Suzy - While it is best to find one's own natural source of clay, a few things need to be kept in mind:
Above ground clay is at risk for contamination from the environment, especially in areas that are heavily populated and/or areas that receive heavy yearly precipitation. Bentonite that has been subject to leeching from water sources is of questionable value as well. We've had some REALLY strange substances sent to us over the years to evaluate. For the adventurous spirit: If one finds a natural source of clay, in nature or on one's property, the first thing one needs to do is locate the original vein. If there is clay above ground, digging in the right spot will often reveal the subterranean source. The vein itself will appear almost like solid rock. The clay itself, once exposed ( it will often be slightly moist ), will start to dry - one can take a "chunk" of this clay, allow it to dry, and carefully examine it. Look for imbedded sand. When dry, the "peice" of clay should not crumble, nor have white spots, ect., caused from things like salt and sulphur. While sulphur contaminated clays do have uses, they are not usually considered high quality for internal use or external healing use ( they can have good skin purifying properties, however ). If one sees a small amount of "black squiggly lines" ( there is a formal name for these, but at the moment I can't recall it! ) embedded in the clay, this is fine. What these are are the reminants of ancient plant life ( most likely hundreds of thousands of years old ). It is, perhaps, just these characteristics that makes a natural clay so much more effective than a store-purified brand. Next, take this dried clay and poor a touch of water onto it. In short order, it should start to crackle and small fissures will appear in the clay. When adding water, the clay should expand about 4X, although this process can take between 12 and 48 hours, depending on how it is done. If the clay is grey to green clay, and it does not expand, it could either be a sodium bentonite or a contaminated bentonite. Often times, clay that has been exposed to leeching, either recently or in the past, will have a strong resistance to water and will be very difficult to combine ( when done properly, one does not need to "mix" the clay at all, with a little patience ). Of course, there are many different kinds of clay as well as bentonite. Some are not highly effective, while some are much more rare and have unexplored potential. Kaoline in particular should be disgarded, not because of any harmful properties, but it is a particularly popular filler clay that reduces effectiveness. Pure purple clays have unknown qualities but have been used for healing by indigenous cultures worldwide. Grey to green clay is bentonite. White clay has incredible skin rejuvination properties ( it's fairly hard to find ). Pure yellow clay has unknown qualities but has also been used for healing by indigenous cultures worldwide. The wisest course to go is to find a source of clay that has been used by ( in our case ) "Native Americans" through the years. This, at first glance, seems like an easy proposition. It is not! Either the local tribes have lost their own healing artforms, or they simply refuse to discuss the issue with outsiders. Don't expect help from sources like the Chamber of Commerce, etc. on sources either. Three years ago, I stumbled upon a mural painted ( modern ) on the side of a wall in Truth or Consquences, NM, which depicted an annual meeting of tribes at the "seven sacred hotsprings". Upon inquiry, a knowledgable local explained that in preperation, local white clay would be gathered i preperation for the event, which included purification ceremonies. It was further explained that a small deposit used to be used by some locals many years ago, before a trailer park was built on top of the site. I pursued the issue further with the local Commerce Department, which venomously denied that there was, or ever was, any deposit of white clay or any other such clay in the county. Of course, the fact that they were so passionately adamant tipped me off that there indeed WAS a source somewhere. It took me another two years of intermittent searching to find the deposit location. I haven't been there yet, but have been in email correspondance with an individual who owns a hotsprings resort near the location. They'd long marvelled at the substance, but it seems nobody could figure out a use for it. Interesting, because some resorts pay hundreds to thousands of dollars per 50 gallon drum for supposedly high grade clay to use in body and herbal wraps ( not as effective as pinpoint treatments, but rejuvinating none the less ). It's certainly not adviseable to start ingesting natural clays without a great deal of experience or at least extensive knowledge of the deposit itself. ----- Original Message ----- From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Sent: Wednesday, May 09, 2001 12:06 AM Subject: Re: CS>bentonite (OT) Tracy, this does sound intriguing! We have a lot of various clays in our are, and I am also wondering about the texture, and in knowing which clay might be comparable. suzy A.V.R.A. Can you tell us please how to make out own bnetonite? Which source do you recommend. I am sorry if this might sound odd, but I sent you mail to a friend who uses bentonite, as she has become intrigued since reading your post. She asked me to ask you how to make your own B? Does this make sense? Thanks Tracy
