Playing in the Mud is Safe for Mercury/Heavy Metal Detox
Mud baths date back to the dawn of time. The ancient Romans valued mud baths as a preventative and curative measure where members of the entire population – male and female, young and old, ill and healthy – would gather to immerse themselves in the mud. In Egypt, Cleopatra used clay to preserve her complexion.
The Wappo Indians used mud baths of volcanic ash and spring waters for their health treatments. Other native species used clay to cure wounds, as well as paint caves. Sadly, in some countries, eating dirt has become a way of surviving.
Present day, we can still thank Mother Nature for the value of dirt. Mud baths have been used to treat everything from tired, achy muscles, radiation and chemical/pesticide exposure and heavy metal poisoning.
Very recently, some surprising and encouraging results have been reported when using clay baths to treat Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, Fibromyalgia and ADD.
Since one of the biggest benefits of a clay bath is the removal of heavy metals such as mercury and lead through the pores of one’s skin, there is definite hope that clay baths can play an increasingly bigger role in treating autistic patients. In the recent past, autistic children who have been taking clay baths on a regular have reported amazing improvement.
Capture and Eliminate Toxins
Clay, especially calcium Bentonite clay, acts as a chelator, which binds to heavy metals and has an incredible ability to absorb toxins that are excreted through the pores of the skin. In fact, one clay bath can actually release years of toxic pollutants such as mercury and other metals out of your body and into the bathtub.
The range of environmental toxins that could be triggering autism envelopes everything from the previously mentioned mercury to lead and other toxic metals, pesticides, food additives, flame retardants, phthalates (found in cosmetics and vinyl, including vinyl flooring), antibacterial soaps, pet flea shampoos, and even fluoride.
When chelators are used consistently, mercury and toxins begins to leave the body. If a clay bath is used long term, parents of autistic children will see significant improvement in functioning, even to the extent of their child no longer qualifying as autistic. Because mercury toxin is extremely dangerous, the chelation process must be done at a slow pace in order for this to be safe. Detoxing and chelating with calcium Bentonite clay baths is proving to be a key factor in success.
Calcium Bentonite clay carries a uniquely strong negative ionic charge, which causes it to “magnetically” attract any substance with a positive ionic charge (i.e., bacteria, toxins, metals, etc.). These substances are both adsorbed (sticking to the outside like Velcro) and absorbed (drawn inside) by the clay molecules.
Choosing the Right Clay
When selecting clay for healing and detoxing purposes, it’s important to remember that not all clays are created equal. Make certain that you are using a high quality, safe, healing clay. A clay that has additives may not have a strong drawing effect as one without additives. So, using weak clay to bath in would do you little good in chelating heavy metals. You want high quality raw clay in order to experience positive results in autistic children. Bentonite clay is often referred to as Living Clay, which is clean, raw and natural swelling.
The clay should be a natural, contaminant free calcium Bentonite Clay with a pH of 8.7 or higher. Look for a company that provides a mineral analysis sheet, a certified laboratory microbial test, and direct contact information including a phone number and physical address. There are too many “fly-by-night” companies out there, so make sure you are dealing with a reputable seller.
Clay should be stored in containers that are completely sealed, kept away from petroleum chemicals and should not come into prolonged contact with metals.
Bathe twice weekly in your clay bath for 3 months, which should dramatically reduce high levels of mercury. You should start to see muscle weakness associated with high mercury levels improve dramatically. Continue clay baths for another 5 months and even lower more levels of mercury.
Preparing Clay Bath
It’s important to follow the instructions on how to properly prepare a clay bath in order to experience best results.
- When using dry powder clay, scatter 2 cups into the running water, using your hands to mix any lumps of clay that form.
- To avoid lumps, premix clay and water with a 1:8 ratio in container, shake vigorously, allow to sit for a couple of hours and then shake again. Use 4 cups of liquid to your bath.
- Soak in the hot clay bath for 15-20 minutes.
- Submerge as much as the body as possible during the bath.
- The more clay used in the bath, the more powerful the response.
- If the user is too weak for a full detox bath, the Bentonite clay can be used as a footbath to introduce the body slowly to a healthy detox regime.
- Clay may turn dark and gooey from absorbing toxic substances released into the water from your skin. After the bath, scoop clay out of the water, discard and rinse clay out of your tub.
- Add nothing to the clay bath: no herbs, oils, fragrances, etc. Herbal treatments, or other skin treatments can be done after the clay bath if desired. The only exception to this rule would be the addition of natural sea salt, which simply acts as a tonic, and increases the ion exchange capability of the clay in a clay bath.
- Use only filtered bath water for each clay bath. If regular tap water is used during the clay bath, the body may absorb mercury toxins found in the tap water.
- The bath is usually accompanied by a feeling of intense relaxation and even exhaustion so they are best taken in the evening before bed.
After Clay Bath Treatment
- Where individuals with autism have a high level of toxins the immediate after effect can be one of hyper activity.
- The next couple of days usually sees the body calm down and the bather finds themselves feeling better, stronger and with higher energy levels.
- The bentonite detox baths should be accompanied by a switch to a healthy diet, exercise and where possible the avoidance of repeated exposure to toxins.
- It’s highly recommended to take supplements such as a multi mineral formula, vitamin B complex, zinc, magnesium, selenium, and vitamin B6 while taking these clay baths. Why? During the clay baths, many of one’s minerals will also be removed along with mercury toxins, so resupply on a constant daily basis in order not to experience negative side effects.
How does clay make all this possible? If you have tried clay baths for treating autistic children, please post your success or observations for others to benefit from your experience!
