Example of a Geophagia: Cultural Traditions and Health Implications

November 27, 2025 •

4 min read

In sub-Saharan Africa, up to 84% of geophagy practitioners in some regions are pregnant women, highlighting the strong cultural drivers behind this behavior. A prominent example of a geophagia is the consumption of kaolin clay, a practice seen in many parts of the world, including West Africa and the rural American South. While often linked to tradition or perceived health benefits, the habit carries significant health risks that are not always well understood.

Quick Summary

This article explores the practice of geophagia, focusing on the cultural tradition of eating kaolin clay, also known as Calabash chalk. It details the motivations for this behavior, from nutritional beliefs to spiritual practices, and explains the significant associated health consequences, such as heavy metal contamination and nutrient deficiencies.

Key Points

Calabash Chalk: A widely consumed kaolin clay in West Africa, representing a primary example of geophagia with deep cultural roots.
Motivations Vary: The practice is driven by multiple factors, including cultural traditions, perceived medicinal benefits for ailments like nausea, and a misguided attempt to correct nutritional deficiencies.
Significant Health Risks: Geophagia exposes individuals to dangers such as heavy metal toxicity, parasitic infections, dental damage, and intestinal blockage.
Nutrient Malabsorption: The clay's properties can bind to and prevent the absorption of essential nutrients like iron, zinc, and potassium, worsening existing deficiencies.
Vulnerable Populations: Pregnant women and children are most commonly affected, facing heightened risks from contamination and nutritional deficiencies.
Harm Reduction: Strategies like medical testing, supplementation for nutrient deficiencies, and safely preparing materials (heating) can mitigate some risks, but cessation and education are the most effective solutions.
Pica Connection: Geophagia can be a form of pica, an eating disorder involving non-nutritive substances, with underlying psychological factors potentially playing a role.

A Common Geophagia Example: Calabash Chalk

One of the most documented examples of a geophagia is the eating of kaolin clay, known in West African countries like Nigeria and Cameroon as 'Calabash chalk' or 'Nzu'. This practice is a deeply rooted cultural tradition with historical significance, and the clay is widely sold in local markets, often in baked blocks. It is predominantly consumed by women, especially during pregnancy, and is sometimes flavored with spices. While some believe it has medicinal properties, the practice is associated with serious health risks.

Motivations Behind Eating Calabash Chalk

The reasons people consume this form of geophagia are complex and often multi-faceted, ranging from cultural beliefs to perceived therapeutic benefits.

Cultural and Social Norms: In many communities, the practice is a long-standing tradition passed down through generations. In parts of South Africa, it has been associated with aesthetic benefits, with some believing it can lighten or soften the skin.
Nutritional Deficiencies: Some people turn to geophagia to address perceived nutritional needs, particularly deficiencies in iron or zinc. However, this is a misconception, as studies show that the clay often binds to and prevents the absorption of these very nutrients, exacerbating the problem.
Relief from Gastrointestinal Ailments: A common anecdotal reason, especially for pregnant women, is the belief that clay can alleviate stomach ailments like heartburn, nausea, and morning sickness. Kaolin is also the active ingredient in some anti-diarrheal medications, which may fuel this belief.
Spiritual and Medicinal Reasons: Some individuals consume Calabash chalk as part of traditional or spiritual rituals, believing it has healing powers for various diseases.

Associated Health Risks of Geophagia

Despite the perceived benefits, the medical consensus is that consuming unprocessed, raw clay is dangerous and can lead to a host of health problems.

Toxic Contaminants: The clay can be contaminated with harmful substances from its natural environment or from processing. Studies have found dangerous levels of heavy metals like lead, arsenic, and mercury in Calabash chalk samples.
Nutrient Binding: The clay's chemical properties can prevent the body from absorbing vital nutrients, creating or worsening deficiencies. This is particularly concerning for iron, zinc, and potassium.
Parasitic Infections: Soil is a breeding ground for parasites, including helminths like Ascaris lumbricoides. Ingesting contaminated soil can lead to severe gastrointestinal issues and infection, especially in children.
Gastrointestinal Damage: The gritty texture of clay can damage teeth through abrasion. Excessive consumption can lead to intestinal obstruction, constipation, and even bowel perforation.
Impact on Pregnancy: The practice is especially risky for pregnant women and their developing fetuses due to potential heavy metal toxicity and nutrient malabsorption, which can lead to low birth weight or other complications.

Geophagia: Comparison of Human and Animal Motivations


Motivation	Humans (e.g., Calabash Chalk)	Non-Human Animals (e.g., Chimpanzees)
Toxin Absorption	Believed to absorb toxins and prevent illness.	Documented to consume clay after eating toxic plants to aid detoxification.
Nutrient Supplementation	Perceived as a source of minerals like iron and zinc, despite evidence to the contrary.	Observed to visit mineral licks to supplement their diet with elements like sodium, especially during periods of high demand.
Gastrointestinal Relief	Anecdotally used to relieve nausea, heartburn, and diarrhea.	Use clay to soothe gastrointestinal distress and counteract toxins that cause diarrhea.
Cultural/Learned Behavior	A traditional practice often passed through generations, sometimes for aesthetic or spiritual purposes.	A learned behavior within a group or species, often observed in response to specific dietary changes or illness.
Hunger/Filler	Historically consumed during famine to create a feeling of fullness.	Can serve as a filler, but primary drivers are typically mineral or detoxification needs.

Historical and Global Contexts of Geophagia

Geophagia is not a new phenomenon and is documented throughout human history across various cultures. Ancient Greek and Roman texts mentioned the practice, and it has been historically prevalent in regions experiencing famine or among specific populations, such as pregnant women. Enslaved Africans brought the tradition to the American South, where it was known as 'cachexia Africana' and involved eating clays. Globally, variations exist, such as the consumption of 'bonbon tè,' or dirt biscuits, in Haiti, which offer minimal nutritional value but fill the stomach of impoverished individuals. The reasons and materials differ, but the underlying motivations often revolve around nutritional gaps, medicinal beliefs, or cultural heritage.

Addressing the Risks of Geophagia

For those who engage in geophagia, awareness and education are critical steps toward harm reduction. It is important to address the underlying reasons for the craving, whether they are psychological or a result of true nutritional deficiencies. Seeking professional medical advice is paramount. Health workers can test for nutritional imbalances and screen for potential heavy metal poisoning or parasitic infections. For cravings linked to pregnancy, a doctor can provide safer iron or zinc supplements. In cultures where the practice is traditional, safe preparation methods like boiling or baking the soil can help reduce the risk of microbial contamination, though it does not eliminate the danger of heavy metals or nutrient-binding. The best approach is to address the root cause and find a safe, nutrient-rich alternative.

Conclusion

An example of a geophagia, such as the consumption of Calabash chalk, illustrates the complex interplay of cultural tradition, perceived medical benefits, and significant health risks associated with eating non-food earth materials. While ancient practices and folklore may promote geophagia for detoxification or nutritional supplementation, modern scientific evidence demonstrates the serious dangers, including heavy metal toxicity, nutrient deficiencies, and parasitic infections. The continued practice underscores the need for greater public health education and awareness, particularly in vulnerable populations like pregnant women and children, emphasizing safe and effective alternatives to address dietary and psychological needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

One of the most common forms of geophagia, particularly among certain cultural groups, is the consumption of kaolin clay, also known as Calabash chalk, which is traditionally baked and eaten.

Many pregnant women eat clay based on traditional beliefs that it can soothe morning sickness, reduce heartburn, or provide beneficial minerals. However, this practice is medically risky due to potential contamination and poor nutrient absorption.

While cravings associated with geophagia are often linked to deficiencies in nutrients like iron or zinc, eating clay is not an effective way to fix this. In fact, the clay can bind to these minerals and prevent their absorption.

Health risks include exposure to heavy metal poisoning (e.g., lead, arsenic), parasitic infections (e.g., Ascaris), dental damage, intestinal blockage, and worsening of nutritional deficiencies.

Yes, many kaolin clay samples have been found to contain dangerous levels of heavy metals like lead. Consumption can lead to lead poisoning, which affects the nervous system and can cause severe developmental issues in children.

The most effective way to stop is to seek medical help to identify and treat any underlying causes, such as nutritional deficiencies or psychological factors. Supportive strategies can also involve chewing gum or eating alternative foods with a similar texture.

Yes, geophagia is widespread in the animal kingdom, documented in over 100 primate species and many other mammals, birds, and reptiles. Animals often use it for detoxification, mineral supplementation, or to aid digestion.

Heating or baking clay can help reduce the risk of microbial and parasitic contamination, but it does not remove heavy metals. Therefore, the health risks of metal toxicity and nutrient malabsorption remain.