Clay for external route

With the clay, a paste is prepared which is used in poultices. These are applied to the parts of the body that require it in case of injuries, pains, organ deficiencies, etc.

Indications

- The well-known beauty treatments, such as facial masks.

- Burns : Green clay soothes pain very quickly, prevents the formation of blisters if applied quickly, prevents infection and promotes the reconstitution of the skin.

- Injuries and all trauma : Blows, bumps, sprains, cuts, even open wounds heal quickly with clay. Indeed, green clay cleans the wound by removing dirt (gravel, pieces of glass will become embedded in the clay), removes swelling, stops pain, reduces bruises, prevents infection and heals. . Even if you have to go to the emergency services at the hospital afterwards, the clay used in first aid will already considerably calm your pain.

- Scars, even post-operative : Green clay accelerates healing and is used in some hospitals for this purpose.

- Fever, heat stroke : Clay poultices placed on the neck and lower abdomen absorb excess heat.

- The teeth : The poultices placed on the cheek reduce dental pain, but do not prevent the visit to the dentist! After the visit, take the poultices again to eliminate the pain (it is thus possible to avoid the absorption of drugs) after a dental extraction and to evacuate more quickly the anesthetic products injected by injection. Thus, there is no risk of infection. It is also possible to put clay directly on the tooth or in the hole of the extracted tooth.

- Abscesses, paronychia : Green clay poultices accelerate ripening, opening, healing.

- Inflammations, infections (conjunctivitis), angina, pharyngitis, bronchitis : Clay can stop an inflammation in its beginnings or treat it effectively if it is already installed.

- Green clay poultices can also be used to treat deep organs for serious disorders, but this will not be detailed here. For these cases, it is necessary to have recourse to the diagnosis of a health professional and to refer to the very detailed indications given in the books devoted to the use of clay. Examples: disorders of the liver, gallbladder, kidneys, lower abdomen, benign tumors, hepatitis, arthritis, sciatica, osteoarthritis, hernias, cysts, stones, hemorrhages, etc.

Preparation of the clay 

- Bring a stoneware or glass dish (no metal or plastic).

- Fill it half or three quarters with clay (for several poultices).

- Pour water to completely cover the clay (about half to 1 centimeter above the clay).

- Wait half an hour to an hour. The green clay disintegrates on contact with water and the mixture takes place on its own. (Bring your ear closer and hear the clay sing!) No need to knead, it will reduce the absorbency of the clay.

The quantity of water to add can be different according to the clays, it requires a little learning at the beginning. The consistency of the dough should be neither too hard nor too soft. If the clay is too hard (its absorbency decreases) add a little water; if the clay is too runny (the poultice will slip), add powdered clay to the surface. If the wait seems too long (an emergency: burn, crushed finger, etc.), immediately prepare a mixture of powdered green clay and water, as it can be used immediately.

Prepare the poultice

- Take clay with a spatula or a wooden spoon and place it on
a cloth (which should be washed between each application) or absorbent paper (like a paper towel) that can be thrown away after use (this is the most practical) or a cabbage leaf (which keeps the moisture in the clay and does not tear like paper).
It is essential that the support exceeds widely around the poultice, because during the installation, the clay will spread out a little. 

- poultice size : This must exceed the size of the wound; it takes two centimeters more all around the place to be treated.

- Thickness : In general, a thickness of two centimeters is required to give the green clay sufficient absorbency and so that the poultice does not dry out too quickly. But in some cases and depending on the location of the body (near the vital organs) and sometimes to accustom the injured area in the beginning, we will start with small, thin poultices. Then, we will gradually increase the size and the thickness of the poultice.

- Temperature : The clay can be used cold or lukewarm, depending on the problem being treated. In cases of fever, inflammation, congestion, the clay should be applied cold, as it will absorb the heat of the inflammation and cool the body. If the poultice must be placed near an organ such as the stomach, kidneys, bladder, liver, it must be applied warm so as not to use its energy to heat the clay. When applying cold poultices, a warm sensation should occur a few minutes after application. If the feeling of cold persists, it would mean that the body does not have enough energy to warm up and therefore it would be exhausted. Then heat the poultice.

- How to heat green clay : especially not with too much heat which would "cook" the clay and nullify its effectiveness.
Use the bain-marie, the sun, a radiator, a stove... with gentle heat. The temperature should be lukewarm and close to that of the body, i.e. 37 degrees.
Heat only the value of the poultice used immediately, and not the rest of the clay which will be used for the next poultices.

Applying the poultice

Apply the poultice clay side directly to the skin. Then pressed on it so that the clay adheres really well to the desired place, sticks completely on the skin.

If the poultice is very wet and the paper tears, you can rest absorbent paper, or better a cloth that will absorb the excess moisture and hold the poultice even better. For example: to surround a wrist, an ankle or a knee.

Then it is necessary to wrap the poultice in order to keep it firmly in place for the necessary duration. Wet clay weighs relatively heavy. If you rest after the pose, there is no problem; but if one has to perform an activity, the poultice may move. It is therefore necessary to use one or more strips (like Velpeau) that will be crossed to ensure the maintenance of the poultice according to the known recommendations in first aid.

Remark : In some cases, it may be useful to place a strip of gauze between the green clay and the skin, in anticipation of the difficulties in removing the poultice. It is recommended for laying clay on the eyelid as well as on very hairy parts of the body. Apart from these cases, direct contact is preferable.

Duration of poultice

It varies depending on the disease : from fifteen minutes to one night, but in general from one to two hours.

For the majority of conditions, leave the poultice to act for two hours, unless the inconveniences listed below (*) occur. For burns, purulent wounds, painful accidents, it is advisable to renew more quickly: leave the first poultice 15 minutes, the second 30 minutes, the third one hour, according to the evolution.

(*) It should be known that the clay acts as long as it remains wet. When it dries, it no longer has any action.

Moreover, when it becomes increasingly hot, it means that it has absorbed the inflammation, the fever, in short, the evil. It is therefore necessary to remove it and renew the poultice to continue the treatment. To Conversely, if you feel an embarrassing cold sensation, you must also remove it more quickly.

We can say that when the poultice causes a feeling of discomfort, that we have difficulty supporting it, that the pain that has disappeared returns, or that we feel that the poultice comes off the skin on its own, it is because he has finished acting and must be removed. It has partially dried and comes off with ease.

After removing it, scrape off any remains of clay, wash with water. If the clay has dried too much and it is difficult to remove it (it pulls on the skin or the hair) run a little water between the clay and the skin, it will come off better. On open wounds or poultices renewed immediately, no need to clean, the next poultice will take care of it.

Remark : a green clay poultice can only be used once, it should never be reused. It should be thrown away, because it has been able to absorb toxins, bad elements and it is devitalized. If you have a corner of the garden or wood, you can put the clay there that the bad weather will take care of dissolving in a few months (provided that no one comes to touch it).

Cadence d'application

In cases of emergency, the poultices will be renewed one after the other, without interruption. We will also continue all night if necessary. These are the cases of burns, fevers, maturation of an abscess, inflammation to be resolved, accidents, injuries (crushed finger, sprain, deep cut,). Stopping the application of green clay prematurely would allow the evil to regain the upper hand.

Then, when things are better (usually after a day), a break is allowed between two poultices, a time which will increase according to the progress of the healing over several days: one hour, three hours, five hours, one half day....

For other, less urgent cases:
Two poultices of 2 hours per 24 hours or four poultices of 1 hour per 24 hours if you work during the day, a poultice can be applied at night.

The results will be faster and therefore more effective if green clay is applied frequently.
It is certain that its use requires learning that is acquired through experience.

reactions

Poultices can cause unexpected or surprising effects, which should not worry when you are warned. One may have the impression of noticing a recrudescence of the evil when one removes the first poultices. For example, applications on wounds will enlarge the wound, deepen it further. Either the clay will extract blood, pus... It is the cleaning and drainage action of the clay which is exerted by attracting all the toxins towards the part of the body treated. Then, when the toxins have been removed, the wound will gradually close until complete healing. But in general, there is also a rapid reduction in redness when there is inflammation, proof of the positive action of green clay.

It can also happen that redness, pimples, as well as an itch that is difficult to bear, appear when there was none. This is because the poultice attracts toxic substances from inside the body. They pass through the tissues and are evacuated through the skin where the poultice is applied. It is preferable to stop the poultices momentarily and to resume them when the inconveniences have disappeared. Take herbal teas to help with evacuation.

Given the draining action of green clay, it is recommended, in many cases, to place poultices on the lower abdomen. The toxins are thus attracted to the intestines or the bladder and evacuate quickly through them (instead of evacuating through the skin, which is more troublesome).

It is not advisable to apply several poultices at the same time to different parts of the body. You have to alternate them. For example, if you are treating angina, you will put a poultice on your neck for two hours. Then, after it has been removed, you can then put a poultice on the lower abdomen.

Duration of treatment

Depending on the case, the poultices will be applied for one or two days... up to several months for basic treatments.

It depends on the problem. Poses should continue until complete healing, pain subsides, scarring.

But it is important not to interrupt a treatment started... only to resume it a few days later. We would lose the benefit already acquired, it's as if we started again a second time, it would be a shame.

As explained above, it is sometimes beneficial to complete the application of poultices with an internal clay cure. This will speed up the elimination and healing process.

Conclusion

The benefits of green clay are such that one will always have some ready to use nearby to prepare a poultice. 

To home, it is possible to have a clay dish ready. If not used immediately, to avoid drying out, the top of the clay should be covered with a little water from time to time.

In case the clay has been forgotten and is starting to dry out, it can be left to dry completely. Then we break it into smaller pieces. It is then possible to reuse it as the first time by covering it completely with water.

The speed of intervention is also of great importance. If the clay can be applied immediately after an incident, the pain is of very short duration, healing occurs more quickly. There is no blister after a burn, the nail does not fall off when crushing a finger etc... it is worth it.

REMINDER 

The descriptions and recommendations given on this site are for educational purposes only and do not replace any professional diagnosis or treatment. 
It is each person's responsibility to do what is safe for their own health conditions.