Re: bentonite clay (was Aflatoxin)

[Guest guest]

>

> So what else is bentonite clay good for besides minerals. I assume

it's fit for human consumption?

It's often used as part of so-called cleansing protocols

to absorb toxins in the gut. Pretty sure it also grabs

everything else in its path too, so it's not a long-term

addition to the diet.

> I have Morning Star minerals here that are supposed to be earth

derived minerals. So much to explore and learn. Very interesting

about the elephants and the clay.

I agree. If you want to read more about the topic of how

animals practice self-medication in the wild, I found the

book Wild Health:

http://www.zenpawn.com/amazon/?item=0618340688 & s

to be very enlightening.

-

http://www.vegandonelight.com

[Guest guest]

This hasn't been studied much in humans, but for animals,

clay does not " grab everything in it's path " . Actually clay

is a normal part of most animal diets in the wild (it's

everywhere) and they specifically eat more of it at

certain times. But when it is added to animal feed, the

animals grow faster, which would indicate they are absorbing

more good stuff, not less.

It DOES interfere with digestion in large amounts, and

certain types are bad to take ( " swelling " bentonite

causes gut blockage if taken in large amounts). And

it does interfere with some medications.

On 10/24/07, <truepatriot@...> wrote:

>

> >

> > So what else is bentonite clay good for besides minerals. I assume

> it's fit for human consumption?

>

> It's often used as part of so-called cleansing protocols

> to absorb toxins in the gut. Pretty sure it also grabs

> everything else in its path too, so it's not a long-term

> addition to the diet.

>

> > I have Morning Star minerals here that are supposed to be earth

> derived minerals. So much to explore and learn. Very interesting

> about the elephants and the clay.

>

> I agree. If you want to read more about the topic of how

> animals practice self-medication in the wild, I found the

> book Wild Health:

>

> http://www.zenpawn.com/amazon/?item=0618340688 & s

>

> to be very enlightening.

>

>

> -

[Guest guest]

The book I recommended below, if memory serves,

posited those " certain times " had to do with

greater levels of parasites, etc. based on seasonal

variations in quantity/aggressiveness. It also

discussed the use of clays in ameliorating stomach

upset during illnesses. So, maybe " normal, " yes,

but not regular (which you didn't claim; I'm just

clarifying). When I have some time, I'll try to

remember to poke around the scientific literature

to see if we can determine what is scoured and

what is left or added by the use of bentonite.

Interesting topic,

-

http://www.zenpawn.com/vegblog

http://www.vegandonelight.com

--- In nutrition , "

[Guest guest]

Bentonite clay contains more than 70 trace minerals, but its unique healing

ability comes from the clay's negative charge. The negative charge of

Bentonite is responsible for its amazing detoxifying properties: as a magnet

for the toxic elements in our body - heavy metals, pesticides, and free

radicals - which are positively charged efficiently absorbent and drawn into

the porous surface of the clay. So Bentonite is used both internally and

externally, as an internal cleanse, as a facemask, full body wrap, a mud

bath, and as a beer, wine and kombucha tea fining agent.

Peace

Ed Kasper LAc. & family

www.HappyHerbalist.com

.............................................

Re: bentonite clay (was Aflatoxin)

Posted by: "

[Guest guest]

Is it just that only bad things have a positive charge and therefore

only bad things are taken out by the clay? Or do some good things have a

positive charge too -- and therefore they are taken out by the clay as well?

How does the clay know which are good for us and which bad? Or is it

just a co-incidence that the very things the clay takes are the toxins,

pesticides and free radicals -- and not the vitamins and minerals and

good bacteria which are all down there as well?

Sally

Happy Herbalist wrote:

> Bentonite clay contains more than 70 trace minerals, but its unique healing

> ability comes from the clay's negative charge. The negative charge of

> Bentonite is responsible for its amazing detoxifying properties: as a magnet

> for the toxic elements in our body - heavy metals, pesticides, and free

> radicals - which are positively charged efficiently absorbent and drawn into

> the porous surface of the clay. So Bentonite is used both internally and

> externally, as an internal cleanse, as a facemask, full body wrap, a mud

> bath, and as a beer, wine and kombucha tea fining agent.

>

> Peace

>

> Ed Kasper LAc. & family

> www.HappyHerbalist.com

> ............................................

> Re: bentonite clay (was Aflatoxin)

> Posted by: "

[Guest guest]

It's a heckuva lot more complicated than that, if you want to

get into the chemistry of it. If you read the studies, your eyes

will glaze over, unless you really are into chemistry.

But at the gross level, consider what happens with acid.

Acid is a positive charge (H+) by definition. Now, it just

so happens, that bacteria that are OK with H+, don't

hurt your upper intestine. Why? Well, it's not because

the acid " knows " anything about bacteria. It's because

your upper intestine " knows " that only H+ resistant bacteria

will sneak through the VERY ACID environment of the

stomach, and it's expecting them. Likes

them, in fact, almost always (the " bad " e-coli being

a big exception).

Ditto for sodium, Na+. Add salt to a ferment, and you will

mainly get sodium-resistant bacteria. Your body expects

them too. I don't know why: probably they are the

same kind that resist H+.

Clay has a charge too: but I think the reaction it has

is more complex than just a charge issue. The issue

is the same though. The environment *expects* some

clay, and if it isn't there, it throws off the bacterial

mix. Adding clay to a pond changes the bacterial

mix, ditto for your gut. The charge is a big part of

it, but it also has to do with the shape of the clay

molecule and the type of clay. Clay affects bacterial

mixes even when it is *baked* and so can't dissolve

into the water.

This is kind of significant because the first fermentation

containers (and some more recent ones, like Harsch

weights) were/are baked clay, plus stones (clay is

finely ground rock) were used as weights.

I don't understand the science of this, but it's being

researched ... it turns out that the shape of the molecule

in, say, your shirt, can determine whether or not your

sweat stinks, and they are planning on creating clothing

based on that fact.

Anyway, it so happens that bentonite clay is a molecule

that encourages likable bacteria. It also happens to trap

some of the more egregious toxins. But my theory would

be more that your body expects the clay to be there,

so hasn't developed defenses for what the clay doesn't

" catch " .

Again: if you were a peasant in the 1400's, or any time previous,

your food would by default contain at least 1/4 tsp of clay a day.

Probably more: many people's teeth were worn down by " grit "

in their food, which means it wasn't washed much, if at all.

Your body expects it to be there: if it isn't, it has to adapt to

that lack.

--

On 10/27/07, Eva family <bobsallyeva@...> wrote:

> Is it just that only bad things have a positive charge and therefore

> only bad things are taken out by the clay? Or do some good things have a

> positive charge too -- and therefore they are taken out by the clay as well?

>

> How does the clay know which are good for us and which bad? Or is it

> just a co-incidence that the very things the clay takes are the toxins,

> pesticides and free radicals -- and not the vitamins and minerals and

> good bacteria which are all down there as well?

> Sally

>

> Happy Herbalist wrote:

> > Bentonite clay contains more than 70 trace minerals, but its unique healing

> > ability comes from the clay's negative charge. The negative charge of

> > Bentonite is responsible for its amazing detoxifying properties: as a magnet

> > for the toxic elements in our body - heavy metals, pesticides, and free

> > radicals - which are positively charged efficiently absorbent and drawn into

> > the porous surface of the clay. So Bentonite is used both internally and

> > externally, as an internal cleanse, as a facemask, full body wrap, a mud

> > bath, and as a beer, wine and kombucha tea fining agent.

> >

> > Peace

> >

> > Ed Kasper LAc. & family

> > www.HappyHerbalist.com

> > ............................................

> > Re: bentonite clay (was Aflatoxin)

> > Posted by: "

[Guest guest]

There's some stuff called bacteria subtilis which is mainly found in

earth. Before handwashing we would have eaten lots of it. My daughter is

autistic and she pretty undoubtedly has eaten lots of it. In Italy it is

highly thought of as a treatment for various stomach disorders and it is

added to stuff called Biokult, made in the UK, which is a probiotic

devised by a doctor and sold privately. On the other hand, hospital

doctors with whom I have discussed bacteria subtilis see it as very

dangerous stuff. Probably it becomes dangerous for seriously ill patients.

I understand what you mean about the clay and our insides. We provide

our own environment for digestion. So although the clay doesn't adapt to

us, we can adapt to it and use its properties. If clay ingestion

happened naturally and inevitably, this adaption would be likely to

happen. It's not so much that clay is good for us and takes out toxins

(which tends to attribute personality and hopes etc to the clay) as we

can make good use of it. I will go and add some to my daughter's

porridge now

Sally

[Guest guest]

Yeah, I think you " get it " ! The phrase:

" (which tends to attribute personality and hopes etc to the clay) "

is what I guess I feel about a lot of the " clay " websites. The

" earth " we interact with IS mostly clay (or rock): we've insulated

ourselves from it, but it isn't a new/different thing, it's what

earth *is*, and it's the usual stuff. You don't need to attribute

abilities to the clay itself.

This didn't sink in to me until I raised several generations

of animals in " the country " . The song about " Red dirt " brought

it home to me, and pictures from the last century. Folks were

covered in clay. Always. Living in a clean apartment is the

new and different thing. I admit I LIKE " clean " on many levels:

but kids raised " clean " get more asthma. Clearly something

is missing. Likely the bacteria and the clay, in dirt.

--

On 10/29/07, Eva family <bobsallyeva@...> wrote:

> There's some stuff called bacteria subtilis which is mainly found in

> earth. Before handwashing we would have eaten lots of it. My daughter is

> autistic and she pretty undoubtedly has eaten lots of it. In Italy it is

> highly thought of as a treatment for various stomach disorders and it is

> added to stuff called Biokult, made in the UK, which is a probiotic

> devised by a doctor and sold privately. On the other hand, hospital

> doctors with whom I have discussed bacteria subtilis see it as very

> dangerous stuff. Probably it becomes dangerous for seriously ill patients.

>

> I understand what you mean about the clay and our insides. We provide

> our own environment for digestion. So although the clay doesn't adapt to

> us, we can adapt to it and use its properties. If clay ingestion

> happened naturally and inevitably, this adaption would be likely to

> happen. It's not so much that clay is good for us and takes out toxins

> (which tends to attribute personality and hopes etc to the clay) as we

> can make good use of it. I will go and add some to my daughter's

> porridge now

> Sally

>