My update on using clay for UC - PART I

Lodi,
like I have said before there is not many researches done with different clays. Just because there is no BIG PHARMA standing behind the clay
and there is no money to be made form researching the clays. You can not put patent on it, because it is natural product from Earth itself.
The best I can di is to tell you: here are some of the researches about different clays and here are the results. Basically telling you that there
is something unique and special about it. It works for me. You can read about it and you can make your own decision to take it or not. You can
see what other people have said about their results with taking it.
As for the Terramin site, it is the original site and yes, they give you the opportunity to sell Terramin if you choose to do so, but they have
much more information about the clay itself, how it works, what is so different about it, the research behind it.
Here what is written in Wikipedia about medicinal clay:
""Sodium bentonite / Calcium bentonite" are the most commonly used medicinal clays today (Sodium bentonite for external use, Calcium bentonite for internal use), although there is no precise definition of what this term means. In fact, typically, "bentonite" refers to a wide spectrum of clays with a wide array of properties (such as a variety of colours). In alternative medicine, often this is used as more or less a catch-all term for medicinal clays. Another such term is "montmorillonite", which is often interchangeable with "bentonite". Bentonite is included in the United States Pharmacopeia, and the USP-grade bentonite is widely used in various pharmaceutical and cosmetic preparations as a compounding and suspending agent. It is not entirely clear where the source of USP-grade bentonite is located; it may be a mixture of various bentonites..."
And more:"Antibacterial properties

Iron-rich smectite and illite clay (Montmorillonite/Bentonite type of clay) is effective in killing bacteria in vitro.[16] Authors report that the clay mineral,


"...exhibits bactericidal activity against E. coli, ESBL [Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamases] E. coli, S. enterica serovar Typhimurium, P. aeruginosa, and M. marinum, and significantly reduces growth of S. aureus, PRSA, MRSA, and nonpathogenic M. smegmatis approximately 1,000-fold compared to cultures grown without added mineral products."[17]

Another study of more than 20 different clay samples from around the world, including the bentonite-type clays, achieved promising results against MRSA superbug infections and disease.[18]"

Some info about Terramin:
Putting Size Into Perspective
Human Hair Red Blood Cells Colloidal Silica
80,000nm (80μm) 5,000nm (5μm) 20nm to 500nm
(0.02μm to 0.5μm)
A colloid is any particle whose size is smaller than 1μm
One micron (1μm) is 1 millionth (10-6) of one meter
One micron is 1000 nanometers (nm)
TERRAMIN is a colloidal-sized clay material
AIDS Virus 100nm (0.1μm) DNA 3nm (0.003μm)
Information supplied by David Fairhurst, PhD., C. Sci., C. Chem., FRSC. Colloid Consultants, LTD
39 Westview Avenue, Congers, NY 10920, USA
©2009 California Earth Minerals Corporation All rights reserved
WHY SURFACE AREA (SIZE) MATTERS
Massive Solid TERRAMIN Clay
Size: 1cm Size: 10nm
Total Surface Area = 6cm2 Total Surface Area of 1 gm = 60m2
Surface Area of 600m2 is sufficient to cover the surface of an Olympic size pool!
Surface Area (Size) Impacts product manufacture, use, performance and
behavior. It is absolutely critical for bio-availability/absorbability
TERRAMIN is a colloidal clay mineral that has a measured surface area of
approximately 60m2 per gm. Thus, a portion of only 10gm (0.35 oz.) or about
one heaped teaspoon of TerraMin would cover the surface of the Olymipic size
swimming pool pictured above.
Information supplied by David Fairhurst, PhD., C. Sci., C. Chem., FRSC. Colloid Consultants, LTD
39 Westview Avenue, Congers, NY 10920, USA

Aguywithuc,
the clay is nothing like psyllium, it is not fiber. You can take Terramin 1 hour before or 1-2 hours after food. Also, I would advise to dissolve the tablets in warm water and crush them with a wood spoon instead of just taking tablets. Tablets are harder to digest. Alos, you do not have to drink all of the clay water at once, drink some between the meals, even while you are exercising.
If you do not have the UC symptoms at all you probably could wait with taking the clay, but considering that you are exercising, Terramin is also a very good mineral supplement. Remember the NASA's study?

Neekap,
By 1tsp per day do you mean 1/2tsp in a glass of water 2 times per day or 1 tsp 2 times per day? If you take only 1 tsp per day it is not enough, considering you have taken Terrmain for 1 week already. It looks like you might have some detox symptoms. Basically Terramin is trying to take the"bad guys" out. I need to know a little more about you. How much of your colon is damaged with UC? Do you take any medications for it or other supplements? What is your diet looks like?
If you do not have all of your colon severely damaged and you are not on any major drugs, I would increase the Terramin dose slowly to 1 tsp/ 3 times per day, 1 hour before food or the 1st glass 1 hour before breakfast, the 2d sip on during the day (a little before lunch, a little after, a little when you have pains/cramps, a little before dinner). the 3d right before bed or 2 hours after dinner. If you are trying to detox and taking only 1 tsp per day it is just enough of the clay to start the process but not quite enough to finish it faster.
If your colon is very damaged with UC, increase Terramin slowly and try to eat only well cooked, easy to digest foods like soups, well steamed veggies and avoid raw foods for a while. When I felt the worst the only food that did not irritate my colon as much as the rest of the food was soup, rice, oats, well cooked green beans, baked/boiled potatoes and sugar free apple sauce.

I was originally diagnosed with colitis only in the rectum and just barely starting up the left side, but that was 3 years ago. I am due for another colonoscopy soon. I believe it has gotten worse, but is not severe, just be stubborn. I am taking 15mg of Prednisone and am really trying to taper off of it. Where should the prednisone taking fit in with the clay? Also, why must the clay not touch a metal utensil? I don't have any special diet other than to avoid foods I know through past experience don't do well for me.

I had been taking 1tsp per glass once or twice a day, but I was not very strict. Perhaps I need to stick to the plan to see the results.

Is it 1 table spoon or a tea spoon. ?

Hey thanks, Lookforcure! I understand the dilemma about funding studies. I think LDN is in the same boat. If this clay can help eradicate some of the bad bacteria or dissolve their biofilms, it is really truly an exciting therapy.

How did you come to 'trust' this particular company (with regard to the quality/purity of their product?

I'm still confused about the swelling part. The Montmorillinite (the one used in Africa to help with the flesh eating disease) clay is supposedly a swelling clay.

How long have you been on it?

Hi All
Wanted to clarify a few points on calcium bentonite clay.

Montmorillonite refers to a 'type' of calcium bentonite clay that was first discovered near the French village of Montmorillon.

That clay vein has been mined and is no longer active.

Both calcium bentonite and sodium bentonite clays are swelling, sodium bentonite MUCH more so.

This means that the clay particles take on or absorb and ADsorb many times their molecular weight.

Calcium benonite clay that is of volcanic origin is comprised of negatively charged ions, as pointed out.
As the clay travels through the body it attracts positively-charged ionic molecules to itself.

Positively charged elements are bacteria, fungus, toxins, free radicals, parasites and other things you want expelled.

The attraction part of how it works is analagous to a magnet, yet clay is technically not magnetic. And the clay ONLY works when hydrated.

Clay works through sorption which means attraction through exchange. The positive and negative ions are exchanged via the clay.

The magnesium, potassium, sodium and calcium in the clay are exchanged for lead and mercury, for example. This is why many people

use clay to do heavy metal detox.
This is also where the reference to 'living' clay comes from.

In talking directly with people, I've been told that taking the clay mixed in a glass of water has more impact than pills.

And it doesn't mix well with a spoon. Better to put in a food-grade plastic or glass bottle and shake well. Leave on the counter and

reshake next time  you take it. And DO NOT store in a metal container.

(The pills or caps have to breakdown in order for the clay to become hydrated with stomach contents before they are 'activated'.)

As noted, it is imperative that any clay you take internally comes from a trusted source and more importantly, that the vendor can show you

(or posts on their website) both the mineral analysis as well as the MICROBIAL analysis, which tests for molds, yeast and other pathogens.

Personally, I would completely avoid clays from India and China because of their lack of safety and quality standards and procedures.

Different clays perform differently. People respond differently to the same clay.

Living Clay is a very reputable brand as is Terramin.
You can do a lot of research and read others experiences with various clays on the Yahoo! group www.aboutclay.com

Also the clay is a colloid and is not absorbed by the body...it just passes through. So it's not considered a supplement and

you should not think you're getting all your daily minerals by drinking clay.

When starting out using clay or with other serious medical conditions, I would take just one ounce of hydrated clay a day for a few days and see how I feel.
Then I would add a second ounce and see how I feel. The clay is going to detox the nooks and crannies of the intestine and constipation from too much clay

at once is not uncommon. Back off the clay but don't give up because you want the benefits. Work to find what works for your system.

Not all calcium bentonite/montmorillonite clays are swelling clays. Living clay is a swelling clay and you do need hydrate it first, which means you mix it with water and let it hydrate, swell first before taking it. This mixture will get thick and you take 1-2 oz of this mixture and drink it, following with a glass of water.
Pascalite and Terramin clays are NOT SWELLING CLAYS. You do not have to hydrate them. When you put 1tsp in a glass of water, mix it, the mixture will not thicken. You can drink it right away.
I personally have Living clay, Pascalite and Terramin clays. Living clay is the only swelling clay among these clays. That is why some people might experience constipation from Living clay.
The clays and the good bacteria have the same negative charge, so it will only pull the bad, positively-charged bacteria. It works like a magnet.

As with many of the natural cures that we come across, there is little incentive for them to be studied by pharma companies and others. There just isn't going to be a lot of scientific information on them. I think what it boils down to is, does this work for me or not?

Not sure if this is right but I've been mixing the clay in with the water, drinking some of the water, and as it settles to the bottom, I add more water and remix. I repeat this until all or most of the clay is consumed. The clay has very little taste, which I've only noticed on the subsequent burps after drinking all the water.

Last Tuesday was the best day of all my UC days, then it went down hill. That day I was having some formed poo in the morning then the next day back to mush and after thas some bloody mushy days :( No firmness and back to inflammation and pain when I go. I don't know why.

 I stopped the mutaflor for now, it was giving me a lot of gas and seemed like I was bleeding more. I'm still on clay but only one teaspoon a day, I was thinking maybe it was interferring with my meds so I backed down. I still like the clay but feel I need my iron supplement and b12 and dhea, it hasn't been a cure all for my energy in any means, but I'm staying with it because I know the minerals are so good for me.

Just thought I would share.

 

Hi Somedude,
that is the one, in fact it is exectly the 4lb bag I have!
I guess you have decided to give it a shot?!
You can take it slow with it and start 1/2teaspoon in a glass of water or go a full speed and take 1teaspoon in 8oz of water/ 3 times per day. For the first 3-4 days drink ONLY THE CLAY WATER and leave the heavier particles on the bottom of the glass (give some of it to your dog in his food, it will get rid off worms). After 4 days start drinking all of the clay mixture.
You might start to detox on the 4-6 th day. I had some weird stuff coming out of me for a few days and I had some mild headaches too. So, do not panic. It is the bad guys dying and releasing some toxins.
Just to test how you will react to the clay do this: mix 1tsp in 8oz of water,stir, wait 20 min and drink just 1/3d of the glass WHEN YOU IN PAIN FROM UC OR CRAMPING. Wait 20-25 min and if you feel better the clay will really help you.

I'm thinking maybe I was having too much clay and it was not letting me absorb my medication, I'm cutting back to only once a day and at night. Things are going backwards for me right now.

I'm gunna post to insofla bout LDN

I will keep you posted. Thank you