“Eat dirt and stay healthy!” That sounds silly, doesn’t it? However, ingesting this clay from the earth may be the best thing you’ve done all day! Bentonite is one of the best known natural colon cleansers. The light gray substance is also called sodium bentonite, Wyoming bentonite, or simply montmorillonite.

Bentonite clay is mined around Fort Benton, Wyoming, from which it got its name. Bentonite is actually found in abundance in the northwestern United States, around Wyoming and Montana. Bentonite has been used by Indians and Native Americans for centuries to heal a variety of ailments by detoxifying the body.

Bentonite is actually just natural clay from the ground. It is 61% silica, but it also contains 18% aluminum and small amounts of iron, sodium and magnesium. It is alkaline, with a pH of 8.3 to 9.1.

Bentonite works internally by attracting a variety of poisons from the gastrointestinal tract. Bentonite clay is negatively charged while toxins tend to be positively charged. Thus there is the attraction of toxins to the clay. Once these are absorbed, the clay and toxins are eliminated by the body and you are healthier.

Bentonite clay can absorb any toxic substance imaginable: poisons, impurities, harmful pesticides, bacteria, pathogens, and parasites. Bentonite will not be absorbed by the body, so it leaves no harmful side effects. As a colon cleanser, take one to three teaspoons of bentonite powder (depending on your weight) and add it to about eight ounces of liquid and mix well until the clay is completely combined with the water.

Bentonite can also be used externally, to treat various skin problems and for detox baths. Some people have successfully used bentonite clay to treat skin rashes. An acne-like rash can be treated with a bentonite clay poultice.

The recommended procedure for a detox bath is to add two to three ounces of bentonite clay to the water, mix well, soak, and enjoy. A poultice can be prepared by adding one part clay to three parts water or until the desired consistency is reached. Then mix it well to a smooth paste and apply it to the skin area.

Although it is a natural substance, some caveats are still in order.

1. Due to the presence of aluminum in bentonite, someone who is intolerant to aluminum should use a substitute for colon cleansing.
2. Bentonite clay can also absorb some nutrients, so it’s important to take it at least an hour before or after a meal.
3. Do not take Bentonite Clay and vitamins or supplements at the same time.
4. Drink plenty of water when taking bentonite internally. This is very important.
5. Bentonite should not be ingested alone. Instead, take Psyllium Hust or some other fiber-rich substance to keep the bentonite moving through and out of the colon.