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 About
Clay
200 million years in the making clay comes in a number of
colours, which vary according to its mineral content. Bentonite,
also known as montmorillonite of the smectite class of clays. It is derived
from deposits of weathered volcanic ash. A
good quality Bentonite is grey green in colour,
it has a very fine, velveteen feel and is odourless and
non-staining. It often contains substantial amounts of magnesium and
a wide variety of trace minerals. It is one of the most effective
natural cleansing and purifying agents available.
Clays are alumino-silicates and their performance properties are related to their
weak silica-alumina bond. The alumina in clay is a natural mineral quite different from the inorganic
toxic aluminium form one gets from cooking with aluminium cookware.
Bentonite is a dioctahedral smectite (an expanding layer silicate).
Typically it is composed of Alumina oxide
(Al2O3) and Silica - SiO2. Alumina oxide is NON-TOXIC and not to be confused
with the manufactured aluminium (Al) which is toxic. more
It
is also made up of a number of other minerals some of which have
exchangeable ions.
Typically they are -
sodium ions, calcium
ions, potassium ions, magnesium ions.
Bentonite is
known for its highly absorptive properties and its ability to adsorb (attach
to) and bind with
certain substances. The Egyptians used it to preserve their famous
mummies. The ancient Greeks and Romans used it to for a variety of
applications in daily life. The great German Naturopaths of the last century
hailed clay as one of nature’s great remedies. Mahatma Ghandi advocated the
use of clay for purification. Numerous so called
‘primitive’ tribes have used clay for both internal and external
purification.
Quoted
by; Dr Bernard Jensen on April 30 1997. ‘I believe the clay from the earth
has the greatest cataplasmic (a drawing out or absorbing agent) ability we
can find.
According to Robert T. Martins, B.S.,a
mineralogist
University of Minnesota; Ph.D., Cornell University and Mineralogist at
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the molecular surface of one gram
(1/28th of an ounce )
of Bentonite Clay has
a surface area of 800 sq. meters
Not all clays are the same
though and not all clays can achieve the same results.
How does it work?
Copyright Australian Healing Clay
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