Healing Clays

[Guest guest]

At the end I have copied the beginning of the 9 page overview of the book

" The Clay Cure " . It is a Word document, and if you wish to read it, I suggest

you download it from the link here on the one on the main page of this site.

blessings

Shan

Healing Clays

http://www.altcancer.com/e_ruins.htm

- provides the historical, indigenous, and time-honoured usages for these

four clays below

 

The Lost Knowledge of Healing Clays

 

Given the explosion of the " natural foods " market in recent years, coupled

with growing emphasis on " complimentary and alternative medicine, " it is

surprising how little attention has been paid to medicinal clays. The right

clay,

properly administered, can purify the blood, reduce or even eliminate infection,

heal ulcers, and even rid the body of certain allergies. And how much more

natural can you get? This is clay -- straight from Mother Earth.

 

For its simplicity and refusal to yield to the lust for proprietary claims,

clay has largely languished in the field of health care in the presence of many

more expensive medical solutions - that clearly cost more and often do not

produce as effective results.

 

Such is the most prominent feature of modern medicine.

 

In truth, clays -- loaded in minerals (primarily inorganic) -- represent the

past vital energies of sun, air, and water, and possess healing powers we have

only begun to understand, both external and internal.

 

Clays contain a slew of minerals -- mostly calcium, potassium, magnesium, and

manganese. Additionally, zinc, copper, selenium, and aluminum can be found in

some types. Among native American Indian tribes, different clays were used

for different ailments. Clays come in varying shades of white, pink, red,

orange, yellow, green, and brown. The variety of colours is due to the variation

in

mineral compounds. Green clay owes its coloration to iron oxides. The Illite

group of clays contains a particular species of green clay called glauconite.

Generally used for cosmetic purposes, it makes a wonderful mask to draw

impurities out of the skin. Red clay is often used in a bath or as a mask for

the

body as it disinfects, heals, soothes, and smoothes dry skin. The Kaolin group

of

clays is often used as a bulking agent and an antidiarrheal. As a matter of

fact, Kaolin is the mineral clay used in the over-the-counter anti-diarrheal,

Kaopectate. From the Smectite group of clays comes montmorillonite clay, which

has very similar functionality to Bentonite clays, another type of clay from

the Smectite group. (The name " Bentonite " is not its mineral name, but rather a

trade name for a commercial type of clay; however, it has become well known

by this name.)

 

Clays are amazing in their range of function.

Externally, the right clay can reduce swelling, inflammation, drain

infection, and cleanse and protect the skin. It is used in facials, masks,

poultices,

body wraps, and baths.

Internally, clay cleanses and purifies, detoxifies, and balances the pH and

the intestinal flora. It is not absorbed by the body, but works with the body

to remove toxins, rebuild tissues, and rejuvenate tired or damaged organs.

 

Every alternative physician and naturopath who lives true to the sacred

edicts of the healing arts should know the indispensable uses of healing clays.

 

Bentonite -- The version we use is common in North America - sporadically

found and mined from the province of Alberta to the northern plains of Texas.

Dr.

Bernard Jensen, and other naturopaths, have recommended Bentonite for years

as yet another vermifuge (parasite cleanser) and general detoxifier. We now

make mention of it in our Bowel Cleansing http://www.altcancer.com/cleanse1.htm

phase of the Alpha Omega Liver / Colon Cleansing Program

http://www.altcancer.com/cleanse0.htm . Its use among naturopaths is primarily

internal. Unless

otherwise recommended by your health care practitioner, you should stick to the

one teaspoon/day protocol. An excessive amount of Bentonite will provide an

annoying astringent feeling (as if all the water has been drawn out of your

intestines). It quickly passes - but, the point is, it can be avoided to begin

with.

 

Feldspar -- For external use only - this clay variety is good for facials and

assists in drawing toxins out of the skin. Variations of this clay (and " Red

Cedar " ) were used extensively by native American Indians, through their

" medicine men " to treat a wide variety of dermatological problems.

 

Kaolin (USP) -- For internal use: this is the active clay used in Kaopectate

and other anti-diarrhea formulas. The version we use has been processed

to meet USP (United States Pharmacopaeia) standards of purity. There is nothing

new about the application of clay to treat diarrhea and dysentery -- the

British used this clay as a standard issue, going back to World War I, to

provide

soldiers in the field with relief from pathogenic bacteria, parasites, and

protozoa that would infect their troops in foreign areas of military engagement.

 

Red Cedar -- For external use: this montmorillonite clay is good for use on

the skin, over the site of sore muscles, sprains, and aches. Even among Alpha

Omega's own staff, it has miraculously assisted with a variety of " deep tissue "

issues. Although its mechanisms of action are not fully understood, we have

never seen a toxicological or other adverse reaction related to its use.

Interestingly, one of Alpha Omega's herbalists first heard of this clay from a

Sioux

medicine man who obtained his clay from a particular place along the banks of

the North Platte River in Nebraska. We feel its actions deserve more thorough

investigations.

 

A more extensive treatment on the background and use of healing clays is

given in Ran Knishinsky's book, " The Clay Cure. " (Read our nine-page summary

--

(DOC format, 597k); or purchase from Amazon).

 

The Clay Cure - book overview by Ran Knishinsky

http://www.altcancer.com/e_ruins.htm

The Benefits of Clay

 

This book overview of The Clay Cure, by Ran Knishinsky was completed October

25, 2002. Copyright 2002, Alpha Omega Labs, Nassau, Bahamas.

 

geophagy (je-of a-je) A condition in which the patient eats inedible

substances such as chalk, clay, or earth. SYN: geotragia. SEE: pica. (Taber's

Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary)

 

The practice of eating clay is not new. There are places in Africa where

clay is sold for consumption, and markets in South America where you can buy

clay

in the form of bite-sized tablets. Often sold for its gastrointestinal

benefits and ability to detoxify the body, Europeans believe in its purification

properties. Many people claim that clay improves their health when suffering

from many ailments, especially having to do with the gastric system, although

not limited to it. Constipation and diarrhea, chronic infections, eczema, acne,

and psoriasis, stress, and even arthritis have all been greatly improved by

eating clay. The practice of eating clay, or geophagy, is not new, nor is it

unusual or perverted.

 

James Gilardi, research director of the Oceanic Society, says that eating

clay is not restricted to indigenous cultures. " Commonly, it [clay eating] is a

traditional cultural activity that takes place during pregnancy, religious

ceremonies, or as a remedy for disease. But while it is a cultural practice, it

also fills a physiological need for nutrients. "

 

Old fashioned home remedies have been used for centuries, even in the

not-too-distant past. How many times has your mother sworn by chicken soup for

colds

and flu symptoms? Didn't your grandmother ply you with hot toddies (tea and

honey, sometimes with a dash of alcohol) for a sore throat? Natural medicines

are pure. They contain no preservatives, no added sugar, flavoring, or

coloring. Natural medicines restore the body to a healthy balance, speeding up

the

body's natural healing process. Who wouldn't rather take a bite of clay or

crush some fresh herbs for tea than take a pill that, while supposedly fixing

the problem, creates others? Haven't you balked at the television commercials

that praise certain drugs for particular ailments, but always have a

disclaimer at the end: " May cause nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, rash,

heartburn, or

dizziness. " ? These are some side effects from a medicine that is supposed to

clear clogged sinuses!

 

Nature knows what the body needs to heal itself. Prescription and

over-the-counter drugs today had to have a start somewhere, and they can almost

all be

traced back to nature. Consider the mineral clay, kaolin. Pharmaceutical

companies used this natural clay to create Kaopectate to relieve diarrhea. And

salicin, from the white willow tree, was the natural beginning to aspirin. The

whole point of natural medicines is to help the body repair itself and

maintain overall health.

 

There are many reasons why people worldwide eat clay. Historically, clay has

been used along with tree bark, grass, and herbs during times of famine

because of its ability to make the stomach feel full and to relieve hunger

pangs.

Many cultures ate it as a cure for cholera or applied clay paste to counteract

poisons. Geophagy has been recommended for medicinal uses for thousands of

years. It was prescribed to clean out and purify the intestinal tract, to rid

the body of parasites, and as an antibiotic against infections. Many use

clay-eating as a way to remove toxins from the body. Clinical studies have been

performed which conclude that clay absorbs dietary and bacterial toxins, among

others. Toxic overload in the body results in a large variety of symptoms

including diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea.

 

Many cultures believe there is a connection between clay eating and spiritual

and physical healing. In Guatemala, holy clay tablets are produced which are

believed to cure many illnesses of the stomach, heart, eyes, and pelvis. In

Mecca, clay is sold and has the inscription " In the name of Allah! Dust of our

land with the saliva of some of us. " It is believed that anyone who eats

this clay will share his spirit with Allah. Mahatma Gandhi recommended eating

dirt to clean the body and relieve constipation.

 

Eating clay is not limited to culture or race, or civilization vs. primitive

lifestyles. It mainly has to do with the body's innate need for the benefits

clay has to offer. Clay contains many minerals, including calcium and iron,

potassium, magnesium, sulfur, manganese, zinc, and silica. These are basic

minerals that are necessary for the body to live, and, since the body cannot

manufacture its own minerals, it must get them from outside sources. Clay is

excellent for putting back those minerals the body has lost.

 

In short, earth eating fulfills a global human desire for famine food,

medicine, nutrition, poison buffer, or spiritual reminder.

 

There are seven groups of clay, all of which are capable of absorbing toxins

in the body. You must be careful when selecting the right clay, as some are

more powerful and will absorb necessary nutrients in the body as well as the

toxins.

 

Clay contains oxygen, silicon, potassium and other elements arranged in a

3-dimensional pattern. The arrangement of the elements determines what type of

clay mineral it is.

 

The seven groups of clay are:

Kaolin group

Illite group

Smectite group

Chlorite group

Vermiculite group

Mixed-layer group

Lath-form group

 

Out of all the groups of clay, the smectite group is the only one that

absorbs and adsorbs. Adsorption, the binding of molecules or particles to a

surface, must be distinguished from absorption, the filling of pores in a solid.