Bentonite Clay: The Medicine Cabinet in a Jar
A jarful of bentonite clay may not look as pretty as those other Pinterest mason jar creations. But it packs a lot of punch for 4 cups! It’s not a catch-all product for every ailment (what is?). But it’s definitely a catch-many product!
We hosted Neil Bosshardt this week for his class “We Eat Clay (And Wear It Too)”—and what a lot we learned!
What Is Bentonite Clay?
Bentonite clay is, simply put, an earthy powder that, because of its properties, exerts a negative charge when moistened. Most free radicals (think toxins, heavy metals, etc.) exert a positive charge. Opposites attract! The clay binds to the toxins and draws them out of the body.
Bentonite clay has a high pH makeup, which promotes more alkalinity in the body. It also possesses a spectrum of beneficial minerals.
It’s a natural topical painkiller—burns, stings, bug bites, open wounds, you name it.
Because of these properties, bentonite clay has been used as a healing agent for centuries.
What Does Neal Recommend Bentonite Clay For?
There aren’t many ailments that Neal doesn’t have a success story for! Here are 3 applications he has used clay for (or seen it used for) for each age group—but of course, the treatments aren’t limited to these specific ages.
Babies/Toddlers
- Use the dry powder for diaper rash–we’ve done this for years, and we swear by it!
- Dip a damp pacifier into the dry powder to treat colic
- Put a cup of clay powder into a warm bath to help bring down fever
Kids
- Make a clay poultice by loosely wrapping some mixed clay in gauze and hold it onto an ear for earache
- Apply mixed clay to bug bites, spider bites, or bee stings to deaden pain, draw out infection, and encourage new skin to grow
- Apply mixed clay to skins, burns, and cuts to deaden pain and help heal faster
Adults
- Drink 1 tsp clay powder mixed with water to help with regulating the bowels
- Drink 1 tsp clay powder mixed with water to help boost iron levels
- Apply mixed clay to rashes or sores resulting from shingles to alleviate pain and help heal faster
- Bonus: Make a clay foot bath (instructions below) and soak feet for 30 minutes to detox the entire body!
This list is by no means comprehensive. Neal’s book “We Eat Clay (And Wear It Too!)” has many more success stories for various symptoms listed–check it out at our store!
How Does One Mix Clay for Use?
Bentonite clay doesn’t mix with water effortlessly. Neal showed us a couple tricks to make the mixing of clay into a paste or drink much easier!
For topical use: Pour 2 cups of water in a quart jar, followed by 1 cup of clay powder, then 1 more cup of water. Shake well and let sit for at least an hour to let the clay absorb the water. Then use this for any topical treatments!
For internal use: Add 1 tsp clay powder to a glass of water and let sit for at least an hour. Then drink either the water and the sediment together, or just drink the water on the top!
For foot baths or full baths: Start water pouring, and then sprinkle the clay over the water (2 Tbsps for foot bath, 1 full cup for full bath) while the water runs. Make sure the water is as warm/hot as you can stand it without burning yourself!
What Do I Do With Leftover Clay Water from Baths?
Don’t put it on your plants! Clay kills plants. Pour it over weed patches to kill them instead 😉 Or, alternatively, just pour the water and sediment down your drain. Neal has done this for decades and has reported no plumbing troubles from it.
Where Do I Find Bentonite Clay?
We carry it! Our bentonite clay, the clay Neal uses, comes from Redmond, Utah. We also sell Neal’s how-to book about using clay. If you’re not in the area, research for bentonite clay near you. Be sure you know your provider and that it produces a high-quality product.
Do you have success stories from using bentonite clay? We’d love to hear them! We’ll pass them on to Neal, and maybe he’ll use your story in his next class!
