Bentonite / Montmorillonite: The Clay Cure
Sodium & Calcium Bentonite / Montmorillonite

Clay Research Articles

 

Bentonite: Public Research Project An Educational Compilation of Commentaries and Articles: 1995 & 2011 Bentonite Search Terms Appendum for this page Bentonite is a commercial name (as is montmorillonite) for a class of clay minerals scientifically known as smectite. Clay minerals are complex microcrystals usually composed of aluminum silicate. What defines clay is the makeup of the minerals, the particle characteristics, and the minute size of the clay particles. The most predominant forms of clay minerals used in traditional and natural medicine are calcium bentonite and sodium bentonite. Through its journey through nature, clay becomes specialized due to natural weathering. Smectite clay particles are rectangular in shape, and once hydrated, gain an amazing sorption ability, which allows the clay to pull to its surface-- and hold-- positively charged ions. The flat surface of the smectite particles take on a negative surface charge, which creates this amazing ability technically knowns as an ion exchange capacity. The corners of the clay particles have a slight positive charge. Through natural weathering, clay also collects an abundance of trace minerals. Each clay deposit is unique. There are two primary types of clay deposits: Volcanic origin clays and sedimentary clays. One type is not better than the other, but they are quite distinct from each other. Prized thereapeutic grade clays have been used in farming, water treatment, animal feed, balneotherapy, skincare, and detoxification/cleansing protocols since before recording history, and on every continent in the world that human beings have called home. To learn more about clay therapy, be sure to visit our homepage: Bentonite, Montmorillonite & Illite: Healing Clays of the World. The bentonite articles referenced below were compiled over many years of research. The information was first compiled, printed and freely distributed in 1995. We'd love to add any other relevant research materials. Feel free to email us! Quick Links to the Articles in this Section || What is Bentonite? || Bentonite Clay Mineral Formation & Evolution || || Hydrated Sodium Bentonite Studies - Edible Clay || Bentonite & Food Poisoning || || Pascalite Article - White Calcium Bentonite || Clay Use by Primitives & Indigenous Cultures || || Trace Minerals and Clay || Living Clay: Bentonite || To Purchase Edible Clay Visit: Edible Clay for Supplements Public Research: Bentonite Jason R. Eaton & Tammy M. Eaton Educational Compilation 7/9/95 "Clay is the most versatile, profoundly effective, cheap, mysterious, underrated, covered-up health treatment available. "I know this because I am a natural health professional who uses clay personally and professionally for healing and health maintenance. I research and read everything I can find on the therapeutic use of clay. I have seen clay perform "miracles." I get very excited about mud. And in case you think I got my diploma out of a Cracker Jack's box, rest assured; I have a bonafide Masters Degree..." "...Bentonite attracts and neutralizes poisons in the intestinal tract. It can eliminate food allergies, food poisoning, mucus colitis, spastic colitis, viral infections, stomach flu, and parasites (parasites are unable to reproduce in the presence of clay). There is virtually no digestive disease that clay will not treat. It enriches and balances blood. It adsorbs radiation (think cell phones, microwaves, x-rays, TVs and irradiated food, for starters). It has been used for alcoholism, arthritis, cataracts, diabetic neuropathy, pain treatment, open wounds, diarrhea, hemorrhoids, stomach ulcers, animal and poisonous insect bites, acne, anemia, in fact, the list of uses is too long for this article. It was used during the Balkan war of 1910 to reduce mortality from cholera among the soldiers from sixty to three percent." - Julie Crist, M. Ac., [email protected] Julie Crist For those looking to purchase the highest quality edible clays for use in natural medicine, here is a brief recommendation list. Please see our pages on clay links for more valueable resources: Edible Clay Supplements - Bentonite & Montmorillonite - Supreme blends of edible clays USP Grade Bentonite & Red Desert Clay - Exceeding clean detox and mineral supplement blend. Micronized Zeolite - The highest quality micronized zeolite. Terramin - The renown Terramin red desert clay. Redmond Clay - Mixed layer sodium bentonite healing clay.

 

See Also:

 

General Uses of Clay Healing Clay Uses - Pelotherapy	Introduction to Healing Clay Pelotherapy and Healing Clays of the World

 

Clay Chemistry Clay Chemistry - Healing Clays: Bentonite, Illite, Montmorillonite

 

Featured: Did You Know...?

A German scientist once described the bactericidal properties of clay: "The curative properties of clay are founded in its special physical characteristics, above all in the distribution of its minute particles. Individual clay particles are smaller than many bacteria. If infected mucous membranes are more or less flooded with clay, the bacteria are completely surrounded by clay particles and are thus separated from their source of nourishment and become imbedded in the inorganic material. Growth and the survivability of the bacteria are thus halted almost instantaneously, and from this explained strikingly speedy abatement of the symptoms of infection and/or symptoms of poisoning in acute infectious diseases of the alimentary canal. -- Julius Stumpf, Bolus fur medizinische Anwenduno Darmstadt, 1916, p. 19.