Gently Detox with Dirt

Healing with Bentonite Clay, Charcoal, Diatomaceous Earth, Zeolites & Shilajit

Our world is full of toxins, from flame retardants on mattresses, to synthetic fibers in clothes, to PFAS (polyfluoroalkyl substances) in cookware, to chemtrails sifting down from the skies, we are bombarded with widely used, long lasting chemicals.

We are constantly exposed to environmental toxins - heavy metals and plastics, commercial fragrances, herbicides and pesticides, and pharmaceuticals in the water supply. It’s really tragic, and can seem frightening, but I have good news for you.

The body does heal itself - when it has a break from this toxic onslaught, which doesn’t really happen these days without support. Until we clean up the mess we’ve allowed to accumulate in the environment, there are measures we can take! Nature always provides a remedy, and I’m going to share about a few.

Those of us here on a mission to serve the transition must maintain a basic level of vitality in order to do so. We just need some simple support to lighten the load.

Why and How to Eat Dirt

Eating dirt is affordable, accessible, and effective. Not just any dirt though - we are talking about highly curated and refined, specific substances of earth. And we’re not really eating it, but adding it to water and drinking it. Each of these special substances has unique properties, read on to learn more.

Cautions and Considerations

I like the tongue in cheek “dirt,” but “dust” is probably more accurate. These earthen products are all super fine powders, and you want to be mindful not to inhale them, especially diatomaceous earth, because they can cause irritation of the lungs.

They are also “binders,” as in, they bind toxins to them to be carried out, butt they can bind you up in constipation as well. I recommend a gentle, demulcent bulking agent to assist. Soak a teaspoon of flax, chia, or psyllium seed in a cup of water for an hour to overnight and drink it as needed, 1-3 times a day. You can mix the dusts right into the seed water. If you are not pooping, you are not detoxing, you’re recirculating toxins, so make sure you’re pooping regularly!

There is some flexibility, but I prefer all of these on an empty stomach. Ensure you are drinking plenty of fluid throughout the day, without diluting your stomach acid before meals.

Bentonite Clay

This is an old school tried and true folk remedy, it’s been used forever and has an excellent track record. Bentonite holds a strong negative charge and therefore attracts positively charged toxins and binds them to be carried out of the body. This works for heavy metals, microplastics, xenoestrogens and other toxins equally well. Bentonite holds up to 30 times it’s weight in attracted positive particles. Don’t use metal with bentonite as it disrupts the charge, you will need a plastic or wooden spoon. To prepare this remedy mix a tablespoon with a little water in a pint jar with a plastic lid until it dissolves, then fill the jar and shake it. Leave it overnight and the clay will settle to the bottom. Allowing it to soak also activates the charge. Begin slowly for best results, you can take an ounce of just the water on top for the first few days. Then shake the jar before consuming it and take a smaller dose for a few days before working your way back up to an ounce of clay water. Take this remedy on an empty stomach and allow at least an hour to pass before eating anything. Bentonite alkalizes the stomach and neutralizes stomach acid, so you want to build up more stomach acid before eating. I like taking it first thing in the morning to get my daily dose in.

Zeolites

Zeolites are newer on the scene and have some fancy attributes. It’s a form of volcanic dust that has a honeycomb-like structure. While there is a negative charge factor here as well, it also “scoops” and collects the offending particles to be carried out. I was introduced to zeolites during the aftermath of the shedding illness I suffered in 2021. It took a year plus to fully recover from that and zeolites played a major role. The recurrent symptom that had me keep going back to zeolites (even after 4 months of taking it daily!), was the sense of a thick, heavy fog in my field and mental/emotional body. I will probably never know exactly what caused that (graphene oxide, hydrogels, spikes, “inhaleable” programs, who knows), but the zeolites reliably cleared it up. There have been warnings issued that zeolites contain aluminum and other problematic additives, and it may depend on the brand and source, but I suspect that is misinformation designed to steer people away from a super effective remedy. There are companies who suspend zeolites in liquid, and supposedly the solution can more easily penetrate the tissues of the body to do its work at deeper levels, whereas the powder supposedly only sweeps the digestive tract. I always choose the powder and it works great. Dosage is 1 tsp 1-2 times per day in water. Zeolites are clinically proven safe, with no negative effects with long-term use, and may not absorb beneficial nutrients. Some say you can take it with food but I don’t think it’s wise.

Charcoal

Activated charcoal is another long-time folk remedy taken for ages to resolve stomach upset of all kinds. It’s often made from coconut husks these days, or wood. It absorbs excess alcohol when you’ve overindulged and it can be used to reduce the effects of die-off reaction when yeast and parasites are moving out of your system. Again, it is super absorbent. There is debate in natural health circles about whether it absorbs beneficial nutrients or just negative influences. I take it on an empty stomach and don’t worry about it. A standard recommended dose is 1,000 milligrams in capsule form or ½ teaspoon of powder mixed into eight ounces of water, twice per day. I find taking a full dose makes my teeth feel weird, so I dial it back to about half.

Diatomaceous Earth

Diatoms are teeny tiny fossilized single-celled algae, and when they are crushed and ground to a fine powder, it is called diatomaceous earth or DE for short. DE is often used for natural flea and pest control, as it dehydrates insects through their exoskeletons. It is highly abrasive and damaging to tiny critters, including parasites in the gut. It is 80-95% silica, which is a very fortifying mineral that strengthens all the tissues of the body. Silica binds aluminum, tin, and thallium. These are the main benefits of DE, it is also absorbent like the others, just less so. Again, start slow and work your way up - dosage is 1 teaspoon to 2 tablespoons per day. It is recommend to take this on an empty stomach as well.

Shilajit

Shilajit is in a class of its own. I included it here because it is “dirt”, from the earth, and it is such a wonderful nourishing and healing substance. Shilajit is an organic exudate that oozes out of the Himalayan mountains and other high altitude locations during the warmer months. It’s then collected, processed and purified for consumption. It is very high in humic and fulvic acid, antioxidants and minerals. It is a traditional Ayurvedic remedy for longevity and vitality. The key thing here is that fulvic and humic acid are crucial for repairing tight junctions in the gut lining, removing glyphosate, and healing leaky gut over time. It comes in a super sticky paste or a powder. A little goes a long way, and thank goodness because it is pricey. Much gratitude to the ones who climb up treacherous mountains to harvest it! Unlike the other remedies, it has a very strong, rich, smoky flavor. I love to put it in my morning tea with milk. I consider this more of a healing agent than a detoxifier, and would follow up a detox phase with a round of shilajit to support the gut lining.

Here’s the schedule I loosely follow when I’m in detox mode:

First thing in the morning - charcoal and bentonite in psyllium seed water

60+ minutes later - light breakfast

Lunch

Mid-afternoon - other dusts according to target (DE for parasites, Zeolites for other weird stuff, charcoal if needed) in psyllium seed water

Dinner

Possible 3rd drink before bed if needed or desired

This does take some forethought and planning. I suggest mixing up the next batch of seeds to soak after you drink the current batch, so you don’t find yourself waiting around for the seeds to soften.

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