Iran J Public Health, Vol. 46, No.9, Sep 2017, pp.

1176-1183 Review Article

Bentonite Clay as a Natural Remedy: A Brief Review

Maryam MOOSAVI 1, 2
1. Dept. of Physiology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
2. Nanomedicine and Nanobiology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

*Correspondence: Email: marmoosavi@sums.ac.ir

(Received 27 Nov 2016; accepted 18 Mar 2017)

Abstract
Background: From old times, the human kind has used clays, externally or internally, for maintaining body health or
treating some diseases. Meanwhile there are few scientific articles reviewing the beneficial effects of clays on body
function. Bentonite clay is one of the available clays in nature, used as traditional habits, and remedies in many cul-
tures.
Methods: These articles explored among 2500 scientific articles published in PubMed to sort the scientific works have
been done on the effects of this clay on body function (it was about 100 articles).
Results: Bentonite has a broad range of action on different parts of body.
Conclusion: As traditional remedies seem to have a deep root in maintaining body health, it merits doing more re-
search works on bentonite clay and its impacts on body function.

Keywords: Bentonite clay, Medicine, Health, Remedy

Introduction
Geophagy has been considered as an adaptive 6). As this clay is abundant, non-expensive and
behavior in humans and animals (1) and the clays natural, this article aimed to review the scientific
have been considered the healing materials from papers reporting the effects of this clay on body.
ancient times. As geophagia is an occasionally
habits of animals and humans (babies and preg- Methods
nant women), physiologically it is assumed that
earth might have some beneficial effects on body The articles were searched in Medline between
function. Bentonite is absorbent aluminium phyl- the English language journals. These articles had
losilicate clay. It is named after Fort Benton, no time limit and the data were extracted from
Wyoming where its largest sources are found. Its the first article in this field. The keyword in-
other name, Montmorillonite clay, stems from cluded mainly bentonite to assess all the articles
the region of France called Montmorillon, where in medicine field. The inclusion criteria was a pa-
it was first found. It has been used and eaten per reporting any effect of bentonite on health in
from ancient time till now as human believes in any animal and the exclusion criteria was the oth-
its therapeutic benefits. When it is mixed with er information not in medicine field.
water a paste is formed which has been used both
externally and internally. In some places such as The effect of bentonite on body function
Iran, it has been widely used as a hair cleanser Detoxification
from old time. There is enough literature show- Bentonite clay has been shown to act as a detox-
ing its safety after chronic oral consumption (2- ifying agent. This property is referred to its poly-

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 Moosavi: Bentonite Clay as a Natural Remedy …

cationic nature, which leads to absorption of neg- for sorption the pesticide endrin possibly due to a
ative charge toxins (7). combination of hydrophobic and charge-dipole
T-2 is a trichothecene mycotoxin which is a natu- interactions (19) in lab conditions. Paraquat is an
rally occurring mold byproduct of Fusarium fun- herbicide, which is highly toxic to mammals, in-
gus and is toxic to humans and animals. When cluding human. Following ingestion of paraquat
rats ingested bentonite for 2 weeks before T-2 in high dose, hepatic, cardiac or renal failure or
toxicosis, a significant increase in fecal excretion death might occur. In smaller doses the symp-
of this toxin and a decrement of that in muscle toms like as respiratory distress, renal dysfunction
has been reported (8) which indicates the healing or, occasionally, jaundice or adrenal cortical ne-
effect of bentonite against T2 toxicosis. crosis appear. Gastric lavage with bentonite re-
Aflatoxins are poisonous and cancer-causing moves paraquet. It might acts as an adsorbent to
chemicals that are produced by certain molds reduce the effect of this toxin on body (20, 21).
which primarily affects liver. Firstly in 1989 Dvo- Then it might be concluded that bentonite coun-
rak et al reported that bentonite is able to reduce teract pesticides and herbicides toxicity.
water aflatoxin to 66% of its primary concentra- Some toxins might exist in foods of livestock.
tion which showed the adsorbing capacity of Lantana camara, a species of flowering plant, is
bentonite for aflatoxin (9). Schell et al showed known to be toxic to livestock such as cattle,
that in pigs, when clay is added to aflatoxin- sheep, horses, dogs and goats. When cows which
contaminated corn, it partially restored liver func- were poisoned with Lantana camara, were treated
tion without greatly affecting mineral metabolism 5 days after with oral bentonite, five of 6 calves
(10). In rabbits fed with aflatoxin-contaminated given bentonite recovered while 5 of 6 calves in
diet, there is a deficiency in reproductive function the control group died and comparing with acti-
and adding bentonite to the aflatoxin- vated charcoal, the plasma total bilirubin concen-
contaminated diet improved the physical semen tration was statistically more appropriate in ben-
characteristics of buck and reproductive perfor- tonite treated cows (22). Then bentonite is sug-
mance traits of doe rabbits (11). There are nu- gested to act as a cheaper and more effective
merous animal feeding studies, which demon- treatment comparing with charcol.
strated that bentonites, can bind aflatoxins in in- Metal toxicity or metal poisoning is the toxic ef-
gested feed and reduce or eliminate the toxicity fect of certain metals in certain forms and doses
(12-15). Bentonite reduces the bioavailability of on life. Lead poisoning is a medical condition in
aflatoxin (16) and decreases the amount of Afla- humans and other vertebrates caused by in-
toxin M1, which is a hydroxylated metabolite of creased levels of the heavy metal lead in the
aflatoxin B1 in Ghanaian population (17). Cur- body. Lead interferes with a variety of body
rently the safety of dietary bentonite is shown in processes and is toxic to many organs and tissues
different studies including animals and humans including the heart, bones, intestines, kidneys,
(2, 4-6). Besides, it does not affect the serum and reproductive and nervous systems. In pigs,
concentrations of important vitamins and nu- the feeding supplementation of montmorillonite
trient minerals in humans (3). Then bentonite is for 100 days, reduced lead concentration in
being used in humans as a dietary intervention to blood, brain, liver, bone, kidney and hair (23).
prevent and cure aflatoxin toxicity. Copper toxicity, also called copperiedus, refers to
Organochlorine pesticides are known to be one the consequences of an excess of copper in the
of the most persistent organic pollutants present body. Consistently in sheep, it was concluded the
in the environment. They are highly toxic, chemi- dietary Cu bioavailability could be decreased by
cally and biologically stable and have the tenden- oral supplements of bentonite (24). Cadmium is
cy to accumulate in organisms. Bentonite is re- an extremely toxic metal commonly found in in-
ported to have the capacity to absorb pesticides dustrial workplaces. The exposure of carp (Caras-
due to its cationic nature (18). It has the potential sius auratus to dietary cadmium caused oxidative

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 Iran J Public Health, Vol. 46, No.9, Sep 2017, pp.1176-1183

stress, while montmorillonite supplemented in Bentonite is also shown to act efficiently in heal-
diet reversed relatively cadmium-induced oxida- ing of skin lesions and ulcers (36).
tive damage in liver and kidney (25). Bentonite is Although in many areas such as Iran it was long
additionally reported to decrease cadmium in- used as a hair cleaner and softner, there is not any
duced cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in Nile tilapia scientific article assessing its effect on hair.
fish (26). Generally, it seems that bentonite is a Meanwhile it is shown that in sheep bentonite
reliable treatment for metal poisoning. increases wool growth (37).
Generally, it seems that bentonite can be consi-
dered as a treatment in different types of toxici- Gastrointestinal tract
ties although in some sorts of toxicities such as For a long bentonite was considered as a treat-
locoweed toxicosis in rats, it is not effective in ment of diarrhea. At 1961, it was shown that
alleviating the symptoms (27). orally administered bentonite treat 97% of cases
with different causative factors of diarrhea (virus
Skin and hair infection, food allergy, spastic colitis, mucous
For a long time bentonite has been used external- colitis, and food poisoning) (38).
ly on skin. Poison ivy and poison oak are the Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common,
most common causes of allergic contact dermati- long-term condition of the digestive system.
tis in North America. Quaternium-18 bentonite It can cause bouts of stomach cramps, bloat-
lotion has been shown to act effectively in pre- ing, diarrhoea and/or constipation. When bento-
venting or diminishing experimentally produced nite (3 g, t.d. for 8 weeks) was administered in
poison ivy and poison oak allergic contact derma- patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) it
titis (28, 29). Irritant and allergic hand dermatitis affected this syndrome. Although pain or dis-
is considered as a difficult problem to be con- comfort was not significantly improved in the
trolled in individuals who are unable to avoid entire IBS population treated with montmorillo-
causative exposures. Using Quaternium-18- nite in comparison with placebo, it modulates
Bentonite in a moisturizing cream has been bowl habits in constipation-predominant IBS
shown to improve chronic hand dermatitis in a (39). The montmorillonite which was combined
majority of individuals with previously uncon- with zinc in diets, improved growth, alleviated
trolled dermatitis (30). In diaper dermatitis, post weaning diarrhea, and enhanced intestinal
which is one of the most common skin disorders mucosal integrity and the digestive enzyme activi-
of infancy, bentonite is reported to act better and ties in pancreas and small intestinal contents of
faster than calendula, the current treatment of pigs (40).
this type of dermatitis (31, 32). While bentonite can absorb many organic and
Bentonite could act as a barrier for toxic organo- inorganic materials in GI tract, it is reported not
phosphorous compound transfer across the skin, to affect mineral metabolism (10) and absorption
which suggests its physical protective action on (41). Gut flora is the complex community of mi-
skin (33). In case of sunscreens, it has been re- croorganisms that live in the digestive tracts of
ported that inclusion complexes of commercial humans and other animals. These microorgan-
sunscreens in montmorillonites have optimized isms benefit the host by fermenting dietary fiber
functional properties such as water resistance and into short-chain fatty acids and synthesize vita-
skin adherence, which make them good substrate min B and vitamin K as well as metabolizing bile
in these types of skin product (34). Furthermore, acids, sterols, and xenobiotics (42). Intragastric
it is reported that sun lotions containing specific administration of bentonite to rats for 28 days
proportion of bentonite mineral are more potent leads to hyperproduction of colonic yeast micro-
than commercially available sun lotion in absorb- flora (43). Then bentonite might help nutrients
ing the highest level of UV light (35). absorption through increasing gut flora activity.

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 Moosavi: Bentonite Clay as a Natural Remedy …

Kidney (52). In nutrient-deficient broiler chicks, al-

Creatinine is a breakdown product of creatine phos- though bentonite increased food intake, but did
phate in muscle and its serum content is an impor- not compensate tibia calcium decrement (53).
tant indicator of renal health as it is excreted by kid-
neys. Creatinine is able to diffuse from the blood Cancer
vessel to the intestine and be reabsorbed in the intes- Montmorillonite has been used as a drug delivery
tine. In experimental model of hypercreatininaemia system for drugs used in cancer therapy such as
in mouse, montmorillonite is reported to decrease Paclitaxel (54), 5-fluorouracil (55), 6-
serum creatinine by absorbing that in GI tract and mercaptopurine (56)
accelerating its excretion from the intestine (44). Although a study reported the genotoxic effect of
Urea is the primary metabolite derived from dietary bentonite on human B lymphoblast cells (57),
protein and tissue protein turnover. As kidney func- recently bentonite has been shown to inhibit the
tion decreases, the BUN (blood urea nitrogen) level growth of human cancer cell lines U251 (central
rises. Bentonite is shown to promote the diffusion of nervous system, glioblastoma). It seems that ben-
urea from blood vessel to intestine, and inhibits the tonite clay surfaces controls the levels of meta-
absorption of urea in intestine (45). Then it sounds bolic growth components (58).
that bentonite might be beneficial in renal health.
Other effects
Antibacterial effects Montmorillonite is reported not only to adsorb
The number of antibiotic-resistant pathogenic thyroxin and triiodothyronine in vitro but also
bacteria has substantially increased nowadays. reduces these hormones in hyperthyroidism
This alarming trend implies the need to identify model mice. It prolongs the sleep time, improves
and assess new antibacterial agents. It is reported the hypoxia tolerance capacity and reduces the
that natural geological minerals hold antibacterial spontaneous activities of those mice (59)
properties, which might provide the hope for Bentonite is shown to decrease the bleeding and
novel therapeutic compounds (46). It was shown clotting time and therefore is suggested as a hae-
that montmorillonite is able to absorb coliphages mostatic agent (60, 61).
T1 and T7 of Escherichia coli in vitro (47). When It is also reported to act as a promising nanoscale
the clay was mixed with water (2–4 parts water to size filler in food packaging industry (62)
1 part clay) and incubated for 24 hours with live Indoor volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have
bacteria at body temperature (37°C), a broad been assumed to affect human health. VOCs can
spectrum of bacteria was killed (46). Some mod- either originate from phenolic and benzene-like
ified menmorillonits have also shown to exert compounds in building materials and office furni-
antibacterial effect (48-50). These antibacterial ture or from molds (fungi) growing inside im-
effects might result from physical interaction (i.e. properly ventilated or sealed buildings. Interes-
penetration or rupturing of the cell) and/or tingly it is mentioned that volcanic materials,
chemical interaction of the clay with bacteria (i.e. clays and minerals such as montmorillonite filter
poisoning or nutrient deprivation) (7). VOCs and thereby limit human exposure to these
It is shown that bentonite might modulate the dangerous compounds (63).
immune response of body. Particles of bentonite
inhibits lipopolysaccharide- or concanavalin A- Adverse effects
induced red blood cell proliferation and antibody Besides the above mentioned beneficial effect of
response in vitro (51) bentonite, some unwanted effects are also re-
ported. In vitro studies have shown that bento-
Bone
nite increases cell lysis in some cellular lines while
It is reported that oral bentonite slightly decreas-
has no effect on some others (64, 65).
es incorporation of calcium in the bones of goats

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 Iran J Public Health, Vol. 46, No.9, Sep 2017, pp.1176-1183

A suspected case of bentonite poisoning was re-

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