Discuss the therapeutic properties of clays

What will be an ideal response?

It is the mineral content of clays, and their ability to easily suspend in an emulsion with water or other liquid, that gives them their therapeutic properties. As with muds, the minerals in clays are in ionic form, which means they are either cations or anions (positively or negatively charged ions). Clays draw impurities from the body to do deep-skin cleansing and aid in the removal of waste products. As with muds, this drawing action stimulates local blood circulation and lymphatic flow. The ionic composition is also how clays tighten and tone the skin: Water from the skin is drawn to the high concentration of ions in the clays and, as it leaves, the skin tightens. Some of the small ions in the clays may pass into the body through the skin, although the structure and properties of the skin do not allow many to do so.
Clays form emulsions with water or other liquids because clays are very porous; there is a lot of room for water molecules in and among the particles of the clays. Because of the water, clays readily react to temperature and hold heat especially well. They are excellent for heat applications, such as to warm the body or to provide local heat penetration into tight muscles and aching, noninflamed joints.
Clays can be taken internally as well. Before the advent of nutritional supplements, people would eat small bits of clay or "medicinal earth" to replenish their minerals and absorb toxins from their digestive tracts. Today, bentonite is the clay that provides trace minerals for most commercially prepared mineral nutrition supplements. Clays are also still taken internally to absorb toxins.