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FRENCH GREEN ILLITE CLAY

SUPERFINE, NATURALLY PRODUCED, SUN-DRIED, SOUTH OF FRANCE ORIGIN

Alternative names: French Green Clay, Marine Clay, Green Illite

We market 7 types of French clay - Green Montmorillonite original, Green Montmorillonite (reduced illite), Green Illite, Yellow Illite, White Kaolinite, Red Illite, Pink Illite. The colour of the clays and their properties are determined by the the prevalence of certain minerals/oxides in them. Read more about different clays and their properties in my article "Clays - Colours of the Rainbow".

The clays are mined in the South of France, Provence, in the most natural way. They are sun-dried and ground to a very fine, velvety powder after being extracted from the ground. Illite is found in certain regions in the North of France and in the Atlantic basin. It is is a highly absorbent clay (30% - it absorbs 30% of water), so is drying, and has a relatively low remineralisation power (8%).

TRADITIONAL USES

French Green illite clay can be used in compresses, poultices, baths, face masks, body wraps, powder applications. In the cosmetics industry bentonites are used in soaps, toothpastes, face/body packs, and other clay-based products which are beginning to win the consumer over.

Compress

To make a compress, mix some clay with warm water to make it quite runny. Spread over a piece of cloth. Apply on an affected area. Cover with a compress paper, wrap up in a warm cloth. Leave on until the clay dries out. Apply on aching joints, muscles, in the area of organs affected by an illness.

Poultice

A poultice has a much more powerful effect than a compress, since it requires a lot more clay per application - 0,5-2cm thick, and it works as a mass, drawing up toxic waste into itself. The electromagnetic charge is stronger too. So the overall effect is more powerful. It is especially good for applications on an affected area, or simply where a stronger action is required. Apply a warm poultice over the area, cover with grease-proof paper and a warm cloth. If an area is hot and inflamed, a cold poultice application is recommended to relieve the heat and reduce the inflammation.

Bath

A bath has a more general, less concentrated effect than a poultice or a compress. In cases of large amounts of clay being used, there may be problems with water drains afterwards. However, for this to happen, the clay solution would have to be rather thick. I normally keep stirring the water while it is being drained to avoid such problems. For a bath, I use 500g of clay, mix it in warm bath water and stay in it for up to 30 minutes, or until the water starts cooling down. Sometimes I add Epsom salt to it.

Face Mask

Basic face mask recipe: 1 tsp of clay + water to form a spreadable paste. Apply and leave to dry. Wash off, apply moisturiser. Clay masks can have other ingredients added, depending on the skin type and purpose of the mask. Calcium Bentonite masks have a natural bleaching effect, and are used when aiming to reduce blotches, pigmentation, etc. They are also excellent at restoring the natural pH of the skin and cleansing it. Acne/spots is another skin condition which benefits from clay applications. Since bentonite clays are great detoxifyiers, they leave the skin cleansed, pink, fresh and revitalised, generally looking younger.

Body Wrap

Body wrap is another very useful application for French Green clays. It is a luxurious treatment, especially with powdered seaweed added to it. Mix the clay with seaweed powder (50/50), add water to form a spreadable mass. To do it at home, prepare a place to lie on first, and a warm room. Lay down 1 or 2 warm blankets, with a plastic sheet on top. Cover yourself with the mixture of clay and water, or clay, seaweed and water, lie down on the plastic sheet, cover yourself with the remaining half of the blanket. Make sure you remain warm throughout. Stay under the blanket for 15-30 minutes. Wash off in a shower or a bath. For a salon application, follow the normal procedure for a body wrap.

Body Powder

Use dry Green clay powder (especially Illite) on weeping eczema, ulcers, Athlete's foot, any sores and wounds which need desinfection and healing.


Disclaimer: please be advised that according to the EU regulations, clay and clay-like substances are not regarded as food products, and we are not selling or marketing them as such, but simply as generic products. We provide general information about clays and minerals which we have collected online and from various publications, and it is up to you to read it and decide how you would like to use it. Clays or minerals are not being sold by us as medicines or food supplements. We do not provide diagnosis or advice. If you have any medical problem, please consult your medical practitioner. Do not resort to self-treatment.