VIDEO: 7 Ways to Detox Your Body, Belly, and Skin Using Bentonite Clay

A substance that’s derived from volcanic ash that you can drink and pat on a baby’s bottom? It might sound questionable, but fear not—bentonite clay is all-natural and totally magical.

This miracle ingredient is capable of drawing out toxins and impurities from the body. How? It possesses negative ions that act like a magnet to draw out impurities—toxins, viruses, parasites, fungi, bacteria—that carry a positive charge. In other words, they bind to the clay and get a one-way ticket out of your body.

Bentonite clay is also great for skin, and as beneficial to your outsides as it is to your insides. Grab a jar—we promise it will never collect dust on the shelf. Press play to learn seven weird and wonderful ways to use it every single day.

Digestive aid

Ingest the powers of bentonite clay with a simple, gut-friendly tonic. With a wooden spoon, mix 2 teaspoons of clay powder into a glass of water and drink it two hours before or two hours after a meal. Your tummy will thank you.

Detoxifying toothpaste

You’ve heard of DIY toothpaste using baking soda. Well, adding bentonite clay gives a natural toothpaste extra power to cleanse the mouth of nasty toxins and bacteria. Combine 2 to 3 cups baking soda, ½ teaspoon sea salt, 3 tablespoons clay powder, and 10 to 15 drops of peppermint oil. Just add water until the paste reaches the desired consistency and mix, mix, mix. Then drop it into a jar with a sealable lid; it should keep up to six months, so it’s ideal for everyday brushing.

Anti-itch cream

Know what feels even better than scratching an itch? Coating it with bentonite clay and letting it do its thing for an anti-itch cream that works like a dream. Just mix together 1 to 2 teaspoons of clay powder with ½ teaspoon water. Add 2 drops of tea tree oil (an antibacterial), and 2 drops of cooling lavender oil. Slather it on bug bites and let it sit for several minutes before rinsing it off. Cue a sigh of relief.

Bath detoxifier

For a relaxing, full-body detox, combine 2 cups of Epsom salt, 1 cup apple cider vinegar, 20 drops geranium oil, 20 drops lavender oil, ½ cup clay powder, and mix well. Add the concoction to a warm water bath before bed, and prepare to have the best sleep of your life. The next day, your body will feel like new. Use it about once a week, no more (as you don’t want to over-detox).

Burn healer

Bentonite clay can help heal burns by actually drawing out the heat. Here’s the trick. Form a paste with 2 teaspoons of clay powder and 1 teaspoon water, apply directly to the burn, and then wrap the area in plastic wrap followed by gauze. Leave on for 20 minutes. That burn will feel better in a flash.

Pore-cleansing facial mask

Those images of mud-covered faces that luxe spas advertise as part of their pampering services? It’s bentonite clay. And the secret’s out: This stuff only costs a few dollars and lasts forever. You never even have to leave the comfort of your bathroom for a deep pore-cleansing treatment, that will suck impurities from skin in minutes.

Just mix 2 tablespoons of clay powder with equal parts water (pro tip: apple cider vinegar is even better!). Apply the thick paste all over the face and let it dry for 10 to 15 minutes. You’ll feel your skin tingle—that just means it’s working! Wash it off with a warm washcloth and rehydrate the skin with some oil or moisturizer.

Baby powder alternative

No need to mess with conventional baby powder when your little one gets a case of diaper rash. Relief can be clean and safe with an all-natural, antimicrobial mix of 2 cups of clay powder and 2 tablespoons of arrowroot flour.

Video credits
Produced and Directed by: Liza Glucoft
Director of Photography: Naeem Munaf
Editor: Stephanie Provence