Are Bentonite Clay Baths Good For Detoxification?

Are Bentonite Clay Baths Good for Detoxification?

Are bentonite clay baths effective and safe for aiding the body’s highly complex detoxification processes? 

Since prehistoric times, humans have engaged in the practice of geophagy. The intentional practice of eating earth substances and geophagy explains why some pregnant women crave pickles and ice cream and seemingly bizarre substances such as dirt or clay. Babies also enjoy morsels of the earth because they like to stick things in their mouths and because earth substances may benefit bodily function physiologically.

However, is there proof that bentonite clay baths can detoxify from 21st-century toxins such as heavy metals, endocrine disruptors, pharmaceuticals, and pesticides? 

Before exploring the evidence, let’s break down the basics.

What is Bentonite Clay? 

The state of Montana is known for its stunning nature and expansive views. Few people associate Big Sky country with volcanoes. But 500 million to 2.5 million years ago, an ancient volcano spewed ash, and when the caustic eruption cooled, mineral-rich minute glass particles derived from the volcanic ash transformed into clay. 

This ancient volcano, located near the town of Fort Benton, MT, would become the world’s richest source of this particular type of clay, which came to be known as ‘Bentonite Clay.’ 

Its unique Star of David-shaped aluminum phyllosilicate 3D structure has a gaping hole in the middle, perfect for absorbing water and toxins in a bathtub. 

Proponents claim that this absorbent clay, when mixed with water, helps detoxify the skin, the body’s largest organ. 

How Do Bentonite Clay Baths Work? 

Bentonite clay swells up when exposed to water and acts like a magnet toward positively charged ions. In general, anything that’s toxic contains positively charged ions. That’s why walking in the woods or in or around any other negative-ion-rich natural environment, such as the ocean, may have profound healing effects. Thus, bentonite clay works as an ionic detoxifying agent.

How to Perform a Bentonite Clay Bath

To make your own clay, mix 3-4 cups of food-grade bentonite clay with warm water until the mixture becomes pasty and smooth. Next, pour this mixture slowly into a warm water tub and soak for at least 20 minutes to allow the clay to penetrate the epidermis.

Is there any research to back up taking bentonite clay baths for detoxification?

The Evidence for Bentonite Clay Baths and Detoxification

On the one hand, there is a shortage of research specifically on bentonite clay baths. However, a 2017 meta-analysis in the Journal of Iranian Health states, “There is enough literature showing its safety after chronic oral consumption.” The study reviewed 2,500 scientific sources from roughly 100 articles. (The conclusion perhaps proves that pregnant women aren’t crazy for wanting to eat clay. As a side note, Iran has been a hotbed of bentonite clay for thousands of years, where it’s used traditionally to cleanse the hair.) 

The Iranian meta-analysis references several studies that show the efficacy of bentonite clay in detoxifying specific toxins. For example, T-2 is a fungal toxin. When rats ingested bentonite for two weeks before being force-fed T-2, the rodents’ poop showed significant amounts of the toxin, meaning the bentonite clay detoxified the mycotoxin from their system. 

Aflatoxins are poisonous and cancer-causing chemicals that are produced by certain molds which primarily affect the liver. In one study, bentonite clay reduced aflatoxin to 66% of its primary concentration in water, “which showed the adsorbing capacity of bentonite for aflatoxin.”

In addition, the researchers suggest bentonite clay can absorb highly -toxic pesticides and herbicides such as glyphosate and Paraquat.  

Animal studies also show that bentonite can reduce heavy metal concentrations such as lead and cadmium. Bentonite clay “does not affect the serum concentrations of important vitamins and nutrient minerals in humans, unlike other detoxifying agents.”

Are Bentonite Clay Baths Alone Effective for Detoxing?

Is eating a spoonful of clay or bathing in bentonite clay enough to detoxify from our toxin-filled environment? Maybe. Maybe not. If you’re doing a bentonite clay bath because of mild dermatitis, perhaps taking a good soak is all you need. 

However, if you have chronic conditions such as Lyme disease, detoxifying requires a holistic approach. Purging toxins ruining your quality of life may require other modalities, such as lymphatic drainage and cupping. 

Diet, hydration, movement and exercise, sleep, supplements, and stress management should also be focal points of any detoxification strategy. 

Interested in learning how one of our integrative medicine experts can create a personalized detoxification plan for you? Don’t hesitate to connect with us. 

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