Bentonite Clay comes from the Earth's volcano's. It is formed when volcanic ash has weathered and aged with  water present.   It holds a very strong negative electromagnetic charge.  This charge becomes activated once water is added to the clay and, in turn, whether we ingest it or use topically, the clay acts like a magnet and pulls metals and toxins to it. (If you choose to use it as a drink, use a teaspoon of powder in a slightly warm glass of water, followed by two more glasses of water.)  The clay will work it's way through your digestive track, attracting all the positively charged toxins, heavy metals, GMO toxins, fluoride, candida yeasts, parasites, gangrene, bacterial infections and even radiation poison!  This is then excreted from the body.  Because clay is not absorbed into the bloodstream and doesn't stay in the system, it is considered non-toxic. Drinking plenty of water is key! You want to clay to keep moving and not get stuck.  A detox method to use would be 4 weeks of 1 tsp bentonite clay with plenty of water, every day.  Take a week break, then back on for 4 weeks of 2 tsp bentonite clay with plenty of water, every day.   This powerful detox method can be used with bentonite clay or diatomaceous earth. 

​Not only is Bentonite clay a great way to detox  heavy metals and toxins from the body, but there's a high amount of calcium, magnesium, silica, iron and potassium.  Clay, literally, absorbs toxins and pathogens, while depositing  minerals into your body. There is concern of the small trace amounts of lead found in clay, but this lead is never released into the body, it is excreted alongside the other heavy metals found in the body. 

Benefits Of Bentonite Clay
​*Removes heavy metals, pathogens, toxins, fluoride, viruses, candida yeasts, bacterial infections, gangrene, GMO toxins and even radiation
*Promotes healthy gut flora
​*Heals and revitalizes damaged cells & tissues
​*By reducing stomach acidity, it balances the body's pH levels
​*Promotes healthy hair, skin, nails, teeth, bones and joints
​*Naturally boosts energy
*Adds oxygen to your cells by pulling excess hydrogen, allowing oxygen to take it's place
​*Boosts probiotics in the gut
​*Relieves constipation
*Boosts immunity
*Purifies water when combined with magnesium by removing fluoride

​With all of the benefits that this detox brings, coupled with the essential minerals we need to sustain our body's, this detox ranks high on my list for best internal cleansing!

Sources:
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2904249/
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20462694

Epsom salt is wildly popular in the holistic health community and for good reason.  People have recently began to learn about the benefits, internal and external, of this wonderful "salt".  I quote that word because Epsom salts aren't really salts at all, but rather a naturally occurring, pure mineral compound of magnesium and sulfate.  There have been several studies that show that magnesium and sulfate are highly absorbable through the skin.  This is why Epsom salt baths are so popular and a great way to experience the benefits of this Earthly wonder. 

Let's take a look at the several benefits of Epsom salt:
​* Reduces inflammation of muscular and skeletal systems
* Sulfates help absorb nutrients
​* Flushes toxins from the body
​* Relieves constipation when taken orally with water
​* Detoxes heavy metals when used in a bath
* Helps regulate 325 enzymes found in the body
​* Can be used to fertilize houseplants, gardens and yards, growing lush green plants
​* Can be used as an insecticide
​* Helps relieve stress by relaxing muscles and mind, readying you for a good night's sleep
​* Will help clean out the gut when taken orally, balancing the guts pH

​There are several uses for Epsom salt, but I'm going to focus my post on Epsom salt baths.  If you do decide to try to take Epsom salt orally, use a small amount (1 tsp) and drink a lot of water with it.  Continue drinking water all day to help push everything out of your system. This is the natural answer to constipation. Oh, and please beware, it tastes NASTY!  Now onto baths...

How To Take An Epsom Salt Bath To Get Maximized Benefits
With Epsom salt baths you want to get the water as hot as you can handle it. This is important as it really helps relax the muscles and opens up the pores of your skin as large as they go, allowing for the magnesium sulfate to easily be absorbed and for toxins to easily be released from the body.  For maximum results, when it comes to relaxing the muscles and relieving inflammation, pour no less than 4 cups of salts into your bath!  Let these salts get in there, do their job and go beyond the call of duty!  Be sure to soak no longer than 40 minutes.  

​If you have young children who have a hard time falling asleep, you can run some warm/almost hot water in the sink and add 2 cups of Epsom salts.  Then take a wash cloth and let the salt water absorb into the cloth.  Wring out and wrap warm cloths around your kids feet (may take two cloths).  You can also have them put their feet in the sink, if you prefer. This will help relax your child and help them fall asleep. You can do this for yourself as well, followed by a light foot scrub with a scrub brush will help release toxins through the feet.
​
​Source: “Report on Absorption of magnesium sulfate (Epsom salts) across the skin,” Dr. R.H. Waring, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, B15 2TT, U.K.

Every day we are being bombarded with toxins from our environment.  From the building material in our homes (formaldehyde, asbestos, lead paint), the toxins in our air supply (Aldrin, chlordane, dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane (DDT), dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, hexachlorobenzene, mirex, toxaphene, polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxins, furans, cadmium, mercury and aluminum (just to name a few) and, of course, pesticides used on our food.  There's also nanoparticles, known as magnetite particles, that come from car exhausts, or any burning fuel, that releases into our environment.  Scientists have found that these heavy metals and nanoparticles are embedding themselves in our brain tissue.  All of these toxins are directly related to Alzheimer's and other deteriorating health issues. We are literally breathing in toxins every day and do not even realize it. So we have to stay on top of this, for our health and well-being.  There are several ways to detox your body.  It's very important to cleanse ourselves from the inside out, so this is where cilantro and chlorella come into play. 

Cilantro and chlorella are natural chelating agents.  If you go to the doctor, they will prescribe a pharmaceutical that is common for chelating lead and arsenic poisoning, but these have serious side effects. Cilantro and chlorella together bind to heavy metal toxin ions, removing them from your system via bodily excretions. Eating cilantro alone isn't enough.  Cilantro binds to the heavy metal ions, but it's the chlorella that carry's it out of the body.  Without the chlorella the metals bound to cilantro will just sit there in your body, creating more heavy metal side effects (moodiness, irritability, depression). Chlorella, an intestinal absorbing agent, prohibits retoxification!  In fact, clinical studies recently proved that chlorella and cilantro together can naturally remove up 87% of lead, 91% of mercury and 74% of aluminum from the body within 42 days if taken correctly. This is great news!   

Benefits of Chlorella
​-Improves digestion, relieves constipation
​-Balances hormones
-Increases white blood cell count
​-Boosts immune system response
-Treats fatigue
-Anti-viral
​-Supports elimination of heavy metals and mold
-Heals and repairs tissue
-Detoxifies harmful radiation
​-Protects the brain and nervous system
​-Improves antioxidant activity in the body
-​Contains B6 and B12 in their most absorbable form
-High in amino acids
​-Opens cell walls necessary for detoxing
-Restores healthy gut flora

Benefits of Cilantro
-Antibacterial
-Anti-inflammatory
-Heavy metal binding agent and mobilizer
​-Balances hormones
-Contains high levels of magnesium and iron, warding off anemia
-Fights urinary tract infections
​-Promotes a healthy liver
​-Prevents bloating/gas
-Adds fiber to digestive tract

​Before starting this natural chelating process, make sure you are taking plenty of magnesium (for your height/weight).  Magnesium will relax your arteries, tissues and muscles, making it easier to detox.
​
Here is a link with the recommended doses for chelating heavy metals from the body.  This describes exactly what you need to do to detox using this method. 
http://www.nihadc.com/library/detox-for-life-class-2-addit-resources/54-4-dosing-with-chlorella/file.html?accept_license=1

​One of my favorite ways to eat cilantro is in homemade salsa.  Then you can easily find chlorella in powder form at health food stores or online.  The powder can be added to water or a smoothie.  There are also herbal companies that make a cilantro and chlorella detoxing supplement. 


​Resources:
Carr, et al, (1998) Characterization of the Cadmium-binding Capacity of Chlorella vulgaris. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. 60: 433-440.
Kaplan, et al. (1987) Chelating Properties of Extracellular Polysaccharides from Chlorella spp. Applied and Environment Microbiology, 50: (12) 2953-2956.
Aga, et al. (2001) Preventive effect of Coriandrum sativium on localized lead deposition in ICR mice. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 77: 203-208.
Guerra, et al (2005) Antioxidant compounds from coriander Coriandrum Sativum L.) etheric extract. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis. 18 (2-3) 193-199.
https://www.epa.gov/international-cooperation/persistent-organic-pollutants-global-issue-global-response