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Elements; April 2009; v. 5; no. 2; p. 99-104; DOI: 10.2113/gselements.5.2.99
© 2009 Mineralogical Society of America
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Bentonite, Bandaids, and Borborygmi

Lynda B. Williams1, Shelley E. Haydel2,3 and Ray E. Ferrell, Jr.4

1 School of Earth and Space Exploration
550 East Tyler Mall, PSF-686, Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ 85287-1404, USA
E-mail: Lynda.Williams{at}asu.edu
2 The Biodesign Institute Center for Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology
3 School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ 85287-5401, USA
E-mail: Shelley.Haydel{at}asu.edu
4 Department of Geology and Geophysics, Louisiana State University
E235 Howe-Russell Building, Baton Rouge, LA 70803-4101, USA
E-mail: rferrell{at}lsu.edu

The practice of eating clay for gastrointestinal ailments and applying clay topically as bandaids for skin infections is as old as mankind. Bentonites in particular have been used in traditional medicines, where their function has been established empirically. With modern techniques for nanoscale investigations, we are now exploring the interactions of clay minerals and human pathogens to learn the lessons that Mother Nature has used for healing. The vast surface area and chemical variability of hydrothermally altered bentonites may provide a natural pharmacy of antibacterial agents.

KEYWORDS: healing clay, geophagy, pelotherapy, antibacterial, microbiology, health




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