Bentonite clay has many benefits and uses, including its powerful ability for removing toxins, heavy metals, chemicals, and other impurities from the body. Cultures have been using this clay for thousands of years to help rid the body of toxins. Find out how you can reap its benefits by incorporating it into your daily life.

Bentonite clay is formed from volcanic ash, and has been used by many cultures for thousands of years for its nutrients and to help rid the body of toxins.

Looking at nature, many animals will instinctively eat dirt and clay during times of illness or distress to help remove toxins and poisons from their bodies.

While eating clay may sound strange, bentonite clay, specifically, can help to boost digestion and cleanse the body.

What is Bentonite Clay?

Bentonite clay is formed from aged volcanic ash, known as “Montmorillonite.” This greyish cream-coloured clay is odourless, won’t stain clothes or surfaces, and is rich in minerals like calcium, magnesium, silica, sodium, copper, iron and potassium.

As with activated charcoal, this clay, too, can absorb and remove toxins, impurities, heavy metals, and chemicals from the body.

How it works is bentonite clay produces an “electrical charge” when combined with water. From there, it produces a negative electrical charge which helps to draw out toxins from the body. Since many toxins have a positive charge, the clay binds to and draws out these impurities.

When it comes across a heavy metal, toxin, chemical, or other impurity, it will absorb it and release its minerals for the body to use! What’s more, bentonite clay pulls out excess hydrogen from cells, allowing the cells to replace it with oxygen. This can improve circulation and overall skin tone and health.

When ingested, it can help cleanse the gut, relieve symptoms of indigestion, has an alkalising effect on the body, and may even help balance gut bacteria.

Please keep in mind when handling bentonite clay, it is recommended to use wooden utensils, nothing metal, as the clay can potentially absorb the properties of the metal.

Benefits of Bentonite Clay

Some of the benefits of taking bentonite clay include:

• Providing minerals for the body
• Protecting against bacterial infections
• Removing toxins from the body (detoxification)
• Relieving digestive discomforts like constipation, gas, acid reflux, bloating, etc.
• Healing skin conditions
• Improving oral health

And more.

Before we get started in learning about the many different benefits and uses for bentonite clay, if you like what you’re seeing, subscribe to my email newsletter at the bottom of the page to keep up to date on the latest recipes, DIYs, gardening and health tips I share!

How to Use Bentonite Clay at Home

The most common way I use bentonite clay is in face masks for my skin, but there are so many different uses, some of which include the following.

As a Face Mask

For healthy, smooth skin, mix two tablespoons of bentonite clay, one teaspoon of activated charcoal, and 1 to 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar to form a paste. Apply the mask all over the face (careful not to come into contact with eyes, it will cause irritation), and leave it on for 20 minutes. Rinse off the mask with lukewarm water (be careful not to get it everywhere, as activated charcoal is quite messy). Please note, combining bentonite clay and activated charcoal together can be quite abrasive for the skin, so an alternative is to combine one tablespoon of bentonite clay and one teaspoon of water (or apple cider vinegar) together to form a paste. Apply this paste to the face (be careful of the eyes), and wash it off with warm water after 20 minutes. Do this mask once or twice a week.

For the Skin

Skin irritations like cuts, blemishes, bug bites, itchy skin (in particular eczema, chickenpox, psoriasis, etc.), or burns can be soothed by applying a paste of bentonite clay and water to the affected area(s). Leave the paste on until it dries, and then rinse it away.

Poultice for Cuts, Insect Bites, Burns, or Stings

If the skin problems are more severe, create a poultice by applying a thick layer of clay to the affected area(s) on the skin and place a wet cloth or gauze over the top. Wrap the area and leave the poultice on, changing it approximately every two hours. This treatment can be used to relive poison ivy, too.

Detox Bath

In a bath, add about 1/4 of a cup of bentonite clay to the bath water for a relaxing detox bath.

Internal Cleansing

Pour 1/2 to one teaspoon of bentonite clay into a jar, add one cup of water, then screw the lid on tightly and shake well to combine. Drink most days. Make sure that any clay taken internally is labelled ‘safe for internal use.’ This one is safe to consume.

As an Armpit Detox

Mix together one tablespoon of bentonite clay and one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar (add 1 to 2 teaspoons of water if need be to get the consistency right) and apply this paste to the armpits to help with detoxification.

As an Oral Rinse

Bentonite clay can be used to help whiten and remineralise teeth! Place 1/2 teaspoon of bentonite clay and 1/4 cup of water into a small jar with a plastic lid (non-metal) and shake well to combine. Then, swirl the clay water around your mouth for 1 to 2 minutes, and repeat until you have used up all of the water.

Oral Health

Bentonite clay is fantastic at binding to heavy metals and toxins, and provides the body with a wide variety of minerals, making it a great addition to brushing teeth. Dip the bristles of your toothbrush into the powder and scrub the teeth with it. Swish the bentonite clay around the mouth, pushing it through all the gaps in between the teeth to ensure every nook and cranny gets covered by the powder before spitting it out into the sink and rinsing.

For Pets

If your pet is throwing up, or showing signs of illness, you can add bentonite clay to their water or mix it with water and give it to them orally with a dropper or syringe without the needle.

To Relieve Mastitis

Make a poultice of bentonite clay and water and apply to the affected area. Repeat each hour until the infection goes. Wellness Mama also took bentonite clay internally along with supplementing vitamin C and fish oil.

Baby Powder

Using bentonite clay by itself can be a very effective baby powder and can help to relieve infection or redness on babies bottoms. Make this clay into a paste, and apply it to the area.

I source my bentonite clay from my local health food store or online.

Precautions

• Do not allow the bentonite clay to come into contact with anything metal. It can absorb the properties within the metal and reduce the clay’s effectiveness. Use a plastic or wooden spoon, or pour the clay mix into a glass jar with a plastic lid and shake well to mix.
• When taking bentonite clay internally, for the best results do not take it within an hour of food, or within two hours of taking medications or supplements, as this may reduce its effectiveness also. Check with your doctor or medical professional before using bentonite clay if you have any medical/health conditions.
• As bentonite clay may contain lead, it is important you source it from a reliable source.

This blog is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice. The use of information on this blog or materials linked from this blog is at the user’s own risk. The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard, or delay in obtaining, medical advice for any medical condition they may have, and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions.

Have you used bentonite clay before? What did you use it for? Share in the comments below.

Lots of love,

Vanessa