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.

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.