Taking a detox bath is a great way to remove toxins and heavy metals from the body. My favorite herb to use for a detox bath is bentonite clay. After taking a bentonite clay bath, I feel so fresh and clean!
Bentonite Clay is a naturally-forming clay which magnetically pulls toxins, heavy metals and wastes from the body. In fact, it does such a great job that Peruvian Macaws eat bentonite clay before they eat poisonous fruit (which is their main source of food at certain times of the year).
Bentonite clay also lowers the body’s PH levels, making it a perfect substance to take internally or use externally.
How do you know if you have heavy metals in your body?
Most of us are bombarded with heavy metals on a regular basis. Here are ways we consume and breathe in heavy metals:
- Drinking water
- Eating non-organic produce
- Taking antibiotics
- Pesticides, herbicides, insecticides sprayed on lawns, gardens, in homes, etc.
- Cigarette smoke
- Paints
- Vaccinations
- Mercury dental fillings (high levels of mercury are released in the body every time you chew)
- Pharmaceutical drugs
- Skin-tightening creams
- Antiseptic creams
- Some ointments
- Using aluminum cookware
- Using foil when baking
- Using antiperspirant deodorants
Heavy metals in our body can lead to health problems, and some are serious:
- Muscle cramps
- Vomiting
- Bad breath
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Dermatitis
- Hearing damage
- Vision damage
- Cancers
- Brain damage
- Cerebral palsy
- Parkinson’s disease
- Etc.
- Etc.
One way to remove toxins and heavy metals is by taking a bentonite clay bath. It is typically recommended to take a clay bath about once a month. If you have never taken benonite clay baths, it’s a good idea to take one once a week for about a month, and then once a month. It’s impossible to remove all the metals in your body by simply taking one bath. Taking a detox bath on a regular basis will help to draw the metals out little by little that have accumulated over the years, plus clean out the metals we come in contact with on a regular basis.
How to take a detox clay bath
There are 2 ways to take a detox bath
1.
- Pour benonite clay in a bath of hot water, breaking up the clumps. Some recommend using a pound of clay per bath, others recommend 2 pounds. I always go with the two pounds to make sure there’s enough clay in the water to do a good job.
- Soak in the clay bath for 20-30 minutes. While soaking, grab pieces of floating clay and rub it behind the ears, around the neck, in the arm pits, on the underside of knees, around the groin area – this will help the body release more toxins through these areas. Metals tend to settle close to these areas of the body as well.
Or
2.
- Mix a couple pounds of benonite clay with enough water to make a thick muddy consistency. DO NOT USE ANY METAL AT ALL. Use glass or wood to stir and mix the clay. If you don’t use all that’s in the bowl, store in the fridge for about a week and use within that time. When the clay is mixed with water, it expires within a week, but keeps very long in the powdered form.
- Stand in the bathtub and rub the clay all over the body – face, neck, arms, chest, back, legs, feet, hands (scalp if you use toxic coloring on your hair), etc. For the best results, do not leave an inch of your body uncovered. Make sure to cover the groin area also, but not inside the private areas.
- Leave the clay on the body for 20-30 minutes. The clay will dry on your body and become hardened during this time. Turn on the shower and rinse well.
Note: The clay does not drain down with the water. Use paper towels to wipe the clay {and your toxins} from the tub.
I have used both methods for a detoxing bath. It seems to me that the second method does a better job of removing the toxins, but the first method is more relaxing.
After taking this bath and draining the water, you will notice black or green stuff mixed in with the clay – it may even be very slimy. You are seeing the wastes and toxins you’ve been carrying in your body, right before your very eyes!! What a wonderful feeling to be rid of it!
All bentonite clay is not created equal. Most of it is not mined for internal use and is not of the best quality.
The Bulk Herb Store carries Bentonite clay that is unsurpassed in purity and quality! You can find it HERE.
Getting rid of toxins and heavy metals is a step in the right direction for healing and preventing disease. Enjoy the purifying, clean, refreshing feeling of making a bentonite clay detox bath a part of your life!
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Jill…I’ve never heard of this detox bath. Sounds so refreshing afterwards. Thank you for the information.
Good to hear from you again! Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
I was told by the lady who sells Living Clay that it’s 2-3 cups in a bath. That’s a lot different than 1-2 pounds! Can you elaborate why this much more?
The amounts do sound a lot different, but 1 lb. of bentonite clay is about 2 cups, so it’s really about the same as what you’ve been told. This is also the amount recommended by the Bulk Herb Store for an adult bath. Thanks for the question! 🙂
Very interesting post. Thank you.
Thanks for stopping by, Linda!
Let me just tell you, my friend, the day I stumbled on your blog my entire family received a tremendous blessing. I have learned so much from you and am grateful for your willingness to freely share all that you are learning! I recently was searching for a good detox plan and stumbled on the Master Cleanse. I was hesitant, but then I saw that you had posted about your experience with it and I was sold! I am starting it tomorrow and I am confident that it will be yet another step toward improved health! I’m going to order some of this clay today, too! Thanks so much!
How sweet, dear Kasey! I am so glad I can say something to be of help to you! {hugs!}
Love your blog. I have fibromyalgia. Do you have remedies for this?
I haven’t studied fibromyalgia a whole lot, but have plans to study it out! I’ll post on it as soon as I have my info gathered. Thanks for stopping by!
I know this is an old thread, I hope you get this, Paige! I have fibro as well, and a few things have helped me tremendously.I use the clay and also dead sea salt baths, I have cut out around 80-90% of the sugar and processed foods from my diet, I eat and use organic foods and beauty products,and exercise using the t-tapp method ( t-tapp.com ) I hope this helps!!!
Thanks for sharing, Jill May! So glad these things have helped you!
Thank you for this, Jill! I will be ordering more benonite clay for this very purpose!
Thanks for all the wonderful information you share, and for linking up at Little Natural Cottage.
Let me know how you like it!! 😉
Interesting. Thanks for sharing this.
I ordered clay during April’s sale and took a clay bath, but I don’t think I used enough. 🙂 Gonna have to try it again, though I love the second idea you mentioned much better! It seems like it would be much easier to keep it from going down the drain that way.
This sounds like something I’d love but is it safe during pregnancy?
Detoxing is not recommended during pregnancy – I would wait to do this until after. I do know of ladies that use a little of this clay internally during pregnancy for nausea. Thanks for the question! 🙂
I take also taken bentonite clay internally during pregnancy- it is WONDERFUL for releiving morning sickness. Just be sure to drink a lot of water!
I did my first “clay bath” yesterday- wow! It was great (and quite messy!). I bought enough to do one bath per week for a month. Looking forward to getting rid of some toxins!
Jill, I’m featuring you this week at our Natural Living link-up! Thanks again for this great post.
Thank you so much for featuring me!! Glad you enjoyed your bath! 🙂
I’ve been looking to do a detox since I stopped nursing baby #3, I cannot wait to try this! Sounds more frugal and less work than juicing, although I would try that as well if I could get a juicer 🙂 Featured your post this week at Thrifty Thursday, thanks for linking up! http://www.thepurposefulmom.com/2012/06/thrifty-thursday-16.html
Is this safe if you are breastfeeding?
The Bulk Herb Store says “Bentonite clay can be used to benefit anyone: men, women (including before, during or after pregnancy, and nursing), children, and animals”, but you should not specifically use it for detoxing while nursing.
I have also read not to do detoxing of any kind while breastfeeding. Toxins tend to accumulate in fat and can migrate to your breastmilk. I’m currently breastfeeding and will wait to try this until we’re done just to be safe….it’s not worth taking a chance.
I just checked out the Bulk Herb Store and they sell Bentonite Clay for $8 a pound. You say to use 1-2 pounds per bath and when you are starting out to take a bath weekly. Sounds like that gets expensive quick at $16 a bath. Am I understanding correctly??
Yes that is the correct amount and price. You could use just 1 lb., and if you can’t start out taking one weekly for a month, you can do it less often – just whatever you can afford. Accumulated toxins can lead to expensive, serious health problems, so if you look at it that way, it can really be a savings in the long run! 🙂
Is this safe for children of all ages? I’d like to do the detox bath #2 for my children (age range 11 months to 10 years).
Alissa,
I have never used this for children younger than 2, and even then I do the bath for only 5 minutes or so. Thanks for the question!
Olive Leaf Extract is a gentle internal cleanse for infants and babies.
How much clay do you use for young children (ages 2&4)?
I would personally do half the amount recommended for adults. Just 1/2 cup to a cup.
For what it is worth, my husband works in plumbing, and they are very against Bentonite baths. Apparently, bentonite clay, even watered down, swells and makes plumbing nightmares in toilets and drains. Not sure if you have an extra wonderful kind you are usings, but they have all sworn against ALL forms of it.
And, this is just after I mentioned that I planned to try this. 🙁 Argh!
I don’t let the clay go down the drain, Heidi, but wipe it out. I definitely agree that it should be wiped out and not allowed to drain – the best you can. Thanks for the reminder! 🙂
Jill, how exactly does that work when doing the bath? Does it stay somewhat separate from the water so it’s scoop able before you drain the tub?
You can scoop out the clumps as best you can and wipe out the excess once it drains. You can also lay a coffee filter over the drain to help catch the clay.
Can you take these baths while pregnant? And how about for young children?
Detoxing is not considered safe while pregnant, but you can take bentonite internally during pregnancy. The Bulk Herb Store has info on this.
I have never used this detox bath for under age 2.
Thanks for the questions!
will foot baths work just the same Jill?
Minnie,
Foot baths are great to do! A whole body detox is even better though because the clay is applied to lymph nodes and glands, pulling more toxins out of the body.
Thanks for sharing. I have a question. In the text, it is stated ” When the clay is mixed with water, it expires within a week, but keeps very long in the powdered form. ”
Can you enlighten me on this? Thanks.
The clay is in powdered form when you purchase it and keeps for a long time. When you mix it with water, you need to use it within a week so it doesn’t spoil.
Indeed stuff… You are incredible! Found very informative text. I’m looking forward to next more interesting posts. Just keep it up…
Is it safe to use pure magnesium oil after the clay bath,or is that to much?
I don’t know why there would be any harm in that in the least, but I would check with a local naturopath doctor if you are concerned. 🙂
I want to detox my 18 month old daughter from vaccines. How much clay should I use for her and how often?
I would probably just use 1/2 pound and give a bath once a week for a month, and then once a month after that. This is just my personal opinion. 🙂
How many months I should continue to do this? And how will I know when she’s been “detoxed”?
Tasha,
I’m really not sure. Some people use bentonite clay every month continuously because we come in contact with toxins on a regular basis. I would get an opinion of a naturopathic doctor.
Cleansing is indeed very important to do. Vegetable and fruit are a big help. I always find my fiber intake lacking so to substitute for it, I take Lady Soma Fiber Cleanse is my complete fiber solution. I use this as a a daily fiber supplement. Check it out http://www.ladysoma.com/lady-soma-fiber-cleanse-with-probiotics.html
The blog is quite impressive; you just make it more remarkable by build the quality of the content. I’m looking forward to reading each of them!
Hi is it safe to have the clay baths if I have many metal filling? Worried I might just ‘shift’ metals around my body
It is very possible for the mercury to enter the body when chewing, so I think it is especially important to do the clay baths if you have metal fillings.
Thank you for this information. I am just beginning to learn about herbs. Would this bath be helpful during illness? Are detox symptoms to be expected with this bath?
Hi Heather! I tend to take epsom salt baths during times of illness and bentonite clay baths when I want a deep detox. A person may experience detox symptoms with a clay bath, though I have never experienced anything too significant. I normally feel very refreshed, but tired also.
What do you cook on? I think most of our baking sheets are probably aluminum?
I prefer stoneware for baking. If I use metal, I make sure it’s stainless steel.
How much clay for a three year old? Also, if bought in bulk, how long and where can this stuff be stored?
If there are metals in the water, do I run the risk of having these pass through the pores of my toddler during a detox bath? Or will the clay help gather them? I bought a shower filter but was wondering, as filters don’t completely eliminate all toxins out of the water. Someone told me detoxing is an osmosis process, so pores open up and only allow a one way direction, but that was just their opinion so I wanted to clarify.
Thank you!
Hi, Anna! I would use 1-2 cups for that age. Herbs can be stored in the refrigerator, but a dark cabinet is sufficient and is where I store mine. Dried herbs stay potent for 2-3 years, but I use them for up to 5 years just fine. Once they lose their color or start smelling musty, I throw them out. The clay would help with any metals in the water as well. Heavy metals literally cling to the clay like a magnet. Thanks for the questions!
Jill recently posted…How to Reduce Water Retention in Pregnancy
I have never used clay but used dead sea bath salt and it was super calming and energizing. Clay also sounds good, as it is natural and much better than chemical infested soaps.