Eytons' Earth: Natural & Alternative Medicine

[Galina St George]

Hi Jason,

I have just noticed this forum, and a quastion has come to my mind - what are the differences between these clays? I have read somewhere that calcium montmorillonite does not expand when hydrated, as opposed to the montmorillonite where sodium is prevalent, which is mainly used for industrial purposes according to the same source. What is the difference between them? And what is special about bentonite and Pascalite clays? I am interested in both internal and external applications of these clays and their effects.

Many thanks.

Galina St George

[eytonsearth]

Hi Galina:

A true and pure calcium montmorillonite/bentonite does not swell.

Terramin is a true and pure calcium bentonite.

Pascalite evidently has quite a bit of sodium in it as well as calcium as it IS a swelling clay, and responds in the body and on the body like a high quality sodium bentonite.

When examining different clays, the only real way to gauge the therapuetic differences ( besides things like different mineral content, PH level, direct antimicrobial effect, ect. ) is extensive field testing.

To complicate the matter, some people respond differently to the same clays.

However, it should be made clear that all quality smectites share the same general properties, and to a greater or lesser extent, they all share the same effects.

Pascalite, "TLC", and the pure bentonites sold in the health industry in the U.S. are quite different from your Cambrian clays, though. I recommend that you get yourself a 5 lb sample of all of the popular clays so you can experience the differences.

Best Regards,

[turquoisegrece]

I just found a supplier here in NZ and the sodium bentonite one is a calcium one to which they add more or less sodium carbonate.... Would that be OK? I presume it would not be.
The calcium one is dried in a LPG air dryer. Is this OK? How do companies dry their clay ( I know argiletz dries it in the sun, what about other companies?
Is there such thing as sodium bentonite, calcium bentonite and pure bentonite?
When you talk of swelling, does it mean you have to put more or less water for it to make a paste? If to my Ca bentonite I add about same amount then to green argiletz, it is not a swelling one, right?

[eytonsearth]

Hi Galina:

Right.

Air dried and air purified is ok. Any clay with any type of additives in it is not ok.

Clays classified as non-swelling require an equal amount of water to hydrate. Pure sodium bentonites require 4 to 5 times the amount of water, by volume, to hydrate the clay.

I suppose theoretically it is possible to have a bentonite with no calcium, sodium, magnesium, or pottasium... but I've never personally seen one.

Kind Regards,

Jason

[marklyan]

Clays classified as non-swelling require an equal amount of water to hydrate. Pure sodium bentonites require 4 to 5 times the amount of water, by volume, to hydrate the clay.