Green Clay Treatment
For centuries, people around the world have used natural clays for the treatment of a variety of skin and health problems. As a skin treatment, clays absorb excess oil, dirt and toxins from the skin while promoting increased circulation and exfoliation. For medicinal purposes, some green clays such as bentonite clay are ingested for mineral deficiencies or detoxification. Green clay treatment has been used in pelotherapy (mud treatment), hydrotherapy (water therapy), healing applications and natural medicine.
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Types
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Clays occur in a variety of colors: gray, white, green and red. Textures of clay vary from heavy and coarse to light and fine. The different colors of clay arise from the natural mineral content in each type of clay. Green clay is categorized as healing clay and can be found mainly in two different forms: bentonite and illite. Green clay treatments have been used for tens of thousands of years in natural medicine.
Bentonite
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The green clay known as bentonite is an edible clay composed of natural volcanic ash sediment and over 70 trace minerals. Bentonite is best known for its use in the treatment of mineral deficiencies and its ability to absorb impurities, toxins, heavy metals and other contaminants from the body. It has been used to treat stomach ulcers, diarrhea, anemia, hemorrhoids and intestinal ailments. Externally, bentonite can be used in mud packs, bathing and skin care recipes and as a poultice.
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Illite
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French green clay, also known as illite or sea clay, is powerfully absorbent clay that draws oils, impurities and toxic substances from the skin. It accelerates circulation, carrying blood to damaged skin cells, tightening pores and rejuvenating the complexion. Illite has anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties which make it useful as a green clay treatment for arthritis, rheumatism and muscle pain or swelling. Some of the minerals found in green clay include: calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium, sodium, feldspar, silica and aluminum.
Effects
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Clay has bactericide effects and may be useful in cleaning up polluted waters. The Army has even used the amazing absorption powers of clay to detoxify stagnant waters into drinkable water. The minerals found in clay carry a negative electrical charge while toxins carry a positive electrical charge; thus the magnet-like attraction of the clay to heavy metals, free radicals and other contaminants in the body.
Treatment
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When bathing, 2 to 3 oz. of green clay can be added to the bath water, or as a body pack one part clay can be added to three parts water or until a spreadable paste is formed. A small amount of water can be mixed with green clay to be used as a face mask; apply a thin layer of the clay paste and wait 10 to 15 minutes or until the clay is completely dried and then rinse. When used to cleanse and detoxify the body internally, green clay in the form of bentonite can be mixed with juice or water and ingested daily. It is advisable to consult with a doctor of natural medicine who is familiar with green clay treatment as to the proper daily dosage of liquid clay to ingest.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Hands on my green head. image by Frenk_Danielle Kaufmann from Fotolia.com
