Clay minerals and their beneficial effects upon human health. A review

This work examines the beneficial effects for human health of clay minerals, describing their use in pharmaceutical formulations, spas and aesthetic medicine. Their therapeutic action as active principles in pharmaceutical formulations orally administered (gastrointestinal protectors, laxatives, antidiarrhoeaics) or for topical applications (dermatological protectors and cosmetics) is described. Their use as excipients and their influence in the bioavailability of the organic active principle is also described, both in the liberation process and in its possible degradation effect. Among their uses in spas, clay minerals therapeutic activity, in geotherapy, pelotherapy and paramuds is commented upon. Moreover, the applications of the clay minerals in aesthetic medicine (to clean and moisturise the skin and to combat compact lipodystrophies, acne and cellulite) are also described. D 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.