FAQs
Clay FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
These are the most commonly asked questions we receive about clay. The questions and answers are categorized to make the information you’re looking for easier to find.
Bentonite Clay and COVID-19
CAN I USE THE CLAY TO PREVENT CORONAVIRUS?
During this time of uncertainty we have had people ask if Bentonite Clay can help prevent viral infection. There is zero indication that Bentonite Clay can directly help to prevent illness, specifically Coronavirus or COVID-19. Zero.
However, there is a general awareness that investing in immune health is a way to increase our immune system's ability to fight off viruses and illnesses by empowering our bodies to ward off an attack, and to soften the blow when our immune systems are under attack.
Vitamin C, Zinc, and Echinacea are all-natural remedies that are believed to be helpful in increasing the health of the immune system. In addition to eating whole foods, getting plenty of sleep, and avoiding foods that stress our digestive tracks (fried foods, processed foods, sugary foods), it is helpful to proactively detox our systems. And in this context, detoxing can improve immune health. As part of a detox routine - Bentonite Clay can be one way to invest in strengthening your immune system. Only in an indirect way can this help our immune systems fend off attacks.*
*These statements and our products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, alleviate the symptoms of, or prevent developing diseases and disorders or give medical advice of any kind. The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the FDA. Always consult your doctor before starting, changing or altering your personal health regimen.*
Antibiotics and Infections
HOW DO I TREAT A SINUS INFECTION?
Along with internal use, hydrate the clay 1 part clay to 3 parts water (1 tablespoon clay, 3 tablespoons water). Stir with a plastic spoon or spatula (avoid metal). Let the clay sit covered overnight at room temperature to reach the consistency of sour cream. Once hydrated, apply the clay about 1/4″ thick to the area directly below the cheekbone. Cover with a piece of plastic wrap and leave on for an hour, then rinse off. Repeat twice a day. Once your system starts to alkalize, this could be something you will not be dealing with anymore.
HOW DO I TREAT AN EAR INFECTION?
There is a tube which runs from behind the ear lobe down the neck into the lymphatic system. Apply cold pressed castor oil which has been warmed to this area. Begin a very light stroking motion beginning behind the ear lobe and down the neck to the collarbone. This should be done with the index and third finger. This is a very light feather touch. Continue for about 10 to 15 minutes, always beginning behind the ear and down the neck This should help drain infection from the ear. Then rinse with soap and water and apply a very thick clay poultice behind the ear and in front of the ear. Cover area with plastic wrap. The clay should be at least 1/4″ thick . Leave for at least 30 minutes then rinse. I would do this twice daily until the infection subsides.
IS IT SAFE TO USE CLAY WHILE TAKING ANTIBIOTICS?
It is okay to use clay along with antibiotics provided you leave a 3 hour window between the clay and the medication. This is because some medications have metallic components in them. Part of the clay’s job is to attract anything that does not belong in the body and to remove it from the system, such as mercury, lead, arsenic, parasites, bacteria, etc.
Mixing, Dosage, and Storage
DOES BENTONITE CLAY GO BAD?
DOES BENTONITE CLAY EXPIRE?
No, dry clay doesn’t go bad. It’s millions of years old in most cases. It can, however, pick up odors from neighboring items if left under sinks or in the garage. For this reason, we recommend storing it dry in your kitchen pantry.
When added to water however, if exposed to bacteria (from hands or mouth), it can grow microbes. We recommend not drinking clay water directly out of the bottle to avoid bacteria from the mouth being transferred to the bottle. Hands should be washed prior to dipping into a jar of hydrated clay (mask) to avoid bacterial transfer. Keep in mind, not all clays are created equally. Some are not clean to begin with so even without bacteria transfer, when hydrated they can harbor microbes. This is why we recommend checking the microbial analysis provided by the vendor of any clay you consider using. You can find ours here.
HOW DO I MIX AND USE DRINKING CLAY?
To take Earth’s Living dry powder clay internally, mix 1 part dry powdered clay to 8 parts filtered water in a glass bottle with a non-metal, air tight lid. Avoid contact with metal. For example, add ¼ cup clay to 2 cups filtered water. Shake vigorously to mix.
Once hydrated, for adults we recommend beginning by drinking 1 ounce (two tablespoons) in the AM for a week or so. Follow with a glass of water or juice to get the clay into the system. Add another ounce of clay at bedtime after a week or so. Listen to your body. Some people experience constipation when beginning to use clay internally. This is often a symptom of colon cleansing. Work up to 2 ounces in the AM and 2 ounces in the PM for general maintenance. To address specific ailments, please call or email us.
HOW DO I STORE HYDRATED DRINKING CLAY?
Keep hydrated drinking clay in a glass or food-grade plastic bottle. Glass is preferable. Refrigeration is unnecessary, but place out of direct sunlight. Settling is normal. Prior to use, shake well before pouring.
IS BENTONITE CLAY SAFE FOR CHILDREN?
Yes, dry powder drinking clay is safe for children. Our customers have used it on infants with very good results. For children under 50 pounds, give 1 teaspoon per day in 8 ounces of fltered water, milk or juice. For children greater than 50 pounds, give 2 teaspoons per day in 8 ounces of filtered water, juice or milk.
Clay baths for children are becoming more popular as the results people experience are written about, particularly on websites. Since children are smaller than adults, the amount of clay used in the bath and the amount of time in the water needs to be adjusted accordingly. Children may sit in the clay bath up to the waist. As with adults, the more the body is exposed to the clay bath water, the greater the impact. Go slowly, especially with children who are not well.
For children under 20 pounds, add 4 ounces of bath clay to running water in the tub. The child should not stay in the bath more than 5 minutes. Every child is different. Listen and observe for what is right for their individual constitution. For children between 20 and 50 pounds, add 4 to 6 ounces of clay to the bath and let the child bathe for between 5 and 10 minutes, depending on the child. For children greater than 50 pounds, one of our 8 ounce clay baths can be added to the water and the child can bathe for up to 10 minutes, depending on the child. Rinse the clay water down the drain with water after the bath. It is safe for sewer systems and septic tanks.
Clay Composition
ARE YOUR CLAYS TESTED FOR LEAD?
All of the edible clays we’ve seen tested – including our own – have trace amounts of lead. However, it is commonly assumed by reputable naturopaths (including Raymond Dextreit) that the lead is not bioavailable, and simply exits the body along with the clay.
We have seen individuals who have existing lead toxicity not only use clay, but also consume modified citrus pectin twice daily. Many believe that individuals who are metal-sensitive or metal-toxic, are usually, if not always, minerally depleted, which is a factor that prevents the body from eliminating heavy metals.
A large percentage of people that buy our drinking powder do so for heavy metal detoxification. There are reports of clay helping with this, including the reduction or elimination of lead in the body. Based on these cases, it would seem that any trace amount of lead is indeed not bioavailable (absorbable by the body).
Read the mineral analysis of our clays.
WHY IS THE LEAD IN YOUR CLAY HARMLESS WHERE LEAD IN MANY OTHER PRODUCTS IS TOXIC (I.E. PAINT)?
Clay does have a small amount of lead in it as discussed above but there are actually many studies showing that the consumption of bentonite/montmorillonite clay has been found to “significantly reduce lead concentration of tissues in blood, brain, liver, bone, kidney and hair.”http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18568297
There are lots of other studies that demonstrate clay’s unique ability to remove toxins such as lead from the body.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/
ARE OUR CLAYS X-RAYED OR IRRADIATED
We ship our products via USPS and FedEx Ground. We’ve been told by both these vendors that they do not expose packages to radiation. We can’t guarantee what our shippers do once a package is in their possession, but can only take what they tell us at face value. There’ve been no complaints about the product being ineffective since this website launched in 2005.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CALCIUM BENTONITE AND SODIUM BENTONITE CLAY? CAN BOTH BE USED INTERNALLY AS A DETOXIFIER?
Earth’s Natural Drinking Clay is suitable for internal digestion to detoxify the body. It and sodium bentonite clay are cousins from the same family – smectite – of clays. Our Bath Clay is sodium bentonite clay and for external use only.
One difference between them is that the molecular shape of sodium bentonite clay is that of a pyramid. The shape of calcium bentonite is rectangular. The molecular shape impacts the adsorptive properties of the clay. This difference means that the surface area of the calcium bentonite clay molecule is 20 times that of a sodium bentonite clay molecule. The result is the greater surface, the greater the accumulation of positively-charged ions (toxins, impurities) to the surface. The other primary difference is that calcium bentonite clay contains more calcium oxide and sodium bentonite clay contains more sodium oxide.
As with many natural remedies, it’s best to try different things and see which works best for you, keeping the above considerations in mind.
WHAT IS THE PH OF EARTH'S NATURAL CALCIUM BENTONITE CLAY?
Our Drinking Powder has a pH of 9.7. It is alkaline and therefore counters acidity in the body. Request our free report “Alkalinity and the Body” by clicking here. You can also read our blog post about Preventing Acidosis with Calcium Bentonite Clay.
YOUR CLAY CONTAINS ALUMINUM. IS THAT SAFE?
Earth’s Natural calcium bentonite green clay is among the purest on the market. By reviewing our Mineral Analysis, you’ll see that the aluminum in our clay is aluminum oxide, which is a form that cannot be absorbed by the body. In addition, it’s a trace mineral that works in concert with – and not solo – in the body. The clay does its work and then passes through the elimination system along with the toxins that have been absorbed – and adsorbed.
If interested in learning about the mineral composition of the calcium bentonite green clays offered on this website, visit the Clay Mineral Analysis page.
Buying from Us
DO I NEED TO SET UP AN ACCOUNT TO ORDER ONLINE?
No, an account is not required to purchase from this website. However, in order to earn points in our loyalty program, you must create a user account. We only store your contact and address information. We do not store your credit card information. You can ALWAYS place your order by phone at (619) 840-8467.
DO YOU HAVE A PRIVACY POLICY?
We have a strict privacy policy and we will not share your information with anyone.
HOW SOON WILL MY ORDER SHIP?
We ship retail orders every weekday. Orders received by 8 AM PDT on those days ship the same day. Provided an email address has been entered or provided to us, you should receive an email from the United States Postal Service with a tracking number. Please call or email us if you do not receive a tracking number.
I DON'T USE CREDIT CARDS ON THE INTERNET. HOW CAN I BUY YOUR CLAY?
We’re happy to take orders via telephone where you can talk to a live person and provide your credit card information. Please call us at (619) 840-8467 to place your order. In addition, we are working to establish wholesale accounts in brick and mortar stores in target markets. As these are added, they will be posted to this page. We will also inform our customers via our newsletter, Facebookand Twitter.
I DON'T USE CREDIT CARDS. CAN I STILL BUY YOUR CLAY?
Yes, of course. We accept PayPal, money orders, and cashier checks. Please call us at (619) 840-8467 to place your order.
IS MY ONLINE TRANSACTION SECURE?
Yes! All credit card and financial transactions that occur on this website are completely secure. When you submit your order, you are redirected to either the PayPal site or our credit card processor, authorize.net. Both processors encrypt your sensitive financial information so the only person who can see it is you. Sensitive information is encrypted via our Secure Socket Layer (SSL) certificate. Each year, we are required to meet compliance requirements. You can click on the CompliAssure Secured banner visible throughout the site for more details.
We can also take credit card information over the phone and process your payment manually. Call us at (619) 840-8467 to order by phone.
WHAT IS YOUR RETURN POLICY
If you are dissatisfied at any time within the first 30 days of your purchase of any Earth’s Living dry powder clay product, please email Customer Care orders@earthsnaturalclay.com for a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA). You will be sent an RMA via email. Simply ship the remaining product along with your contact information and the RMA with delivery confirmation to 1110 Rosecrans Street, Suite 202, San Diego, CA 92106. Upon receipt, your will be issued a refund for the full purchase price, not including shipping in either direction.
Clay Use
CAN EARTH'S NATURAL CLAY BE TAKEN INTERNALLY?
Thousands of people around the world use calcium bentonite clay internally for many reasons. Click here to learn more about geophagy – the practice of ‘eating’ clay.
Earth’s Natural Clay drinking clay is among those safe for internal consumption. In addition, Earth’s Natural Clay offers bath clay for external use. When comparing clays for internal use, it’s important to follow manufacturer’s recommendations on use, as some are intended solely for external use. To learn more about the differences between these, see our Compare Clays page.
Featured Video: How to Mix Calcium Bentonite Clay for Internal Use
CAN I DRINK BENTONITE CLAY USED IN WINE MAKING?
Based on our research and knowledge, we would not drink clay used in wine production. Although you might think it’s safe because the wine will be consumed, there is additional processing that takes place before the wine is bottled, including fermentation. Ask the vendor if it is safe to drink internally as well as for a microbial analysis. You want to make sure it’s been tested for pathogens. There are many grades of clays on the market, not all are suitable for human consumption.
Many people prefer calcium bentonite to sodium bentonite because it is gentler on the system. People have reported some sodium bentonites as having an unpleasant taste. And of course, sodium is the primary element after silica dioxide in sodium bentonite clay, which some are sensitive to as well. Our sodium bentonite bath clay is for external use only.
CAN I OVERDOSE ON CLAY? HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH?
It’s unlikely an individual can overdose using clay. One would have to ingest 40% of their body weight in clay to "overdose." Constipation is a signal from the body that an abundance of putrefied fecal matter, mucous, and other unwanted toxic sludge is exiting the body at once. It is a sign that the clay is working. However, suffering the discomfort of constipation is not necessary. The options are to either 1. cut the amount of clay being consumed in half, or 2. add a natural laxative such as prune juice, raisins, or flax seeds to the diet to relieve the constipation.
CAN I USE CLAY WHILE BREASTFEEDING OR PREGNANT?
Yes, women who breastfeed drink clay. In fact, in some cultures, women seek out clay to ingest to increase fertility. In the book “The Healing Power of Clay” by Michel Abehsera, the author cites pregnant women using the clay both internally and externally. Drinking clay while breastfeeding allows the newborn to safely ingest the clay as well.
HOW DO I CHOOSE THE RIGHT CLAY FOR ME?
Any type of clay you buy should be from a reputable source. They should have a physical address and phone number and you should be able to speak to a live person via telephone and get a response from a real person via email.
The particular vendor should tell you if their clay is safe for internal consumption. Don’t make that assumption yourself.
Check to see if they have a mineral analysis and bacterial analysis available and inquire why not, if not.
The screen mesh is important for internal consumption, since the higher the mesh, the better the clay mixes in water or juice. You’ll want the clay to hydrate well during the mixing process. Our calcium bentonite dry powder clay clay is milled to 325 screen mesh.
Inquire about the processing of the clay. Has it been irradiated or treated with an alcohol wash or heat to destroy microorganisms? If so, it’s likely that the beneficial elements of the clay have been compromised. Our calcium bentonite green clay is sun-dried in the Mojave Desert area of California in temperatures reaching up to 130°F. Our clay has neither been irradiated nor treated with heat or alcohol. This is where the use of the word "pure" comes in.
HOW DO I USE CLAY AS A FACE MASK? HOW OFTEN CAN I USE IT?
Mix either Earth’s Living drinking powder or bath clay with filtered water in a ratio of 1 part clay to 3 parts water in a glass bowl. Mix with either a wooden or plastic spoon until smooth and the consistency of sour cream. Leave covered overnight for best results. Apply thin layer to face, neck and body and allow to dry. May be left on up to an hour. Rinse off with warm water and wash cloth, as needed. Follow with a quality moisturizer.
Everybody responds differently to clay. Some of our customers report good results with a clay mask three times a week, others use it less frequently. Listen to your body and observe your results for optimal use.
Learn more about external uses of clay.
HOW DO I USE CLAY FOR GENERAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS?
For internal use, mix 1 part clay to 8 parts filtered water. Then shake it well and store in a food-grade plastic or glass container, preferably glass. Start taking 1 oz in the AM on an empty stomach. After 4 or 5 days, add a second 1 ounce dose before bedtime. Listen to your body. Some people increase their intake to 2 ounces in the AM and 2 ounces in the PM for general good health.
WHY DO SOME PEOPLE EXPERIENCE CONSTIPATION WHEN DRINKING CLAY?
Pure calcium bentonite clay is a strong catalyst that pulls substances that are positively-charged to it. Positively charged substances include impurities, toxins, fungus, free radicals, and bad bacteria. Often, people have putrefied fecal matter in their digestive tracts as a result of eating the Standard American Diet (SAD) for years. Constipation with clay use signals that the clay is pulling old feces from the nooks and crannies of the bowel into the digestive tract. It’s best to slowly begin initial use of clay internally. Work through the constipation by including psyllium husks, prunes, and other natural laxatives in the diet. Ceasing use of the clay may ease the constipation, but the old fecal matter remains in the colon.
WHY DO YOU RECOMMEND PEOPLE TAKING PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS CHECK WITH THEIR DOCTOR OR PHARMACIST?
The reason for this is in the event there are any metallic elements in any of the medications, the clay will likely pull those out of the medications and render them less effective. It’s suggested you wait three to four hours before or after taking such medications and drinking clay. Time-released medications are another story because they are released over time and you need to have that window for the medications to do their thing – again, if they have metallic elements. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you what’s in your medications. You can then decide what’s best for you.
WHY DOES MY SKIN GET RED AFTER USING CLAY EXTERNALLY
The skin may appear red initially, which means the clay has successfully done its job and has increased circulation to the area, aiding in healthy detoxification and rejuvenation. Learn more about external uses of clay.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.*