How To Use Bentonite Clay And Psyllium Husk To Treat Psoriasis

How To Use Bentonite Clay And Psyllium Husk To Treat Psoriasis

Are you interested in learning how to use bentonite clay and psyllium husk to treat your psoriasis or to see if it actually works? Or what about how safe it is to take orally? If you have answered yes to any of these questions, then you have come to the right place!

When I first started my journey of trials and experiments in 2010, I researched everywhere how to perform a psoriasis detox, but without having to go the invasive route, i.e. colonic irrigation or enemas, like Dr Pagona advised in his book “Healing Psoriasis: The Natural Alternative”.

The science was and still is inconclusive about those invasive “detox” regimes, therefore I wanted to find a way to ensure that my body was able to remove waste material quickly and efficiently from my system.

Not only that but Naturopaths and functional medical experts state that a psoriasis “detox” is required to aid the repair of the intestinal wall which may suffer from intestinal permeability (i.e. the “leaky gut syndrome”).

Even if no clinical trials have taken place to prove that the leaky gut syndrome exists, there are lots of anecdotal psoriasis success stories as well as many well known leaky gut treatment advocates such as leading psoriasis natural health practitioner, Dr John Pagano and Dr Josh Axe, certified doctor of natural medicine.

However one thing we do know is that having a healthy colon means a well balanced immune system. Having regular bowel movements, means our digestive system is in perfect working order, and removes any potential adverse reactions that may occur due to a “clogged” up intestines.

With all this in mind I took it upon myself to try this detox method to see if I could get some positive results. I will share my experiment results with you, but first I need to explain why bentonite clay (liquid or powder form) and psyllium husk may be used as a natural detox.

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FREE SMART PSORIASIS DIET PLAN EBOOK: How I Control My Psoriasis Through Diet & Supplements

What is Bentonite Clay and how does it help psoriasis

bentonite clay for psoriasis

Bentonite clay is a particular type of clay which is found in volcanic ash. It’s name originates from where is it produced in Benton, Wyoming. It is also referred to as Montmorillonite, named after the region of France where it is also produced.

Bentonite can be used externally as a mud pack or in the bath and in skin care. Bentonite clay can also be used internally as a detox as it absorbs disease causing bacteria, viruses, mold, parasites, etc. and carrying them out of your body via your feces (poo).

There are various reasons why people predisposed to the psoriasis gene happen to trigger the first flare-up. We know for example that the streptococci bacteria can trigger guttate psoriasis.

However naturopaths and functional medical experts believe that many auto immune diseases are caused by environmental pollutants as well as “heavy metal toxins” such as mercury, cadmium, lead and benzene, which can be found in most of the processed foods found today in your local supermarket.

While more research must be done on this subject, I think it is fair to say that when an elimination diet removes those “heavy metals toxins” , the results more often than not are a significant improvement in our physical and mental health.

Bentonite works as follows:

Bentonite clay is made up of molecules that are negatively charged, while most toxins and heavy metals have molecules that are positively charged. Because of this the two are naturally attracted to each other, bind and stay bound together while it is eliminated from the body through the feces.

Bottom line: Bentonite is able to draw out heavy metal toxins and therefore improve your immune system and reduce inflammation.

What the scientists say about bentonite for psoriasis detox

Unfortunately there have been no specific clinical trials regarding benefits of bentonite as a successful treatment for psoriasis. We do know that it aids removal of toxins from our gut and we also know that our immune system is influenced the most by what occurs in our gut. Therefore on paper it seems to make sense.

What most popular functional medical websites and blogs fail to mention is that bentonite cannot differentiate between good and bad bacteria that is found in the gut.

Therefore if you try bentonite, it is advisable to try at least 1 hour before eating or taking any probiotics. Otherwise, it will remove all the beneficial bacteria from your gut… and we don’t want that!

Whenever there is no specific medical research to back up the topic, I have to take drastic measures and become a human guinea pig! I will detail my results further down this page with surprising results…

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FREE SMART PSORIASIS DIET PLAN EBOOK: How I Control My Psoriasis Through Diet & Supplements

Instructions on how to take bentonite clay

Internal cleansing: ½ to 1 tsp in a cup of water per day. Mix well until it dissolves and drink. Do not leave the metallic spoon in the water with bentonite and it is better to stir with a wooden or plastic spoon.

Ideally, bentonite clay should be taken with an empty stomach, before going to bed or first thing in the morning. It is recommended to drink plenty of water during the period you are taking bentonite clay.

Externally on the skin: mix it with water and apply on irritated skin. Wait until it dries and then wash it off. It is particularly helpful for psoriasis, eczema and chicken px.

What are the side effects of Bentonite Clay for psoriasis sufferers

The main side effects of Bentonite Clay is constipation. Therefore it is essential to drink plenty of water to increase the movement of bentonite through your intestines and bowels. It is also recommended to add fiber to your diet and that is where psyllium husk comes into play as will be explained in a moment.

You might also experience the following side-effects, if you do please stop the treatment and seek medical advice:

  • Head Pain
  • Nausea
  • Tiredness
  • Excess of energy
  • Body aches
  • Nasal issues
  • Sore throat
  • Cold Sores
  • Skin rash
  • Insomnia
  • Libido problems (increase or decrease)
  • Flu-like symptoms

Please keep in mind that you should always take breaks from taking bentonite clay or any other detox aid. Bentonite should never be taken for long periods.

What is Psyllium Husk and how does it help psoriasis

psyllium husk powder for psoriasis

Psyllium husk is made from crushed seeds of Plantago Ovata pan, an herb that can be found in Asia and Mediterranean areas. This herb has been known for ages for curing constipation but also used topically for helping skin irritations such as insects bites and stings.

However,Its most popular use has been as dietary fiber due to its particular property of making stools softer and easier to be expelled. Because of this natural property, psyllium has been used as an aid for constipation, hemorrhoids and other intestinal disease such as irritable bowel syndrome.

Psyllium husk is used together with water which makes it change its form to a gelatinous mass. This form stimulates  the transport of waste through the intestine. While increasing the production of healthy bacteria that helps regulating the bowel movements, such as bifidobacteria and lactobacillus acidophilus, it also speeds the waste through the digestive system, reducing the time toxins stay in the body.

A study conducted by the Department of Nutritions and Food Science of the University of Maryland confirms the beneficial healths effect of psyllium as dietary fiber.

When taking it on its own here are the dosage instructions:

  • ½ to 2 tsp of psyllium seed to 1 cup of warm water and mix it well
  • Drink it fast before it becomes too thick and also drink another cup of regular water after taking it to avoid esophageal impaction. Also continue to drink water sporadically throughout the day to aid peristalsis.

If you are not used of psyllium it is better to start with a lower dose (½ tsp once a day) and increasing it slowly (to 2 tsp in two cups of water).

Psyllium can be taken first thing in the morning or before going to bad.

Higher dose might be recommended by your doctor in order to treat certain conditions but do not give psyllium to children without consulting with your doctor first.

There are potential side effects so please check with your doctor in case of one or more of the following common side effect persist or increase:

  • Abdominal Fullness
  • Minor Bloating
  • Rash
  • Hives
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Swelling of the mouth, face, lips or tongue
  • Chest pain
  • Trouble breathing
  • Vomiting
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FREE SMART PSORIASIS DIET PLAN EBOOK: How I Control My Psoriasis Through Diet & Supplements

What the medical world says about Psyllium Husk?

Scientific studies confirm that psyllium treatment with doses between 5-10g three times a day is safe and it does not seem to be associated with any major side effects.

How can psoriasis sufferers get the best results from using bentonite and psyllium husk?

Let me take you back to when I started the Smart Psoriasis Diet journey back in 2010.

I read a well researched paper (now actually being sold as a kindle book here) where a fellow psoriasis sufferer believed using a liquid bentonite clay and psyllium husk powder mix helps remove bad heavy metals and “toxins” from your digestive tract quickly and efficiently.

I was already taking my raw vegetable shakes, eating healthy, getting daily sunshine and was in a good place mentally. However I still could not shift some stubborn guttate psoriasis spots from my back which had been there for 5 years with NO remission period.

I felt like I was missing something to fully “detox” my body which was used to a poor diet and was nutritionally unbalanced.

I agreed that I could stop the spread of my psoriasis by not eating crap but I still needed to repair my body after years of “abuse”.

The paper made sense to me and I jumped into experiment mode.

I bought 2 bottles of  liquid bentonite clay and huge container of psyllium husk.

Week 1

For the first week I made a daily mix of 1 spoon of liquid bentonite clay and 1 spoon of psyllium in a glass of lukewarm water. I mixed it well using a wooden stirrer.

I took it after waking up and 1 hour before having breakfast.

I said a pray, held my nose and swallowed all of it down in one go. I then refilled the glass with regular water and drank that too. This is to ensure that there is no esophageal blockage as psyllium expands when you mix with water.

I also ensured to drink 2 litres of luke-warm water throughout the day to ensure I was not going to suffer from a common side effect of bentonite which is constipation.

Week 2

In the second week, I upped the dose to twice a day, after waking up and an hour before going to sleep.

It was at this stage that I was starting to have 2 solid bowel movements a day and for the first time since I could remember,I was feeling fully “empty” after a bowel movement (no need a for a squatty potty for me!).

Week 3 – Week 6

It was at this stage that I also followed the advice of this book about taking a natural anti-fungal called caprylic acid to kill any harbouring yeast infection. While again there is no clinical trials which back up the leaky gut syndrome, it is what Dr J Pagona preaches as well as countless other functional medical experts so I trialled it out.

The reason why you should wait at least 2 full weeks to start taking an anti-fungal is to ensure that you are having regular bowel movements and your colon is now been cleaned daily by use of the psyllium husk.

According to many articles on candida infections, when you kill a yeast infection, it results in a “die off” which releases even worse “toxins” than the yeast infection itself.

And this is where the magic happens. The bentonite clay binds to the “die off toxins” as well as the other heavy metal toxins in the body while the fibre in the psyllium husk powder sweeps all these nasty bacteria and toxins out of your system in your daily bowel movements.

I also started taking probiotics at this stage but not until at least 1 hour after the detox mix.

Bentonite and psyllium are the perfect partnership to help clean up your gut and colon, while probiotics are the perfect tool to restore your gut to a balanced healthy state which leads to a strong immune system.

book

FREE SMART PSORIASIS DIET PLAN EBOOK: How I Control My Psoriasis Through Diet & Supplements

Bentonite and Psyllium For Psoriasis Experiment Results

After 4 weeks, the guttate psoriasis on my back had reduced in size as well as noticeable drop in scaling and itchiness and after 6 weeks, my back was clear for the first time in 5 years!

Do I Still Using Bentonite And Psyllium?

While I had great success using bentonite clay and psyllium to treat my psoriasis, I now no longer use it.

The reason is simple.

Once I finally got my psoriasis under control, I have never experienced a bad flare up that was not easily rectified within 60 days by simply adhering to the smart psoriasis diet, taking the essential supplements for psoriasis, reducing stress levels and using extra virgin coconut oil as a topical treatment.

My diet is 80% vegetarian these days and this provides enough fibre to keep my colon healthy and my bowel movements regular which ensures my immune system is in tip top shape.

While I got good results, it must be stated that what worked for me may not work for everyone and the fact that I can now control my psoriasis without using these two supplements means that it may not be required for you either.

What is the best bentonite clay to use?

I can only recommend the brand I have used in the experiment above, namely Yerba Prima Bentonite. I needed two of these bottles to last through my 6 week experiment.

 

If you cannot get your hands on the liquid bentonite clay, you can also use the following brand, Redmonds Bentonite Powder which has been recommended by many well known and respected alternative medical experts.

What is the best psyllium husk to use?

I used the NOW brand Psyllium Husk Powder as it is cost effective and reviews were quite good.

The Final Word On Bentonite Clay & Psyllium Husk As A Psoriasis Detox Treatment

While a psoriasis detox makes sense, you still need to be aware that not enough medical studies have been completed to ensure it actually works, or if it is basically a placebo affect.

What we do know is that anything that is good for your general health is good for your immune system and therefore good for your psoriasis.

While we await clinically approved case studies, please keep an open mind about all the information your read on gut related syndromes, colon cleanse and detoxes, irrigations etc.

While on paper it may seem like it makes perfect sense, there are only two ways to see if it works or not

  1. Wait for successfully published double-blind clinical trials
  2. Test it out on yourself (as long as you consult with your doctor first, of course!)

I would not stop anyone from trying out the liquid bentonite clay and psyllium husk powder detox mix above, but I also advise you to read my Smart Psoriasis Diet Plan which will show you how to control your psoriasis by making small changes to your lifestyle which I have proven time and time again works for me.

If you are serious about getting your psoriasis under control and would like to cook psoriasis-friendly meals but lacking ideas, check out my Smart Psoriasis Diet 30 Minute Meals recipe book.

DISCLAIMER

1. The statements above have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

2. Packages and prices might be different if purchasing outside USA.

3. Smart Psoriasis Diet will not be held responsible for any product information and ingredients, or any ingredient changes of this product, or any product our company carries.

4.The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. You should consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem. Information about each product is taken from the labels of the products or from the manufacturer's advertising material.

John Redfern