Table of Contents
What’s this
Green clay is one natural substance which originates from the erosion of rocks. It’s about a dust more or less fine, consisting mainly of silicates and aluminum, as well as numerous others minerals including iron, magnesium, calcium, manganese, sodium and potassium. The composition and percentages of the various elements can obviously vary according to the collection site. The clay is taken from deposits, after which it is cleaned, roughly chopped, mixed with water and dried in the sun, and then finally ground and put on the market.
It can be buy in herbal medicine and shops specializing in natural products for the person to a price which can vary from five to ten euros per kilo. In addition to green clay andventilated green clay – a very fine clay suitable for outdoor and indoor use – other types of clay can also be found for sale including white clay (also known as kaolin) and pink clay. Once purchased, clay should be stored away from moisture at room temperature. When using it, contact with metal utensils or containers should be avoided, therefore preferring wooden spoons or bowls to work it.
Clay is a substance capable of absorbing large quantities of water and is used in various sectors, particularly in agriculture and for the construction of construction materials. Thanks to the presence of minerals and property absorbent, anti-inflammatory, disinfectant and healing, green clay is widely used for beauty and health.
Property
Green clay has numerous properties and has been used since ancient times to treat various ailments and improve the appearance and certain skin problems. To sum up, properties have been attributed to green clay:
- absorbent
- detergent
- anti-inflammatory
- disinfectant
- healing
- toned
Internally, green clay is mainly used in detox treatments, due to its ability to absorb metals and other substances that are potentially dangerous to health. Clay is also recommended as well tonic and tonic in case of asthenia and as an adjuvant for some ailments including stomach acid, gastritis, diarrhea, aerophagia and excess gas in the intestine that causes meteorism and flatulence. The clay, also for internal use, is also a remedy for coughs and sore throats.
Externally, however, the green clay is used for cleansing and hygiene of skin, hair, teeth, as a deodorant and for various skin problems, for inflammation and pain. For example, green clay is useful in case of acne, boils, folliculitis, eczema, dermatitis, hives, insect bites, minor abrasions and sunburn. In fact, the clay is able to absorb excess sebum, disinfect the skin and relieve itching, inflammation and irritation of the skin. It is also excellent for dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis and other scalp problems. Finally, thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, green clay is very useful for making compresses against osteoarticular pain, muscle pain, trauma, bruises, tendinitis. Each of us should always have a clay pack available at home as it is a cheap and really product versatile, excellent natural remedy in different situations.
How to use it
Internal use
As we have seen, clay can be used internally and externally. For internal use, ventilated green clay is generally used: per gastrointestinal problems a tablespoon of green clay is dispersed in water, left to settle on the bottom of the glass for a few hours (even overnight) and the water part is consumed. For sore throat and cough it is used to make candies, mixing it with a little water and a few drops of essential oil of mint or eucalyptus, with a balsamic action.
External use
Externally the clay is used in powder form for hair washing and mixed with water for vis masksor, compresses, poultices. To cleanse the hair, simply massage the scalp with a spoonful of green clay, with wet hair, and then rinse. In addition to cleansing, clay is useful in case of scalp conditions such as seborrheic dermatitis, excess sebum that makes the hair greasy, dandruff or itch. Beware of drains, however, as frequent use of clay could clog them.
If, on the other hand, they are to be realized compresses on the skin, the clay should be mixed with sufficient water to obtain a dense and homogeneous paste to be applied on the areas to be treated. As an alternative to water, hydrolates or herbal infusions can be used and a few drops of one or more essential oils can be added to the clay to increase its action. Clay-based face masks and packs for skin problems must be rinsed off after ten to fifteen minutes, before the clay dries, while those to relieve joint pain, muscle or inflammation can be left on for several hours or all. at night, placing a gauze or cloth over the treated area so as not to dirty. The anti-cellulite muds with clay can be left on for twenty to thirty minutes and can be repeated every day or two to three times a week. In any case, once the exposure time has elapsed, the clay is simply rinsed with warm water, possibly with the help of a sponge to remove all residues well.
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