Rock Powder Medicine

Greg Montgomery 3/11/11

The use of naturally occurring rock powders has been recorded since the ancient Egyptians and Greeks. It is well known among indigenous tribes. Rock powders described herein include clays, diatomaceous earth and zeolites. Clays are mineral products resulting from weathering and deposition of volcanic materials. Diatomaceous earth is a mineral product of biological activity. Zeolites are crystalline mineral substances formed by lava, ash and salts. Use of earth substances to impart the earths healing energy to humans and animals has been practiced for millennia. Clays Clays are among the most versatile and safe materials that can be used for increasing health. Pure un-adulterated clay has beneficial therapeutic properties and can be used for a multitude of purposes including detoxification, cosmetics, poultices and poison extraction and neutralization. Many clays are available and are classified and named based on color and mineral composition. Clays are classified as aluminum phyllosilicates. Differing properties and colors of clays are determined by the other minerals present such as iron, copper, magnesium, alkali earths and alkali metals. Phyllosilicates are characterized by two-dimensional sheets of corner-sharing SiO4 and AlO4 tetrahedra. The tetrahedral sheets are bound to octahedral sheets formed by small positive ions such as aluminum or magnesium. Different clays are also categorized by the way in which the tetrahedral and octahedral sheets are packed into layers. If the layers are electrically charged, the charges are balanced by positive ions like sodium or potassium. The space between the sheets can also be occupied by water, producing a hydrated clay. One of the important properties of clay is its ability to exchange mineral cations for other chemicals including positively charged toxic waste products. This property is measured as base exchange capacity and is measured in millequivalents per gram. French Green Montmorillonite has a cation exchange capacity of 60-70 Meq/g while illite has around 12. Medicinally, clays have been used for millennia by humans and animals as a source of minerals and a variety of other reasons. The practice of geophagy or lithopagy has been documented for many members of the animal kingdom including humans. When hydrated, clays become negatively charged and then are attractive to toxic wastes in the body which tend to be positively charged. Once the toxic positively charged chemicals are attached, they are excreted along with the clay. Only the smectite group of clays has this property of swelling upon hydration, allowing the capture of positively charged molecules. One of the most familiar types of smectite is montmorillonite. Montmorillonite is a 2:1 clay which means it has two layers of tetrahedral sheets holding an octahedral sheet in between. Montmorillonite is the main constituent of bentonite, a volcanic rock weathering product.

History Over 200 cultures have used montmorillonite for medicinal purposes. Clays were held as sacred by the Egyptians in regard to their healing abilities. They were prescribed for gastrointestinal problems including

ulcers, digestive bleeding, stomach aches and dysentery. They were also used medicinally by the American Indians, the Essenes, the Amargosians and other native tribes of the Americas. The Indians knew it as Ee-WahKee, the mud that heals. Galen traveled to the island of Lemnos to study the uses of clay (Terra Lemnia or terra sigillata) and found it was widely used for a variety of conditions and even as a prophylactic in cases where a sickness was feared. He made cakes of it for his patients in the shape of a star or the goddess Diana depending on your source. It was used in cases of dysentery, suspected poisoning, intestinal and stomach disorders and plague. Lemnian clay was still listed in the Pharmacopoeia as late as 1848. Medicinal cakes were made from clay in ancient Rome and the water from areas where clays were extracted was used for health issues. Avicenna called clay the Star of the Earth for its medicinal properties. These classical clay remedies were known throughout the world. The famous Russian doctor S.P. Botkin used clay compresses to treat cardio-vascular conditions, diseases of the biliary channel and joint pains. During the second world war, doctors in Russia used it as an antiseptic to successfully to treat wounds, complex fractures and contusions. Another famous doctor Sebastian Kneipp said Clays ability to absorb all kinds of internal poisons, neutralize and take out of the body all pathogenic germs has brought me to a thought to use clay to treat people who have contra ted lupus and cancer. I must say that no sooner had I started to use this treatment I have experienced much relief with my patients. Clay reduces inflammation, attracts to itself pathogenic and purulent matters, absorbs them and cleanses abscesses and ulcerations. Clay is a wonderful remedy for headaches, backache, inflammations, tumors, abscesses, intoxications and curvatures. South American Indians were found that were dining on wild potatoes that contained high levels of toxic alkaloids. Further observation of their diets led to the observation that they were consuming clay with the potatoes. Research indicated that the clay bound up the toxic alkaloids including quinine and strychnine allowing them to enjoy those plants as part of their regular diet. California Indians and residents of Sardinia made bread from acorns, whose only drawback was that they contain large amounts of bitter, astringent tannic acids. By mixing the acorn flower with clay, they reduced the tannic acid content by up to 77%. Studies on wild parrots have concluded that parrot geophagy has developed to neutralize ingested plant toxins, allowing a more varied diet. The Taoists say that ingesting clay is a good way to absorb the energy of the stars, planets and cosmic particles. Bentonite Clay Bentonite is a type of clay that was formed from volcanic parent material, weathered to an extremely small particle size (.005 mm). Bentonite can absorb 40 50 times its weight in water and therefore is a popular choice for using in poultices for absorbing toxins from bites for sprains and tendon injuries. The clay has been shown in studies to kill bacterial colonies including MRSA, salmonella, E.coli, and buruli, a flesh eating disease. The mechanism of the clays attack on bacteria includes its very small particle size allowing it to coat bacteria, isolating them from food sources. The bacteria become imbedded in the inorganic material and their growth is halted. This also explains the speedy recovery of patients with gastro-intestinal infections who are given clay.

French Green Montmorillonite Clay Montmorillonites are of two types, sodium montmorillonite and calcium montmorillonite. The sodium form is used industrially for things like cat litter and plaster products. The calcium form is the form used for medicinal and nutritional purposes. It has been widely used and tested on humans and animals. Closely related to bentonite, French Green Montmorillonite clay is widely used for cosmetic and medicinal purposes. Among its properties is a 1:1 absorption ratio, creating space between the layers for water. Studies have demonstrated that the clay destroys MRSA colonies as well as having the ability to bind up mycotoxins. This clay and the closely related bentonite help to re-mineralize the body, activate blood circulation, regenerate tissue, heal ulcers and bind and remove free radicals. Montmorillonite content allows the clay particles to swell to a much greater size, allowing vastly more surface area for the adsorption of toxins. The clay regenerates weak cells, providing trace elements to the body. Scientific study has shown that the minerals in the clay before ingestion are not present in the stool. Illite Clay Containing less magnesium than montmorillonite, illite is highly absorbent but due to its crystalline structure it is non swelling. Illite is produced from weathering of muscovite and feldspar. Illite is used in conditions where detoxification and decongestion are important. Green montmorillonite and green illite can both absorb a large amount of water. Kaolinite and other illites absorb much less. French Green Illite is also known as marine clay since it is found in ancient marine beds. It has better absorption ability than montmorillonite giving it a powerful drying and detoxifying effect. Kaolinite Kaolin absorbs toxins like other clays, however its main use is as a bulking agent for use in cases of diarrhea. Rhassoul Clay Rhassoul clay is mined in Morocco and is regarded as the finest cosmetic clay available. It has been used in soaps, shampoos and skin conditioners. It is highly regarded in the beauty industry and is found in the finest spas in the world.

French Red Illite

French Green Montmorillonite

French White Kaolin

Zeolite

Diatomaceous Earth

Calcium Bentonite

Using Clay Internally Mix the clay with water and drink it. Do not use a metallic spoon to stir it in the water. It charges the clay water to allow it to sit in a sunny window and then activate overnite. The clay will stimulate the digestion and begin detoxification. Sometimes a client may feel worse before feeling better. This indicates that the toxins are being flushed out. Some toxic people may require that only the water on top of the clay be drunk without stirring it up until farther along in the detoxification process. Benefits of taking clay internally for people and animals includes providing trace elements that are essential for the bodys physiology. For example, trace amounts of copper are needed to manufacture hemoglobin, cobalt is necessary for production of Vitamin B12 and zinc is necessary for insulin production. The mineral content provided by clays are essential for the cellular functions of living creatures. Other benefits of taking clay internally include expulsion of parasites, death of pathogenic microbial flora, absorption of toxins, healing of sores, healing of fractures, rebuilding of healthy tissue. Clays benefits in the bowels are commonly known and include cleansing, eliminating toxins, destroying unhealthy cells and promoting health of viable tissue. Clays also share the paramagnetic properties with volcanic rock powders that are used to rehabilitate soil, a backdoor medicinal application. Clay also is effective in cases of heartburn, stomachache, gastritis, flatulence, colitis, food poisoning, bloating and diarrhea. Dental uses include gingivitis, bad breath and dental abscesses. For the respiratory system, clays can be effective against colds, bronchitis, laryngitis and other respiratory infections. Clay can be recommended for acidosis, hepatic dysfunction, intoxication and parasitosis. Clay has been found effective in cases of irritable bowel syndrome, candida and aflatoxicosis. Internal use of clay boosts the immunes system, increasing T-cell counts. Externally, uses include spider bites, plantars warts, eye trouble, acne, eczema, gangrene, skin fungus, arthritis, breast cancer, pain and burns. Antiseptic properties of clay makes it useful for all sorts of wounds. Detoxification crews use bentonite on people exposed to radiation, chemicals, mercury and other toxic compounds. Pharmaceutical companies were asked by NASA to prepare supplements that prevented the bone loss observed in astronauts. NASA found that none of them were as effective as clay taken internally. Cautions: Attention should be paid to clients taking clay for the first time if detox becomes too much for them to handle; the amount may have to be reduced. Symptoms of the client may become worse for some time (Herxheimer effect) before tuning around. Use caution when using clay in a bath or mud bath with people who have heart problems. Do not use clay at the same time vitamins or medicines are being used, they may neutralize the effect. Wait an hour or so later.

Zeolites Zeolites are porous alumo-silicates that have a crystalline structure. They contain almost all the elements contained in the body. Clinoptilolite is the most abundant member of the 48 minerals in the zeolite group. They have been long used for industrial purposes including water purification. Zeolites were also used to clean up the radioactive waste from Chernobyl disaster. Zeolites that are used internally do not contain the long linear fibers as in asbestos (also a zeolite) and are therefore safe for ingestion. Like clays, zeolites have a negative charge which attracts positively charged toxins into channels in the crystal structure. The exchangeable cations in zeolite such as sodium, calcium and potassium are relatively harmless making it ideal for scrubbing heavy metal ions from solution like cesium, mercury, and strontium. The selectivity series for zeolite has been found to be Pb2+>Cd2+>Cs+> Cu2+>Co2+>Cr3+>Zn2+>Ni2+>Hg2+. In extending the selectivity series to other compounds, one particular zeolite used as a chelating supplement, the results show the series to be heavy metals>pesticides, herbicides, plastics>viral contaminants. The mechanism for viral destruction seems to be inhibition of replication. Viral components appear to be absorbed into the crystalline structure and then excreted. Also like clays, zeolites have an ion exchange capacity. They contain most of the elements on the periodic table and have a property known as intelligent ion exchange. They are able to provide necessary minerals and soak up excesses of toxic wastes. Since zeolites contain many elements necessary for proper function, they can have a catalytic effect on metabolic processes. Zeolites have been incorporated into animal feeds in Russia to increase livestock vigor. Zeolites absorb toxins in the gastro-intestinal system and across the intestinal wall from the blood and lymph. Zeolite structure can be visualized as a crystalline cage with entrances that are of a very specific size (about 4 Angstroms). This allows for the adsorption of micro and macro elements of small size like ammonia, hydrogen sulfate and methane without tying up larger molecules like vitamins, amino acids, proteins and other vital complex structures. This means zeolites can be taken for a long time and on a regular basis. There has been much research on zeolites in regard to cancer treatment. One company has a patent on a zeolite as an epithelial cancer killer (Waiora). Local application of zeolite to tumors suppressed their growth. One study showed beneficial effects on mammary carcinoma in mice. In a 14 month cancer study of 65 terminally ill cancer patients that were sent home to die, 51 of them experienced complete remission. Zeolite appears to support the bodys alkalinity. Due to its alkalizing effect there may be a dieoff of bacteria, candida, fungi and various parasites. The use of zeolite against viral infections is supported by several studies that demonstrated its effect against herpes virus externally and orally against adenovirus and enterovirus. It may also be used to purify drinking water from viruses. Cautions: Zeolites may interfere with chemotherapy agents cisplatin and carboplatin that contain platinum. Also interference with lithium is possible.

Diatomaceous Earth Also known as diatomite or kieselgur, diatomaceous earth is a naturally occurring deposit that is the result of the exoskeletons of former marine creatures called diatoms that remain from their demise. Diatoms under the microscope are beautiful three dimensional structures, some arrayed with sharp spicules around their circumference. The exoskeletons are composed of polymerized silica. They are referred to as the grass of the sea, being autotrophic and restricted to the photic zone. They are the largest group of phytoplankton.

The fine powdered diatomaceous earth has been used in insect control. When applied to an insect, lipids are drawn out through their exoskeletons, resulting in their demise. By the same mechanism, diatomaceous earth can be used against fleas and bedbugs. The use of diatomaceous earth for internal parasite control is well established. The mechanism for the killing of the parasite is laceration by the sharp, spiny protrusions of the exoskeletal material followed by dehydration of the parasite. Diatomaceous earth is however also abrasive to the gut of the host animal or person. Always use food grade diatomaceous earth for internal use.
References: www.specialclay.com www.oakton.edu www.naturepurity.com www.naturalrussia.com www.elsevier.com , www.sciencedirect.com Acres, USA Rowan Emrys, Natural Cellular Defense