Bentonite Clay

Bentonite is a natural clay composed mainly of montmorillonite with other associated minerals such as feldspar, calcite and quartz. Owing to its high cation exchange, large surface area and ability to form thixotropic gels with water and to absorb large quantities of gas, it presents a large medicinal application.

Healing properties of bentonite are derived from the crystalline structure of the smectite group, which is composed of two octahedral alumina sheets localized between two tetrahedral silica sheets. This structure is behind the ability to intercalate cationic bioactive agents and undergoes interaction with various toxic species and exchanging in return species such as Fe3+, Cu2+, Al3+ Ca2+ or Na+, presenting antibacterial activity and providing essential minerals to the body. Furthermore, due to to its layered structure, bentonite has wide application for the design of biomaterials providing, thus, the stability of bioactive agents and preventing them from aggregation.

For a long time bentonite has been used externally on skin. Bentonite could act as a barrier for toxic organophosphorous compound transfer across the skin, which suggests its physical protective action on skin. 

In diaper dermatitis, which is one of the most common skin disorders of infancy, bentonite is reported to act better and faster than calendula, the current treatment of this type of dermatitis. Moreover, Bentonite was found to be effective in the treatment of chronic hand dermatitis

Bentonite is also shown to act efficiently in healing of skin lesions and ulcers.

Reference:

Mahmoudi M, Adib-Hajbaghery M, Mashaiekhi M. Comparing the effects of Bentonite & Calendula on the improvement of infantile diaper dermatitis: A randomized controlled trial. Indian J Med Res. 2015 Dec;142(6):742-6. doi: 10.4103/0971-5916.174567. PMID: 26831423; PMCID: PMC4774071.

Rafiei B, Amini Manesh A. Mineralogy of shampoo-clay deposit in Tafresh area, central province. GeoSci. 2007;16:180–3.

Srasra E, Bekri-Abbes I. Bentonite Clays for Therapeutic Purposes and Biomaterial Design. Curr Pharm Des. 2020;26(6):642-649. doi: 10.2174/1381612826666200203144034. PMID: 32013819.

Moosavi M. Bentonite Clay as a Natural Remedy: A Brief Review. Iran J Public Health. 2017;46(9):1176-1183.