Detox Bath...Bentonite Clay

Photo by FP Brigette.

Clay baths have been safely used for centuries. The clay particles actually pulls the toxins inside the clay molecule. A toxin carries a positive electron. A clay particle carries a negative electron. This is why the toxins are attracted and “pulled” inside the clay molecule. 

Bentonite clay is the clay suggested to use for a clay bath. Bentonite Clay is composed of aged volcanic ash. The name comes from the largest known deposit of Bentonite Clay located in Fort Benton, Wyoming.

Herbs, acupuncture, enemas, sauna’s are all things people do to detox the body. Clay is just another solution to rid the body of toxins. It is the most gentle of all the detox methods and the most effective. Healing clays like Bentonite have a high concentration of minerals including silica, calcium, magnesium, sodium, iron, and potassium.

Preparing for the Bath:

You will need to use 1-4 cups of clay in your bath. You could start with 1 cup baths and work yourself up to 4 cups. Make a slurry ahead of time by mixing approximately 1 part clay to 8 parts water in a container with a tightly sealed lid.  Scoop or pour clay slowly to avoid making a fine dust cloud. Shake vigorously, and allow the clay to sit for a couple of hours, and then shake again.

A clay bath should last ideally between 15-20 minutes in really warm but comfortable water. Submerge as much of your body as possible during the bath. The more clay that is used in the therapy, the more powerful the response. Sitting in a clay bath for over 20 minutes may cause you to feel nauseous and dehydrated. To clean up, take a cool shower to rinse off the clay residue. The cool water also closes your skin pores after the warm bath.

Make sure to dissolve clay well. Do not let big chunks go down the drain. Lining the drain with cheesecloth is a great way to prevent drain clogs. Toss any leftover clay into the garden. Clay is slippery, to prevent accident lay a towel in the bottom of the tub.

If you have any medical conditions, check with your doctor before performing any kind of detox. Hot baths are not recommended for people with high blood pressure.

Bathing Tips

• Drink water before and after the clay bath.
• Don’t reuse the clay water. After you sit in there for 20 min the clay is now saturated with your toxins.
• Moisturize. You will probably notice you skin is super dry afterwards

Recently, some very exciting studies are being done on the effects of using clay baths to treat autism. In a study from Arizona State University, bentonite clay was found to be highly effective at killing MRSA as well as Salmonella, E.Coli and others.