Bentonite Clay, the Clay of 1000 Uses!
Bentonite clay has arrived at Earthwell Refill! This fabulous healing clay comes from Fort Benton, Wyoming, or Montmorillon, a town in France where it was discovered in 1847. Bentonite clay is weathered volcanic ash that attracts metals and other impurities in the body. Bentonite can be found in our Uncle Harry’s Toothpaste or in our DIY section to make a detox for your armpits, face masks or hair mask, or a healing salve for acne, psoriasis, eczema, or insect bites.
This ancient healing clay is great for our teeth because when added to water it becomes supercharged and adheres to toxins and bacteria in our mouth that weaken our teeth and give us bad breath. In addition, it adds replenishing minerals like calcium, silica, and magnesium back to your gums and teeth.
Transitioning to natural deodorant is easier when using Bentonite clay because it removes the aluminum and bacteria build-up from your armpits which may interfere with the efficacy of the natural deodorant. Test the clay on less sensitive areas of your body before using. Here’s a simple recipe (the best kind) from Wellness Mama for an armpit detox:
Ingredients
1 tablespoon bentonite clay
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
1-2 teaspoons of water (to get right consistency)
Instructions
Mix all of the ingredients in a glass bowl (do not use metal!) with a wooden or non-metal spoon until about the consistency of sour cream.
Spread in an even layer over the armpits and allow to sit for 5-20 minutes. Start of with 5 minutes for the first time and incrementally increase your time with each application until you see how your body adjust. If it hurts at all, remove immediately. This may cause some redness as it will increase blood-flow to the area, but it will go away quickly.
Wash off in the shower or with a warm, wet washcloth.
Repeat daily or as needed until underarm odor goes away and natural deodorant is non-irritating.
We encounter so many toxins daily through the water we use or the food we eat. Using Bentonite clay as a face mask will shrink your pores and give you a vibrant and youthful look. It is especially good for people with oily skin. Here’s a soothing facial mask recipe from Live Simply.com and a hair mask recipe from Naturally Curly:
Soothing Facial Mask
Ingredients
1 tablespoon of Yogurt
1 tablespoon of Bentonite Clay
Instructions
Combine the bentonite clay and yogurt. Please do not use a metal utensil or bowl when working with bentonite clay. Apply to the face for 10-15 minutes; avoid letting the mask dry on your face, remove earlier if necessary. To remove the mask, wash your face with warm water and a washcloth.
Bentonite Hair Mask
a plastic or glass bowl
a plastic, wooden, or rubber stirring utensil
1/2 cup (or 4 oz) of bentonite clay
1 tablespoon of coconut oil
1 tablespoon of castor oil
1 tablespoon of grapeseed oil
6 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar (unfiltered, with mother)
3 tablespoons of water
Directions
Add the clay first, then the oils, then stir. Next, add apple cider vinegar. Allow it to aerate and foam for 10-15 seconds before adding in the water. After the mixture has foamed for a few seconds, add water.
Stir everything together vigorously, until you have a smooth, minimally lumpy mixture that is roughly the consistency of Greek yogurt.
Apply the mask to clean, damp or wet hair from root to end. To ensure even coverage, work in small sections. If your hair begins to dry while applying the mask, keep a spray bottle nearby to spritz and keep the hair damp, but not dripping wet. After you've completely coated your hair with the mask, cover it with a plastic cap, saran wrap, or plastic bag for 20-30 minutes. You can use a hooded dryer or steamer for extra penetration, or just let the heat from your head do all the work. Rinse hair out in shower.
I’ve only listed a couple of ways to detox your body with this healing clay. There are a multitude of recipes online for other ways to use bentonite clay. I hope I’ve piqued your interest about this very useful clay and helped you on your journey to healthy living!
