Bentonite Clay for Health

I was sorry to read the negative feedback on the bentonite clay, as I have had positive results using it. I have been using it with psyllium husk powder for 3 months now. I think it is wonderful! In general, I use 1 Tbl. liquid bentonite clay with 1 Tbl. psyllium husk powder in 1 c. of liquid. In the first month, I saw lots of increased energy. In the second month, I saw wonderful results with my skin. I suffer from excessive oily skin on my face and in my hair. The bentonite clay took all of that away and left my face feeling very soft all day long without using lotions or other topical creams. The oiliness in my hair completely went away. Just the other day I did an experiment and I went 4 days without washing my hair. I was waiting for the oily scalp to come back but it never did. In the 3rd month of using bentonite clay, I have seen good results with my hair being more healthy. It doesn't fall out nearly as much when I take a shower or brush my hair. It feels thicker and the individual hair strands feel stronger like they can withstand a lot without breaking or coming out. This has been my positive experience with bentonite clay and I will continue to take 1 Tbl. each day for....well, I guess indefinitely.

First Aid for Burns---and most everything else.

I keep a jar of bentonite paste on my kitchen counter because I occasionally get a bad burn when cooking. I slap on a gob of bentonite and the pain is gone instantly! Regardless of how bad the burn, there is no blistering. In the past, a burn on my arm (for instance), would still be very painful when taking a hot shower the next day! Not so, if you've applied some bentonite paste.

P.S. The paste never seems to go "bad" and still works perfectly after about 3 years on my kitchen counter.

Ted is absolutely a genius. I really don't know where to begin about the calcium bentonite clay he suggested.

My fiance suffered a chemical burn wound years ago that resulted from exposure to Pregan Paste. After hundreds of skin grafts (and decades of suffering), the doctors could not seem to stop the burn wound from creating painful skin necrosis, over and over again. Her hand seemed to be sensitive to everything from sun to dish soap to topical ointments designed to stop burns, not create them.

Well, Ted suggested calcium bentonite clay as a topical clay paste to apply to her skin. Needless to say, we were terrified because it seemed that everything that touched her hand would cause necrosis and with every recurrence of necrosis, she risked amputation of her hand. I hate to admit that fear caused me to wait on trying this solution, but it did.

So, I opted to try it first on my acne. I have never had a chronic problem with acne, but over the last year, it had become a nighmare. Blemishes became open wounds, my face was covered in black heads and white heads. Aesthetically, it was awful. Physically, it was extremely painful.

I suppose I should have tried it in one place, but I placed 1 T. of the powder in a plastic bowl, 2 T. of water and another T. of clay on top. I did not mix it, but let it sit for 2 minutes. It formed a clay quickly and easily on its own.

I spread it all over my face and allowed it to dry. It was itchy and I could see my face turning quite red. I was a bit concerned, but trusted Ted's advice to leave it on until it dried and to apply it twice a day.

It's now been 48 hours and 6 mosquito bites disappeared from the evening before. No itching and no redness. Four significant wounds closed and I've not seen a new blemish appear, which has not been the case in months. It seems that calcium bentonite clay not only removes excess oil, dead skin cells and toxins, but also increases circulation, which speeds healing.

But what is more miraculous? My fiance's hand began to turn dark purple the same day I used the clay for the first time. This happens every few months and needless to say, we became terribly concerned. This color change usually signals the beginning stages of necrosis.

We kept an eye on it and the skin on her hand turned gray (her hand is the only place where there has been necrosis and her hand has been subject to hundreds of skin grafts and 2 skin flaps that were rejected). To say we were alarmed would be an understatement. We had to do something and do something fast. Until now, hyperbaric oxygen treatment had been our only option and it isn't easy to get an appointment within 24 hours, which is how fast we need for her to get the treatment.

Because we knew the impending future, we took a BIG chance and applied it directly to her hand. Normally, trying to put any kind of topical product yields painful, dreadful results. She gave it 30 min to an hour to dry and then we washed it off. Nervously, we checked her hand closely for the result...

Circulation returned, her hand became very red and she had no pain (usually she has a painful, tingling sensation that she describes as "something eating away at her hand from the inside"). Within an hour of washing the clay away, her normal, healthy skin color had returned and now, 24 hours later, she still has no pain and her skin is still the healthy, pink color it is supposed to be. Just one application of this simple clay, used AT HOME, kept her out of the hyperbaric chamber and more importantly, NO surgery! Necrosis reversed completely!

Ted, words really cannot express our gratitute. Calcium bentonite clay was something we'd never heard of and it has quickly begun to heal my acne, open wounds and reversed the onset of her necrosis by either removing toxins or increasing circulation, but probably the result of both.

We have decided that calcium bentonite clay is something we will always keep in the house. For bug bites, acne, wound healing, toxin removal, improvement of circulation - it's a must have for any household. It is available from many sources from the United States and around the world.

Here's to everyone's health and healing!

I don't know if anyone pointed this out, but it sounds as if you're confusing Bentonite Clay with Diatomaceous Earth. The latter has many tiny sharp edges that you described. Bentonite Clay does not have these.

I have been taking bentonite clay for detoxing and really love it. I tried drinking it mixed with water but couldn't stand the taste. I now eat the clay with applesauce (1-2 tsp clay with 1 cup applesauce). I have also eaten it with yogurt. I found the applesauce with clay will make you very full for several hours, almost like an appetite suppressant, which is great for those that are dieting or cutting back.

My dentists told me I had a thinning wearing away of tooth enamel on my 2 front teeth, and it could crack. A friend told me to rub Bentonite Clay on the teeth to remineralize them. In weeks it worked.

Hi Lisa

Interesting that. You do need to be careful and cautious with a new program.

I have been fighting candida overgrowth and parasite infection since 2014 with slow but definite success. However, the past 3 weeks I have been using Bentonite clay and the results have been very quick. The fatigue went within a week of ingesting the clay and bathing/soaking with it once a week. My pH has normalised and is going up. My moods have improved from near depression to happy/positive/hopeful nearly all the time.

I take a tablespoon in 700ml of water in the evening now, but the first week I took that morning and evening, and soaked in 1/4 cup of the clay in a tub of warm water once a week. I feel very good overall.

I also take 2 tablespoons of ACV, lemon juice and molasses in a 1 litre of water each morning too, plus 1 multi-vitamin tablets morning and evening, 2 magnesium tables 3 times a day.

I've had acid reflux for months and while using the "watercure" has given me some relief, if I slack off on it at all I have persistent pain/burning the next day. I have tried charcoal, but it takes 30 minutes or more to kick in, and sometimes I need a second dose, and I have tried baking soda in water, but that seems to last only a couple of hours. Last night I tried bentonite and not only was the relief almost instant, but lasted for over 12 hours. I just tried a second dose and again, instant relief!

What I do is take a small jar (8oz) of warm water and mix in about a tablespoon of bentonite. I then let it sit out overnight so that the clay becomes saturated with the water; this will prevent it from absorbing too much water in your gut and possibly causing constipation. This makes a jelly-like consistency; if it's too watery, then stir in a bit more clay, or if it's too stiff then add more water. Then I keep it in the fridge and use as needed. For the acid reflux I take 2 teaspoons and chase it with water. It does not have an unpleasant flavor or a gritty texture. The coolness from keeping it in the fridge is soothing to the throat, and could also be soothing on the skin for poison ivy, sunburn or cooking burns, insect bites, etc.

The clay used for sealing is SODIUM bentonite...vs the CALCIUM bentonite used for detox. These are 2 very different products...

I'm no genius but. Bentonite is suppose to bind with heavy metals. And iron is one of those heavy metals. When the skin turns red seemingly like magic, it is because I believe the bentonite clay attracts the iron rich blood to the surface. And interchanges with any toxins available to be absorbed. I love using bentonite clay on my skin. Internally. And in baths. Very great product made by mother earth!

Mark from the UK you are thinking of Diatomaceous Earth, not Bentonite Clay which is a swelling clay. Calcium is for internal and Sodium is external. Drink plenty of water when taken internally. You start with a small amount to see how you react. Too much and you can have a severe detox reaction. When using the clay do not use metal spoons or bowls as the clay will absorb the metal and become ineffective.

A buddy of mine turned me on to calcium bentonite clay for my overall health. the stuff is amazing. you can bathe in it, cook with it, eat it, brush with it, clean your hair with it. its mainly used in spas and things of that nature. anyways, I got the worst cold sore I've ever had. the entire left side of my upper lip, a little one on my nose, and a little one on my bottom lip. I've been reading this website and I remembered the clay I had. I added some water and made a paste out of it and I smeared it on the sores and went to bed. I woke up the next day and the pain was gone and the swelling had dropped tremendously. I washed it off and saw that the sore had diminished in size considerably. it feels really good on the sore and it really cleans up the sore. I use this overnight and it really helps. using it with other remedies, I find the sore heals much quicker. plus it feels GREAT

Bentonite is fantastic for internal cleansing but like everything you must tailor the quantity to your own digestive system. I have been taking it for 4 years with positive results and have learned that regular intake of even a small amount is beneficial. It is a bacteriacide absorbs toxins and raises pH

Here's how I take it:

Add 1 liter of water to your blender.
Mix 100g of bentonite (approx 4 dessert spoons)
Blend for 1-2 minutes.
Pour 90% of this mix into a resealable food grade plastic or glass bottle. Discard the residue.

Now you have a smooth pourable base mixture. Add 50ml to 100ml* of this to a large glass and top with warm water. Warm water makes it easier to take. So you have a light clay drink 250ml - 300ml

Drink one glass in the morning and one afternoon or night. At least 30 - 40 minutes away from main meals.

DO NOT take it close to life sustaining medications as it could lessen the effect of the medication.

Take for a number of consecutive days. there is no magic number of days but generally it is beneficial when taken for a few days on a regular basis. It can be continuted for weeks at a time if so desired. I suggest starting at the lower level and increase if things are going ok. in other words if bowel movements become too slow or constipation occurs then cease the intake until you clear and resume if you wish.

Make sure to include plenty of fibre and water in your diet.

Personally I don't like to include psyillium husks with it. I find it a bit much for my system when combined & I get good results with the just Bentonite.

Initially it may make your bowel movement a bit sluggish or perhaps you'll eliminate later in the day but i have never experienced constipation from it as described in some posts. If you find the amount suggested above is still too much then lessen it until agreeable. it will still be working just a bit slower.

* 50ml - 100ml of this mix converts to 5 - 10gms of clay . It is not very much. The most I have taken at one time is 300ml (30gm of clay)of the mixture without diluting it. It was a bit hard to get down but I had a lot of energy all day. I have not repeated that amount as I would have to force it down and don't care to. Gentle persistence pays off.

Good Luck!

Used Medicinal grade Bentonite clay for acid reflux,works within a few sips. Get a small bottle of water put in a teaspoon of bentonite clay (PH is 9.1) shake hard so it disolves in the water and take some sips. You will notice within the second sip the acid starts to calm down. A note; People with bad acid reflux have trouble sleeping, magnesium gets depleted when acid is on overload, a few sips of bentonite clay before bed you sleep like a baby. Magnesium' has a 'calming' effect for the mind and the physical muscles. There is magnesium in bentonite clay.

I decided to take bentonite clay because I heard that it gets rid of toxins and helps IBS. I used a teaspoon in water once a day in the morning and by the second night I was so tired I slept great. I took it the next morning and the whole day I was so exhausted and felt flu-like symptoms and couldn't get out of bed all day and night. No one really talks about the toxic withdrawal from ingesting bentonite clay. I also have chronic fatigue and I should have took a lesser dose. I'm giving it a few days break and then I'm just going to start with a fourth of a teaspoon full a day. What do you think?

Right on, Bunty. sodium bentonite clay is NOT like diatomaceous earth which the previous post was describing. DE is very dangerous to breathe, etc, but SB clay is naturally safe. of course, don't go breathing it in deliberately or it will dry up your nose haha. I have been using this clay for over three years now, on teeth, skin, hair, eyes and it is wonderful stuff. It soothes any burn instantly too. I burnt my hand with a splash of very hot oil the other night. Straight under the cold water tap for a minute, then I rushed to the bathroom and made up some sloppy sodium bentonite clay. I spread it onto my hand and then slipped a soft latex glove over it, then shoved more sloppy clay around the burn area. Pain gone instantly, and three hours later I pulled the glove off. no burn or redness at all!

WARNING!

Hi, first, people NEED to know that you do NOT take Sodium Bentonite Clay Internally, you only take Calcium Bentonite Clay internally. Second, when your body goes through a detox you WILL get tired, the clay is flushing out the toxins in your body that you get from what you eat or drink, the air we breath, the cleaners we use etc. Until you get on the other side of that detox you will be exhausted. You will also have more energy after you detox, clean out your intestines and your blood etc. You NEED to drink PLENTY of water every day but especially when you detox or take Calcium Bentonite Clay internally, that's one reason you can't have a bowel movement or don't have regular ones. Our bodies are 75% water, that water NEEDS to be replaced on a daily basis, if you don't where are the toxins going to go, how will you flush them out and how will you keep your bowels moving... think about it :)

Hi there.

I know it's been a while since you posted this but I thought to reply anyway :) I think you can totally use calcium bentonite clay on your rash topically. I have a rare skin disease (autoimmune) and get a severe itchy rash all over my chest, breast and neck. I was suffering for a year until I discovered bentonite clay. I use a few spoons (2-3 or even more depending on the area), mix in some water until it becomes a clay/paste. I prefer mine to be thicker meaning I don't add too much water but it's preference. I leave it on for as long as I can (1-2 hours) whilst sitting down and I make sure to have a cover underneath me so if it gets messy it's easy to clean. Make sure your bowl and spoon is metal free, and metal interferes with how it works, so you must only use plastic! You can do it everyday for 1 month and then do it a few times a week, just see how it goes. I don't recommend taking it internally. But even by applying it topically it removes the toxins and heavy metals from your skin. It has really helped me and I hope it helps you too! :)

My daughter has Aspergers Syndrome, a form of autism. I gave her two "00" capsules of bentonite clay every day. She was 17 at the time. In less than a month, she had no more tactile issues (could not STAND the sensation of light touches among other tactile issues) AND had spontaneous empathy for strangers!!!! Something that does not happen with any form of autism that I know of!

The only caution is because she is a menstrating female, if she gets too much bentonite clay, she will occasionally go anemic. Iron, despite being needed by the body, is still a heavy metal. So we cut back when that happens. Now she only takes is maybe twice a week and we have not been having problems with anemia.

From what I believe I have learned, some of you are wrong. The two types of clay are both ingestible. The Sodium is best because it absorbs the most toxins. The Calcium is not so good because it won't absorb much but I have seen it stated that the Calcium is better suited to enter your blood stream and cleanse that part of your body. So they both have a purpose. When people have problems it is proably because:

1.They aren't using food grade clay.

2.They are using too much to start off with.

3.They are using Sodium clay, which expands a lot, and not giving it eough time to absorb water and expand fully before drinking.

4. They aren't drinking lots of water after ingestion like recomended.

Try mixing it with water and letting it sit for hours before drinking. Afterwards drink a whole bunch of water.

I disagree, the sodium clay is used in industrial applications mainly as a swimming pool additive, it has microscopic sharp spikes that if ingested is dangerous, the calcium clay is not microscopically sharp like the sodium.

The sodium clay used as a insect killer works by scratching cuts all over the insect including fleas which then prevents water holding in their bodies so they dehydrate and die without possible rehydration due to the spikes puncturing them full of holes.

I have been frantically warned from every store I brought from NOT to confuse with the pool grade sodium, if inhaled will cause respitory problems due to the micro spikes damaging yr airways. So stick with calcium clay and research difference between sodium and calcium clay.

Mark

Just a correction and update: it takes about 2 tablespoons of bentonite in 4-6 oz of water to make the "gel". This is still working great for me! In fact, I skipped it yesterday, so it's been a day and a half since I've taken it, and still no acid! Before this I was taking the "watercure" every 2-4 hours, before I tried that I would be coughing & in pain ALL DAY, and I usually woke up already feeling bad.

Bentonite Clay will back you up if you use it in it's dry form. It needs to be hydrated FIRST! Please soak 1 tablespoon of Clay in 8 oz of water and let it soak for at least 24 hours... you have to build the clay up in your system or else you'll get severely backed up and find yourself (a) in pain and (b) unable to go to the bathroom to poop. Start off by taking just 1 tablespoon of your hydrated clay in a cup of water per day for a week or so before deciding if you want to increase the amount of clay you take in.

OR....just buy a HYDRATED bentonite. Your health food store will carry a variety of brands!

Remember people, natural products can cause just as much damage as chemical pharmaceuticals if you abuse them. DO YOUR RESEARCH. YOUR HEALTH IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY

I believe all you are saying.... From feeling great and healed of an ailment to regreting having ever tried this. Just remember, if you get an adverse reaction due to any detoxing of the body, you are actually unleashing years of toxins within a very short period of time. This is very good. But the body is working very hard to eliminate these. That is why you will feel tired and worn out and sick. And yes, some will come down with a cold, or flu, or rash and hives, etc... What is happening is your body is exiting these harmful toxins that are spread out in your body, rather quickly, and this is the only way the body can get rid of them fast. The ingredients in any detox is the boost the body needs to have the stength to eliminate these bad toxins. These healing crises (as Dr. Bernard Jensen calls them) are to be welcomed! You are on the road to feeling like a whole new person after it passes! Do the reasearch, and see for yourself, how you don't feel better until you feel terrible first! I've experienced this first hand, these crises can take you from a wicked migraine, to a 4 day flu with fever, vomitting, chills, itchy rashes, bizare food cravings, etc... You name it! But these only last a brief time period. Some may not feel anything at all! Everyone reacts differently to any one detox because our bodies are all different, with different toxins inside, makeup and way of living over the years. I have even heard of some being so sick they had to be hospitalized. That's why these detoxes need to be aproached with respect because they really do work. Start slow with small doses and wait for a healing crisis to occur. If it doesn't happen, you may increase the dose a little. Listen to your body, it understands itself better than we do sometimes. Happy detoxing!

I am definitely alkalizing as it makes perfect sense. Also using turmeric, Celtic sea salt, and greens. Internal health may take time to achieve, but Ted's lemon/ ACV and baking soda really works for so many problems--quick too. ' I have boils for the first time. I have been mixing several teaspoons of bentonite clay with water, placing a glob over the boil and spreading it thickly over the surrounding area, then covering it all with gauze or a clean cloth. Last, I wrap securely with plastic. Keeps the area moist and the clay off sheets and clothes. This has worked wonders in only a day. Boils are no longer sore or swollen and the whole area is healing and drying beautifully. Change the poultice every 8-12 hours. I will keep it up for a week to make sure the infection is gone. Also will continue internal alkalizing. You do not have to spend a fortune on bentonite clay. I got mine on ebay from a company that sells it for fish ponds. It does keeps my pond water clear--probably for the same reason it heals people. Once on ebay search with words "clay koi" and that will bring you to a great inexpensive product-- 20 lbs of it! Thank you Earth Clinic, contributors, and especially Ted! Great info! Really helped me and others with so many problems! Liz

Montmorillite form of Bentonite clay. I had an absessed tooth that broke off. The absess was not really painful but my dentist advised a root canal because the tooth was dead. How I wish I would have tried the clay first and just had a temp crown put on. I continued to have a soreness at the root. The pocket of infection had been there for years. I didn't want to do the antibiotic thing or have more work done, so I tried the clay. I simply tucked a pea sized bit of clay with a bit of cotton up at the root where the pain was. The next morning it was somewhat better. I continued for months until every bit of the soreness was gone. It took time but I just know I probably could have healed it without the root canal. I still do it once in awhile because I know dead teeth in your mouth infect the body eventually, per Dr. Weston Price. The one advantage?...It takes almost no effort to do.

A.b. I use only clay. Mix a little bit with water to make "mud". Apply and leave it there a while. Rinse. I do it a few times a day.

Bentonite Clay: Try it for acid reflux, it works! Mix 1/4 teaspoon to 1/2 teaspoon with 1/2 cup of water when you need it. It just seems to nuetralize the acid!

Make sure to take it 1 hour BEFORE you take your prescriptions & drink lots of water throughout the day. Hope this helps.

You used the incorrect form of bentonite clay. There are two types of bentonite clay, sodium and calcium. Sodium Bentonite clay should not be used for internal use because of its extreme swelling properties and it is geared towards commercial use. Calicium bentonite clay is the form that is used for internal use. It absorbs but at a lesser degree vs. sodium. Calcium bentonite is not used in industrial applications.

Found a link.

http://earthslivingclay.com/faqs/what-is-the-difference-between-calcium-bentonite-and-sodium-bentonite-clay-can-both-be-used-internally-as-a-detoxifier/

Seems that sodium clay can be used in the bath as a soak but not for internal use.

Calcium clay is microscopicly rectangular in shape whist sodium clay is microscopically pyramid shaped, spikes I mentioned in previous post is when the pyramids clump together.

Mark

Yes. The calcium one is for digestion, not the sodium one.

You have to start out slow. You took too much and had a severe detox reaction. Should also be taken with fiber. If no BM, take magnesium.

The really important thing to consider is how your body's digestive system works. Even if a Sodium Bentonite had the right balance of minerals, and had the right particle size to be absorbed into your bloodstream, and had good detoxification power from its ionization properties, you should not ingest it.

In your stomach, it will break apart with the acids and other liquids, but as it moves from the small intestine to the colon, it will become dehydrated by your body and it will clump back together. You will then have the unpleasant task of eliminating it. Or worse, it could become part of a constipation problem. In contrast, when you put a teaspoon of Calcium Montmorillonite clay into a glass of water, about half may fall to the bottom and half will stay suspended as a colloidal cloudiness. It will look milky. There is no clumping to worry about and stirring with a spoon is easy.

Another consideration with Sodium Bentonite is hinted at by its name...sodium. As if we don't get enough salt in our bodies, this clay is introducing more. In contrast calcium Bentonite has 2 or 3 times the calcium as sodium, and other pH balancing minerals such as potassium and magnesium to help your blood balance its electrolytes and keep you healthy.

Finally, Sodium Bentonites come from industrial producers. Their processing often introduces problems. They may claim to have sterilization processes, and they sometimes do...with irradiation, a process that reduces the ionic electrical potency of the compound. Irradiation is not acceptable for organic and holistic uses. Regardless, their operations are geared for commercial not natural or health products and contamination is always a possibility.

Sodium Bentonite may be a fine product for acne treatment or a poultice because of its absorptive properties. But why buy different clays when one source can be trusted to perform well for all needs.

And sorry I forgot to add! I am not sure whether you can buy organic but I get mine from amazon!

OK- I THINK i had a severe reaction to bentonite clay... I was starting a cleanse 2 days ago- so had only juiced and eaten brown rice that day... I had some Bentonite I use for baths, ( I think it's the sodium one- but the person I bought it from claims he takes a tablespoon of it every day w/ no problems)and in the evening as an afterthought I added about 2 tsps. to my protein shake... it made it really thick so I added more water. I downed it and in about 3 hours I came down with the worst stomach cramping, diharea and vomiting I have EVER experienced... I mean tore-the-toiletpaper-holder-off-the-wall violent puking!!! It lasted for about 6 hours that severe- with a fever the entire time. The vomiting/ diharea subsided but my fever remained the rest of the day... am wondering if anyone has any ideas if this could've been severe detoxing, or reaction to the clay or stomach virus coincidence? I called poison control and they scared me to death about possibly rupturing my intestines, so I went to the DR the next afternoon and he basically sent me home with no advice (waste of $!!).

I am weak 2 days later and am still waiting on a bowel movement of any kind...? any input appreciated...

Whilst Sodium Bentonite is an ‘absorber', Calcium Bentonite is an ‘aDsorber' - rather than absorbing & swelling as Sodium Bentonite does, because it is negatively charged, it attracts positively charged toxins, parasites & microbes & heavy metals & escorts them safely out of the body in the stool.

Whilst pond linings do not move, the gut eject the clay using peristaltic action & mucus production. If it didn't do that, stool would never be ejected.....

I have stopped many dental problemd with a q-tip and Hydrogen Peroxide - and it works every time! One short stop at a dollar store ought to do it.

And if you are worried about losing your teerh, or they feel loose in their sockets, you should order some Bee Propolis w/Iodine Tincture. This I one of its specialties and works!! Amazing stuff.

Best of luck!