The History of Clay
The History of Clay Use for Health and Beauty
The use of clay for medicinal purposes goes back in time almost as far as mankind itself. Clay concoctions, consisting of clay mixed with water and different types of natural earth pigments known as ochre, were applied to the skin to cure wounds, calm irritations, and cleanse the skin. In ancient time, mud materials were applied as antiseptic poultices to cure skin conditions.
Respected healers and scientists, including Hippocrates and Aristotle, developed classifications of medicinal earths based on the substances, properties or mineralogical composition. The Mesopotamians and ancient Egyptians used medicinal earths, such as Nubian earth, as anti-inflammatory agents and Cleopatra used medicinal earths extracted from the Dead Sea for cosmetic beauty purposes.
The evolution of mineralogy and crystallography and an increased knowledge of raw materials in the 18th and early 19th centuries fueled the use of clay in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.