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Using Clay Therapeutically
Clay has been used historically for many health uses. Any dry clay will work; my first clay was a #50 bag from a pottery supply outfit. Kaolin does not work well as it is very slippery, it is used for making porcelain. Clays with added sand or other ingredients used in pottery making should not be used. Since clay has become more popular for therapeutic use, it is easy to buy by the pound, and for years I use French green clay which is considered superior. I will post two sources I know of for anyone interested.
This book is the best one I know of, sadly it seems more or less out of print. I have bought 2 copies on Amazon over the years; my first copy I bought at a store in around 1980. No doubt there is info about using clay on websites too.
“Our Earth, Our Cure” by Raymond Dextreit, translated from French by Michel Abehsara.
The best way to have clay on hand: Use a large glass or pottery bowl, pour in dry clay, and add enough water to cover. Do Not Stir! Cover with a lid and let sit overnight. The next day the clay should be like a thick pudding. If it is stirred when adding water it degrades its use. Keep for use, and check to see if it start drying out, then add some water. No need to stir it.
It is excellent for burns, insect bites and stings, pimples, boils, facial masks as well as more serious injuries like sprains. Helps heal (and take pain away) from fingernails pounded by a hammer or pinched between things (ask DH how he knows), toenails that had a frying pan dropped them, (ask me how I know)... Takes the pain of of insect bites and stings and helps remove the poison as clay has drawing power. Even broken bones can benefit from clay. There are many more uses. I make my own clay based tooth powder and have used it for years; and add to my facial cleanser (recipes if anyone wants).
To use on small areas like bites or pimples, just scoop out with a spoon, and apply. For larger areas, a clay pack is needed. Similar to a castor oil pack but different. I used a clay pack on my left hand when I got a terrible burn years ago. Burns require cooling off first in with ice or best, cold with with ice cubes in it. Depends on how large the burn and what part of the body. First I soaked in icy cold water for maybe two hours, renewing the cold water as needed. Icy water relieves the pain of burns better than anything I know of. Then when I could remove my hand without screaming, I put lavender oil all over it, and covered with a thick clay pack, about ½ inch thick (or more), taped on a plastic bag to hold it all on, and put my hand in a large sock and finally went to sleep, way past midnight. In the morning the pain was gone, hand looked normal, and only a small pink spot was left, slightly sensitive. This was the worst burn I ever hand, the pain was maximum, and the cure was nothing short of miraculous. I would never ever be without clay on hand.
Clay packs can be used on abdominal problems, bruises, sprains and many other issues. For large areas a layer of cotton cheesecloth can put on the affected area and the clay spread on top of that, for easier taking off, and if need be, a new pack applied. I highly recommend the book above, even though not cheap, and Thrift books or other places may have cheaper.
Clay sources
I have gotten from these two sources and Starwest really went up, but this is the retail price. Herb.co is still decent. Other places (I just checked) are very high. You can look around.
https://www.herbco.com/p-436-green-clay-france.aspx
https://www.starwest-botanicals.com/category/french-green-clay/