Clay Therapy: A Bioregulatory Guide to Bentonite Clay Therapy and Natural Healing

BRMI Staff

Clay therapy is one of humanity’s oldest healing practices, yet it remains one of the most relevant bioregulatory tools available today. Rooted in earth medicine and increasingly validated by modern research, therapeutic clays—especially bentonite—help regulate the skin, gut, extracellular matrix (ECM), lymph, and detoxification pathways.

Whether applied to the skin or taken internally, clay therapy offers remarkable versatility—reducing toxic load, calming inflammation, strengthening vital biological interfaces, and supporting the body’s innate systems of self-regulation and repair. Its therapeutic uses reach far and wide: soothing burns, clearing acne, easing digestive distress, balancing the gut terrain, supporting wound healing, relieving joint discomfort, and restoring harmony wherever irritation or imbalance exists.

Modern science is now explaining what ancient healers observed firsthand. Research continues to uncover clay’s underlying mechanisms of action—from powerful adsorption to ion exchange and barrier support—providing a clear foundation for its longstanding role in natural medicine.

Clay Therapy Through a Bioregulatory Lense

In bioregulatory medicine, where the aim is always to strengthen the terrain and restore coherence, clay therapy offers a low-force, mineral-rich, deeply supportive intervention that works with the body’s natural intelligence rather than against it.

Bioregulatory medicine seeks to support the interconnected systems that maintain equilibrium: the skin, gut barrier, lymphatic pathways, microbiome, and ECM. Clay therapy supports these systems in four interconnected ways.

1. Reducing the body’s toxic & inflammatory burden

Clay reduces the body’s toxic and inflammatory burden by binding irritants, free radicals, metabolic wastes, heavy metals, and microbial byproducts on the skin and in the gut. By reducing the “incoming load,” clay lightens the workload of the liver, kidneys, lymph, and ECM.

2. Strengthening biological interfaces

Clay strengthens biological interfaces. The skin and gut are highly intelligent communication hubs. Clay enhances their integrity by forming protective films, supporting mucosal repair, reinforcing tight junctions, and reducing permeability—central bioregulatory functions.

3. Supporting natural drainage pathways

Clay assists natural drainage pathways. By decreasing irritants at the body’s surfaces, clay indirectly supports lymphatic flow, reduces ECM stagnation, and improves immune signaling.

4. Respecting the body’s self-healing intelligence

Clay therapy honors the body’s self-healing intelligence. Instead of forcing a biochemical response, it creates conditions in which the body can restore balance on its own.

Clay's Balancing Effect

As Neil Bosshardt explains, many people found that clay seemed to “bring the body into balance,” offering one type of support to one person and something entirely different to another. For example, families who incorporated clay regularly noticed improvements in conditions ranging from arthritis to acne to digestive complaints.

In households that followed the guidance in Raymond Dextreit’s Our Earth Our Cure, drinking clay water often supported gentle, regular bowel movements and overall digestive regulation. Remarkably, clay has the capacity to help both diarrhea and constipation, underscoring its harmonizing, rather than forceful, action on the intestinal terrain.

What Makes Bentonite Clay Therapy So Unique?

Clay’s healing power emerges from its mineral structure, electrical properties, and broad-spectrum physiologic effects.

1. Adsorption (not absorption)

Adsorption is clay’s ability to attract and bind substances to its surface. Bentonite can bind mycotoxins, heavy metals, inflammatory molecules, metabolic wastes, bacterial toxins, and excess sebum. This mechanism is at the root of both its detoxifying properties and its benefits for skin health.

2. Ion Exchange

Clay’s layered mineral structure carries a natural negative charge, allowing it to exchange ions with its environment. This exchange:

• binds positively charged toxins

• buffers pH

• modulates inflammatory signaling

• enhances detoxification pathways

3. Film Formation

When clay is applied to skin or mucosa, it forms a protective, breathable film that:

• reduces irritation

• prevents microbial adherence

• supports hydration

• promotes tissue repair

This is key in dermatitis, wounds, eczema, and post-procedure skin care.

4. Additional Scientific Context

Bentonite’s therapeutic power rests on three qualities: its negative charge, its alkalinity, and its mineral content. The negative charge attracts positively charged toxins and metabolic wastes without affecting beneficial nutrients. Its alkalinity helps counteract the acidity of modern diets and stress. And its seventy trace minerals may support subtle mineral imbalances or deficiencies.

Raymond Dextreit and Neil Bosshardt both emphasize a critical point: not all clays are medicinal. Many clays lack therapeutic properties entirely. Bentonite—also known as montmorillonite—is one of the most effective healing clays, but even among bentonites there are significant variations: sodium-based, calcium-based, and mixed types, each with distinct swelling behaviors and therapeutic potential. This is why Dextreit’s timeless advice still holds: experiment carefully until you find a clay that consistently supports your needs.

Clay Therapy for Skin Health

(Topical Applications: The Most Evidence-Backed Use)

Skin is a living, dynamic organ—and a crucial component of the bioregulatory terrain. Clay therapy supports its structural, immune, and barrier functions in profound ways.

Dermatitis, Rashes & Sensitive Skin

A randomized controlled trial examining a bentonite-based cream for diaper dermatitis found:

• faster healing

• greater reduction in redness

• better improvement within 3 days

• and higher caregiver satisfaction compared to a calendula preparation.

Why it works:

• binds irritants

• reduces moisture & friction

• calms inflammation

• forms a protective film

• inhibits yeast & bacteria

Bioregulatory significance: By removing irritants and decreasing inflammatory mediators on the skin, clay reduces the load on lymphatic and immune pathways.

Acne, Sebum, and Congested Skin

Among therapeutic clays, bentonite and French green clay have the strongest results for acne-prone or oily skin.

Clinical research shows clay masks can:

• significantly reduce sebum levels

• improve pore appearance

• decrease lesion counts

• reduce C. acnes bacterial activity

• calm redness & inflammation

What this means bioregulatorily: Clay restores balance at the skin’s interface, decreasing the inflammatory burden and supporting microbiome recalibration.

Wound Healing & Tissue Repair

This is one of the most compelling areas of clay therapy research.

Clay promotes wound closure, stimulates collagen production, improves circulation, and provides broad antimicrobial support. Historically, it has been used for chronic wounds, infections, ulcers, and radiation-induced skin irritation.

Bosshardt recommends keeping a jar of pre-mixed clay gel in the home—thick enough not to drip, yet soft enough to spread without pressure. This gel never spoils or separates, making it ideal for burns, cuts, insect bites, and children’s minor injuries. For joint pain or arthritis, a thick layer can be applied and left on overnight, with many people experiencing significant relief after just one application.

Burns require special care: clay must never be allowed to dry on a burn. The gel should be applied generously, covered with plastic wrap or a damp cloth, and changed regularly. Drying clay can intensify pain, whereas moist clay soothes and accelerates recovery. For non-burn poultices, allowing clay to gradually dry can stimulate circulation, reduce pain, and support deeper repair.

French green clay, in particular, appears in multiple wound-care reviews for chronic ulcers, burns, and post-surgical wounds.

Rhassoul clay, with its higher magnesium content, is particularly soothing in heat-related skin injuries.

Bioregulatory interpretation: Clay enhances the body’s innate repair mechanisms while simultaneously reducing local toxicity and inflammation.

Barrier Strengthening & Beauty Applications

Cosmetic-dermatology studies reveal that clays:

• improve elasticity

• reduce dryness

• even skin tone

• decrease roughness

• improve firmness

• remove environmental pollutants

Rhassoul clay studies show measurable improvements in elasticity and clarity, making it ideal for sensitive or mature skin.

Clay Therapy for Gut & Internal Terrain

Internal bentonite clay therapy should always be approached mindfully and with clinical awareness. But when used appropriately, the benefits are significant.

Mycotoxin Binding

Bentonite binds aflatoxins with exceptional affinity, reducing their absorption and protecting the liver. Research in both animals and humans shows decreased toxin biomarkers and improved physiological resilience.

Digestive Regulation

Clay supports healthy digestion by binding bacterial toxins, soothing inflamed mucosa, reducing irritation, and regulating stool consistency. It has demonstrated benefit for acute and chronic digestive disturbances.

Families using bentonite internally observed wide-ranging improvements—from arthritis and acne to colitis and celiac-related symptoms—reflecting clay’s broad effect on systemic regulation through the gut.

Internal Use Method

A traditional internal method involves adding one teaspoon of bentonite to eight to twelve ounces of water. The mixture may be consumed immediately or allowed to settle. Once settled, the minerals infuse the water while sediment remains at the bottom. Users may drink only the clear water or shake the mixture and consume all of it—both approaches appear effective. Frequency varies from daily detoxification to occasional mineral support or symptom relief for heartburn, hiatal hernia, or digestive irritation.

Gut Barrier & Microbiome Support

Clay strengthens intestinal tight junctions, reduces permeability, decreases endotoxin absorption, and supports microbial diversity. These effects can improve inflammatory regulation, metabolic stability, and immune function.

Microbiome Modulation

Clay therapy doesn't sterilize the gut—it shifts it.

Studies show:

• increased microbial diversity

• reduced pathogenic dominance

• improved SCFA production in animal models

• enhanced metabolic resilience

These changes may contribute to improved outcomes in metabolic disorders, obesity models, and liver conditions.

Metabolic & Systemic Benefits (Emerging Evidence)

Early studies suggest:

• lower cholesterol and triglycerides

• improved glucose regulation

• reduced liver fat (NAFLD models)

• reduced phosphate levels in CKD

• improved inflammatory markers

These effects appear secondary to improvements in gut barrier, toxin load, and inflammation—all hallmarks of bioregulatory health.

Safety and Hydration

Clay is remarkably safe when sourced responsibly. In over fifty years of use, Bosshardt reports no allergic reactions and no harmful side effects. The most common issue is constipation when clay is taken without adequate hydration—much as excessive vitamin C can cause diarrhea. With proper water intake, clay is generally well-tolerated.

How Bentonite Clay Helps Reduce Arthritis Pain

Bentonite clay’s remarkable ability to ease arthritis pain comes from several overlapping mechanisms that work both locally and systemically. When applied as a poultice, bentonite draws out inflammatory byproducts, calms irritated tissues, and stimulates microcirculation around the joint. This improved circulation helps remove metabolic waste, reduces swelling, and brings fresh nutrients to the affected area, creating an environment more conducive to repair.

At the same time, clay’s natural adsorption capacity allows it to bind pro-inflammatory molecules that accumulate near arthritic joints, helping to quiet the inflammatory cascade that drives pain and stiffness. Its cooling, soothing effect further reduces surface irritation and muscle guarding, often leading to noticeable relief overnight.

Some individuals also experience benefits from internal clay use. By reducing systemic toxic load, supporting gut integrity, and modulating inflammatory pathways, internal clay can indirectly influence joint health—a classic example of bioregulatory medicine, in which improving the terrain helps resolve symptoms elsewhere in the body.

Together, these actions explain why clay poultices have been used for centuries for arthritis relief, and why many modern users report rapid, sometimes dramatic improvements in comfort and mobility.

Additional Therapeutic Applications

Oral & Dental Care

Clays provide mild abrasion and pH buffering, removing bacteria and plaque without damaging enamel.

Hair & Scalp Care

Rhassoul and French green clay:

• detoxify the scalp

• reduce oiliness

• soothe itching

• add volume and shine

Mineral Balancing (Topical)

Clay contains silica, magnesium, and trace minerals that nourish the skin and regulate pH—but internal mineral supplementation from clay is minimal.

Choosing the Right Clay

Bentonite / Montmorillonite Best for: detox, gut therapy, dermatitis, acne, wound support. Mechanisms: adsorption + ion exchange + barrier formation.

Kaolin Best for: sensitive skin, diarrhea, inflamed mucosa.Mechanisms: gentler adsorbent; soothing and softening.

French Green Clay Best for: wounds, infections, oily skin, inflammatory lesions.Mechanisms: strong adsorption, mineral-rich, anti-inflammatory.

Rhassoul Best for: hair, dry or combination skin, cosmetic use.Mechanisms: magnesium-rich, softening, balancing.

Safety & Bioregulatory Precautions

Clay therapy is safe when used correctly—but guidelines matter.

Mineral Cravings & Instinctual Use

Humans and animals alike instinctively turn to clay when their bodies need mineral support. Pregnant women sometimes crave clay, reflecting changes in nutrient demand. Dairy cows offered clay free-choice often consume large amounts after calving, then naturally reduce intake as their physiology stabilizes—an example of clay’s role in restoring balance.

Quality, Purity & Prop 65 Considerations

Many therapeutic clays carry a Prop 65 warning because of naturally occurring trace minerals. Yet high-quality clays may contain less lead than everyday vegetables like broccoli or collard greens. The Redmond Clay used by the Bosshardt family for decades is a bentonite with characteristics of both sodium and calcium forms, offering balanced swelling and consistent therapeutic effects.

Avoid internally if:

• you take medications with narrow therapeutic windows

• you have a history of bowel obstruction

• you are pregnant (unless supervised)

General precautions:

• Ensure clay is tested for heavy metals

• Separate from medications by 3–4 hours

• Hydrate well with internal use

• Use therapeutic, not industrial-grade clays

Bioregulatory perspective:

Clay should support—not interfere with—physiological regulation.Internal use is best done short-term, therapeutically, and purposefully.

Q & A: Clay Therapy Essentials

Does clay therapy “detox” the body?

Yes—but in a specific way. Clay binds toxins that are present in the gut, such as mycotoxins, bacterial toxins, and certain metals. It does not extract toxins from deep tissues.

Are all bentonites medicinal?

No. Some bentonites possess extraordinary therapeutic potential, while others have little effect. Variations in mineral composition, swelling capacity, and purity all influence outcomes.

Is daily internal use recommended?

Not generally. Short-term therapeutic use is supported by studies; long-term daily use is not well researched.

Can clay replace probiotics or liver detox supplements?

No.But it complements them by reducing the toxic burden, allowing the microbiome and liver to function more efficiently.

Is clay therapy safe for children?

Topically, yes (excellent for rashes).Internally—only with professional guidance.

Is clay therapy compatible with bioregulatory modalities?

Absolutely. Clay therapy pairs beautifully with:

• lymphatic stimulation

• sauna

• homeopathy

• herbal drainage remedies

• craniosacral therapy

• detox support protocols

• ECM restoration strategies

Because it works at the interfaces, clay therapy enhances the effects of other modalities that work deeper.

Concluding Thoughts

Clay therapy is a gentle yet powerful way to support the body's terrain—soothing the skin, strengthening the gut, lowering toxic load, regulating inflammation, and enhancing the body’s natural healing intelligence.

It stands as a perfect example of what bioregulatory medicine teaches:

When you support the body’s interfaces and reduce its burdens,the self-healing mechanisms awaken.

In an overstimulated, toxin-laden world, medicinal clay offers something profoundly simple:a return to the elements that heal.

References

1. Moosavi, M. “Bentonite Clay as a Natural Remedy.” Iranian Journal of Public Health (2017).

2. Ng, M. K., et al. “Human Health Applications of Calcium Montmorillonite Clay: A Systems-Based Review.” Cureus (2025).

3. Zafar, K., et al. “Cutaneous Benefits of Bentonite and Montmorillonite Clays.” (2024).

4. “Clay Therapy in Wound Healing.” Journal of Wound Management and Research (2024).

5. Phillips, T. D., et al. “NovaSil Clay for the Protection from Aflatoxins.” Toxins (2019).

6. Gao, X., et al. “Montmorillonite Powder and Intestinal Mucosal Barrier.” Medicine (2018).

7. Xu, P., et al. “Microbiome Remodeling via Montmorillonite.” EBioMedicine (2017).

8. Damato, A., et al. “Interactions of Clay Minerals with the GI Tract.” Frontiers in Veterinary Science (2022).

9. “Kaolin: Uses, Benefits & Dosage.” Drugs.com (2025).

10. WellnessMama + clinical summaries on Rhassoul Clay (2015–2019).

11. Hassen, J. H. “Medical Applications of Montmorillonite Clay.” (2023).

12. Hilda Labrada Gore, host, “Medicinal Clay Heals You Inside and Out with Neal Bosshardt,” Wise Traditions, episode 541, August 24, 2025, podcast.

Bioregulatory medicine is a total body (and mind) approach to health and healing that aims to help facilitate and restore natural human biological processes. It is a proven, safe, gentle, highly effective, drugless, and side-effect-free medical model designed to naturally support the body to regulate, adapt, regenerate, and self-heal. BRMI is a non-commercial 501(c)(3) foundation and will expand and flourish with your support. Our goal is to make bioregulatory medicine a household term.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for the direct care of a qualified health practitioner who oversees and provides unique and individualized care. The information provided here is to broaden our different perspectives and should not be construed as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.