colloidal minerals

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Colloidal Minerals:

Saving the Day One Face Mask at a Time

Jonna Reamer

Geochemistry Fall 2010



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Abstract-

Colloidal minerals represent a unique geochemical situation, the properties of which may

be taken advantage of in several cases. This paper will discuss the various uses humans have for

those minerals such as kaolinite, montmorillonite, and talc. While many uses are dermatological

in nature, like makeup, which also treats acne, and spa treatments of mud wraps or baths,

colloidal minerals are also used in medications to affect the rate of absorption by the body.

Introduction-

Colloidal minerals are clay minerals which have a surface charge allowing them a very

unique set of properties. Colloidal minerals such as Kaolinite and Montmorillonite are used in

cosmetics, spa treatments, multivitamins and a plethora of medications. Using colloidal minerals

in medicine has led to a new field, called medical geology (Figueiredo Gomes and Pereira Silva,

2007). The key to these minerals is the charged surface. This allows the mineral to adsorb ions

onto its surface (Sposito, et.al., 1999). Not only do these minerals treat existing illnesses, but are

applied to the prevention of them. In many cases, clay is used to prevent groundwater pollution.

Since the minerals adsorb ions, dangerous elements from landfills are halted on their way to the

water table (Figueiredo Gomes and Pereira Silva, 2007). This includes both organic pollutants

and metal ions. Ions interacting with the charged surface are shown in figure 1.



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Figure 1: Depiction of ions interacting with the charged surface (Sposito, et.al., 1999).

Colloidal minerals have a variety of unique properties which render them useful in these

applications. Firstly, the structural charge of each mineral is permanent and not dependent upon

the conditions in which the clay mineral is found. The cation exchange capacity (CEC)

demonstrates the charge, and is shown for various minerals in figure 2. This charge can be

calculated from the chemical formula for the mineral. The ability of certain minerals, such as

those from the smectite group, to expand to volumes many times beyond their original capacity

is also highly valuable in certain applications (Sposito, et.al., 1999). Clay minerals are believed

to have virtually no toxicity as well as excellent biocompatibility (Choy, et.al., 2007). When all

of these properties are combined, the opportunity for use within medicinal and cosmetic

applications becomes a real possibility.

Figure 2: Cation exchange capacity for various minerals (Carretero and Pozo, 2009).

Cosmetic Products-

When considering cosmetic products, such as makeup, lotions, nail polishes, etc., it is

important to consider the consistency of each mixture. In many cases, this is manipulated

through the use of colloidal minerals. The viscosity of each substance controls how it remains on

the body, and colloidal minerals are selected to manipulate this aspect of each substance



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(Viseras, et.al., 2007). Kaolinite, talc and semectite group minerals are all used as dermatological

protectors as they have the ability to absorb the oils produced by skin throughout the day

(Carretero, 2002). These protectors generally take the form of powders, creams, or ointments.

The protectors form a film which prevents outside agents from reaching the skin while absorbing

secretions from the skin, leading to an environment detrimental to bacteria (Carretero, 2002).

This ability to absorb facial secretions makes colloidal minerals highly desirable in the

cosmetic industry, in the form of make-up and spa treatments. Colloidal minerals are opaque,

and can therefore be used to control the pigments in cosmetics (Carretero and Pozo, 2009). When

applied correctly, they opaquely cover skin providing for an even tone and diminished shine

(Carretero, 2002). When developing cosmetic properties, the thickness of the solution has a large

affect on the effectiveness of the product. Colloidal minerals demonstrate thixotropic properties,

and this property can control the thickness of a solution for application (Carretero and Pozo,

2009).

While the protective aspects of clay minerals are mainly used in adsorption of oily skin

secretions, clay minerals also provide UV protection, and are therefore often used in sunscreen

(Viseras, et.al., 2007). The barrier formed by these minerals is essential to their protection of the

skin, while maintaining proper hydration. Kaolinite and talc are mainly used in sunscreen and

absorb some UV while scattering the rest to ensure protection of the skin (Viseras, et.al., 2007).

A list of clays and their uses in various health care products can be found in figure 3.

Pharmaceutical name Functions Applications

Magnesium aluminum silicate (USA)

or aluminium magnesium silicate

(Europe)

Rheological additive Ointments

Gelling agent, stability Topical, Pigment suspensions

Rheological additive Toothpastes



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Emulsion stability

additive

Lotions

Suspension additive Pastes

Bentonite and purified bentonite Thickener and

suspending

Topical suspensions

Emulsion stability

additive

Lotions

Thickener, suspending,

thixotropy

Liquid Make-up

Hectorite Thickener, suspending,

thixotropy

Lotions, shampoos, liquid

make-up

Talc Filler, adsorbent,

protection agent, etc.

Creams, pastes, etc.

Kaolin (USA) or kaolin heavy (Europe)

Activated attapulgite Thickener, suspending,

thixotropy, emulsifying

Topical suspensions, pastes,

creams, etc.

Colloidal activated attapulgite

Magnesium trisilicate

Steralkonium bentonite Gelling in non-polarorganic solvents

Anti-perspirants, lotions, suntanproducts, nail lacquers, lip

products

Quaternary-18 bentonite

Quaternary-18 benzalkonium bentonite

Steralkonium hectorite

Quaternium-18 hectorite

Disteardimonium hectorite

Dihydrogenated tallow benzylmonium

hectorite

Tromethamite smectite

Synthetic hectorite Viscosity, thixotropy,

short texture

Toothpaste



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Thixotropy Lotions

Viscosity, thixotropy Shampoos

Suspension Liquid make-up

Figure 3: clay minerals used in various healthcare products and their application. Please not

bentonite and hectorite are produced from montmorillonite. Adapted from (Viseras, et.al., 2007).

Spa Treatments-

It has been established that applying mud to skin emerged within ancient cultures. There

is evidence of mud being applied to cure rashes in Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt and Ancient

Greece (Figueiredo Gomes and Pereira Silva, 2007). The first thing that comes to mind with

minerals in spa treatments today is mud baths, however, clay minerals may be used for a variety

of other uses such as geotherapy, peleotherapy and paramuds (Carretero, 2002). Minerals are

generally selected for each type of mud bath by grain size and cooling properties. While the

process for choosing exactly which clay minerals to apply for which illness has become more

sophisticated, humans are still doing the same thing as ancient civilizations.

Geotherapy refers to mixing colloidal minerals with water and sea salts or lake water,

which is then applied to the skin in a thick layer (Carretero, 2002). This process is used to treat a

variety of dermatological illnesses, such as acne, boils, psoriasis etc., and inflammations of

almost any cause. Geotherapy includes cataplasms which is the same process, but covering only

a small area of the body in an attempt to target a specific problem area (Carretero, 2002).

Peleotherapy shares the same ingredients as geotherapy, with the addition of some

materials produced by biological action (Carretero, 2002). A notable difference is the preparation

of the clay minerals using salt water to decrease the grain size of the mineral and increase

plasticity and adsorption (Carretero, 2002). In this case the mixture is specifically heated to 40ºC,



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and one layer applied over another in 20 minute intervals (Carretero, 2002). The actual

application of the mixture is the same as geotherapy, with the temperature and heat-conserving

layering of the mixture separating the two.

Paramuds simply consists of a mixture of paraffin and clay minerals. Paraffin refers in

general to alkanes. In this case however, paraffin is more specifically regarded as a mixture of

heavy alkanes in the form of an oil (Carretero, 2002). The paramuds follow the same hot

temperature application as peleotherapy does. Unusually, it is noted that this mixture is usually

recycled from one patient to the next while the others are not (Carretero, 2002). Paramuds are

well known for their moisturizing effect on human skin, and are therefore a popular option.

Pharmaceutical Applications-

While it may seem strange at first to be consuming clay minerals, they serve a variety of

purposes when ingested, and are often included in the formulas for many medications to aid in

dispersal. Most commonly used are kaolinite , talc, smectite group minerals, and palygorskite

(Carretero, 2002). The chemical inertness of these minerals makes them safest for human

consumption.

Palygorskite and kaolinite are used as gastrointestinal protectors. These minerals

demonstrate a very high capacity for sorption and remain on the mucous within the intestine

(Carretero, 2002). From here, these minerals using their colloidal properties can absorb many

toxins. They have even been found to absorb or decompose certain bacteria and viruses

(Carretero and Pozo, 2009). However, this treatment is usually limited to short-term application.

The same capacity for absorption means they can eliminate necessary enzymes or nutrients from

the intestine, creating new illnesses. Continuing with detoxifying processes, the same minerals

are known to purify blood (Choy, et.al., 2007).



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With the knowledge that colloidal minerals contain different ions in the interlayer spaces,

it is no surprise that they would then be used in laxatives. In this case, the sodium ions in the

interlayer of a mineral are used to manipulate osmotic pressure within the bowel, triggering

defecation (Carretero, 2002). This being said, the water manipulating properties can also be used

for the opposite reaction, anti-diarrheal.

When doctors prescribe medication, more and more frequently they are running into

conflicts with mineral supplements that patients are taking. Colloidal minerals affect the way

many different drugs react within the body, and can prevent a medicine from treating an ailment.

Certain cardiovascular drugs are affected by montmorillonite as well as diazepam (valium) is

destabilized (Carretero and Pozo, 2009). Inflammatory medications are also incompatible with

colloidal minerals.

Many medications today are manipulated to be released at a certain rate. Some enter the

system all at once, while others remain on a slow release schedule to aid in continuation of the

effect of the medication. This process is affected by excipients, consisting of palygorskite,

kaolinite, talc and smectite group minerals (Carretero, 2002). The minerals used for each drug

must be carefully considered, due to interactions between medication and mineral; yet when

considered properly can greatly enhance the effectiveness of the medication. Most commonly,

colloidal excipients are used with antibiotics, such as ampicillan (Carretero and Pozo, 2009).

More specifically, hydrophobic drugs have notoriously poor wetting which can be corrected by

use of bentonite or MAS, both gels created with colloidal minerals (Viseras, et.al., 2007).

Mineral Supplements-

While many medications benefit from the addition of colloidal minerals to their formula,

there is some controversy over the use of colloidal minerals by themselves as a supplement.



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Many companies are advertising colloidal minerals as cure alls in the form of capsules, oral

sprays or elixirs (Fontenot, 1997).

One of their main selling points is that the soil humans grow food in is so depleted that

people are not receiving proper amounts of these minerals, which can be corrected by

consumption of their products. Also, the colloidal properties are said to attract heavy metals and

toxins, cleansing the body naturally (Fontenot, 1997). The problem lies in the fact that the proper

amounts of each mineral is not currently known, making it potentially dangerous to consume

these supplements. According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from

1999-2000, 52% of adults in the United States are taking multi-mineral/multi-vitamin products

(Radimer, et.al., 2004). This is an alarming percentage of the population using an unregulated

supplement that has no established dosage.

Conclusion-

Though certain uses of colloidal minerals are still quite controversial, such as the vitamin

and supplemental use, these minerals have proven to be extremely effective in medications and

dermatological applications. The average consumer is probably not aware of their own use of

these minerals in their medications, makeup and spa treatments, but in fact these uses have been

in place in some cases for thousands of years. Colloidal minerals represent both the past and the

future of geological medicine, and perhaps will provide further medicinal uses, currently

unfathomable.



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References Cited-

Carretero, M. I., 2002, Clay Minerals and their Beneficial Effects Upon Human Health. A

Review, Applied Clay Science, vol. 21, p. 155-163.

Carretero, M.I., Pozo, M., 2009, Clay and Non-clay Minerals in the Pharmaceutical Industry Part

I. Excipients and Medical Applications, Applied Clay Science, vol. 46, p. 73-80.

Choy, J.H., Choi, S.J., Oh, J.M., Park, T., 2007, Clay Minerals and Layered Double Hydroxides

for Novel Biological Application, Applied Clay Science, vol. 36, p. 122-132.

Figueiredo Gomes, C.S., Pereira Silva, J.B., 2007, Minerals and Clay Minerals in Medical

Geology, Applied Clay Science, vol. 36, p. 4-21.

Fontenot, B., 1997, Hard facts on colloidal minerals, Nutrition Forum , vol. 15, p. 33-34.

Radimer, K., Bindewald, B., Hughes, J., Ervin, B., Swanson, C., Picciano, M.F., 2004, Dietary

Supplement Use by US Adults: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination

Survey, 1999-2000, American Journal of epidemiology, vol. 160, p. 339-349

Sposito, G., Skipper, N., Sutton, R., Park, S.H., Soper, A., Greathouse, J., 1999, Surface

Geochemistry of the Clay Minerals, Proceedings of the National Academy of the Sciences of

the United States of America, vol. 96, p. 3358-3364.



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Viseras, C., Aguzzi, C., Cerezo, P., Lopez-Galindo, A., 2007, Uses of Clay Minerals in

Semisolid Health Care and Therapeutic Products, Applied Clay Science, vol. 36, p. 37-50.

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