Redmond Clay is a home remedy that generations of people have used for a variety of ailments. Its origins are as old as the practice of placing a mud poultice on a bee sting. Geologically, Redmond Clay is a volcanic ash that settled into the waters of the ancient Sundance Sea, approximately 150 million years ago, in what is presently central Utah. It is a swelling-type sodium bentonite, totally natural, free of additives, chemicals and preservatives. The only processing it undergoes is crushing and screening.

How does Redmond Clay work?
Bentonite clay has a negative electrical charge, attracting positively charged toxins. The formation of bentonite resembles tiny business card shapes, with negatively charged, wide surfaces and positively charged edges, providing a powerful drawing effect. Since most toxins are positively charged, clay naturally pulls and holds the toxins into its core.

How do people use Redmond Clay?
Throughout history, people have used bentonite clay when suffering from diarrhea, constipation, heartburn, stomach ache, indigestion, acid reflux, and other digestive disorders. Clay has been also mixed into a poultice and applied to cuts, bruises, boils, insect bites, bee stings, rashes, acne, burns, severely dry skin and achy joints. Many people consider it their "first aid kit in a bottle."

HOW TO USE REDMOND CLAY

Pre-Mixing the Clay
Mix two parts water with one part Redmond Clay to make a gel or mud. Use filtered or distilled water, when available. You can use a blender or mixer to speed up the process or you can shake or stir it by hand and then wait three to four hours for the clay to activate. It should make a mud, the consistency of mustard. If it seems too thin, add more clay. If it seems too thick add more water.

The ideal clay mixture is hydrated to the point where the clay barely holds together, as a gel, without falling apart. It is easily malleable, yet will hold its shape without difficulty. After setting, the clay should be without clumps, although a few clumps in clay will not pose any real problem.

Keep the gel in a covered, non-metallic container and it will not dry out and will not separate. It stores with or without refrigeration for an indefinite period. Redmond Clay gel can be stored in the fridge, the cupboard, or car; heat and cold do not affect it. Once mixed it will never dry out, separate or go bad as long as you store it in an airtight container. If it does dry out over prolonged storage, just add water and remix.

Note: Do not leave metal in contact with the wet clay, as it will quickly rust.

Internal Applications
Redmond Clay can be taken once or twice daily with or without food, as desired, by mixing 1 tablespoon of the clay gel in a glass of water or juice. Alternatively, add 1 teaspoon of dry clay powder into a glass of water, stir and let it sit for 6 to 8 hours. Drink either the clear liquid off the top or stir and drink all of it. You can take it in the morning, throughout the day or in the evening. People find that the clay water tastes better cold than at room temperature. As the clay starts drawing toxins to itself, some conditions may appear worse before they get better.

You can also prepare a ready-to-use Redmond Clay drink, by adding 1/4 cup of clay powder to a 2 quart (2 l) glass pitcher of water; stir it briskly and place in refrigerator. Within few hours, the clay will settle to the bottom and most of the water will be clear. Drink it as desired. When the water level gets low, wash out the remaining sediments and start over. Raymond Dextreit, in his book Our Earth Our Cure notes that drinking clear water off the top gives basically the same results as drinking the clay itself.

Some sources recommend that you drink the clay water once a day. However, people often report successes drinking it several times a day. Others drink it as the need arises.

There is no laboratory proof that Redmond Clay is effective for any internal disorders, but people have taken the clay on a full stomach for acid indigestion or heart burn, for its "cooling effect." When taken on an empty stomach in the evening it has been known to bring relief in case of ulcers. People have also found it beneficial for constipation as well as for relieving diarrhea.

External Applications
Redmond Clay gel (paste) can be applied directly onto the skin for a drawing effect, in case of a bee sting, mosquito bite, boil, spider bite or stinging nettle. If the clay is not covered it will dry out, and as it dries, you will feel it draw and pull. If you want this tightening effect, as in a case of facial for acne or pimples, or minor cuts, you can leave it on until it is almost but not totally dry, then remove. If you want a more cooling and soothing effect, as for burns or scrapes and bruises, cover the gel with a sheet of plastic or wet cloth, so it won't dry out. To remove the clay pack, wash it off with water, in a gentle, rubbing motion. Do not reuse the clay pack.

There are many different ways of using the clay externally. One of the best ways is to apply it generously in a 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch layer directly on the skin. An alternative that allows for more mobility is to apply the clay gel to a piece of cheesecloth, then place it anywhere onto the body, as needed, and secure it with a towel, plastic wrap or bandage.

Here are several other options:
Uncovered: Some people put on the clay and leave it uncovered so that it dries out, within an hour or so. As it dries, it will draw or pull and tighten the skin.

Covered with Cloth: Covering the Redmond Clay with a cloth will hold it in place and cause the clay to dry slower. This will enable you to leave the clay on overnight or to walk around without wet clay dripping. Wetting the cloth with water periodically will slow the drying rate and cause more of a cooling sensation.

Covered with Plastic: Covering Redmond Clay Gel with plastic wrap keeps it from drying out, which is important if you are applying it to a burn. Even though the clay doesn't dry out, most people wash it off and replace it once or twice a day. Some people have left the same pack on for a couple of days, until the burn turned into "pink skin." One key: Do not let the clay dry on a burn; keep it moist until it is time to wash it off.

Using Dry Redmond Clay: People say using it as baby powder causes diaper rash to disappear by the next diaper change. Some people feel that sprinkling dry clay on an open, infected wound causes more of a drawing/healing action than using a clay gel.

Clay Bath: Holistic health practitioners consider the skin to be a primary avenue of detoxification. Putting Redmond Clay in a bath seems to increase the drawing effect. Mix in 1 to 2 cups of clay under the faucet as you fill the tub with hot water. Soak in it for 20 to 30 minutes.

Foot Bath: Dissolve 3 tablespoons of Redmond Clay in a pan of water and soak your feet for 20 to 30 minutes.

Redmond Clay is available in a hydrated or dry-powder form. To learn more about the Redmond Clay, the history, how people use it, what they use it for, request "We Eat Clay (And wear it, too!)" Write to tobeornet@email.com.

Bibliography
Earth Cures, by Raymond Dextreit
The Healing Power of Clay, by Michel Abehsera
The Clay Cure, by Ran Knishinsky

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