Is Bentonite Clay a Useful Substance? Is it good for detoxifying the body, fighting diarrhea and complexing heavy metals? Or is it causing a heavy metal problem?
One of my readers asked this question after reading my research post about bentonite clay for intestinal problems:
“I hope you can clarify whether the statements made on this endocrinologist’s website (see excerpt below) are true regarding the body’s absorption of the metals naturally occurring in bentonite clay, such as lead, since stomach acid draws most of the lead from the clay. Most of the other research I have done is to the contrary.
Here is the important excerpt from the website:
When you eat clay, your stomach acid removes most of the lead from the clay. Then it goes straight into your body.
Bentonite clay is useful when it comes to removing lead, zinc, nickel and cadmium from various substances such as wastewater because it can combine with these heavy metals.
However, consuming bentonite has more harmful side effects than useful ones. When you consume clay, your stomach acid removes most of the lead from the bentonite clay and it is absorbed directly into your body.
Thank you in advance for your opinion and any contrary research you can offer.” –Scott
I find it interesting that the article he mentions begins with the words:
“Let me introduce you to the basic facts, backed by research and consumer experience.”
But then again, there is no research in the article to support any of their claims.
I haven’t seen any research either – it’s not like there’s any big pharmaceutical company or anyone else funding research since bentonite can’t be patented.
All I can tell you is my own experience.
My wild horses always drink from natural water in the ground and not from the “clean” water in a trough. When I dug a 5-foot-deep pit in the country, all five of them went into the pit to scrape the clay and other humic matter from the sheared walls and eat it.
I once saw a sick dog scrape the mud from a stream bed and eat it. Most of us humans are not privy to the wisdom of our bodies like animals, but we can learn by observing them!
I personally took bentonite clay at a time when I couldn’t stop my diarrhea (I later learned that I also had mercury poisoning from dental fillings), and it was the best thing for me at the time.
Would I use bentonite continuously and long term? No. Because this also removes the beneficial bacteria from your intestines, not just the pathogenic types. Can it be very helpful in certain circumstances when used short-term (a few weeks)? Yes. I have experienced the benefits myself. And both horses and dogs don’t eat clay every day for months. They only eat it when they need it to restore balance.
References:
Chapter 11.1 Clays and Clay Minerals For Pollution Control, GJ Churchman, WP Gates, BKG Theng, G Yuan, Handbook of Clay Science, 2006 Elsevier, edited by F. Bergaya, BKG Theng, G. Lagaly
Chapter 11.6 Clays and clay minerals as medicines, MT Droy-Lefaix, F. Tateo, Handbook of Clay Science, 2006 Elsevier, edited by F. Bergaya, BKG Theng, G. Lagaly, page 743
Robertson, RHS, 1986, Fuller’s Earth: A History of Calcium Montmorillonite. Volturna Press, Hythe, Kent.
Lund, E. and B. Nissen (1986). “Low-tech water purification by bentonite clay flocculation as carried out in Sudanese villages: Virological investigations.” Water Research 20:37-43.
Olsen, A. (1987). “Low-tech water purification by bentonite clay and Moringa Oleifera seed flocculation as performed in Sudanese villages: effects on Schistosoma mansoni cercariae.” Water Research 21(5):517-522.
Madsen, M. & Schlundt, J. “Low-technology water purification by bentonite clay flocculation carried out in Sudanese villages: bacterial studies,” J. Water Research vol. 23 Issue July 7, 1989.
Jini Patel Thompson is an internationally recognized expert in natural healing for digestive diseases. She healed herself from widespread Crohn’s disease and has been medication and surgery free for over 25 years. Jini has appeared on numerous podcasts, television and radio shows in the US, UK, Canada and Australia, giving people hope and vision on how to heal their colitis, Crohn’s disease, diverticulitis and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) using all-natural methods. Her books on natural healing of digestive diseases have been sold in over 80 countries worldwide. Jini is married and has three children, nine sheep, 11 horses, a cat and three dogs.
