Clay is a multi-purpose fine-grained dirt or sediment that is commonly used to make bricks, pottery and a number of other uses. They also have a number of therapeutic uses.
Bentonite Clay
Bentonite clay has been used for centuries for its cleansing and detoxification abilities, and there is now a lot of research being done to further investigate these benefits and long term uses (see attached articles at the bottom of this post for published research information). Research has also shown that Bentonite clay plays a role in protecting the immune system, relieves symptoms of constipation, effective again irritable bowl disease and much more.
Bentonite clay is an extremely negatively charged molecule and has absorptive properties. When consumed, this clay is able to pass into the intestinal tract and attracts positively charged toxins (such as many metals, bacteria, toxins and more). How does this work? Well when they come into contact with one another, they swap ions then become bound together and the toxic substances are absorbed and internalized by the clay molecules. Your body then get rid of the toxin-filled clay through your bowel movements.
Why should you use Bentonite clay?
Bentonite clay has a ton of benefits and here I will highlight my top 7. Please keep in mind that I am not a licensed dermatologist, doctor, skin guru or anything of the sort, I am just sharing the reasons why I love this product so please do test patches and consult a dermatologist if you have any questions or concerns about it.
My top 5 reasons why I use Bentonite Clay
Heals eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis and scarring
This clay is most effective when it is combined with water and/or another liquid. When it is combined with water (or my favorite, apple cider vinegar) and left on the skin to dry as a mask, it binds to the bacteria on acts as a topical antibiotic. It also extracts bacteria and other debris from pores. Bentonite clay assists in the healing of redness from these skin conditions and also fights allergic reactions from lotions and washes on sensitive skin. It is also known to speed up the healing time of wounds from eczema.
If you have eczema like myself, acne, or hyper-pigmentation, you are no stranger to scarring. Use bentonite clay, along with your skincare products, to remove/reduce the appearance of the scar tissue. Since the clay removes toxins from your pores, it will allow your skin to heal, reduces inflammation and redness.
Helps to control overproduction of sebum
Sebum is an oily secretion from your sebaceous glands on your skin. This oil is useful to keep your hair and skin and hair moisturized. Some individuals produce more of this oil than others, and overproduction can encourage bacteria growth and cause skin irritations. Excess oil on the skin combined with shedding dead skin cells and bacteria causes acne. It can also cause clogged hair follicles which will produce blackheads and whiteheads.
To keep your skin blemish-free, put a small amount of clay and water mix onto your blemishes and leave it on overnight. Repeat this until the blemish has vanished.
Removes toxins ( skin, dietary and environmental toxins)
Remember that negative electrical charge I mentioned earlier in this article? Well the strongly charged bentonite clay binds to the positively charged toxins (as mentioned previously) like heavy metals, chemicals and other impurities, and internalizes them. It is then expelled from the body taking those engulfed toxins with it.
Dangerous metals such as mercury, lead, benzene, cadmium and some others are unfortunately found in some of our processed foods, drinking water, commonly used household materials and in our environment. Foods and drinks with high fructose corn syrup, especially, contains some of these toxins so read those food labels! A study published in the “British Medical Bulletin” (see list of journals at the bottom of this article) shows that bentonite clay my help reduce these toxins.
Our cleaning supplies, unfiltered water, pesticides, permanent markers, paints and a number of other everyday household items emit chemicals into the environment. These chemicals, know as volatile organic compounds, can lead to serious health issues when breathed in and/or ingested. Bentonite has been known to absorb these volatile organic compounds which can reduce animal and human exposure to these damaging compounds. There is still research being done in this area to see how to properly dose and use bentonite clay for this use.
Regeneration of skin tissue
Research suports that the use of bentonite clay also speeds up skin tissue regeneration and can heal wounds quicker than untreated wounds. The study “Effects of Bentonite on Skin Wound Healing: Experimental Study in the Rat Model”, conducted at my Alma Mater, supports this claim . In addition to skin regeneration, this clay also reduces wrinkles and fine lines.
For burns, bites and stings, make the clay into a poultice by using a thick layer of the clay onto the affected area of skin and cover with a damp gauze. Change the gauze with the clay poultice every 2 hours until you get relief.
Exfoliates and evens skin tone
As we get older, our skin gets damaged from sun exposure, discoloration from breakouts, trauma, etc. Most of us end up with uneven skin tones, especially in sensitive areas like our face. Bentonite clay with give your face a glow and a younger look while improving your skin’s tone and texture. Dead skin cells develop on the surface of our skin which ages us and dulls our tone. By exfoliating our skin, we eliminate these dead skin cells and allow newer skin to grow better. To get a glow, it is recommended to use a bentonite face mask regularly. The exfoliation and oil extraction from the clay will give us that radiant skin that we all want.
How do we use bentonite clay as an exfoliate? One simple way is to mix the clay and apple cider vinegar into a thick paste. Then rub the paste, gently, in a circular motion on your face and neck (or anywhere that you want to exfoliate). Some individuals add a teaspoon of ground coffee a more intense exfoliation. After thoroughly rinsing off the clay, you should add a thin layer of your favorite facial moisturizer or coconut oil.
Those are my top 5 reasons why I prefer this clay and some of the ways that I use it.
My go-to mask is mixing 1 table spoon of bentonite clay from Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay + 1 tablespoon of Bragg Organic Raw Apple Cider Vinegar + 1/2 or slightly more ofActivated Charcoal Powder. If the mixture is a little too thick, I add a smidgen more of the apple cider vinegar. I then apply a thin layer to my face and let it dry for 10mins, then rinse it off thoroughly. I immediately see a glow in my face every time. I then follow that up with a thin layer of toner and a light facial moisturizer.
The sizzling sound is normal, as it is a reaction caused by adding the apple cider vinegar to the bentonite clay. I did have to add more clay because as you can see, I clearly went a little overboard with the liquid portion.
Note: DO NOT USE METAL WHEN MIXING THE CLAY. Metal can react with the bentonite clay once it is activated with water and decrease it’s effectiveness. I use a glass or ceramic bowl and plastic or wooden spoon.
Shop the ingredients here:
Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay Deep Pore Cleansing, 1 Pound
Bragg Organic Raw Apple Cider Vinegar, 16 Ounce – 1 Pack
Activated Charcoal Powder – Food Grade (1.2 oz glass jar)
Bentonite clay can be used for much more than facial care, it can help with our overall health in many areas. Next are 3 additional uses for this super clay.
Detox bath
By adding 1/4 cup of clay to your bath, along with your favorite essential oils, you will create a relaxing and detoxifying bath that will lave your skin almost baby bottom smooth (because lets face it, we can not get our skin completely back to baby smooth no matter how much a product claims they can).
Toothpaste
Mix your everyday toothpaste with a small amount of clay OR add 1/2 teaspoon of clay with 1/4 cup of water for an oral rinse. This will help to draw out the toxins and bacteria in your mouth.
Cleans contaminated soil
Metals, pollutants and toxic chemicals are known to contaminate our soil and much of it has been built up for decades. This affects crop production and some may leave behind carcinogens. Many of us eat produce from our gardens and share them with our family so why not take an extra step to ensure the safeness of these foods. The amount of bentonite clay to add depends on the type of soil you have in your environment or garden so consult a horticulture specialist for measurements. It can also protect your crops against disease, bugs and sunburn.
Alright guys, I know this was a TON of information about my favorite natural clay and I hope you get a lot of tips and benefits from reading this article. Please leave a comment to let me know about your experiences with this clay and which uses you would try. This post does include affiliate links. See the bottom of the page for those research articles with additional information and facts to back up the above claims.
Until next time!
With love,
CoCo
Articles and Journals to check out:
“Effects of Bentonite on Skin Wound Healing: Experimental Study in the Rat Model” by S.H. Emami-Razavi, et al.
“A Comparative Study of the Adsorption and Desorption of O-xylene onto Bentonite Clay and Alumina” by Zaitan H, et al. in the Journal of Hazardous Materials
“The Use of Modified Bentonite for Removal of Aromatic Organics form Contaminated Soil” by Gitipour S, et al. in the Journal of Colloid and Interface Science.
“Hazards of Heavy Metal Contamination” by Jarup L., et al. in the British Medical Bulletin.
I had absolutely no idea that clay had so much benefits. I guess I’m gonna have to get some now!! Hahah
Yes! Do your skin the favor & let me know how you like it!