Eating clay can lead to anemia as well as parasites.

[raw-al]

I was just looking up for some info in an Ayurvedic text when I noticed it said:
"Eating clay can lead to anemia as well as parasites. Iron deficiency anemia leads to eating clay, which can cause anemia (cause becomes affect)"

The book is "Textbook Of Ayurveda, A Complete" Guide To Clinical Assessment" Vasant Lad M.A.Sc. Volume 2

I read of PPL on here that do this, so I thought I would mention it.

[Spirit Bear]

Does the text elaborate on the connection between consuming clay and parasites? From a quick google-search I see a lot of info about people using clay to eliminate parasitic infection, which is what I assumed it might be good for (starving parasites of nutrients).

As you know, Ayurvedic medicine is ancient and I think in that time people were likely to gather their own clay and eat it. Top soil and other moist, nutrient-dense earth eaten along with the clay can contain opportunistic parasites that the text may be referring to.

[snowfox]

Food-grade diatomaceous earth is fed to livestock to prevent and/or kill parasites. It also works in humans.

[jessica]

diatomaceous earth isn't clay.