Bentonite clay has long been a staple in my house, along with essential oils, specific supplements, slippery elm, charcoal capsules and coconut oil.
Why?
Because it’s such a handy thing to have around!
I’ll be honest. I sometimes go for months sometimes without using it, but that’s all good because it doesn’t go off – it’s dirt! No expiry date to be seen…
But then, I find myself bringing it down from the top shelf in the pantry where it lives, and using it again, often on a daily basis for a while, AND I know it’s always there if I need it.
So right now, at the time of writing this post, I’m back into the bentonite clay on a daily basis. I’m doing a bit of a detox, so I thought I’d write a small post and share 10 ways that you can use bentonite clay so that you’ll know how handy this stuff is to have around.
1. You Can Drink Bentonite Clay
Drinking bentonite clay is really beneficial for health. Bentonite clay (in particular sodium bentonite clay) is great for detoxing and removing things like pesticide residues, parasites and even radiation from your body. But before you head off to buy some clay, make sure the clay you’re buying is EDIBLE!
There are clays out there that should not be ingested – ever! So make sure your clay has been tested and approved for human consumption. Read my article on calcium vs sodium bentonite clay for more info on the types of clay, quality etc.
How to take Bentonite Clay
Mix about a teaspoon of bentonite clay powder into a large glass of water. Ideally leave it to really soak for a while (makes it more effective if the clay is more ‘wet’). I often mix it at night before bed and then drink it first thing in the morning. Don’t use metal (soft metals like aluminium and copper in particular) with bentonite clay. Stick to glass, plastic and ceramic.
How often can I drink Bentonite Clay?
Drinking bentonite clay once or twice a day is okay, either first thing in the morning, or last thing at night before bed.
How long after drinking Bentonite Clay can I eat?
Try to leave at least an hour between drinking bentonite clay and eating or taking medication or supplements. This is because the clay may bind nutritional components or medicines and make them unavailable to the body.
2. Soak Bath
You can add bentonite clay to your bath water for a long, detoxing soak. The clay will help to detox your body via the skin. This can be really beneficial for removing heavy metals from the body.
Use between one and several cups of clay in warm to hot bath water.
3. Clay Mask
Bentonite clay makes a great mask for skin, removing impurities and leaving the skin feeling smooth, and super cleansed. It does cause redness after use as mentioned on its packaging.
The absolute ‘bare bones’ basic way of using it for this purpose it simply to mix it with water until it becomes a thin paste, and then apply to the face and neck, leaving it until it dries before washing it off.
However there are other ways to make your bentonite clay mask even more beneficial and healing for your skin such as using apple cider vinegar instead of, or combined with, water and adding dried herbs or even better, essential oils. Use beautiful skin calming and rejuvenating oils such as Frankincense, Lavender and Tea Tree.
4. Bentonite Clay Poultice
Bentonite clay has to be one of the absolute BEST products for drawing things out of your body. No matter whether it’s a splinter, pimples, boil or cactus prickle, bentonite clay will pull it out.
As with the face mask information, simply mix your powdered bentonite clay with water, but into a thick paste this time, and apply it thickly over the problem. However, you’ll want to cover the clay this time to keep the moisture in, rather than letting it dry. I find plastic food wrap works really well for this. Leave it on overnight or longer if necessary, and reapply if needed.
Again, using apple cider vinegar with or without essential oils can also be really beneficial here, and provide a better, faster result.
I generally keep a small jar or container of clay on hand, mixed up into a thick paste in the bathroom cabinet. It’s really handy to be able to apply it with a sticking plaster or band-aid to splinters, and even bites and stings (instant relief!) and of course clay that has been wet for a period of time works best.
5. Toothpaste
Make your own bentonite clay toothpaste or tooth powder because it is cost effective and it works really, really well.
6. Hair Mask
So, you’ll be starting to pick up on a theme here…. You can make your own bentonite clay hair mask also. Simply use the same type of ingredients – clay, water, ACV and essential oils – as you did for the face mask and poultice, but make the mixture wetter and runnier so you can apply it to your hair.
Apply it to wet hair and then leave it for about 30 minutes, OR use plastic food wrap around your hair to keep the clay wet for longer.
Use essential oils that are beneficial for hair. For example rosemary, lavender, roman chamomile or cedarwood. Essential oils can promote hair growth, sooth irritated scalps and help make hair thicker and healthier.
The clay hair mask will help to remove impurities, chemical buildup and toxins from the hair, leaving it shiny and manageable.
7. Treat Eczema, Psoriasis or Dermatitis
Again, using a bentonite clay paste, either on it’s own, or with essential oils can help to sooth these skin conditions.
I’ve even used it successfully to rid myself of plantar warts! Simply keep applying it, covered with a bandage or plastic film to keep it wet, until they’re gone. It can take some persistence, but it works.
8. Alkalise Your Body
Drinking bentonite clay will help to alkalise your body. Bathing in it probably helps too!
9. Treat Digestive Issues and IBS
Drinking bentonite clay can really help with digestive upsets and IBS. Studies have shown bentonite clay to be effective in bowel and digestive issues, and clay has been used for these, and other health issues throughout history.
10. Soothes Bites and Stings
As mentioned up the page, a paste made from bentonite clay and water works really, really well for bites and stings.
I have witnessed the almost instant effects of such a paste on a bee sting on my nieces neck.
After I applied my ready made paste to the site of the sting, she went from crying and upset, to not crying and calm within a minute or so, and the redness around the sting shrank and disappeared before our eyes. Later that day there was no sign of the sting ever having been there. As you can see, bentonite clay has many uses. It’s really useful to have on hand all the time and because it doesn’t go off, you can buy a large container and just keep it for when you need it.
