What is clay… definition and properties…
Clay is a sedimentary rock, made up of numerous minerals such as silica, magnesium, phosphor and various other things,which give it super powers, including an amazing ability to absorb. Besides absorbing toxins, bacteria and other impurities, it locates the unwanted element and takes it prisoner, in order to eliminate it! All this by respecting the balance of the body and its bacterial flora (as opposed to antibiotics for example, which do the exact opposite).. Not bad huh?
>> To sum up, clay is a bit like “a super cleaner”… It goes where there is dirt and places that are unclean in our bodies, or in a wound or injury. It identifies the enemy, absorbs and neutralizes it, which makes the healing process so much easier…
Types and uses or clay..
Clay exists in many different colors, green, white, grey, yellow, pink etc…
- For beauty treatments, I specifically use the pink clay for a face mask, because the green is slightly too ‘rough’ for my skin … be careful not to leave the clay face mask on for too long, or to let it become too dry on your skin. Vaporize from time to time with a water spray (Avène for example) before rinsing..
- For therapeutic care and treatments, clay is very effective in the form of a thick poultice, hot or cold and applied more or less regularly, according to the problem. If it is a question of treating inflammation or in the case of a fever or burn, clay should be applied cold and changed regularly. To treat or revitalize an organ (liver, stomach, pancreas, heart) you should use a tepid or warm poultice, with possibly a hot-water bottle placed gently on top…Personally, I normally use green clay from ‘ Cattier‘ which comes in a large tube or a pot and can be found in most organic shops and pharmacies. It’s simply the one that I find the most efficient …..
Clay poultice .. For which ailments can it be used ?
All aches and pains and injuries, abscesses, cuts and grazes, open wounds, blisters, scabs, strains and sprains and whit-lows, can treated using a clay poultice. Clay in the form of a thick poultice, cleans the wound and absorbs all the nasties, the bacteria, pus, venom and everything that needs to be extracted … It stops the pain, reduces swelling and soothes insect bites. Thanks to clay, an infection will die down and an abscess, spot or herpes blister heal over more quickly … A thick layer of clay on a painful blister works wonders. Pierce it gently beforehand with a clean and sterilized needle to evacuate all the liquid, then apply the clay poultice. I have tried and tested this at least 10 times, on enormous and painful blisters, acquired in New York and I can tell you now, it works ! Do not hesitate to refresh the poultice as often as needed.. on swelling or inflammation the poultice should stay cold …
>> Don’t get me wrong, clay is not an alternative to medical care, in the case of an emergency like a serious injury or burn, but it is a natural remedy that soothes pain and helps the healing process.
- How to use clay Soothe a fever, hot flush, sun and other burns … For a fever, or hot flush, apply a cold poultice on the forehead or the stomach to absorb the heat. In cases of sunburn, apply to the areas of skin most affected. In the case of other burns, I have actually experimented myself several times with a clay poultice and I can confirm that it is very effective. Apply a thick, cold layer and change regularly. It soothes the pain and reduces the heat, preventing blistering and helping the skin scar properly. In each case, the poultice should be changed as soon as it becomes warm.
- If you have tooth ache … I have also successfully tested clay for dental problems (toothache, abscesses and wisdom teeth extraction). A poultice can help with these aches and pains before and after going to the dentist, especially if you have had a tooth removed, it can sooth the pain and remove the anaesthetists products, and minimize the risk of infection. For a better result, I use a cotton bud to apply directly to the tooth or the gum that is hurting. I add several drops of essential oils, specifically ” phytosum arôm spécial teeth ” and clay mixed together for a remarkably effective result.
- For winter aches and pains … A clay poultice on the throat, or chest, can be very effective when (you’re)suffering from bronchitis, tonsillitis or a typical winter cold. To be used in combination with edible clay, a hot water bottle, a hot lemon and honey and bed!
- Period pains ? For stomach pains, gastritis , indigestion, period cramps and internal organ fatigue , simply place the warm, clay poultice on the painful area, along with a hot water bottle, and drink clay diluted in water : clay milk ( see article 2 internal uses coming soon ).
- Sore eyes ? Believe it or not, clay can also be used effectively to help with conjunctivitis, other eye infections and eye fatigue. One day, my eye was hurting so much that I decided to try placing a mini poultice on it. I was suffering from conjunctivitis and my eye was burning. It soothed it instantly so I continued to replenish the poultice at regular intervals, adding floral water and chamomile, until the irritation went away… For circles under the eyes, apply a cold clay poultice (using kitchen roll or cotton wool to apply) Leave for several minutes on the closed eye and hey presto, goodbye panda eyes !
How to make a poultice ?
To save time, I use a large pot or container of the green clay, ready to use from “ Cattier” or the even bigger 400ml tube if I’m traveling (it goes without saying) that the large 400ml tube has pride of place in my suitcase.) You can also use powdered clay and mix it with warm or cold water, depending on your needs. Stir until you have a fairly thick and creamy consistency (always mix using a wooden spoon, never metal or plastic or anything than could change or damage the clay’sproperties)
1. Add a thick layer of clay either directly onto a compress, cabbage leaf/leaves or kitchen roll (organic), preferably slightly dampened with warm, tepid or cold water, depending on the required use.
2. Cover the clay with tissue or a moistened paper towel (if clay is next to the skin) or fold the tissue, containing the thick coat, in a way that enables the clay to stay “packed” and also so that it retains moisture.. You can add one or several wet wipes or moistened tissue on top of the poultice to ensure it stays damp.
3. Apply to the required area. Depending on the where it is on the body, you can keep the poultice in place by using a bandage or a scarf… Do not hesitate to lie down and rest once you have applied the clay poultice …
Good to know :
The clay poultice needs to be fairly thick and large enough to cover the affected zone or area. It can be applied directly to the skin or enveloped in a clean cloth, tissue or leaves, your choice 🙂 Never treat more than one organ at a time. For example: do not use the same poultice to cover the liver and the stomach. This applies to all organs ; only ONE at a time, always. You can leave the poultice in place for minimum one hour, usually two, and in some cases, all night ( if it is held firmly in place). Generally, you know when its time to change and refresh the poultice, you can sort of feel that it’s “full” and needs changing. Of course, never re use a clay poultice (this goes without saying). Throw it away after usage. However the remainder of the paste can be saved and used again. If it is a little dry, just add some water to it, until you have achieved the desired consistency.
>>It can sometimes happen, at the beginning of a treatment, that the body has a reaction to the clay. In reality this is not a worsening of the situation, just the beginning of the natural activation process and healing of the body that is defending itself, helped by the clay. Quickly this initial impression of pain or aggravation disappears as the body starts to heal.
Last words :
Finishing this first post on clay and its external uses, has been a little long, as it’s difficult, really, to divulge a complete list of all the benefits of this multifunctional remedy, which is relatively inexpensive to buy and 100% natural. Speaking of which there will be a second post discussing the internal uses… Clay for me is an indispensable ‘tool’ in my day to day life ; a gift from the earth that helps both young and old to heal efficiently and naturally. Not only that, but it is also very effective when used on animals, too. The applications and uses are the same for our furry and feathered friends. Of course there is no guarantee that they will keep the poultice in place (this goes for children too)
Nature has given us, the wonderful gift of clay; do not hesitate to use it …
If you have any questions or information that you would like to share, please post in the comments section.
xxxx
@tia
