Clays And Health

Originally published in French, this updated and expanded English translation offers a definitive treatment on clays and effects on human health including the long history of clays used as pharmaceutical and therapeutic agents, the origins of clays, their structural properties and modes of action.

Natural health practitioners believe that the body has all the necessary resources to heal itself. Nature has provided for it generously. Clays are perhaps some the most ancient remedies used by people and animals to accelerate healing in the most natural ways possible. Clays work in gentle, intuitive ways, by re-tuning the body systems and stimulating recovery. This is not to say that medicines should be abandoned in favour of clays. This is merely to say that clays have a well-deserved place in our health and beauty routines. The most important property of clay is to detoxify the body, due to its ability to attract positively-charged toxic ions (clay particles are negatively charged) and take them out of the body. A lot of our illnesses happen due to contamination of the body with toxins – both coming from the outside (environmental pollutants), and produced inside (metabolic toxins, such as free radicals, excessive hormones and other metabolic waste). In a healthy body toxins get eliminated by the body systems timely and efficiently. If the body resources are depleted due to stress, illness or fatigue, the removal of toxins is slowed down leading to their accumulation in fat and bone tissues, the brain, as well as other organs and muscles. Over time it can lead to serious health problems. Clays have a wonderful ability to work with the body, gently helping to remove heavy metals and other toxic waste. Clays, muds and salts are also wonderful natural cosmetic substances. They work on the skin by purifying it, regenerating the skin cells and improving blood circulation which ensures more nutrients reaching the skin. Oxygen gets delivered to skin cells more speedily and the removal of toxins and CO2 is facilitated. All this brings wonderful results – the skin becomes smooth, soft, pink, glowing, wrinkles get much less visible - skin regeneration takes place. Clays have been used by humans and animals since prehistoric times – to treat minor ailments, food poisoning, aches and pains, skin infections, mineral deficiency, in beauty rituals, as well as to make cosmetic products. The purpose of this book is to shed a bit more light on the scientific aspects of clays and clay-like minerals and their health-enhancing properties. I hope that you find it both educational and useful in more ways than one.

The first edition of the Handbook of Clay Science published in 2006 assembled the scattered literature on the varied and diverse aspects that make up the discipline of clay science. The topics covered range from the fundamental structures (including textures) and properties of clays and clay minerals, through their environmental, health and industrial applications, to their analysis and characterization by modern instrumental techniques. Also included are the clay-microbe interaction, layered double hydroxides, zeolites, cement hydrates, and genesis of clay minerals as well as the history and teaching of clay science. The 2e adds new information from the intervening 6 years and adds some important subjects to make this the most comprehensive and wide-ranging coverage of clay science in one source in the English language. Provides up-to-date, comprehensive information in a single source Covers applications of clays, as well as the instrumental analytical techniques Provides a truly multidisciplinary approach to clay science

Healing Clays: History, Science and Uses of the Earth's Best Kept Secret takes the reader on a documented journey through the history, uses and scientific studies on this most fascinating subject of healing clay. Contemporary society is embarking on yet another learning curve when it comes to natural elements and their benefits for general health and well-being. Using clay as an instrument for improving the health seems like an unbelievable concept to most in modern societies, but history teaches us clay was once an integral part of many culture's health practices. From Cleopatra’s beauty mask to Pliny the Elder's detailed records to clay's uses and benefits there is no doubt that we have under our feet one of earth's best kept secrets.

Clay’s Handbook of Environmental Health, since its first publication in 1933, has provided a definitive guide for the environmental health practitioner, or reference for the consultant or student. This 21th edition continues as a first point of reference, reviewing the core principles, techniques and competencies, and then outlining the specialist subjects. It has been refocused on the current curriculum of the UK’s Chartered Institute of Environmental Health but should also readily suit the generalist or specialist working outside the UK.

Complete information on this natural and gentle dietary supplement that is effective in treating a wide range of illnesses. Contains complete, up-to-date information on choosing the appropriate clay and how to use it for specific ailments. Discusses the science and history of clay ingestion and its nutritional value. Resource section includes information on where to buy clay supplements and health products. An exceptional source of minerals, clay has been ingested as a nutritional supplement and detoxifier throughout the world for thousands of years. This book reveals the benefits of that ancient wisdom and the use of clay powders, capsules, or liquid gels to address numerous problems. Naturally absorbent and extremely gentle on the system, clay can treat ailments affecting digestion, circulation, menstruation, and the liver, skin, and prostate. Clay also remedies symptoms of arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, gum diseases, and migraines. The Clay Cure contains complete and up-to-date information on choosing the appropriate type and form of clay, how and when to take it for your specific complaint, the science and history of ingesting clay, and the value of minerals contained in the many varieties of clay.

This book is an attempt to provide a comprehensive and coherent description of three widely separated aspects of clays: the science of clays; the industrial uses of clays; and the role of clays in the environment. Most of the existing literature lacks such an integrated study and this work endeavours to fill that gap. An exhaustive account of the science of clays is presented in Part I of the book, which includes the classification, origin and evolution, composition and internal structure, chemical and physical properties of clays; soil mechanics; and analytical techniques for determining clay constituents. Part II provides a comprehensive description of the applications of clays and their derivatives in various industries, while Part III describes the role of clays in the environment; the pollution caused by clay minerals; and the application of clays in order to prevent environmental hazards. A principal feature of the book is its explanation of how the structure and composition of particular clay types facilitate their specific industrial or environmental applications, thus describing the interrelationship between three widely varying aspects of clay. A number of thought-provoking questions are raised at the end of the work in order to leave readers with a better insight in this regard.

This book is the second one in the Mineral Healing series. The first book - How Clays Work - contains detailed information about clays, their structure and functions. It also explains how clays work and why they are nature's most powerful ancient healers. In this book, I write about a wider range of minerals including salts, muds, clay, zeolite and diatomacesous earth. It provides a better understanding of how minerals work and how they have helped people and animals over millennia. History & Current Uses of Minerals Minerals are the source of life on Earth. We need them in order to live. Every fluid and solid matter in our body contains minerals. Every single cell needs minerals in order to live and reproduce. Minerals take a primary position to any nutrient available to us since every cell in our body needs them in order to stay alive. Life on Earth simply would not exist without them. The idea of using salts, muds, clays as the main source of minerals in order to improve health and enhance beauty is not new. Clays - animals have been and are still using them to cleanse the gut and skin of toxins and parasites, neutralise food poisons and cure themselves of disease. Clay has an interesting history - Roman soldiers used clay to heal wounds and disinfect water. - They also ate it to suppress hunger. - Russian and French soldiers used to be issued clay rations to help treat diarrhoea, heal wounds and disinfect water during the two World Wars. - In the second half of the 20th century, green clay was used by the French doctors in Africa to treat flesh-eating Buruli ulcers, and their successes were recorded. - Fairly recent scientific research led to a conclusion that green clay had shown astounding results in the treatment of the MRSA bacteria where regular antibiotics were failing. - If you want to learn more about clays, check out my book “How Clays Work – Science & Applications of Clays & Clay-Like Minerals in Health & Beauty”. In it, I talk in detail about scientific aspects of various clay types, their therapeautic and beauty applications, benefits and much more. Zeolite – a clay-like mineral - is used in a number of countries to make medication for treating diarrhoea. It is also used in areas of nuclear catastrophes to help bury the reactors and prevent leakage of radiation. Zeolite was given to people to take with water, as well as in biscuits, to help absorb and take radioactive metals out of the body. Diatomaceous Earth (or diatomite) is a mineral which was formed billions of years ago from exoskeletons of tiny organisms – diatoms. The best diatomite comes from the freshwater sources. It is widely used in agriculture for its anti-parasite and insecticide properties. Besides, its popularity is spreading, and many people buy it to use on themselves and their pets, as well as in gardens and homes. There are lots of salts in nature. The salts are mostly used in beauty and healing are magnesium and sodium-based. Magnesium takes part in over 350 reactions in the body and is the crucial element needed for energy production. Magnesium deficiency leads to a number of grave problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, heart disease, high cholesterol, brittle bones, bad teeth and much more. Some of the conditions that can be addressed by using magnesium supplementation are: - Rheumatoid arthritis - Muscle aches, pains - Back pain - Poor circulation - Bruising - Sprains, strains - General fatigue & debility - Stress, anxiety - Insomnia, irritability - Liver toxicity. If you are looking for new natural ways to deal with health problems, this book will show you how.