Clay is usually associated with making china, bricks or modeling, but it has some surprisingly beneficial therapeutic uses. A product of erosion, clay is often found in remains of large lakes and marine deposits, the fine particles having been washed there by rain and settled into the thick beds of clay that are now extracted for various reasons.
One of these reasons is for edible clay, traditional in some societies and underrated in many others. In Ghana, soil is sold in the market and pregnant women buy it as an iron and copper supplement. People traveling to regions with inadequate sanitation and dubious water quality carry kaopectate tablets, formerly a combination of the clay kaolinite, and pectin, but now a product containing bismuth subsalicylate.
In Peru, people gather to watch thousands of macaws feed on a cliff above a river. The birds are eating a particular kind of soil high in clay particles because it helps to remove the toxic alkeloids that are part of the seeds in their diet. Eating the soil reduces the toxic load in the parrot’s blood by 60%.
Not all clays are the same, however, and not all are healthy. A study carried out on baked clay tablets from Bangladesh that are sold in England to pregnant Bangladeshi women found disturbing levels of arsenic, lead and cadmium. Concentrating more on the healing properties of French Green clay, researchers found that while three types of this clay had the ability to cure Buruli ulcers, the antibacterial mechanism was hard to pinpoint, but may involve a reaction with the bacterial cell wall and two types of mineral. The minerals within the clay were found to have a significant effect on resistant pathogens.
History of clay use
Clay has been eaten by ancient Egyptians, Incas and Aztecs and is used in many regions as a dietary supplement for its adsorbent and absorbent properties. Having a negative charge means the clay particle attract toxins which have a positive charge and allow them to be eliminated. Clay is rich in minerals and has antibacterial properties. Clay absorbs radiation and has been used to protect workers in nuclear power stations
Because the particles are so fine it can be mixed into a glass of water and for many people this is the preferred method of ingestion. People with food allergies have found eating clay regularly allows them to enjoy a more normal range of foodstuffs, possibly in the same way it helps the parrots of Peru.
Types of clay
Bentonite clay is found in deposits of ancient volcanic ash and has many therapeutic uses. It can adsorb heavy metals, help to eliminate parasites and detoxify the digestive system.
Illite clay, or French Green clay is high in trace elements and has been used for centuries in France, both internally and externally.
Red Desert clay is a very fine and pure form containing about 67 minerals, making it a useful supplement. Red Desert Clay is used to treat stomach ulcers and anemia.
Pascalite clay is a calcium bentonite that is high in mineral content and has been shown to help osteoporosis sufferers, and has some anesthetic properties when used externally
Fuller’s Earth is a widely used clay mixture which is good for removing grease. It was commonly used for cleaning raw wool but also has cosmetic applications and is used as a face mask.
Clay for internal use should be mixed with water in a glass container and not allowed contact with metal. It shouldn’t be taken by people with high blood pressure. Clay has been used successfully as an external application to reduce swelling and treat infections; however, care should be taken when purchasing clay. There have been cases of fraud, in one instance, clay said to be from the Dead Sea region was ordinary dirt mixed with cornstarch.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice.
Sally Anne Lewis - Sally has master's degrees in science and journalism, is fascinated to a degree in most things. Always something to learn.
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