Healing clay: Effect
Healing earth is said to have various health-promoting properties:
Detoxification: Due to its fine structure, healing clay has a high ability to accumulate substances on its surface (adsorption) or to absorb them (absorption). As a result, it can bind sebum and dirt on the skin and hair, for example, but also remove harmful substances from the body as part of detoxification or intestinal cleansing.
Neutralization of stomach acid: The carbonate salts contained in healing clay are said to make it a natural antacid that binds and neutralizes stomach acid in the event of heartburn or other acid-related stomach complaints.
Anti-inflammatory: Due to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect, healing clay is said to alleviate acne, skin inflammation (such as sunburn, insect bites or eczema) and joint inflammation.
Diarrhea remedy: Healing clay binds water and is therefore considered a natural remedy for diarrhea.
Some manufacturers of healing clay products also claim that healing clay binds cholesterol from food, can help against cellulite and histamine intolerance and relieves itching caused by neurodermatitis or psoriasis.
Healthy effect of healing clay not proven
On the other hand, people have had positive experiences with healing earth, some of which have been used in folk medicine for centuries. The mineral earth is considered to be well tolerated. Anyone who wants to try it out to alleviate skin impurities or gastrointestinal problems need not expect any unhealthy effects. However, those with persistent and severe complaints should always seek medical advice.
The effect of healing clay also depends on its composition. Studies indicate that healing clay with the clay mineral smectite can reduce diarrhea in children by one day. It is not yet clear whether this also applies to healing clay with loess or the clay mineral kaolinite.
Ingredients of healing clay
The ingredients of healing clay mainly include quartz dust, feldspar (a silicate mineral) and calcite (calcite). Depending on its geographical origin, healing clay contains different proportions of minerals such as calcium, magnesium and sodium salts, aluminum, iron and potassium.
Healing earth: Areas of application
Healing earth can be used externally – for example for skin blemishes, itching or inflammation – and internally – for example to treat gastrointestinal complaints.
External use of healing clay
- Acne, inflamed pimples
- Oily and blemished skin
- Muscle and joint complaints (such as rheumatism-related joint inflammation and gout)
- Sports injuries (such as bruises, contusions, sprains)
- Inflammation of the skin (e.g. due to sunburn, insect bites, eczema, rashes)
- Itching (e.g. neurodermatitis or psoriasis)
- cellulite
- Superficial phlebitis
The instructions for use of some healing clay preparations even recommend the treatment of purulent wounds and weeping ulcers. From a medical point of view, however, this is not advisable:
Healing clay is not sterile and is not approved as a medicine for wound therapy. Due to its powdery consistency, the powder dries out the wound, can clump together and hinder the formation of new tissue. In order for wounds to heal optimally, they need a moist environment.
You can read detailed information on this topic in the article “Wound healing”.
Internal use of healing clay
Some healing clay products are approved as medicines for
- Heartburn,
- acid-related stomach complaints and
- diarrhea.
In addition, healing clay is used for the supportive treatment of various gastrointestinal complaints, for example:
Healing clay is also considered a natural remedy for gastritis. However, a therapeutic effect on gastritis has not been proven.
Detailed information on the treatment of constipation – including home remedies – can be found in the article “Constipation”.
Healing clay is also said to bind cholesterol from food. However, there is no scientific evidence that healing clay lowers blood cholesterol levels.
Because healing clay is also said to bind metabolic products, toxins or fats from food, manufacturers recommend it as a means of intestinal cleansing, colon cleansing, purification and detoxification. The effect of such detox products, which detoxify the body, has not yet been scientifically proven. Corresponding advertising claims are therefore inadmissible – even in the case of healing clay. Instead, the body gets rid of harmful substances via the liver and kidneys.
There is also no scientifically reliable evidence that healing clay helps with weight loss or against histamine intolerance.
Always have elevated cholesterol levels, acid-related stomach complaints, irritable bowel symptoms, gastritis and persistent diarrhea checked out by a doctor first. If infants and small children suffer from diarrhea, a visit to the doctor is also always advisable!
Healing clay: correct use
Do not use healing clay internally if the instructions on the packaging state that it is for external use only!
For external use, mix the healing clay powder with tap water to form a homogeneous slurry (called a peloid). Apply this to the skin, for example as a healing clay mask against skin impurities, or use it to prepare a poultice (e.g. against sports injuries). For more detailed information on dosage and application, please refer to the instructions on the packaging or in the leaflet.
To gently cleanse and strengthen hair, you can mix healing clay with other ingredients (such as honey or oil) to make a shampoo. To cleanse your face and body, you can make a wash lotion from healing clay, cream and honey, for example.
For internal use, you can drink the powder stirred into water or swallow healing clay in the form of capsules or granules. As a rule, manufacturers recommend taking healing clay in the morning on an empty stomach, in the evening before going to bed and, if necessary, half an hour before or after eating.
Read the packaging or package insert to find out how to take the healing clay preparation in question correctly, what dosage is recommended and what else you need to bear in mind.
Healing clay: Side effects
Healing earth is considered to be well tolerated.
Allergic reactions are rare but possible when using healing clay externally. Otherwise, no other undesirable effects are to be expected.
When used internally (especially with healing clay capsules), too little liquid is occasionally drunk with it. This can result in intestinal obstruction. However, if those affected drink plenty of fluids afterwards, the bowel generally becomes permeable again.
Very rarely, chronic, high-dose intake can lead to kidney inflammation due to the silicates it often contains.
It is therefore essential that you follow the manufacturer’s recommendations regarding the dosage and duration of use of your healing clay preparation.
Healing clay: pregnancy and breastfeeding
Women should ask their doctor for advice before taking healing clay during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Although a harmful effect is considered unlikely, this has not yet been sufficiently investigated. Expectant mothers should also take the precaution of avoiding healing clay with a high aluminum content.
Healing clay: Interactions
Please do not take healing clay together with medication. Many medicinal substances are absorbed by the mineral clay in the digestive tract and therefore do not enter the bloodstream and thus the body.
Healing clay: Dispensing regulations
Medicinal products made from healing clay are freely available for sale and can be purchased in drugstores or supermarkets. Some preparations for internal use (e.g. for diarrhea and heartburn) are licensed as medicinal products and can therefore only be purchased from pharmacies.
