? Did it work? Share below!
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