Clinoptilolite – volcanic earth

Dr. med. Heinz Lüscher

Volcanic stone

Clinoptilolite is a collective term for a group of unspecified minerals of the zeolite group. They are often found in volcanic areas, which is why they are also referred to as volcanic earth. The special thing about these “stones” is that they have a microporous framework, an aluminium-calcium-potassium-sodium silicate, which results in a structure with many cavities (pores and/or channels) in which substances can be adsorbed (not absorbed).

A “mineral sponge”

Adsorption refers to the accumulation or binding of substances from gases or liquids on the surface of a solid (absorption, on the other hand, means the penetration of substances into the interior of a solid or liquid). Zeolites have a very large inner surface area due to the numerous cavities, which means that even more substances can be bound. We could speak of a “mineral sponge”. When clinoptilolite zeolite products are taken into the body, various harmful substances are bound via adsorption and thus excreted. The volcanic rock also transports harmful substances out of the body through ion exchange. The aforementioned clinoptilolite framework is a special crystal lattice structure consisting of minerals that are negatively charged, while the cavities contain minerals that are positively charged. Through ion exchange, positively charged harmful substances from the body migrate into the crystal lattice of clinoptilolite, while minerals that are valuable to the body migrate out.

Eliminate harmful substances, improve the intestinal barrier

With these mechanisms, clinoptilolite can rid the human organism of various harmful substances. Similar to a sponge, it binds heavy metals including radionuclides, ammonia, mycotoxins (mould toxins), bacterial toxins or virus particles. The indigestible clinoptilolite, which is loaded with these harmful substances, is excreted in the faeces without burdening the metabolism. Clinoptilolite is therefore a natural and very effective product for detoxifying the entire organism and can contribute to the basic causal treatment of many diseases. However, clinoptilolite also promotes the integrity of the intestinal barrier (by lowering zonulin levels) and increases the number of desirable microorganisms such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, while pathogenic bacteria such as E. coli are reduced.

Application examples

In addition to detoxification, clinoptilolite is suitable for other health problems:

Flatulence

Clinoptilolite binds intestinal gases, which is a boon for flatulence and digestive problems.

Inflammatory processes in the intestine

Clinoptilolite removes irritants and harmful substances from the centre of inflammation, thus relieving the intestinal mucosa and strengthening the intestinal barrier. People who suffer from chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis), irritable bowel syndrome, leaky gut syndrome or food intolerances can benefit from this.

Allergies

People who suffer from allergies have elevated histamine levels, these can be lowered with clinoptilolite, and thus the symptoms reduced. If the allergies are seasonal (hay fever), it is best to start taking clinoptilolite about a month before the onset of symptoms.

Migraine

Some migraine patients respond positively to clinoptilolite when they take it at the very first symptoms of a migraine attack and can at least reduce the symptoms.

ADHD

People with ADHD often have evidence of heavy metal contamination in their bodies or suffer from leaky gut, which is why they can also benefit from clinoptilolite.

Positive side effect: effect on the growth of skin, nails and hair

Clinoptilolite releases small but biologically relevant amounts of silicic acid in the form of orthosilicic acid. Organic silicic acid promotes collagen synthesis and therefore has a positive effect on the growth of skin, nails and hair.

Dosage

Clinoptilolite is available as a finely ground powder that can be dissolved in water. The advantage of this is that the effect can begin in the oral cavity and continue in the stomach. On the other hand, the powder is also available in capsules, which have the advantage that you cannot taste the “stone meal” and the effect begins in the intestine. With both variants, it is important that clinoptilolite is not taken with meals, but about half an hour beforehand. It is also recommended to keep this distance from other medicines or food supplements. It is best to divide the daily dose between morning, midday and evening. Depending on the case and illness, I recommend a daily dose of 2400 to max. 6000mg. Clinoptilolite should be taken with sufficient liquid (200ml).

Suitable products

Particle size – quality and safety feature

A smaller particle size of the clinoptilolite means a larger surface area and therefore a greater possibility of interaction with biological material and a higher bioefficiency. However, the powder should not be too fine. The particle size of the clinoptilolite should ideally be between 800 nanometres and three micrometres for a safe and effective product. When purchasing a clinoptilolite product, it is therefore important to ensure that the particle size is optimal in order to maximise the benefits. Micronisation (tribomechanical activation) is a method of reducing the particle size to the desired size.

Possible side effects

Taking clinoptilolite may cause hardening of the stools, changes in potassium levels and adsorption of vitamin B from food, and possible interactions with some oral medications.

Safety of clinoptilolite / studies

Time and again there are fears that aluminium could dissolve from the crystal lattice structure of silicon and aluminium and thus pollute the body with aluminium. Stomach acid can indeed dissolve aluminium in certain quantities, but the crucial point is that it is excreted in the stool and does not enter the bloodstream. This is why aluminium can be detected in the stool, but not in the blood.

Below you will find toxicological and human studies that provide evidence against the toxicity of micronised zeolite (MZ). One study even looks at its use in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and suggests that the likelihood of small particles passing through the intestinal wall is minimal. If claims about the toxicity of MZ were true, an exacerbation of IBS symptoms would be expected due to possible irritation or scarring of the bowel by silica-containing particles. However, no such adverse effects were observed. This lack of toxicity is largely attributed to the micronisation process itself. In addition, studies show no evidence of aluminium toxicity or other concerns related to heavy metals.

Clinical Evaluation of a Zeolite-Clinoptilolite Supplementation Effect on the Selected Blood Parameters: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35712111/ 
 
PMA-Zeolite: Chemistry and Diverse Medical Applications: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11509060/ 
 
Clinical trial of clinoptilolite-tuff treatment in patients with IBS: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36569277/ 
 
Final report on the safety (Clinoptilolite and others): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12851164/

In 2018, a major review on the safety of clinoptilolite used internally was published in Frontiers in Pharmacology. Researchers reviewed and compared the scientific literature and studies on the subject. Here you can read about the wide range of positive effects of clinoptilolite, as well as its safety in use. It is important to know that these evaluations are about natural zeolite in the form of clinoptilolite, which has been prepared and approved for medical use. The grain size of clinoptilolite is optimally between 800 nanometers and three micrometers for a safe and effective product. When buying a vulcanized earth product, it is imperative to make sure that it is a medical product in order to benefit from the positive effects and safety of use.

Critical Review on Zeolite Clinoptilolite Safety and Medical Applications in vivo:
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2018.01350/full