How Organic Clay Touches the Brain
- anke buchmann
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
Tracing the scientific evidence of the healing qualities found in soil, earth, and clay
24.03.2026
In my search for a scientific foundation for "Clay Meditation", a mindfulness practice I developed in 2019, I encountered the work of Prof. Christopher Lowry from the University of Colorado in 2022 and reached out to him. His research provides the biological explanation for what I have instinctively utilized in my practice.
Photo: Werner Amann, 2023
Clay has been my companion since I was six years old. What began as childhood play has evolved over decades into an existential certainty: working with this natural material changes not only the form of the object but also the state of my being. During my ceramics studies at Central Saint Martins in London, I deepened my interest in the creative process itself. From this lifelong practice and my personal experience with meditation, I developed the "Clay Meditation" method.
In this practice, we use the organic material specifically as an anchor to calm the nervous system and stimulate the brain. The focus shifts sequentially through the various physical properties of the clay. A central element is the conscious destruction of what has been created at the end of the session. It is not about the finished piece, but solely about the process of doing and engaging with clay and its properties.
The Biological Trail: Why Clay Calms
The research of Prof. Christopher Lowry investigates the connection between soil bacteria and their effects on our nervous and immune systems. At the heart of this is the soil bacterium Mycobacterium vaccae (NCTC 11659). In 2007, Lowry proved that contact with this bacterium stimulates the immune system and activates neurons in the brain that produce serotonin [Lowry et al., 2007]. Serotonin is a crucial neurotransmitter for:
Mood regulation and anxiety management
Sleep and appetite control
Stress coping strategies
Furthermore, M. vaccae promotes the production of norepinephrine, which sharpens attention and focus. In Clay Meditation, we amplify this effect by immersing ourselves completely in the material.
From Soil to Clay: A Logical Deduction
It is important to clarify: Prof. Lowry’s experiments primarily referred to soil (earth) in a general ecological context rather than isolated ceramic clay. However, as an artist, the translation of these findings to my specific medium is highly relevant.
Soil consists of three primary mineral components: sand, silt, and clay. Clay is the fraction with the smallest particle size—less than 0.002 mm. Since M. vaccae is a widespread soil bacterium, it is naturally found in the earth layers from which we source our clay.
The physical properties of clay facilitate this connection:
Enormous Surface Area: A single teaspoon of clay can have the surface area of a football field. This layered structure (tetrahedral and octahedral layers in 1:1 or 2:1 ratios) provides the perfect habitat and protection for microorganisms [Hazen, 2005].
Electrical Charge: The negative charge of clay particles allows for complex interaction with organic compounds.
It is therefore factually plausible that working with natural, untreated clay can trigger the same immunoreglatory effects that Lowry described for contact with soil. The stimulating effect on serotonin and norepinephrine production explains the increased concentration and stress resilience during the shaping process.
When I told Prof. Lowry about my Clay Meditation, he replied: “Oh my goodness, this is such a good idea! Clay undoubtedly has complex microbial communities, including, probably, mycobacteria. I’m just not sure if it’s been studied yet.”
The Skin as an Interface
Lowry’s scientific findings find their echo in centuries-old healing traditions. A prominent example is mud bath therapy, such as those practiced at the Lido delle Nazioni near Ferrara, Italy. There, the synergy of bromine-rich salt water and mineral mud is utilized.
These treatments are valued not only for their anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects but explicitly for their relaxing and revitalizing properties. What serves as a full-body detoxification experience there finds a concentrated, process-oriented equivalent in my Clay Meditation: the skin acts as a membrane through which we not only absorb minerals and bacterial impulses but also directly "ground" our nervous system.
Clay as the Cradle of Life
The significance of clay extends far beyond neuroscience. Chemist A.G. Cairns-Smith postulated as early as 1966 that clay, due to its crystalline structure and chemical affinity, may have served as the scaffold upon which life arose [Cairns-Smith, 1966]. Subsequent experiments, such as those by James Ferris (NASA-sponsored) or Jack Szostak (Harvard), corroborated this: clay can catalyze the formation of RNA vesicles—a decisive step from matter to life [Hazen, 2005].
Conclusion: A Return to Process
Over the past 100 years, we have become increasingly detached from the soil. Clay Meditation is a way to restore this connection through the conscious process of "getting dirty." By destroying everything at the end, we free ourselves from the performance pressure of everyday life and return to a pure, biologically valuable interaction with the web of life.
Clay Meditation at the HANDFUL studio
If you would like to try it yourself, book your Clay Meditation session with me here:
Sources:
Lowry, C. A., et al. (2007): Identification of an immune-responsive mesolimbocortical serotonergic system. Neuroscience.
Cairns-Smith, A. G. (1966): The Origin of Life and the Nature of the Primitive Gene.
Hazen, R. M. (2005): Gen-e-sis: The Scientific Quest for Life’s Origins.
Dave the Garden Guy: Insights on Clay in Soil.
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