Bentonite, which is also used as a raw material for natural cosmetic products, cleans it by entering the pores on the skin surface and removing bacteria and toxins to the surface. So, what is Bentonite, is it drinkable? What is bentonite clay, what are its benefits, what does it do?
What is Bentonite Clay?
Bentonite is a soft, porous and easily shaped open rock, predominantly in colloidal silica structure, consisting of clay minerals with very small crystals (mainly montmorillonite) formed by the chemical weathering or degradation of volcanic ash, tuff and lava rich in aluminum and magnesium.
Scientifically, it was formed as a result of the devitrification of glassy igneous rocks, usually volcanic ash and molds, consisting of smectite group minerals as the main mineral with soft, plastic, porous, light-colored properties and containing colloidal silica.
Bentonite clay is a natural clay with a fine, soft texture. It forms a kind of paste when mixed with water. Some people use this paste to treat problems such as rash and acne, while others use it for cosmetic purposes, such as making hair masks.
Bentonite occurrences in Turkey are located in Tokat Reşadiye, Biga Peninsula, Gallipoli Peninsula, Eskişehir and Ankara, Çankırı, Ordu, Trabzon, Elazığ, Malatya and Bartın regions.
What is the usage area of bentonite?
Due to the colloidal property and high plasticity of bentonite, it has the property of binding the sands used as mold material in casting.
It ensures that the drilling mud becomes viscous, the crumbs are carried up and water leaks are prevented. With the acid activation of Ca-Bentonites, which are used to lighten oils, the surface areas and spaces in the crystal are expanded, Fe, Ti, Ca, Na and K are separated from the crystal lattice structure of clay minerals, H+ - bonds are formed in their spaces, converted into bleaching earth and vegetable oils (olive oil) It is used as a filter material in the refining of sunflower, corn, sesame, soybean, palm, canola, cottonseed oils.
Bentonite, a type of clay, is widely used in many areas:
- foundry sand,
- iron ore pelletizing,
- paper industry,
- In drilling,
- tire industry,
- Food industry: Clarification process (Wine, fruit juice, beer), Bleaching process (Oil sector),
- fertilizer industry,
- paint industry,
- ceramic industry,
- cat litter,
- Pharmaceutical industry.
Is bentonite clay drinkable?
There are different interpretations about whether bentonite is drinkable or not. Drinkable bentonite clay binds to harmful pathogens in the body, preventing these harmful substances from mixing into the bloodstream from the intestines and facilitating their excretion from the body. When it can be consumed as a liquid, it can be used for colon cleansing, stomach ailments, mineral supplementation and detox. However, there are also opinions that say the opposite. There are also studies that determined that the presence of aluminum in bentonite causes aluminum poisoning, followed by diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and dementia.
In the article titled Clay Minerals and Health by Abdurrahim Dalgıç and Orhan Kavak, published in the Dicle Medical Journal in 2004, the following expressions were used for potable clays:
“The clay minerals used as gastrointestinal protectors are polygorskite and kaolinite minerals. The reasons for their use in treatment are high areal density and absorption capacity. These minerals adhere to the gastric and intestinal mucosa, protecting them and absorbing toxins, bacteria and even viruses. However, they also eliminate some enzymes and beneficial elements. Therefore, long-term use may have adverse effects. These minerals are given to the patient in the form of tablets, suspensions and powders. Although they can be partially decomposed by some environmental acids, they are excreted through the feces as they do not dissolve in the intestine and aqueous environments. Generally, smectite, despite its high areal density and absorbent capacity, is not used as a gastrointestinal preservative because its effect is lost when it comes into contact with gastric hydrochloric acid (pH 2) and/or intestinal hydrochloric acid (pH 6).”
Bentonite clay benefits
Sodium-based natural bentonite, which creates a negatively charged environment after mixing with water, removes toxins from the body due to its structure, and the minerals it contains are absorbed by the skin. For this reason, bentonite clay is used as a raw material in skin care masks.
Bentonite clay is negatively charged, but when activated by liquid, it fills with positively charged ions and attracts toxins. It binds to toxins and thanks to the mask, the toxins are quickly thrown out.
With this feature, bentonite clay draws a lot of dirt and oil from the scalp. This reduces the risk of dandruff, scalp sores and other problems.
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