Unless you’re up to date with the most recent medical and cosmetic trends, you’ve probably never heard of Bentonite Clay. Bentonite is a natural, fine, and soft clay that has many cosmetic and health benefits.
The clay is mixed with water to create a paste. There are many studies that have examined the medical benefits of Bentonite. However, they’ve only been done on animals or by using cell model testing. People have used Bentonite Clay topically to get rid of the impurities in the skin. Bentonite has also been used orally for removing toxins from the body.
There are many skin products that contain Bentonite clay and it can also be added to food and drinks.
How Does It Work?
Bentonite Clay is formed from volcanic ash. Scientists believe that when the clay goes through the digestive tract, it absorbs molecules, ions, and other unwanted toxins and takes these with it as it leaves the body.
When applied to the skin, the clay absorbs oil and bacteria off the skin. Additionally, Bentonite Clay contains iron, magnesium, and calcium, which also have their own benefits.
Here, we’ll take a look at what Bentonite Clay can do:
- Treating Acne and Oily Skin
The absorbent power of this clay can help alleviate oily skin, prevent breakouts, and remove impurities. The clay removes sebum, which is what may cause acne breakouts. Face masks that contain Bentonite are available to buy online. However, you can also make it yourselves at home. By getting Bentonite powder and mixing it with water, you create a paste that you can apply to areas of your skin that are sensitive and oily. Leave the mask for twenty minutes and then thoroughly rinse. You can use this along with other skin care products in your routine at home.
- Good for your Teeth
Bentonite also provides benefits for oral health. Available as a toothpaste or mouthwash, Bentonite removes impurities from the mouth, prevents bad breath, remineralizes enamel (the outer layer of teeth), prevents tooth decay, and polishes teeth.
Bentonite only attracts negative elements and lets positively charged particles, such as nutrients, remain in the mouth.
- Relieve Constipation and Diarrhea
Bentonite is able to attract toxins and, therefore, regulates the digestive system. It can help people with irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, and diarrhea. A virus-related digestive issue such as diarrhea can spread easily between people (rotavirus). Studies have found that absorbent clays prevent the virus from replicating. Also, the minerals in the clay absorb the rotavirus.
- Treating Poison Ivy
Many people whose skin comes in contact with poison ivy often get an allergic reaction from it. They may develop rashes, redness, severe itching, and irritation. There are various poison ivy treatments, but a study in 1995 found that Bentonite Clay helps to treat the rashes and speeds up the healing process.
- Helping with Weight Loss
Researchers have found that the use of montmorillonite clay can help reduce weight gain for those on a high-fat diet. Again, studies still need to be carried out to confirm if Bentonite clay can help with weight loss. Of course, any clay can help with weight loss only if you exercise regularly and create a calorie deficit.
- Heals Diaper Rash
A study found that the use of Bentonite Clay had immediate results in treating diaper rash in babies. The researchers found that 93% of the babies who received the clay and were healed after 6 hours, while 90% completely healed after three days. The usual method to use the clay is by mixing Bentonite powder and water to create the paste. However, you can also mix it with coconut oil, shea butter, or zinc oxide cream, making it a little more friendly for the infants. Make sure not to apply the powder directly on the baby’s skin as they may inhale it. Just be careful when carrying the powder around them.
- Provides Sun Protection
Another study indicated that the clay protects the skin from ultraviolet rays. Though the Food and Drug Administration has not yet approved Bentonite as a sunscreen, people may still use it along with other approved sunscreen products.
- Lowers Cholesterol
High cholesterol is caused when too much fat builds up in the blood vessels. This can lead to heart attack and stroke. A study using rats found that Bentonite increased the amount of cholesterol in their stool. High cholesterol is a serious medical issue and it’s best to talk to your doctor about the potential uses of clay to reduce cholesterol levels.
Conclusion
As discussed above, there are many benefits to Bentonite Clay such as removing toxins, treating constipation, cholesterol reduction, treating poison ivy allergies, treating rashes, weight loss, skin care, and protection from sun rays. It’s inevitable that more studies will emerge to confirm the benefits of Bentonite. However, Bentonite is easy to prepare for use. Use Bentonite to benefit from this natural product.
