Kinds of Clay

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Kinds of Clay

http://www.aboutclay.com/kinds_of_clay.htm

 

The following is an excerpt from the book Living Clay: All clay is volcanic

ash. As the lava flows down the side of the volcanic cone, the ash is blown

high, oftentimes miles, into the sky. Slowly it settles to the ground,

sometimes nearby, sometimes hundreds of miles away, and in extreme cases it can

circumvent the globe.

 

Volcanic ash, clay, falls into seven separate and distinct family groups.

Within these seven families there are thousands of different types of mineral

compositions, each unique and serving vastly different purposes in our world.

 

KAOLIN CLAY

Kaolin clays are best known for their uses in anti-diarrheal products such as

Kaopectate. While it absorbs toxins and bacteria to a limited extent, as do

most clays, Kaolin clay acts primarily as a bulking agent. Some health food

companies of late have begun selling Kaolin as a mineral supplement. I do not

recommend natural Kaolin for any purpose other than severe diarrhea.

 

ILLITE CLAY

Illite clays are known for their commercial applications. It is a green

mineral clay found in marine settings. Some cosmeceutical companies use this

industrial clay in their “mud†formulations due to it’s high content of

long

dormant microbials and other sea life residue. They are generally a

non-swelling

clay and aside from commercial uses, are known for topical use. I would not

recommend taking Illites internally. Taking Illite internally appears to have a

pronounced effect on the LUNGS within 12 hours of ingestion.

 

CHLORITE CLAY

Chlorite clays are know for their abrasive and cleansing properties. Clorox

cleansing, scrubbing powder is a typical product made from this clay. Never

use this caustic, abrasive clay on your body.

 

VERMICULITE CLAY

Vermiculite clays are used for making china, pottery and other like

applications such as porcelain finishes on metals. While Vermiculite is not

recommended for use on the body, there is one company selling a USP grade

Vermiculite

for internal use. This is not an adsorbent, swelling clay, and has both a

positive and negative charge. Therefore I do not recommend it as the best

internal

clay.

 

MIXED GROUP CLAY

Mixed group clays occur when a volcano spews ash from several different

internal plate formations. It is not uncommon to find mixed group clay

formation

at many mines or quarries.

 

LATE-FORMED CLAY

Lath-formed clays are yet another mixed form and a typical use is fired

bricks for construction. It is not suitable for use on the body.

 

SMECTITE CLAYS

Smectite clays compromise 99% of all clays used for health purposes today.

Smectites are unique in that they swell while absorbing and adsorbing positive

charged ions. It is the favored clay for health and dietary use as well as

for many industrial applications.

 

Smectites are more complicated clays and have a higher exchange capacity than

the other six family groups of clay. It has the unique ability to adsorb and

absorb toxins at a greater rate than any other group.

 

Within the Smectite family there are hundreds of different types of clays,

each consisting of between 8 and 145 minerals. The most common sub family is

Montmorillonite. Further along the Montmorillonite family tree are the various

Bentonites. It’s from the Smectite family tree that we find the broadest

spectrum healing modality on our planet – Calcium Bentonite Clay.

 

Montmorillonite Clay was named after the town of Montmorillon in France where

it was first identified. Its common name today is French Green and you will

see it packaged under several different brands today and available in many

health food stores. Your green swelling clays are known for their remarkable

healing properties. Not to say that non-swelling clays are not good also but

due

to the molecular makeup the swelling clays have a greater drawing or detoxing

potential.

 

Bentonite Clay was named after the town of Ft. Benton, Wyoming where it was

first identified by a miner named John Pascal. His product was branded as

Pascalite, which is a form of non-swelling calcium based Bentonite Clay.

 

Calcium Bentonite Clay is the rarest form of clay in the Smectite family.

There have been only a few finds throughout history of mines, which contained a

pure vein, natural, Calcium Bentonite Clay. Even though Sodium Bentonite, and

Calcium Bentonite Clay are cousins from the same family genesis, they are as

different as night and day in efficacy and intended uses.

 

So, if you're looking for the best clay for detoxing, internal cleansing, or

any sort of healing use, Calcium Bentonite Clay is the #1 clay of choice.