Clay in herbal medicine
From a phytotherapic point of view, clay is used to treat disorders that affect the gastro-intestinal tract, such as swelling and abdominal tension, pain, constipation or diarrhea; more generally, clay is particularly suitable for irritable bowel syndrome.
It is good to remember that, often times, gastro-intestinal pains are closely linked to psychological stress; consequently, the intake of clay should also be accompanied by other plants with soothing activities which, by relaxing the walls of the stomach and intestines, contribute to reducing swelling and abdominal cramps.
Following checks carried out by EFSA (the European Food Safety Authority) on possible risks to human health deriving from the presence of aluminum in food, the Ministry of Health has recently modified the conditions of use of food additives containing aluminum.
In light of the restrictions adopted for the use of clays as additives, starting from the productions of February 1, 2014 the use as ingredients in food supplements of the following substances is prohibited :
- sodium silicate and aluminum (E554)
- potassium and aluminum silicate (E555)
- calcium silicate and aluminum (E556)
- bentonite (E558)
- aluminum silicate or kaolin (E559)
For the other clays used as ingredients in food supplements, the type and content with the indicated intake quantities must be specified on the label. Furthermore, with the notification of the label a certification must be provided on the extent of the presence of aluminum.
Property
The clay represents a living mixture of aluminum-silicylated substances derived from the granite rocks; in phytotherapy, it is not only used for its known ability to decrease abdominal swelling and absorb intestinal gases, but it is also known for its antiseptic (disinfectant), bactericidal, healing and deodorant properties. Its particular chemical composition has allowed the clay to be exploited in many therapeutic areas: first of all it is a mineralizing substance, thanks to the presence of silica, magnesium, iron, aluminum and calcium. Secondly, the clay could be useful as a natural detoxifier: in fact, it boasts chelating properties, such as to allow the "capture" of substances harmful to the body. In this regard, the clay is attributed antitoxic properties: it succeeds in adsorbing and expelling dangerous substances, therefore it is a good remedy against poisoning.
This mineral substance was used, even without a scientific foundation, in those affected by Chernobyl nuclear radiation, potentially managing to absorb harmful radiation and physiologically eliminating it: in this case, rather than being a real remedy against radiation damage nuclear, the clay is better configured as a moral and psychological support for the affected subjects.
White and red clay
Depending on the state of oxidation of the iron present, the clay appears white, red or green: in phytotherapy, white clay (kaolin) is preferred, in which the rebalancing, healing and stimulating properties are more marked than in green (indicated for internal use). The red clay, rich in iron and scarce in aluminum, is indicated for anemia, liver disorders and complications in the intestinal mucosa.
Clay in cosmetics
Even cosmetics take advantage of the clay, used for the formulation of anti-cellulite, top-stretch (anti-aging) products (for topical use), in lotions to slow down hair loss and in anti-age cosmetics (the clay counteracts the formation of wrinkles and hinders them) the appearance). Furthermore, the clay has considerable emulsifying capacity, being able to absorb hydrophilic molecules - that is, soluble in water - and lipophilic (oils): the resulting formulation is homogeneous, stable and well emulsified.
In herbal medicine clay-based masks are in great demand, to be applied directly on the skin of the face, or on the whole body: placed in contact with water, the clay forms a dense mass similar to mud, which solidifies after a ten minutes. The action exerted by the clay is to exfoliate the skin, removing the cells of the stratum corneum: in this way, the skin appears smooth, smooth and soft.
The use of clay is also an excellent remedy for lightening skin disorders such as eczema, allergies, boils, inflammation, acne, blackheads and burns: in fact, this mineral substance is able to absorb toxins and "purify the skin", also favoring blood circulation.
Clay against a swollen belly
As mentioned above, the clay is also known for its ability to absorb intestinal gases; formulated in the form of tablets for internal use, the clay "chelates" the gases at the gastric level: the resulting result, namely the decrease in the sensation of swelling associated with lightening of abdominal tension, is also enhanced by the astringent properties and anti-fermentation of the clay (in particular white clay, rich in silica, aluminum and mineral salts in general).
Other uses of clay
It is a good phytotherapic practice to associate the clay with healing substances, both medicinal and phytotherapeutic: in fact, if applied in a wound together with medicines chosen by the specialist, it does not only exert mechanical properties (it favors the adhesion of the drug to the wound), but contributes to the healing of the wound itself.
The use of clay goes beyond phytotherapy and cosmetics: it is also used to deodorize the kitchen and the refrigerator, as it can absorb and "hide" odors.
It should be emphasized that the activities derived from the clay are not due to a particular component, but it is its total composition that determines them: all the minerals and substances that compose it act in synergy, enhancing the final effect.
Argilloterapia
The various disciplines that use clay to treat ailments of different nature, have favored the birth of a new term, clay therapy, which indicates a sort of "unconventional medicine", since there is no actual scientific evidence to confirm the whole effectiveness of the same. Considering, however, that the clay has been questioned for a long time by the scientific community for its dubious "healing" properties, there could be serious consequences due not so much to the clay itself, but to the improper use and to the incorrect methods of recruitment.
