This is definitive post on diatomaceous earth! Learn how to use diatomaceous earth for its health benefits and around your home and homestead.
I’m totally excited to have a special guest post today–please welcome Danielle from It’s a Love Love Thing as she shares the wonderful world of diatomaceous earth!
Hello, Prairie Homestead readers! My name’s Danielle – but you can call me Dandy. I’m so honored and happy to be here with you today, but I’m afraid I have something to confess straight away: it’s a habit of mine here lately, a dirty one.
The truth is – I eat dirt. Every day.
Yep.
But don’t write me off just yet – let me explain.
I don’t eat just any dirt. It’s a special type, found in certain deposits around the world, and you might even have a bag of it in your laundry room or shed.
What dirt would that be? Why, diatomaceous earth, that’s what! If you’ve been following Jill or have read her books, you know she’s a fan of diatomaceous earth. My family is, too.
Let me ask you – do you want an effortless way to detox your body? Do you know someone who would like to lower their blood pressure? Would you like to have natural parasite protection for your pets and livestock? Well, read on; I’d love to talk more about this precious powder, and share with you many of the ways it can be used to help improve your health, your home, and of course, your homestead.
Let’s get started!
What is Diatomaceous Earth?
Diatomaceous earth technically comes from the cell walls of fossilized single-cell diatoms – essentially, it’s a fossil, ground into a very fine powder. There are two general types of diatomaceous earth: food grade and industrial grade.
While industrial grade is toxic to humans and pets, food grade diatomaceous earth (like this one) is non-toxic and very beneficial on multiple levels, and is the type I’ll be discussing with you here today.
Diatomaceous earth exhibits some interesting properties:
- When viewed through a microscope, it looks like a hollow cylinder, with holes throughout the side.
- It carries a strong negative charge. If you’ll recall your science lessons, you’ll remember that negatively charged ions are attracted to positively charged ions.
- Therefore, when taken internally, the diatomaceous earth attracts and absorbs positively-charged pathogens into its cylinder – it absorbs the things we want to stay away from, like viruses, pathogenic fungi and bacteria, heavy metals, prescription drug residues, pesticides, parasites, radiation, and the like – and sweeps them out of our bodies.
- Diatomaceous earth is also very hard. On a scale of “hardness”, if diamonds were a 9, diatomaceous earth would be a 7. This helps us too – as this powder makes its way through our digestive tract, it gently “scrubs” the packed-on residue we have there and sweeps it out of our bodies. Nice, diatoms!
- Also, because of this quality, it is very sharp. Organisms such as parasites, lurking in our intestines, are sliced up and killed, and swept away when we empty our bowels, and we are left unharmed.
- The last quality I’ll mention is also powerful: food grade diatomaceous earth is 84% silica, and contains some 20 trace minerals. Did you know life can’t exist without silica? It is essential for the building of healthy bones and teeth, skin, hair, and nails. As our mineral resources are getting depleted, our food is containing less and less silica. Do yourself a favor and add this divine diatom to your diet.
How to Use Diatomaceous Earth
I’ll start with a public service announcement: YOU MUST ONLY BUY AND USE FOOD GRADE DIATOMACEOUS EARTH. Sorry to yell, but the distinction is very important. Fortunately, it is easily found both locally and online.
Now that I’ve made that clear, I’ll give the instructions: to take diatomaceous earth, all you have to do is mix a spoonful into some water or other liquid, and drink. Follow with another cup of water. (Diatomaceous earth can make you thirsty – make sure and drink plenty of water while using this supplement.) It’s that easy! You can also add it to smoothies – it’s totally undetected that way.
Dosage: (NOTE: We are not doctors, please use DE with discretion): If you are just beginning your diatomaceous earth journey, start with one teaspoon mixed in liquid, as I’ve detailed above, once a day. Slowly increase to twice a day, and then slowly increase the amount taken, up to a heaping tablespoon, and up to three times a day.
Please hear me: slowly. Diatomaceous earth is a way to detox your body, and if you start with too much, your body will get rid of toxins too quickly and leave you feeling under the weather. Yes, it really does work that well! If you start experiencing light headaches, you’ll know you took it a little fast. But don’t stop altogether, just do yourself a favor and take it slowly – no need to rush.
Pregnant and nursing mamas, you’re in the clear – diatomaceous earth can be safely taken during either stage. Just be sure to drink plenty of water. It is also fine for children to take in smaller doses. My children get their DE in their smoothies.
How does it taste? Well, if you want to know the truth, you’ll feel like you just licked a mud puddle. Ha! Not that you’ve ever done that, but it just tastes… like dirt. Sometimes it is hard for me to get down, but I am so motivated by the positive changes it’s brought to my body!
Would you like to know my favorite way to take it? I mix a spoonful with about six ounces of coconut water and add 1/2 a teaspoon of honey. Mmmm, it’s delicious! The honey is optional; it tastes great without it as well. You could also try taking it with fresh vegetable juice, whatever works for you.
Health Benefits of Diatomaceous Earth
- Since it sweeps out foreign matter, you will begin to notice better nutrient absorption and less fatigue.
- Studies show that DE can help your body lower cholesterol and high blood pressure. Believe it or not, some users report a 40-60 point drop in blood pressure points after only a month of use.
- The beauty mineral: the silica in DE helps hair and nails grow faster. Since I’ve started taking it, my nails have turned from flimsy to hard as a rock. My hair, which partially fell out earlier this year due to a difficult surgery recovery, has begun filling in nicely. I have read many, many testimonies of people who have reported that it reversed their baldness. The silica also helps reduce wrinkles, age spots, and acne, and it also strengthens teeth and bones, tendons, and joints.
- Metal detoxification: since DE sweeps heavy metals out of the body, this is helpful especially to those with heavy metal poisoning or mercury fillings, which leach mercury constantly into the body. Aluminum is also swept out, lowering the risk for Alzheimer’s disease.
- Helps repair and maintain lung function, acts as a cough decreasing agent
- Helps prevent kidney stones, osteoporosis,
- Decreases vertigo, tinnitus, and insomnia
- Regulates bowel movements, lessens gastrointestinal inflammation, cleans out the colon, treats both diarrhea and constipation. It is a great choice for families on the GAPS diet!
- Treats head lice and fleas (make sure you don’t inhale the powder)
How to Use Diatomaceous Earth forAnimals
It’s true – your pets and livestock will reap the benefits from using diatomaceous earth as well.
- Sprinkle a little DE on your pets’ food daily for the same benefits you receive. This is a great de-wormer!
- Carefully sprinkle onto your pets’ and livestock’s coats – making sure none is inhaled – for protection from lice, ticks and fleas.
- Sprinkle in the kitty litter box and pet beds for extra odor and flea protection.
- Sprinkle in your barn and stalls for pest protection.
- Decreased mastitis and increased milk production in livestock with internal use. Causes healthier coat and hooves.
- Sprinkle in the chicken coop to control flies.
- Better and stronger eggs produced by hens who have it sprinkled in their feed.
- For dosage instructions and more benefits, visit this page.
- Get more tips for using DE around the homestead, plus other DIY remedies, in Natural Homestead.
How to Use Diatomaceous Earth Around Your Home
You can use DE around your home in the following ways:
- Sprinkle around windows and entrances to protect from ants, spiders, and even scorpions. (The DE scrapes their exoskeleton and dries it out, leaving them dead.)
- Sprinkle a ring around your garden plants for protection from garden pests. (Do realize, though, that DE kills beneficial insects as well. Avoid applying onto flowers. – Does not harm worms or beneficial soil microorganisms.
- DE will destroy ant colonies, even fire ant colonies. Sprinkle around and in the hole.
- DE can be used to treat a bedbug infestation.
- Sprinkle DE in your garbage bins for odor and pest protection.
- Got a compost heap? Apply DE to keep odors and pests away.
- Add to manure heaps to keep flies and larvae down.
- Add to bulk grains to keep pests and moisture out.
- You can use DE to make your own homemade toothpaste! I have a recipe coming to my blog soon.
- You can add DE to your homemade “DE”odorant – I am also working on a recipe for this.
- You can sprinkle DE in your toilet for a little extra scrubbing power – it won’t harm porcelain.
FYI: if the area where you applied the DE gets wet, such as in the garden, please reapply.
As you can see, there are so many uses for diatomaceous earth! I hope I’ve intrigued you today about my friend, diatomaceous earth. I believe no family, home, or homestead should be without it. It’s worth a shot, don’t you think?
Safety When Using Diatomaceous Earth
Even though food-grade diatomaceous earth is non-toxic, it can be irritating on your nasal passages and lungs and it can make you cough if you inhale it. It can also irritate sensitive skin because it’s drying and abrasive.
The following precautions can help make using diatomaceous earth around the home completely safe:
- Wear gloves when handling so it won’t dry out or irritate your skin.
- Wear a mask when sprinkling it, or at least do not inhale deep breaths while dumping DE onto the ground.
- Pour it from a well-ventilated area so you don’t irritate your lungs.
Final Thoughts on Using Diatomaceous Earth for the Homestead
Food-grade diatomaceous earth has plenty of uses for both inside and outside the home. Check here for more tips on using diatomaceous in the garden. And don’t forget to check out The Natural Homestead ebook for more natural tips and DIY recipes for creating a natural non-toxic home.
Do you use diatomaceous earth already? Let us know in the comments!
You can find Danielle blogging about life, love, simplicity, and her affinity for bacon at http://lovelovething.com
References:
- http://diatomaceousearthsource.org/
- http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/degen.html
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diatomaceous_earth
- http://www.naturalnews.com/039326_diatomaceous_earth_detox_mercury.html
- http://www.naturalnews.com/033367_silica_diatomaceous_earth.html
Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are for educational and entertainment purposes only. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
I have been using DE for about four years. I can purchase a 50lb bag of Food Grade DE locally for $25.00.
I mainly use it with my chickens. It acts as a drying agent so keeps moisture down in the coop. That automatically removes odors and prevents flies. I also add it to the nests and to their feed. Have also used it as flea repellant on my dog.
I was just asking about this: My animal DE is FEED grade, vs FOOD grade. I wonder if there is a true/important difference.
I haven’t seen “Feed” grade labeling, mine says “Food” grade. I know they have to be careful with the labeling.
I have been taking the Feed Grade – Yes it is the same stuff they sell at Tractor Supply that is used for your critters etc . Anyway it has helped me with joint pain , cleansing , energy and I will continue to use this product for life – I gained the courage to use The feed grade after reading a testimony from a farmer who had arthritis in his hand and the diatomaceous actually took the pain away he had been using the product for eight years and he also was committed to using it for life – once again I don’t know the difference between feed grade and food grade except the food grade looks whiter so I hope they don’t bleach it and take out some of the essential ingredient that are so often lost in making things for sale for the public – God Bless and Keep You Healthy
How much did he take daily
How much do you consume per day??
Thank you so much for the information?
I would like to know if we have to change are eating habits.
Hi,how and how much are you eating, I’m intrested but I don’t know how much to start with?thanks.
Hi Jill, I was using lt but it got put in the cabinet and I forgot about it. But I am going to start again and see if it will help lower my blood pressure. When will you have the soda fountain open? I live in Powell but will come to Chugwater when you have it open.
How much do you take?
while i believe in the DE some are saying that when wet it is made useless so how would it work internally if its no good wet and i cant seem to find an answer here …. does anyone know please
Hi Katherine.
About wet DE, that is in reference to its use as a pesticide against bugs. For example if you use it in the garden, after it rains they suggest you reapply; as it rains it is dispersed and also being wet prevents the mechanical action against insects, but if it dries out it still has the structural abilit…
DE is the fossilized remains of diatoms which died millennia ago and their exoskeleton remain in select areas where they are harvested, cleaned and packaged. These exoskeletons are forever hard and not destroyed by taking them with water or coffee. I prefer coffee as it hides the chalky taste better, but best warm or cooled coffee as you must stir the DE and then immediately swallow say half of it. Stir again and then take the other half. Never take it dry in powdered form because if inhaled in the lungs, a severe infection will occur!!! You can buy DE from say Amazon where it is in capsule form if you prefer and the food grade powdered DE will be contained in the capsules. Always make sure you are buying food grade DE!!!
To Cliff Tigert, can you explain why if inhaled it will cause an infection in your lungs? You kinda left us hanging there, for it’s difficult, after hearing about all the qualities of DE, that it would somehow cause an infection, what about any of its properties would create infection within the body?
The only thing I can think of is that if inhaled, the sharp edges may tear the lining, which may then become infected. However, the question then would be, why would those edges not tear any other areas, but only the lungs. If you can share any further information you are aware of, that would be great. And especially, since I’ve been taking it dry, and just following with water, for years! Thanks.
Someone in this thread asked about infection if inhaled:
Your lungs are only meant to process air- even dust and fine particles can irritate them, and so sharp dust can really do damage.
By contrast, your digestive system is designed to process all kinds of food and even the occasional piece of bone or coin that accidentally gets swallowed. Microscopic sharpness isn’t going to damage it.
Diatomaceous earth is not magical. It can’t stop you from getting an infection if you take it in a way it absolutely isn’t meant to be taken. I also wouldn’t suggest rubbing it in your eyes!
I gave it to my cat and worms are pouring out of him
When I’m having digestive issues, I use a heaping tablespoon of food grade DE in an 8 oz glass of chocolate milk once a day for a couple of weeks. It usually clears up my digestive problems.
I have been using DE for several years, every time I have a digestive issue. It has worked every time to set me right. I carry it with me in a small container when I travel because that’s when I’m most likely to eat something that doesn’t agree with me. I’ve used it daily during periods of being in third world countries to guard against parasites. I have no trouble at this point taking a tablespoon at a time a couple times a day (if needed for a condition) but some powders are finer than others so easier to take. I’m in France and cannot find it anywhere except Amazon. It is never advertised for human consumption here, but there is “food grade” DE available. I believe that France may have regulations about the advertising, as they do about other substances that are easily available elsewhere. I have no way of knowing how the DE is manufactured, but hope that if there are harmful metals in it, the DE will get rid of those too as it moves through my digestive tract!
I have just started using DE as well as giving it to my puppy and so far am liking the results! I appreciate the blog here and comments as well but am wondering if anyone has thoughts as to when I should take my probiotics. From what I’ve read both need to be taken on an empty stomach.
I started taking d.earth a few weeks ago for parasites. One symptom went away immediately. I still have one other symptom. I just thought of something tonight. If it cuts up bugs then won’t it cut up our digestive tract?
Hi Angela! I haven’t been able to find a good answer on the difference between FEED grade and FOOD grade. I personally would stick with the FOOD grade, since this is what I personally use and to be on the safe side.
I am slowly recovering from bacterial pneumonia. The hospital infection control department couldn’t identify the cause. I suspect one of our four dogs has Giardiasis. I want to take an natural antiparasitic as my body barely survived all the IV antibiotics pumped into me, causing liver damage and the oral ones were even worse. I have had two cancerous brain tumors and radiation and chemotherapy. I am on seizure medication and antidepressants and a nerve pain medication. Can I take DE without it removing my medication with it? I think my dogs caused my pneumonia because the cause is still unknown so I want to try a natural treatment to boost my immunity. Help me please?
Dawn, I notice that your comment from a couple weeks ago is in the middle of a bunch of comments that are a couple years old. It’s possible those who could help you aren’t seeing your question. I’m sorry I don’t know the answer. There’s a lot of info out there on DE so keep looking. I will say that in the reading I’ve done I’ve never found anything to say it’s dangerous, so hopefully it could help you. Good luck! It sounds like you’be been through a lot.
Go to Mercola.com. Dr Mercola is just plain brilliant, has participated in numerous conferences including The Truth
about Cancer, in Dallas, a few weeks ago.
On the site, scroll down past the sale item and see two articles for the day. A box at the top allows typing in your request for info. It’s a great site, so far my fav for my health, and his partner,
Dr Becker, writes for animals.
I am taking MSM. Look it up. It has increased my immunity so much that I don’t get colds. Also, there are a lot of really good natural antibiotics. I have used oregano oil, neem leaf, olive and olive leaf. I had cellulitis which went up into my abdomen from my legs and after taking 20 capsules of olive leaf I was symptoms free in 5 hours. I suggest at least 3 caps each of neem, olive leaf and turmeric with black pepper at a time. I got rid of cellulitis in one leg with this in three hours then took it a second time for good measure. Also you have to take a probiotic or unsweetened yoghurt after any antibiotic. The msm should be distilled. Take 1000 mg twice a day until you detox then I upped it to 3000 twice a day. I don’t get colds or flus anymore and it helps a lot with my allergies. Also I stopped having stasis ulcers as a result of increased blood flow in my legs from msm. Diatomaceous earth should be taken 1 to 2 hours before meds and food is what I have read because it washes out your go tract
Add msm in high doses it is a GREAT antiparasitic, can go up to 20-30 gram daily! Also take Boswellia for brain cancer parasites. Superior Labs has a very high quality product, can take up to 1800 mg a day in divided doses. If it makes you dizzy it’s working killing the parasites, don’t be concerned. Parasite cleanses always cause weird symptoms from the dying worms. Consider adding Coriolus mushrooms, best deal for high quality is Medicinal Science. Myrrh also kills liver parasites really well, 4- 500mg caps 1 hr before food in am. Best wishes!
Hi Dawn, I read that along with the removal of metals and toxins, some medication may be removed as well. It was suggested or should I say urged that a person taking medication should check with their medical provider before using Diatomaceous Earth.
Hello, reading your comment I would like to suggest niacin and high dose vitamin c.
Regards
Jenny
What r the side effects ?
Also these herbs and supplements! hope you are better now…
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.organicfacts.net/home-remedies/giardiasis.html%3fisamp=1
Hi Dawn, I have an anti parasitic that might help, please call me 757-477-9236.
The term is filter grade, not feed grade. The difference is that filter grade has ~60% more silica so not recommended because its more abrasive. Filter grade DE is for industrial applications like filtering swimming pools. Food Grade is safe for humans and pets as well as pest control.
when I did my research several years ago, it is said, just like in this article, there are only two kinds of DE, Food Grade and Industrial Grade, the article I read also said there is only one plant that “processes” food grade DE and that is in Texas… so I would think feed grade would be the same.. as long as the OMRI seal is on the bag… 🙂 Good luck!
Thanks for the extra info. I wonder if the Canadian company that supplies my DE (masterfeed) also gets it from Texas.
I found Feed Grade DE at my local pet store and the owner told me the Feed Grade isn’t handled as well as the Food Grade. She said it’s shipped in industrial containers that may not be cleaned as well or kept to Food Handling Guidelines for Humans. She says she thinks hers is safe enough that she takes it but says it’s up to the purchaser to take the risk.
There is a place in Florida that processes there own as well.
Anything for human use/consumption usually has higher quality controls and testing.
Here is a tidbit I found on the internet:
“Food-grade DE has to adhere to stricter heavy-metal content safety regulations than feed-grade does; food-grade DE must contain less than 10 mg/kg arsenic and less than 10 mg/kg lead. Feed grade isn’t required to match that and is not recommended for human consumption.”
Whoops. I suppose I should stop taking it, then? 😉
Thank you, this is good news.
The difference probably is just the packaging. Not quite as clean.
Food and Feed grade are the same thing
I began taking DE 4 weeks ago. I have osteoporosis and have had horrible side effects from especially Prolia and every other prescription med which I have tried. I don’t even bother to grt Dexa scans any more. What’s the point? Of course, I still take daily Calcium and D3. I also have end stage emphysema, high cholesterol and lipids (controlled with Repatha, thank goodness). I know to be careful not to inhale the D E. I have medical issues however I am a 62 year old woman who wants to be as healthy as possible. I also like having hair and nails which has only been wishful thinking until I started the D.E. The only problem is that I am quite certain it is causing some very disconcerting diarrhea. I am 5’5″ and weigh 108 lbs. and would like to know if the side effect could be dose related. Could 1/2 tsp in A.M. and adding a second 1/2 tsp in the evening or just a lower dose help wuth the side effects? I am aware this is not a medical forum and I take full responsibility for my own decisions. Thank you for any thoughts you might have on the issue. I know it has its benefits. I can see them. And, I don’t want to stop taking it. My dog says, “Thank you, D.E”, too!
@Susan, where did you purchase your DE for 25 dollars for 50 lb
Dubois Distributors
1304 N Main St, Huntingburg, IN 47542
(812) 683-3772
@Susan, thanks!
Azure Standard has food grade DE, 50 pounds for $19.25. Look up their site and see if they have a drop near you.
Hi i just wanted to know how long it should be taken , do you need to stop for a while and redo. Ty for all ur help
How do you use this as a flea repellent on your dogs, just sprinkle it on? How often? Thank you!! Connie
You can sprinkle it on their coat– just be careful not to let them breathe a bunch of it.
I know I have in hailed this while sprinkling on my garden and wind blowing.. I keep hearing and seeing be careful not to inhale/breathe.. what are the dangers?
I have accidentally inhaled it too– it’s not something I worry about too much, as long as it’s not in great quantities. The main issue is it will cause irritation and coughing.
I put a few drops of essential orange oil in mine before I put in on the dog to help it stay on. Plus it smells good! Then brush with a flea coomb.
Does it not hurt the dogs if they lick at their fur
I get a water spray bottle fill it with a spoonful of DE and water and spray it everywhere!!!!!! It works so well for the pets on them, in their bedding, and I even put some in their soap when I wash them and it is amazing what it does. I cant tell you how much this natural product works. I have been using it for several years now and I believe it has saved and changed my life. I put it in my foods, I spray it where there are bugs and most of all it has helped me with my skin as I have added it to my soap when I wash in the shower. If you have anything in your epidermis that should not be there or living there the DE will help to remove it. I faithfully buy my 25 pound bag all the time at the feed store because that is the only place I can find it. I have used a few brands but the one I just discovered I really like because its not so much like sand but a fine white powder and it works great! This article is great and it is by far the truth.
I use it in my animals food mixed with the dry kibble. But also just sprinkle it on them behind head a bit and rub in, as well as sprinkled in bedding 1 x a week if you have a flea problem. Do not breathe in.
what is chemical codex?
Just because you have a different viewpoint doesn’t mean everyone else is ignorant and doesn’t comprehend what they read.
Also, your comments about vaccines are confusing. First you say no vaccines for you and yours & then you talk about how people not getting them is causing ourbreaks.
@ Sallie, where did you see the part about vaccines?
Good Day and Thank You So Much! Learned a great deal not only from this article, but also all the comments. Sounds super great. Can’t wait to use this strange named product.
Samantha Hernandez in OHIO
I originally got it for fleas for my two dogs and a cat. I was wary of the chemicals in flea med. One cat died a few years back from flea med I gave her. I used the earth last month with the pets for a worm infection. Worked like a charm. I tried it for hip and knee pain. In a few days of taking 1 teaspoon in water daily the joint pain was gone. After a week though, I noticed I was have episodes of lightheadedness. The only thing I can attribute it too is the earth. I see my doctor on a regular and passed my stress test so I don’t think it was cardiac. Maybe the earth doesn’t jive with my insulin. My older 17 y.o. pug also started having blood in his stool. I cut the earth in half but the blood was still there. So I it stopped with him as well. I think this is great stuff, just not for everyone. Too bad.
Lightheadedness is detox, should not stop it just cut down on dose.
Just started using it internally could not find how long you take it for? There has to be a time limit to where you have detoxed and don’t need it any more? Hope I can find a time frame to go by! Thanks for all the great info it was very informative! Chris you can email me at chizwhiz50@sbcglobal.net with a time frame usage if available. Thanks again
May I ask how you feed to chickens. Do you add dry in feed or mix it in some veggie? Ty
please do not put it in your cat litter box cats are notorious for kicking around their litter which means they are putting it into the air and their little lungs and possibly your family’s lungs as well and it is extremely dangerous to inhale for you and your pets
Diatomaceous earth contains a small amount of crystalline free silica. This is essentially sand, like used in sandblasting. Small airborne particles of the crystalline material when inhaled can cut into lung tissue and cause scarring. This happens mostly with operations that generate large quantities of dust that can be inhaled over a long period of time. Sandblasting is the classic generator of airborne crystalline free silica, and the scarring disease is called silicosis. It is unlikely that handling or inhaling small amounts of food grade diatomaceous earth will cause any problems. Am not familiar with this material causing any type of infection. My background is industrial safety and health, 50 years experience.
Other articles recommend starting with about a teaspoon a day, mixed with flavored liquid. After a week, increase dosage to a tablespoon once a day. I am taking in evenings before bed, mixed with about 16 oz water and powdered Gatorade. Is added to 4 teaspoons powdered gelatin I take each day with the water Gatorade mix for rheumatoid arthritis.
I am now constipated and have been using DE for 10 days. Drink tons of water. Should I take a laxative?
Eat some flax meal but not too much or you’ll be on the toilet a while.
I think I went crazy sprinkling DE around the apartment to get rid of ants. I think it’s in the air and causing me to cough and be stuffy. How can I get it out of the air?
Quick question, to be clear did you say slowly move up to a tablespoon three times per day meaning 3 tablespoons per day?
Ii have been using Diatomaceous Earth for few years now I started using it with my pet chickens then started learning more about it and I then used it for my dogs and puppys it’s an awesome remedy for lots of things I love it and will continue using it.but thanks I want to say to you for more remedies
Great article.
I have used it in the past and went thru breast cancer in 2021.
I have issues now with adrenal fatigue from the chemo and still working on this. I forgot about DE and just started taking it again. I have low energy but after taking only 1/8 teaspoon my energy levels are so improved! I won’t have a Herkimer reaction because I take many natural supplements and am pretty clean, but, it is important to start DE very slowly. 1 teaspoon is too much in my opinion and I have read that elsewhere too. It can really take some time adjusting to so you should take much less than what you recommend. I couldn’t handle a teaspoon right now, I’d be up all night I think.
Can you do a nasal rinse with diatomaceous earth
I too have used DE now for7 or 8 years.. I put it in smoothies and I put some on my cats wet food and they have no worms or parasites. My blood pressure remains normal & eating organic as much as possible, I’m in very good health at 74 years of age. I also sprinkle it on the garden and it really keeps the bugs down. I also put it around the outside foundation of the house and along the window and door sills to prevent so many bugs entering the house. Works great for many things. One of my daughters works at a hospital and she even has 3 or 4 nurses that use it regularly after she told them about it. She is diabetic and it helps her with blood pressure, etc. Good Stuff.
Thank you so much for sharing! That is so cool that your daughter is sharing about DE with her co-workers. Love it.
ok, to injest it one needs food grade, but the garden do you still use food grade, or industrial?
I buy a 50 lb sack from a Co-Op out of Oregon. It is all food grade. My son-in-law even feeds it to the cows to help with parasites. I gave the article from Dandy to one of my neighbors that had high cholestrol & high blood pressure and within a month she had lowered her cholestrol & blood pressure to normal. Her Doctor was very impressed. I have never heard of it settling in your stomach. It passes through your body along with the food and helps to clean out the intestines as well. I use at least 2 heaping Tblsps daily & I have never had a problem. Been doing this for 7-8 years now. My cats had flees one time and I just brushed some into their coats against the hair and it killed them within a day or two. I can’t say enough for DE. I am 74 years old and my hair is brown with no coloring and everyone thinks I dye it, but I don’t and I attribute it to the DE and more healthy eating. I have a few gray hairs but not many.
Mary N.- I realize your post was quite a few years ago, but I have heard about it turning your hair color back to pre-gray. How long did it take for your hair to get in better shape & get color back. I have to take Mexotrate for my RA & it’s done a number on my hair. It’s really thinned & has no more bounce. Could you please tell me has it helped your hair. Thank you.
Wow! Dandy, i am glad you are taking DE cuz you eat pork, bacon etc. which introduces parasites and worms into your body. Please research pork people, do not touch it. It is condemed and forbidden to eat by God. Best wishes everyone. I am taking it and has seen results with arthritic pain.
Plse read Romans ch.14:vs 1-4. What ever you eat or don’t should not judge, for God still accepted him.
Not only that, the dietary guidelines that God set forth was for the Jewish people.
Actually Romans 14 is speaking on fasting; not whether “unclean” animals were then considered “food.” Also, these commandments were given to Israel, not just “the Jews”. The “Jews” are actually the Southern Kingdom. There is a lot to it. When Abba opened my eyes to this a year ago, it was life changing. Definitely research and bring it to Him in prayer. In love. ??
Truth! Now that’s the Word of God. No one is under the old law.
I have had my sigmoid colon removed from diverticulosis. I am now taking 1 tsp a day of food grade DE. Will it settle like mud in my intestine and cause me to become constipated? That is my only concern pretty much. Can you give me some relief from my concern on that subject. I see how long you have been using it so I know you are familiar. Thanks so much….Cathy in Florida
As I said in the above comment, I have never experienced anything negative with DE. It travels through your body with the food & what your body doesn’t use, I’m sure it passes right on through. My nails & hair are so much better since I started using this. I use the food grade for everything. Naturally you have to reapply it on the garden & around the house after a rain. In the garden I have some ant hills that are bothersome and I just put the DE all around and over the hole and soon the ants disappear. It’s great for dusting potatoes for potato bugs. I don’t think you have anything to worry about. Just trust the Good Lord to help you with this.
Eat ministrone soup made with with cabbage and beans
DE is saving my life right now, I can not wait to see the other good benefits after I get over what I am going through now. Thank you got the article and all the wonderful comments.
For me, the initial consumption of DE was a tablespoon. One in the morning. Occasionally, another in the evening. After 3 months, I became alarmed. I saw blood from my rectum when I had a bowel movement. My experience was initially good. I saw my nails grow when I’ve never seen them that strong and long. I believe since DE comes from shells, it might be too abrasive for me. Anyone with this experience? By the way I stopped, but continue to look to see if someone can help me. Perhaps the dosis (1 tblsp) was too much.
You are supposed to start with a teaspoon a day and slowly increase to a Max of a tablespoon a day. When taking the tablespoon you should split it to where you are taking half in the morning and half at night.
You can also try organic Apple cider vinegar. We did a vlog, on it. Here is a link. https://youtu.be/e5sgCioLC3g
Be careful of Apple Cider vinegar. There are plenty of people out there that felt really good taking it, only to find that it was a severe irritant. This resulted in Colon, or stomach or Esophageal Cancer from a lifelong use. ACV will burn your skin if you leave it on it. You can actually get the same results from drinking acidic lime or lemon juice, with less of the irritation. What happens is kind of odd. If you drink something that is very acidic, you body combats it by turning very alkaline. It is believed that your body functions much better in an alkaline state. So just be careful!
Many reviews on this product say to not take it non stop. It is abrasive and it will be like conbstantly scrubbing was is clean. I mainly see articles or videos on youtube saying to take it on a 10 day on 10 day off cycle. Some even say a few weeks then stop and start again later. In other word, give your body a break. Imagine getting a pedicure everyday. My BP has dropped significantly in a week and my skin is super soft and smooth to the touch. It hasnt been two weeks as yet. Im planning on doing two weeks on and three off. Not sure how much of each as yet. I also got Activated charcoal pills (kinda does the same thing) and bone broth ( in case any die offs make me feel sick). Havent had any bathroom issues but maybe that is because i drink alot of water (with fresh lemon), and i try to eat bathroom friendly foods lol. Like banana, fiber things or even flaxseed in my smoothies. But that is not everyday because i am alwasy on the go and late lol. I think this colen 14day tea that i bought is maybe what is helping me or maybe DE just doesnt not affect me negatively giving me constipation. I drink the tea every other day until 14days is up and even that bareky has an effect on me. I told my friends that maybe my colon i squeaky clean because ive heard nothing but gross bathroom stories from it. Anyway, i went way left. My point is, dont take it none stop. Bentonite clay is better if taken non stop
I have just recently started eating DE but I made cookies with it and this is my second time eating them. Every time I eat a cookie that I make they burn my butthole up and cause me to have sulfur burps,sulfur toots,sulfur diarrhea! I have PICA also so I have been eating sand,dirt,chalk,and clay for over 33 years and when I eat way to much of a certain type of dirt that I love it causes the sulfur burps,toots,and diarrhea. I just don’t understand why the food grade DE burns my butthole up so bad!
Maybe because you bake cookies with it and the heat destroys or alters something in the DE that causes your symptoms. Everybody else takes it raw with water or coffee or sprinkle it on their food. Maybe you should not bake cookies with it.
What fascinating info. Very interested in helping family members with tummy issues. I will be trying this very soon. Thank you Miss Dandy and Miss Jill for making this info available. Isn’t our God amazing in all his creation. … even dirt!!!
Yes, He is, I completely agree!
@ Kat Perkins, I agree that this article has good info for those new to it. But one should go to the website of a company that produces DE and read their recommend ways of use. But about your last sentence, I completely disagree! If you believe in God(?) then you do not seem to understand how DE is made. As someone who believes, then you would have to believe the nonsense that the Earth is only a few thousand years old. Seeing how DE is made from the fossilized remains of algae, which happens of the course of millions of years. So no, an imaginary friend should not get any credit for the natural occurrence of this wonderful mineral.
Imaginary Friend? Really ? Troll much? And BTW if GOD wanted to pack 450 trillion years into 1 day HE could, so your time line means squat. And how anyone can look around and think this all just happened by accident is beyond me, what in life works like that? lol.
You gave Gregery a lot better answer than I would have. He’s entitled to his opinions – no matter how lost he is. So sad.
Just because a person doesn’t accept a diluted, dogmatic faith wherein true sacrament and gnosis have long been replaced by ritual and symbol does not imply they are ‘lost’ or otherwise incapable of knowing the nature of the Universal Soul Energy aka primeval consciousness archetype that many call ‘God’.
Christians as a people can be very endearing, but are strikingly unable to conceive of the possibility that they might not have the whole picture after 2000+ years of scrubbing and sanitizing. Simply put, the modern Church resembles in almost no way at all the practices or beliefs of the Church at the time of Christ. Around the 2nd-3rd century the Gnostic sects which carried on the true spirit of Christ as gnosis were labeled as heretical and it has been a downward spiral ever since.
You should check out The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is set up exactly as Christ’s primitive church including prophets, the priesthood and revelation. No church on earth has as much of the truth as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (lds.org, mormon.org)
Correct me if I’m wrong but Jesus gave his followers a command found at Matthew 24:14, “And this good news of the Kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”
.It’s my understanding that the Mormon faith requires only that the male preach and then only for two years. The early followers of Christ made the preaching of The Good News their lifelong work. And too, the preaching was not limited to men but women also preached, some were prophets. (Psalm 68:11) “Jehovah gives the command; The women proclaiming the good news are a large army”. I see only one group of people today following this command.
Amazing what some people will come up with to rationalize their beliefs. Go back to school. You wouldn’t take Bronze Age Man’s advice about ANYTHING yet you live your life based on a poorly translated collection works that has been edited and changed thousands of times to suit the political whims of those in power. That is foolish. And btw, just fyi, it says being gay is “an abomination”, but so is eating shrimp, and so is wearing two types of cloth at the same time. Utter nonsense. Or else, god must really hate polyblends… ?
LOVE IT : )
Your problem Gregery is that you don’t know the bible. When God created the earth, He did it in a fully grown state, therefore people of science think they can determine age by dirt or rocks or something else. I’d be glad to send you a bible if you don’t have one.
My personal view is that how we perceive God’s manifestation (i.e. everything we see) is limited by our senses. Communing with God can only be accomplished with a healthy mind and body. An unhealthy body tends to trap one’s consciousness. DE is one of the instruments God has placed here for us to hone our awareness of the earth that surrounds us, and thus commune more closely with his power and glory. Asking all those unwelcome pests living inside and outside my body to please vacate seems a no-brainer to me.
The silica formations in DE are the same as the fossilized carbon formations we find from the previous epoch (6 sides). in the previous environment with higher pressure and oxygen content and a different magnetic structure, living to 200 would be far easier. I am taking msm, DE and fulvic, humic acid, to eliminate the poisons; I am adding magnetic or emp treatments to combat the nano tech, and electronic warfare conditions. The poisons are introduced to us in the foods, vaccinations, and now the local environment. when they over oxidize the grounding of the natural electrical system the sun will short to ground and finally the parasitic darpa, will get its just deserts. of course you will be instantly in 1870 or so. but we are unable to stop them.
In an encyclopedia set it stated the fossils determine the age of the rocks, in the same encyclopedia set, it stated the rocks determine the age of the fossil. Why don’t you ask God if He is real?
People who acknowledge the existence of God are not obligated to be “young earthers.” Even the earliest Christian church fathers (St. Augustine, etc.) taught that the scriptures are not meant to sate our curiosity about *how* God created, but to reveal *who* created and *why* He did so, so that we might know and love Him. I don’t know why some Christians make this such a “thing.” I mean whether the earth is billions or trillions or thousands of years old doesn’t make or break the truth of Christianity. Cheers!
Can I put the DE inside capsule and take that way?
Yes, you can do it, but I think it tastes fabulous mixed with plain water. 🙂
Is there any reason you couldn’t take this in a capsule? To avoid the gritty texture?
Yes, you certainly could, but I tried making my own capsules of bentonite clay a few years back and it was a big pain in the neck. I’m not sure it would be worth the time involved, but you could definitely try it!
I CAN SEE HOW THE BENTONITE CLAY BEING MOIST WOULD BE A PAIN TO INCAPSULATE…ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE….UNLESS IT COMES IN A POWDER FORM? IF YOU HAVE A CAPSURE MACHINE THAT COSTS AROUND $15 YOU CAN MAKE 24 CAPSULES IN ABOUT 2 MINUTES. THE CAPSULES ARE MADE OF VEGGE PRODUCTS AND ARE QUITE CHEAP ONLINE OR IN HEALTH FOOD STORES. I HAVE A 9-YEAR-OLD SON WHO IS QUITE SENSITIVE TO TEXTURE SO IF HE CAN’T DRINK IT I WOULD NOT HESITATE TO MAKE INTO CAPSULES SO HE COULD TRY THAT….HE WOULD HAVE TO SWALLOW 2 AT A TIME PERHAPS. THANKS FOR SHARING ALL THE INFO LADIES! WILL HAVE TO TRY. WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE IMPROVEMENT IN THYROID FUNCTION AND WEIGHT LOSS AFTER PREGNANCY AND I AM A GARDENER WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM SOME PEST RELIEF!
I mix mine in Orange Juice and you really don’t know it is there. Sometimes I think it makes it feel “silkier” but it may just be in my head.. LOL in the OJ you never know it is there except for the little bit that is usually left in the glass… so it does not taste bad to me, it just changes the texture of what you are drinking just a bit.
This sounds like a great idea. How much do I put in a 8 oz glass?
I mix it in a cup of water and it desolves when I sir the water…then I drink it through a straw. There is no residue in the bottom of the glass…
Yeah, just a regular cup full
Readers, please don’t fall for this. Read the disclaimer at the bottom and ask yourself if you should be eating dirt or herbs for good health.
Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are for educational and entertainment purposes only. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Go take your vaccines. The FDA has approved mercury and formaldehyde, so go get injected. Yay FDA!
No vaccines for me or mine. Learn to read, mit.
but… but… they’re approved by the FDA… They must be safe.
Honestly, you just commenting to pick a fight is way less disturbing to me then the fact that you are essentially opting to bring deadly diseases back to not just your family but your entire area by opting out of all vaccines. I mean, HPV and Hep, those are totally your call but this generation of people not giving their kids the MMR or polio vaccines is bring previously eradicated issues back to the US in areas where vaccine opt outs has become a trend. Eating DE wont give you measles, not vaccinating might.
Well, if you take your magic vaccines, then you don’t need to worry about me. You can’t catch my disease if you are vaccinated.
You are correct, I am very unlikely to catch the measles (though the more unvaccinated individuals around me, the more likely a measles outbreak could mutate to the point where I could). However, my best friend with mastocytosis could since she can’t vaccinate and that is just as bad to me. It seems to me there are a hell of a lot more chemicals going into your body if you need to treat the measles than if you just vaccinate and communities like Newark, Texas have proven that large numbers of unvaccinated people lead to measles outbreaks. It’s only a matter of time before other previously eradicated disease crop back up in the states. Also science is not magic, it is hours and hours and hours of people working over deadly cultures that they now might kill them if they mess up a little or get to close in order to keep the masses healthy. How many cases are there of otherwise healthy people dying from and MMR vaccine? How many deaths are there from measles mumps and rubella? Yeah, I can totally see where you’re coming from, not vaccinating.
VACCINES WOULDN’T BE SO BAD IF THERE WEREN’T SO MANY LITTLE CHILDREN BEING HARMED BY THEM. WHAT THE DOCTORS AND PEDIATRICIANS DON’T UNDERSTAND IS THAT A REAL PERCENTAGE OF CHILDREN HAVE A WEAKENED, HIGHYLY SUSCEPTIBLE LYMPH SYSTEM AND THEY ARE THE ONES THAT WILL HAVE BRAIN DAMAGE FROM THESE VACCINES, UNKNOWINGLY. OF COURSE THE FDA DOESN’T CARE EITHER. THIS SERIOUSLY NEEDS TO BE STUDIED SOON SO WE CAN STOP HARMING OUR CHILDREN…THEY ARE OUR FUTURE. IN THE MEAN TIME…I WOULD RATHER NOT RISK ANY MORE OF MY CHILDREN’S BRAIN HEALTH ON A PILE OF VACCINES THAT ARE NOT 100% EFFECTIVE AND USUALLY DON’T WORK AFTER 5 YEARS. THE RISK IS NOT WORTH IT. I WILL TAKE MY CHANCES. IT IS MY RIGHT TO DECIDE.
FDA is the worst offender for allowing poisons into our food supply and drug stores and preventing healthy foods and natural remedies that could acctually help people. Why would anyone want to consult the FDA?
Wondering if the readers here comprehend what they are reading. The point to referring to this page’s disclaimer was to wave a red flag so that people actually consider whether they ought to believe everything they read. What do you think that disclaimer is there for anyway? Do yourselves a favor and don’t believe everything you read.
Diatomaceous earth is gritty. That ought to be a clue that it is not something for people to eat. Why not eat plants grown in dirt instead of dirt itself. The bible mentions herbs for health, not dirt. It’s surprising how many people jump on something like this just because they “read” that somebody else is doing it. Think about it.
Yes. The best way to live a normal, healthy life is to follow the dietary restrictions put in place 5000 years ago in a desert climate. Please completely ignore anything that has been discovered or learned since then,
No, the point of the disclaimer is so nobody can sue them or that the Feds can’t haul them off to jail for exercising the freedom that God gave them. I’ve been doing DE for 3 or 4 years and I gotta tell you it’s great. You could set your watch by my bathroom habits, my achy knees don’t hurt anymore and my hair has probably grown 3 inches. If you want to be cautious, that’s fine. Just don’t throw a wet blanket on the rest of us courageous souls. Believe me or not, I don’t care. I just know what I know. By the way, where do you think salt comes from besides being mined from the earth. Last time I checked, it was pretty gritty.
There are some of us that prefer to take our health into our own hands. The disclaimer is for protection yes, if you do your research before taking a natural product you will know what effects to expect. Would rather do it that way then to take prescriptions with a long list of side effects. Not to say the medical system is all bad, just the way pills are pushed when there is so many natural remedies out there. One pill will treat something and then another pill is prescribed to deal with the side effects of that etc etc. DE has helped me with a sore hip, I walk a lot in my job. Plan to keep on taking it.
THE DISCLAIMER IS MAKING IT CLEAR THAT THIS IS NOT A DRUG, IT IS IN A DIFFERENT CATAGORY LIKE FOOD OR SUPPLEMENTS. THE FDA DOES NOT APPROVE SUPPLEMENTS BECAUSE THAT IS NOT THEIR JOB! IF DE WAS A DRUG AND APPROVED BY THE FDA, THEN I WOULDN’T WANT IT!! A DRUG HAS TO BE SO STRONG AND TOXIC THAT IT CAN KILL YOU IF TAKEN IN LARGE DOSES…THAT IS WHAT SOME PEOPLE DON’T UNDERSTAND BUT NEED TO HEAR!
I AM GLAD THAT IT IS A NATURAL SUPPLEMENT..IF IT IS MADE BY THE EARTH, THEN I TRUST IT! IF IT IS TRUE ABOUT THE DE HAVING A NEGATIVE CHARGE IN THE PARTICLES…THEN THIS IS A HUGE DEAL! AND IT IS AS SAFE AND NATURAL AS STANDING BAREFOOT ON THE GROUND AKA “EARTHING”. THE EARTH GIVES US NEGATIVELY CHARGED ELECTRONS JUST BY TOUCHING IT, THEY ARE HEALING ELECTRONS AND THEY ARE GOOD FOR YOU. PEOPLE SPEND $1,000’S OF DOLLARS TO MAKE THEIR WATER WITH NEGATIVE ELECTRONS AS IN IONIZED WATER. ANY WAY YOU CAN GET MORE NEGATIVE ELECTRONS IN YOUR BODY, IS A GOOD THING. THE MORE THE BETTER! THE DETOX EFFECT IS JUST A BONUS!
The disclaimer MUST be displayed. It’s the law. If you read the labels of ANY and ALL natural supplements, they state almost the same thing. ALL natural health sites and supplements must state this so that your darling FDA won’t take them to jail and it also protects from lawsuits. If you didn’t trust the FDA so much, you would have informed yourself and picked this up a lot sooner. You should do it; it’s good for you!
Sally,
speaking of reading to educate.. you make want to further educate yourself. You are probably using DE and don’t even realize it. It is mixed in virtually every grain storage facility in America at 2% ratio to prevent insects. If you eat anything made from grain, you are eating some DE. It is also mixed in a large amount of pharmaceuticals as a flow agent. It’s even in makeups and facial cleansers. I find it amusing that you are preaching to others about using it and may be using it yourself. I think your message was read to educate… try your own advice. It OK to have an opinion, but it’s not OK to preach to others like you know better.
DE has been used for a very long time. My cholesterol came down 100 points in 2 months with this ALONE, (it was over 300) and my blood pressure came down to normal from very high levels. I have RA and Fibro, and DE has helped immensely. You should see what came out of me when I first started, if you know what I mean. If you’ve ever done a detox, then you know what I’m talking about. There are many things in NATURE that have curative powers. God gave us many things to cure ourselves. I go to many doctors and have lots of manmade chemicals put in my body everyday that are much scarier than eating DE. People, it WORKS. Oh, and I got rid of my cats’ fleas with it too. Good stuff.
Thank you so much for sharing this!
Thanks for sharing that it helped with your fibromyalgia. My fibromyalgia has been in a flare with all this cold weather. I am going to start using this tonight!!
I have been taking DE for about a month and up to 1 tbsp once daily. I decided to stop this morning because I have been experiencing some weird health problems. Since I started using this, I have had 2 UTI’s all showing a different bacteria along with bad vaginal discharge. Now, I am sick with a terrible cold. How does yeast come out of the body when detoxing? I have Fibro for over 30 years with terrible chronic constipation. I am always looking for an answer to help. I was beginning to think that at the DE was making me sicker….do you have any suggestions or thoughts??
Thanks
I’m not a doctor but that sounds like detox to me. Perhaps cut back on how much you’re taking. Your body may need to go really slow……with your current health problems it seems like your body would have a huge backlog of toxins and the amount of DE is pushing it out too quickly.
I also have fibro, and use DE. You do have to adjust because of the fibro, and start off slower than what’s usually recommended. I started with half a teaspoon and took 2 months to work up to a tablespoon. The things you describe all sound very much like your body detoxing too fast for your health conditions. To prevent the UTIs during this period, you may want to drink a glass of unsweetened cranberry juice every day, or take cranberry capsules if, like many, you can’t handle the taste of unsweetened. You can also add a squeeze of lemon to every glass of water you drink. I used to be prone to UTIs until I started doing those things. When the DE starts flushing out your kidneys, all of those impurities are ending up in your bladder, so you do have to be careful to do everything you can to prevent infections from even getting started, until you’re sure that your body is relatively ‘clean’ again. This is based solely on my own experience, but I hope it helps.
Thank you for this advice. Mmmm lemon water is the best
How much of this can you put into facial moisturizer? I read it’s also good for your skin that way. Thanks
Oh, I forgot to mention, as for how yeast comes out of the body during detox- Us fibro folks are very prone to overgrowth of yeast, as you probably know. When you start using DE, the DE will kill the yeast, and it gets flushed out along with other toxins. However, because of the major yeast die-off, the dead yeast is decaying and producing other toxins before it has a chance to be flushed out, and this die-off WILL make you feel ill. You’ll often get flu-like symptoms. But if you hang in there, for a few days, you’ll slowly begin to feel better as all of the dead yeast- and it’s by-products- are flushed out. I hope that makes sense, I’m having a bit of a brain-foggy day today thanks to the weather.
Add Molybdenum and it takes care of the unpleasant herx reactions.
I just started taking DE for myself and my kids and my pups! I’m so excited.. When you start to feel worse , that us the detox part of a cleanse, or from the “DE” just like anything, it will put up a fight before it goes out, like in our bodies. So any previous issues will surface and then the body will remove the toxins. I can’t wait to rid my body!!
How much do you give your kids? How old is the youngest? I want to give it to my 15month old (I think she has a tape worm) but I’m not sure how much? 1/4tsp?
You can start your baby off with half a teaspoon every other day for a week then half a teaspoon daily and the following week, one teaspoon….It wont hurt your baby but the reason to go slow is because expelling worms from your body too quickly can make you feel lethargic and fluey…It will soon have bubs all cleaned out .
Your body is just detoxing. All kinds of things can happen when you are detoxing. You can have headaches, cold, rashes. Just keep going.
So, does it work for tape worm? I have read conflicting things.
Not everything is good for everyone …
Why do you say, “Readers, please don’t fall for this?” Would like to hear what you have to say.
Is the only reason because it hasn’t been approved by the FDA? If its just your opinion, then why comment because then this article is just someone else’s opinion. However, if you have scientific evidence that would help everyone, please share because that’s why we read these posts and write them. Going to links within the medical community and medical research sites will help everyone involved. Knowledge is power. Thanks.
Wondering if the readers here comprehend what they are reading. The point to referring to this page’s disclaimer was to wave a red flag so that people actually consider whether they ought to believe everything they read. What do you think that disclaimer is there for anyway? Do yourselves a favor and don’t believe everything you read.
Diatomaceous earth is gritty. That ought to be a clue that it is not something for people to eat. Why not eat plants grown in dirt instead of dirt itself. The bible mentions herbs for health, not dirt. It’s surprising how many people jump on something like this just because they “read” that somebody else is doing it. Think about it.
The Bible doesn’t mention everything that is good for us. There are plenty of things that the Lord put on this earth that we can use for the good.
Unless you are a scientist, a doctor, a chemist, or something else similar to those professions then your opinion is no worse or better then the article you are complaining about. If you are from one of those professions, then please share what you know about DE. Or … perhaps you have done a huge amount of research on DE and you know something about DE that you are not sharing. If so, share. If not, then please do the research before telling people not to use a product that might very well be what they need to feel better.
If you haven’t done the research, then you truly don’t know whether its good for you or not, and telling people not to use it is an uneducated opinion.
I don’t know everything about DE myself. I’m still learning, and very willing to do the research. I’m also intelligent enough to know that I should not be telling people to not use a product that I don’t know anything about. Clearly if the product appears to be dangerous we should not use it until someone has proven it to be safe, but in the case of DE, its been used for so long that I can’t imagine its not safe. By now, someone, somewhere, would have gotten a sick animal and we would have heard about the effects of using DE on animals, let alone on people.
Here’s an awesome example … the FDA has approved the use of chicken droppings and their bedding to be made into food to feed cattle at the large cattle farms across the country. Clearly this FDA decision is disgusting, unbelievable, and down right wrong. Should we eat the meat from this food? The FDA says its OK. I don’t want to eat this meat. So I have to do the research on my own to find out what is, and what isn’t good for me. I don’t believe the FDA. They are NOT a medical association that has been around a long time and has done long term testing for science and knowledge.
All vitamins and supplements have that disclaimer, not approved by the FDA. Does not mean its a bad thing. I will def look into this further. Sounds worth my time and effort.
Sorry Sally … the disclaimer is required to prevent lawsuits. Lots of natural substances are actually beneficial without FDA approval. They only approve what the drug companies pay to be “approved” … nature doesn’t pay. That doesn’t mean you cannot hurt yourself with natural herbs or minerals, it just means that the FDA doesn’t approve. Now, doesn’t that make you feel safe and reassured?
I’m from the government and I’m here to help you!
OK, I almost give up! Natural foods, minerals, herbs, are supposedly really bad for us? What about digitalis? Does the FDA have the last word? God save us from the government and their corporate sponsors>
The FDA is in bed with big pharma and big food to keep us sick and keep us in their factory of money making greed grabbing cycle of insanity. If you are really concerned about people not taking things that are natural and beneficial to health…find out why taking DE is bad. Then by all means let us know. The FDA requires all alternative methods of healing and staying well to have a disclaimer like the one you are making sure everyone sees….I suspect you are in a line of work that lines up with the afore mentioned conglomerates.
Ever hear of thalidomide? Ever hear of 100,000 deaths EACH YEAR from properly prescribed FDA DRUGS…..I have, as an RN for 37 years I’d rather eat dirt than an approved FDA drug….
Thank you, Merry, for stepping in and sharing. All my comments were directed towards Sensible Sally. I think DE has a lot to offer in many different areas of life, and yes, that includes eating it. There are an amazing amount of products on the market, that people eat, drink, or take into their body in some manner, that their ingredients come from the earth. That means out of the dirt.
Have you ever eaten a veggie directly from your garden? Without washing it? It’ll have dirt, compost and possibly manure on it. Where does salt come from? What about all the minerals we take into our bodies, both from the food we eat and the supplements we take? Dirt is the least of my worries. I agree with Merry. I would rather eat dirt and take my chances, then take all kinds of man-made pills and risk additional health issues, or even death, when it comes to basic, daily health care.
Love this response…..I’m with you. 🙂
The FDA has not approved or regulated MANY things that are beneficial to our health. Choose who you trust carefully. Many disgusting practices like slurry fertilization, feeding feces to farm animals and the like are approved practices. So don’t believe in the uses of DE if you like, but the use and benefits have been around for a very long time. One butt covering disclaimer doesn’t change that.
If it helps, the FDA *has* evaluated DE, and it is generally recognized as safe.
Just popping in on the conversation. Don’t trust the FDA. It was proven Vitamin B5 was used to cure cancer. FDA said it was banned. So those who say the FDA is in bed with Pharma is correct. If a person is dying from cancer why not let them try something that might cure them, it’s because the FDA doesn’t want you to know the truth. Besides I have been using DE for a month now and I feel great my bloating has gone away. I also use it on my dog and I see a difference in him. Next I plan to use it on my horse, but I wanted to try it out on myself and dog first. There is nothing to fear I have had no side effects and neither has my dog. I am looking forward to checking my blood pressure and cholesterol. For those who aren’t sure there is so much evidence online to support DE. My only concern is can I take it without stopping. I read somewhere where you should take a break after 30 days any thoughts on this.
Before there was FDA or pharmaceutical companies, there were herbs and dirt. Now, there was plague and scarlet fever, things we’ve been able to cure for the most part. However, there weren’t nearly as many physical and mental diseases as what we have today. Back then people lived healthier than most of us now. And what did they eat? Naturally grown foods without chemicals, herbs they picked from the forest around them, and quite possibly ground up dirt. The FDA and pharmaceutical companies stand to make a lot of money out of something they can easily produce using chemicals. They do not make much money if we start using natural supplements for two reasons. The first is, if we’re not buying from the pharmaceutical companies, they are not paying the FDA to give them a stamp of approval. The second is, most natural supplements don’t have side effects that cause for more medicines. Almost all pharmaceutical drugs have some sort of side effect and some are serious enough to need a second or even third medication to offset the side effect. That’s 2 to 3 times the money for the pharmaceutical companies.
Agreed … check out the natural seaweed extract “fucoidan” …. This is a “non FDA approved” natural substance with amazing benefits. Reply and I will fill you in. Got cancer? Get fucoidan. Check also http://www.pubmed.gov and search for “fucoidan cancer” …. some 130 independent studies from around the world.
I’ll bite, please fill me in on fucoidan. Thank you
Fill me in
It is USDA approved
The FDA “approves” only those drugs that are submitted. Natural medicines and cures don’t get the “FDA Seal of Approval” because they are not submitted with a check for $1M dollars.
Amen to that!!
It may sound surprising, but I don’t think diatomaceous earth cures or heals any diseases.
I think it removes all the junk from our intestinal tract that is making us sick, and supplies us with necessary minerals, so that our amazing body can heal itself.
And this is where my own research has taken me also. Thanks Dandy for adding that.
The FDA also approves of the Chinese processing foods for us, using their seasonings, preservatives and such for human and pet products.
Look at how they poisoned our children with lead in the paint for kids’ toys. Look in the news for all of the pets being killed by treats made in or made with materials from China.
FDA approves for all of this. THey approve of chicken being raised here sent to China to process into “frozen items” like patties, pre-cooked chicken, etc. When will the people and the FDA start watching out for their citizens? When enough people rise up and argue, point out their faults and fight for the processing to be here in the US and buying US made items and US grown items…Stand up for yourselves, quit being lemmings just following your government unto the unknown.
I think you’re taking the term “dirt” too literally. The word dirt tends to conjure up images of bacteria, impurities, unclean, bugs and so on. Diatomaceous earth is ground up fossils of a once living organism – a preserved plant, basically.
The disclaimer is there to protect the author from any backlash in terms of lawsuits, because people are ridiculous and could otherwise take the information provided in this article to try and “cure” themselves of a disease, then sue because the diatomaceous earth didn’t help their situation. It doesn’t mean it’s unsafe, it just means the FDA weren’t paid ridiculous amounts to put their name on it and therefore no-one can make claims on it curing anything. It’s a technicality.
As for the grittiness – should we not be using salt or pepper in our food? That is a ridiculous thing to base edibility and safety-to-consume on.
Hi, Sally – please be aware that the disclaimer you are referring to is required by the FDA for ALL non-pharmaceutical products that are health related. Without it, the products can’t be sold at all. All the really great whole-food vitamin supplements have to carry the same disclaimer. I personally do NOT believe that the FDA has our well-being as a priority. The FDA doesn’t require labels to indicate if the ingredients come from GMO sources. The FDA is the biggest reason that I can’t purchase raw milk. (I could purchase it in Italy, great stuff!) The FDA caters to big-pharma, large corporate farming, and the huge food conglomerates and it’s all about money – not our health and well-being. The best thing to do when you have doubts about natural health promoting products is to find and read the studies to determine for yourself what you feel is believable.
I live in MN so different states have different policies. You can buy raw milk. But the farmer with the raw milk cannot advertise that he is selling it, or deliver it, so the customer has to find him first. I have a neighbor who sells the delicious raw and organic milk. For a while they tried to follow the law but after a while they decided they were losing too much money and decided to start their deliveries again…they might be taking a risk. What they did notice is that when someone is thrown in jail for a bit and talked about on the news…they get publicity. FREE ADVERTISING! So the man that was in jail for delivering and advertising his milk now has a huge waiting list of customers who want to buy his raw milk! You can probably find a farmer that will sell you the raw milk, he just isn’t out there advertising it. I know this is a little off the topic of DE but just wanted to put that out there since she brought it up.
Have some kool aid Sally, it will be over soon!
Greetings Sally!
I wont go into how the “disclaimer” is simply a CYA statement.
Instead lets go to the bag of DE and take a peek of what is printed on the bag: “FOOD GRADE” “CODEX FOOD GRADE”
It’s already been approved by the FDA as GRAS (generally regarded as safe) for human consumption.
DE is already added to food products to allow for free flowing product, anti clumping agents, etc. Its FDA approved for such applications. DE is also added into some feed to keep bugs out of the feed stock.
I, we, my extended sibling family has been using DE for 20+ years for internal parasite cleansing & general daily healthy tonic (its high in silica & great for your hair, nails), gardening for pest control, added to animal (and human)water for internal parasite cleanse, for the barn yard and for our house pets to keep them free of fleas. Sprinkle it on/into your carpet if there are fleas in it. Rub it on my legs (from knees down to toes) to keep chiggers from eating my crotch.
I take it internally for bowel cleansing, we use it in toothpaste, and other cleansing products.
Daily, I take lugols iodine internally too & refuse vaccines, removed mercury fillings from my teeth, eat butter, eat as much sea salt as my 56 year old heart desires, nebulize using colloidal silver, nascent iodine,hydrogen peroxide, magnesium chloride, sodium bicarbonate combinations and cure all my respiratory ilks.
I’m healthy, am taking zero prescription drugs and have people think i’m in my late thirties.
Sally, do yourself a favor and realize the illustrious medical community you seem to worship, is simply interested in your sending them a monthly payment for the “legitimate drugs” that simply mask your symptoms of disease & well sedated and under control.
Sally, you are in the right forum’s to learn something extremely important for your and your families health….take heed & thrive!
How do you take hydrogen peroxide.
FDA?? And we see that the FDA has approved GMOs and all the pesticides that are killing us. Why would we really care if the FDA has put its seal of approval on it? There seal is practically useless to us nowadays.
its is mined like mineral and processed,some people just do not get the pun “Get the dirt on……”
In response to the parrot (Sally): A disclaimer is a requisite to avoiding harassment by [“representative”] government.
After nearing on three decades in administrative law, I can, comfortably, say, blindly relying on government is the errand of fools. In my world, one plus one remains two.
A review of public records reveals great influences of legislative entities by lobbyists. In the private sector, the same would be classed fiduciary breaches that reached the realm of criminal activity.
Add to the foregoing:
– The fact remains much of what is patented is nothing more than an attempt to mimic nature. Take valarium, as just one example.
– No one pushing patent medicines will give you a written guarantee they will work better than natural methods, or that they will not cause you injury or death.
And on it goes
Sally, I appreciate your comment. As a curious potential consumer of healthier foods and products, peer-reviewed, scientific evidence is really important to me – from what I’ve been able to find, DE doesn’t really do much of anything, it just passes right through the digestive tract. Exposed inhalation over time does, however, increase the risk of lung cancer. The FDA does code DE as “Generally recognized as safe”, and it seems like it might be a useful abrasive in toothpastes, etc.
Here is a quick fact sheet on DE: http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/degen.html
Additionally, studies since the 1970’s have ruled out Aluminum as a causal link to Alzheimer’s. For those interested, there is developing research regarding a potential link to Alzheimer’s and glyphosate, an herbicide sprayed on wheat and soy crops, though this is not yet wholly conclusive.
Well, Sensible Sally, it doesn’t hurt you, has helped me after using it for 3 plus months now, with numerous things. I guess I want to say “don’t knock it ’till you try it”.
Sally….in reply to that remark you made on most every natural item….bla…bal….bla….if it’s natural, Spirits Gift, inexpensive, and not regulated …it’s bad for you. Your eyes are closed….as well as your mind. In the past oh, 6 straight hours of reading diff Web sites on DE…this natural woman (me) who has no degree ( but was born the sickest in family so I didn’t go home after I was born….for 3 years….my 97 year old Nana took care of me for 3 years back in the 50s…and she ate seaweed every day for many years back in the 20s, 30s,….she lived to 102 Sally…) has always greedily hungered for natural information. So I am healthy, and my mother died of diabetes and my brother is close behind. Alternative options are the answer. I have used coconut oil for 17 years now as a toothpaste ( careful how you dispose of it in North climates, lol…even living in Fl….just put it in trash…) suntan lotion, bath moisturizing, cooking, baking oil,….parasite…I have not had that..but the oil is antiviral, antibacterial and antifungial….it lasts 2 years and all other oils but olive goes rancid in 6 mos. Bruce Fife, folks…look him up.. Anywho, I’m excited to try this after seriously 7 hours of steady…just about…..reading on all the testimonials. I read hundreds. I’ve used it for bugs for years!! I recently …6 years ago..( hey, when ur 62…6 years isn’t long…) was depressed and binged sweets ….which i never ate..for 6 mos in my late 50s and with other symptoms that also developed, I had adrenal failure…which is an autoimmune disease…caused by food allergies….or food sensitivities..I cut out grains…my sweet cravings are gone because of that…but I’m still not right…THIS IS IT….the silica…yes…I knew this… duh!! The exoskeleton….I used to sell it back in the 90s..Chitosol..for weight loss!! I knew about it for bugs and weight loss, but not all these other testimonials….cheapest thing to build bones…that’s my main reason for ordering…it’s 2017….might not get the thread, Sally…chuckle..but it’s been fun….
Then why are you here on this site?????
Yes, and Castor Oil contains “ricin”, and every six months I ingest (mixed with Kiefer or juice to disguise the taste), one teaspoon per day for 7 days. It is a powerful and harmless detox in this small quantity for adults. And it works, although it contains ricin. It is also, amazing for skin, ad hair with its anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties.
Can you tell me if DE is a renewable resource?
Well, I guess technically it could be renewable, it is just fossilized diatoms, but in a practical way, I don’t think it really counts as renewable because it’s mined from deposits deep in the earth, and I’m not sure how long diatoms take to fossilize. I’ll go ahead and say no. These deposits are, however, all over the world and I’ve personally never seen any indication that they are lacking. I hope that helps!
Considering how long it takes for something to become fossilized, NO it is not a renewable resource (in the same way of petroleum and coal). I am wondering how DE is extracted, and the effects on the earth from that.
I’m also wondering how DE scrubs the hardened crap from our intestines, when our intestines absorb and process by nature, and normal-functioning intestines don’t retain hardened anything.
DE may be amazing and helpful, but statements like that make the author sound ignorant of body functions, and that makes me doubt her claims about DE entirely.
This is all that was said about our bowels… apparently you skimmed through this part. Nothing here about “Hardened crap”.
“Diatomaceous earth is also very hard. On a scale of “hardness”, if diamonds were a 9, diatomaceous earth would be a 7. This helps us too – as this powder makes its way through our digestive tract, it gently “scrubs” the packed-on residue we have there and sweeps it out of our bodies. Nice, diatoms!
Regulates bowel movements, lessens gastrointestinal inflammation, cleans out the colon, treats both diarrhea and constipation. It is a great choice for families on the GAPS diet!”
Eat some corn and then don’t eat any more corn for several months – you will be surprised to see corn in your stool months later. (I was).
Ha! I don’t eat corn…much! I only eat it to make sure it comes out within 24 hrs….that’s how I check how clean I am….months??!!you got some serious packing going on!!
I read somewhere this same question and the answer was there was enough now to last a hundred years .. so no need to worry right now about running out. Perhaps there will be more deposits found by then.
I am wondering if the ladies using DE as toothpaste have been to their dentists afterwards? I ask, because I was looking into activated charcoal. I saw on one site where dentists answered and said it was too abrasive and damaging to the teeth. So I wanted to know what your dentists said regarding DE’s effects on your teeth and enamel.
Thanks!!
Okay, so we buy DE for our animals (mainly chickens) to help with ticks/fleas, etc. I called up the company that makes it and they said it’s FEED grade (vs. FOOD grade) as in okay-ed for animal consumption, but not human. Is this just red tape? Can I use this stuff since I always have it on hand?
Thanks in advance,
~Angela
I would think that since it is made from fossils of diatoms, assuming that they are not extinct, we could make more. However, fossilization takes a long time. So I’m thinking that if you can figure out how to naturally speed up fossilization than you could renew the resource yourself… That is just a thought though. I am a thinker, not a scientist.
Rather than “fossilized”, think deposited. Silica shells of one celled diatoms over time sink in the ocean and create layers of deposits. That is what we mine and call diatomaceous earth. It takes millions of years to create the vast deposits now used for DE mining. Silica, unlike calcium is insoluble in seawater – so it does not degrade or change form. It remains its potent and sharp form which until the government intervened …. was used in toothpaste to provide an abrasive polishing agent.
That is interesting! I want to try brushing with it now! Sounds like it would be good for the teeth as long as you don’t overdo it. But sometimes you just feel build-up, like your regular toothpaste isn’t doing enuf. Maybe it is similar to what the hygenist uses to polish our teeth…?
OK, but don’t over do it. DE is very abrasive and can harm your enamel. Once a month … may be OK> I’m not a dentist, but I do believe in nature’s ways …. I mix DE and baking soda with peroxide to make a paste … then brush. Try 10% DE, 90% baking soda and moisten with hydrogen peroxide (3%) …. but again, don’t overdo it.
Angela – Please don’t ingest the “feed grade.” “Food grade” is inexpensive and of a higher quality from a processing standpoint.
Very interesting post. Do you have any scientific study’s on this? I was only able to find one on cholesterol but not on any other effects this has on the body. I like to read more before I put something in my body natural or otherwise. Just because something is approved by the FDA doesn’t make it safe sensible Sally.
Cortney, I have no affiliation with the FDA. What I do have is a brain that tells me people don’t eat dirt. It’s obviously going to benefit someone money-wise when the links are clicked. If you want to cleanse your body there are safer ways to do it. Herbs are better for human consumption. This reminds me of the soy lecithin everyone was eating until the results were calculated.
Everything the FDA does helps someone “money-wise.” Ever hear of lobbyists?
I use Nature’s Wisdom Food grade D.E. The Nature’s Wisdom site has testimonials and recipes. I drink 1 TBSP in water everyday. My arthritis is practically nil now and my nails are growing for the 1st time in years! I also sprinkle it on my dog for flea control.
Wow! They testimonials and recipes! They MUST before real then, I’m signing up to buy 2 tons and I’m going to live forever!!
Actually a lot of people eat dirt. Pregnant women can have cravings for dirt. Kids routinely eat dirt. Animals eat dirt! Ever stop and think about the mass production of the foods you eat? Why the nutritional values are lower than they were fifty years ago? We have depleted the soils that our food grows in, so we add fertilizers. Take a good look at commercial fertilizer. it’s a bit scary! DE used to be on and in a lot of the foods we ate including our water sources. Hybridization, over use, chemicals….the list goes on. FYI. sugar is actually toxic. It was proven over and over again! Yet the FDA approved it! Look it up. I’d rather eat my compost pile than a lot if the things FDA has approved!
Actually Sally, I believe you are a protagonist. DE has been used for centuries as a safe and effective wormer and bug killer. I hope you aren’t offended, but every time you eat pasta or flour, you are actually eating DE. Do you think the manufacturers add it without FDA “approval”? Do some thinking and some research before chatting on about something you know nothing about.
http://diatomaceousearthsource.org/
http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/derefs.html
you should be able to find all the info you need here, especially the second one…. Hope that helps.
I’m failing to understand why women are so sassy and catty to each other.
I agree
Basically people browsing the notes are into natural remedies and just want to see how many have benefitted by the treatment and I really find it tiresome to have someone banging on about stuff that dosent concern them and that no one cares about or they wouldnt be seeking alternative cures in the first place , due to lack of results in the medical field
Apart from that it has been very interesting reading 🙂
FYI–You are ALREADY eating this dirt. It is used in grain in this country to keep it fresh and keep it from developing bug problems.
Every health blog has to put that disclaimer start reading more and you will see it everywhere, oil pulling has been done for thousands of years but if you wanted to write an article on it and the health benefits you would have to put the disclaimer. the FDA’s definition of DRUG is anything that can be used to diagnose, treat or cure disease so if you claim anything can do that it falls under the jurisdiction of the FDA and has to then be regulated accordingly. We certainly do not want them regulating our access to vitamins and supplements or limiting our access. The internet is a great place to share but the people who do the sharing have to protect themselves from frivolous lawsuits.
By the way if you really knew what was in most processed food you’d be thrilled to eat DIRT to get rid of it!
I haven’t looked up DE on the internet, but I do know that it’s been around for a long time and there is probably a slew of info on DE. Just because the FDA hasn’t approved it really means nothing about it’s value for health. The FDA has approved a lot of drugs that have really harmful side effects. The pharmaceutical companies make billions of $ putting drugs on the market. The moneys they have to put out for lawsuits when someone is badly hurt from their poorly tested drugs is just in the millions. So whatever they pay out for wrongful death or injury is a pittance compared to the money they make rushing new drugs on to the market without the proper studies. If you think Big pharma is looking out for you, you are very naive. And yeah, billions of people around the world DO eat dirt to survive.
I meant to convey in the last sentence that Big Pharma AND the FDA both are not always looking out for you well being.
DIRT: : a substance (such as mud or dust) that makes things unclean
? You’ve got some dirt on your face. ? Their shoes were covered with dirt. ? No amount of cleaning will get rid of all this dirt.
DE deposits are composed of pure silica; perhaps mixed with some deposited minerals derived from seawater. DE is not “dirt” like you would find on the farm or side of the road. Remember, most salt is mined from naturally occurring deposits – it is gritty and comes from the earth. Is salt “dirt”?.
We use bentonite in our calf pens and the calves lick it freely. Our horses choose to chew it if it is made available. (Our horses will chew clay banks if we don’t make bentonite available).
Our chickens dust themselves in it and peck at it.
We are animals too…and I can see no reason to consider DE unsafe for humans when it is perfectly safe for other animals. DE is a component of pelletised feeds which binds the pellets together. I don’t think farmers would have been feeding it to animals for so many years if it wasn’t safe.
Ann, that is interesting.. I have horses and where do you buy the bentonite for them? I have never seen it in the feed store.. Have some for myself, but it would cost too much to feed to them.. thanks..
Hi Carol,
We’re in New Zealand so we get it at our local dairy company store in 10kg bags.
Salt is dirt …. should we stop eating that?
So,Sally< where do you work?? Affiliated with a drug company? maybe a medical field? something that stands to lose "ground" if dirt takes off?? I am of Cherokee decent and I can tell on solid fact. YOU WILL NEVER FIND A MAN MADE REPLACEMENT WITH THE SAME BENEFITS AS EARTH MEDICINES AND PRODUCTS WITHOUT EVEN WORSE ISSUE CAUSING SIDE EFFECTS! Period. Ask yourself how American Indians were among the first to be healthy and live longer?? Every see or hear of an old "pilgrim"? Biggest case in point is the now widening use of medical marijuana. What , may I ask, do you think was in our peace pipes? And yes, I am a direct decent. I was raised on a Cherokee children mission , just out side of Cave Springs, Oklahoma (if you care to research that).The biggest problem with "earth medicine" is you have a few wack jobs out there that become extremists and give intelligent users a bad rep. And if you really want to dissect it, research what the "active ingredient" in your holier-than-thow FDA items. That will really surprise you. At what time , in most countries, education wasn't "approved" either. Why do you think that is? Let people decide for them selves or provide better argument. Oh and not to bust your bubble, BUT tin foil hats wont keep them out either!!! :}
Soy is very bad for you…any soy product that is processed with any heat releases a gas in you…….hexane..
Calcium, iron, and other minerals are dirt!
http://diatomaceousearthsource.org/
http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/derefs.html
you should be able to find all the info you need here, especially the second one…. Hope that helps.
Courtney, go to “hemp usa” They have a product they sell & call it “micro plant powder”
It’s pure and simple food grade DE, except they get big $$ for a couple pounds of the stuff.
I know I bought a kilo of this stuff from them thinking it was a “green” type powder. After opening the much anticipated package, and looking at it and feeling it… It’s DE!!
Much cheaper sources than them, however they have some interesting articles on the stuff but mostly anecdotal. In regards to published papers… probably not too many studies performed on this non money maker for the sellers of drugs. However it might be worth while looking up JAMA and doing a search for DE. Just remember it must be food grade. Industrial grade DE is deadly to the human body. Pool filter DE is an example of industrial DE. They take DE and through a heating process fuse DE particles together making larger granular looking DE clumps. These are great for trapping dirt & used in filtering water & other chemicals…but NOT FOR HUMAN or animal consumption, those larger clumps will tear up your insides, like the tiny particles of the food grade does to parasites internal of your body.
Honestly to call this “dirt” is somewhat of a push, DE is simply the fossilized remains of single cell water borne plant entities, similar to algae.
Hi Danielle,
Thanks so much for this info! I bought a big bag to give some to my pets but wasn’t sure how to use it to keep away bugs. If I sprinkle it in the carpet do I need to vaccum right away or can it sit? Is it safe for my pets to go near after? Thank you!!
It is not good for your vacuum. Small amounts ok.
Hi Libby! I read here: http://www.earthworkshealth.com/household-uses.php that you can sprinkle the carpet, let sit for 2 hours, and then vacuum up, although I haven’t tried this myself since we do not have pets. I hope that helps!
I use DE to keep insects at bay. I sprinkle it around our foundation. The only issue I had was it washing away with the rain. I hope to watch the weather better this year before applying. If you have a long dry spell it’s worth the application, IMHO.
If it’s not food grade DE, it’s not good for your animals or you. Food grade DE is cheap; buy that.
When sprinkling it around plants, beware that bees, or other beneficial insects, like ladybugs don’t get it, as it will kill them too. With bee colony collapses, we need every bee we have to pollinate crops, so we have food. We are all interconnected.
Yes, I agree! As I mentioned in the article, do not sprinkle on or around flowers. We need all the bees we can get! 🙂
We use DE during our production of maple syrup. It is used with filter paper to help make the syrup clear. I never thought about using it in the house. Thank you for the post, I’m happy to learn of these other uses.
Do u sell your maple syrup wholesale? Would love to purchase directly from a grower!
Ellen, We do sell wholesale. You can send me an email at stein@sweetdreammaplefarm.com and we can go from there. Thank you for asking, looking forward to hearing from you! Amy Stein
It’s also used by some to clarify wine.
and beer
That’s so interesting, Amy!
The food grade DE that I buy for my animals says right on the bag “Food Grade.” However, if you called the manufacturer and that’s what they told you, they probably have to say that for legal reasons because it is bagged for animals and not humans. There is DE bagged specifically for human consumption. Don’t know if that price is cheaper or more expensive then the bag I buy for my animals. Don’t know if there is a difference between the animal bagged DE (food grade) and the human bagged DE (food grade). I would think they are the same, but I’m not a scientist.
Elyce. I started using DE about a year ago for my chickens mostly, but I mix it with the feed for the piggies and goats. I had one pig that most definitely had worms, and In short order she was OK. When I bought my DE, I was told that food grade was white in color, and industrial grade was mostly brown. I don’t think this is carved in stone, but if you DE is brown, I would only use it for garden use.
The DE I use is white in color, and the bag says it is “Food Grade.” I buy mine at Tractor Supply. I put it in the bedding for my chickens and the bedding in my goats pen for fleas, mites, lice, and other insects. I’ve never really had a problem with these insects so perhaps its working. I am learning this week about putting it into the feed for my chickens and my goats. I haven’t done it yet because I’m unsure how much to add to the feed. I’m researching that this week.
I have purchased DE at the following places:
the 50 bags: http://www.earthworkshealth.com (I think the link is also in this article)
or http://www.wolfcreekranch.net
Depending on where I lived, as the shipping is the thing that is expensive…. earthworks health is in Nebraska I think, and Wolf Creek Ranch is in California.
For smaller sizes I have purchased 1 lb bags from http://www.savvyteasandherbs.com and it is more cost effective.
We used to be heavily involved in Animal Rescue and many of the rescue animals came into the rescue with worms and parasites. But they were too sick to do a de-worming protocol from the vet, so we gave them DE with their food. It also makes their coats shiny and soft. (the minerals!)
This and activated charcoal are items I always keep on hand.
A few years ago I thought about using this — both on myself and for my pets/chickens. I did a ton of research. I decided to wait until I could find more conclusive evidence for this one question that lingers in my mind. It is known that the sharpness of the DE particles helps against worms, etc — basically ripping them up with its “diamond” edges. Knowing that, and knowing the delicate membranes in some of our digestive areas, I still have a concern that those same sharp edges could, over time, act as sandpaper on our intestinal and stomach tissues. So, at this time, I think the only way I would use this is for a short time burst — then I would let it rest. If that makes sense.
This is a very interesting point, and I would also like to know if anyone has come across research that says anything about this.
However, since our animals have been taking it for years, maybe decades, and they’re still alive and well, without having to run them to the vet with stomach issues, I’m wondering if this is an issue. If our pets are not experiencing any stomach and intestine issues after taking it for years, and their stomachs are just as sensitive as ours, then I’m thinking it would be safe for us also. Just a thought. I’m not a doctor.
It could also be the amount taken that does not cause any problems within the stomach and intestine?
I think that is my concern — I am just uncertain. Sometimes I take a less is more approach until I have my facts secured. It’s hard to figure this one out, imho.
I wondered this also. If it cuts up exoskeletons I wonder what keeps it from cutting up soft tissue? Maybe it softens up with moisture, hence the reason we have to keep applying it if it gets wet? I’m not all that healthy yet anyway. Circumstances have left us being beggars who can’t be choosers…lol. But it’s good to know for future reference.
Yes, I do understand that concern. What gave me reassurance in that area is that it is recommended by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride – the creator of the GAPS diet. If you’ve not heard of it, it is a very healing diet for those with GI issues. Here’s the link if you’re interested: http://www.gapsdiet.com/uploads/FAQS_Listing_0313.pdf – it’s a pdf and it’s on page 3.
Even though that helped put me at ease, it’s totally reasonable to wonder this and it just comes down to a personal decision.
I was reading the PDF on that link Dandy, and I kept reading. She talks more about DE on the bottom of page 9 and onto page 10. She is big on this stuff…wouldn’t be surprised if she mentions it several times throughout the intire 142 pages. There are a lot of questions and answers to read…very interesting!
I have a question? If feeding it to the chickens on a regular basis and eating the eggs wouldn’t that be a source if getting DE in your diet from the eggs? I have a friend who can not eat my eggs if I have fed the alfalfa or she gets sick since she is allergic to alfalfa! Just curious of thoughts
No. Unless you plan on eating the shell. Even then it’s chemically recombined and not the same form as it was eaten.
I would not say that eggs from chickens could be a source of DE, since DE is technically diatoms. I would say that the egg itself (and the eater ???? ) would benefit from the silica and trace minerals from the DE given to the chicken. Hope that makes sense.
^^^ FYI, that was supposed to be a smiley face, not a bunch of question marks. Not sure what happened. 😀
We own a feed mill and incorporate DE as we bring in grains, so, ultimately it is in our grist and ground feeds. People wanted smaller quantities, so we clearly repackaged with all the manufacturer’s print. Our web site gave the info that Sally describes, since we researched it in a multitude of sources, including the FDA for ANIMAL use. The USEPA began their witch-hunt and spent a couple days going through our labeling and then spent hours going over our website and concluded we were selling an unlicensed insecticide. Took them one year, but they slapped us with a fine of over a quarter million dollars. Three lawyers (useless), 799 pages of documents verifying the value(s) of DE and $25,000 later, USEPA dropped the case. Careful what you say…. they are watching your every move for the $$$. Disclaimers do NOT exempt anyone anymore.
Thanks, Mel, for alerting us to what the FDA, USDA are doing to the true farmers of this country (i.e. throwing them under the bus!). What “they” call farmers are corporate managers that know nothing of farming, only the bottom line.
Farmers use DE to protect their wheat from pests. You’ve probably been eating a lot of this all along (although, you probably should steer clear of gluten, anyway, and just start taking DE straight! Lol!). It has to be dry for it to be effective against carapaced, exoskeletoned beasts. Do you think it changes when you put it in water and swallow it? : ) That is a rhetorical question.
And, by the way, has anybody heard of Aulterra powder for enhancing nutraceuticals and absorbing EMW radiation?
I bought some and tried it for the little german roaches and they just walked around with it all over themselves. 🙁 So, it doesn’t work for them. IT is food grade though so maybe I should get the other??
I would stick with the food grade. You might could try reapplying, making sure to cover all crevices and points of entry and reapplying after rain. They also sell products called “dusters” that can apply the DE in an even fashion. I hope that helps.
I used it for squash bugs in the garden (as well as for lots of other things) and found in my research and experience that it works on them when they are still young and soft. It seems that after they get that harder outer body, it’s not as effective. Could be maybe that’s why it wasn’t effective against the roaches?
I use it with my chickens a lot, in their nests, on their droppings, occasionally in their feed, etc. It sure hasn’t seemed to hurt them a bit. I’ve only lost any of them to predators. The first bag I bought was a fine, white powder. The bag I currently have is brown/gray/red, and seems coarser. Both bags say “food grade,” but I’m a little hesitant to ingest this darker kind. Does anyone have experience with it?
If in doubt throw it out! your not talking a big $$ issue here with tossing it out if you think it might be the wrong stuff.
I take natural supplements. Will DE interfere with them. In other words, Is there a timing issue that would assure DE would not be removing the supplements, for instance should I wait an hour after taking supplements to take DE? thanks so much and God bless you!
From what I have read, DE should not interfere with food, natural supplements, or probiotics. If you have doubts, then just take it between doses. God bless you, too! 😀
Among the human benefits I first got turned on to this researching natural ways to help my cat’s ears which she was prone to mites and yeast infections that we couldn’t get a rid of with prescriptions so I took a blush brush dabbed a little and dusted her ears frequently in both issues were resolved I also used it as a natural wormer for my older cats. Most recently I was desperate at midnight when I realized my dog was suffering from hotspots, I mixed a little with water and applied it, next day they were gone. Try it for 3 days and you will notice a natural energy bestow you and motivation to get er done! ?
Diatomaceous earth is a fossil, from diatoms. Please, if you’re going to write an article, be educated. I use it for parasites, red ants in the yard, fleas on my animals, as well as parasites. My animals are healthy, and I have no fire ants.
I do believe she clearly states it is a fossil from diatoms in the beginning of the article.
Isn’t that what she said? No need to be snotty about it.
we were invaded by Crazy ants this past summer. Unbelievable!!! we tried everything to kill them and the only thing that worked was diametaceous earth. got some off the internet, but the next time we bought it from tractor supply, much better price.
How young of a child can be given DA? Also, I see it’s safe for breastfeeding mothers – are there additional resources that confirm?
This article: http://www.bulkherbstore.com/Diatomaceous-Earth lists the dosage for children at 1/2 to 1 level teaspoon a day. It also lists as safe for pregnant and breastfeeding. My children get their DE in a smoothie and it works out to about 1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon each. They have had no adverse reactions. There is no hurry with DE, start with small doses and slowly work your way up.
Go read the back of your acetaminophen or ibuprofen bottle. If you are still willing to take both of those products, then what could be so scary about dirt?
If adults should start out taking one teaspoon in liquid, how much should you start out children taking? My children both weigh between 90 and 120 lbs.
This site: http://www.bulkherbstore.com/Diatomaceous-Earth lists the dosage for children as 1/2 to 1 level teaspoon daily. I would start off in small doses, definitely, and work your way up to these.
I have used DE for decades to clean historic garments that cannot go into the wash. You place a paste over stains and when it is dry brush or vacuum off.
That is really interesting; I had never heard that before! Thanks for sharing!
Wonderful post! Thank you for sharing that!
We have used DE for a few years. Our dogs & horses also take it. We have found it has made our bodies much healthier. Also I have found when I take a heaping tablespoon in some milk before bedtime I sleep very well, much deeper than I had ever before. We have had ants invade our home a couple times & it takes care of them & I don’t feel like there is a bad unhealthy residue left. Also use it on compost/manure pile. No flies. Could go on but I think you get the point.
DE is also swimming Pool filtration material.
This is FOOD-GRATE FDA APROVED
sorry for the misspelling grade of course I meant to say
My parents have used it all my life in the swimming pool filtration system also, but I didn’t know back then that there was food grade and industrial grade. Is the DE used in pools the food grade stuff? I’m assuming since we are swimming in it.
My opinion is as good as yours, maybe better. I’m not the one eating dirt or feeding it to my children, either. And I can state my opinion with or without your approval.
Wouldn’t it be more productive to have an educated opinion? Take some time to do some research on DE and then get back to us with your opinion.
Oh, and by the way, I never said I eat DE or feed it to my children, but it was really polite of you to jump to that conclusion.
How much education do you need to know you shouldn’t eat dirt? That’s really funny. Sorry you don’t like it, but I can give my opinion whether you agree with it or not.
Please grow up. These comments are for educational discussion, not 3rd grade drama. If somebody attacks you, ignore it. Don’t rain on somebody else’s parade. If you can’t say something nice… You know the rest, we all learned it in Kindergarten.
I dont think too many care what U have to say Senseless Sally..give it up…
Well Sally, a little time spent researching is a little time spent well.
Actually, you ARE eating dirt and feeding it to your children if you eat grain at all in the USA. Surprise!
No, the type used for swimming pools is not Food Grade.
The DE used in swimming pool filters is Industrial Grade. It doesn’t end up in your pool water, though. It’s a filtration material that removes dirt, dead algae, and other very fine contaminants from the pool water before it’s pumped back into your pool. If the DE is getting into the pool, the filter needs some repairs (possibly new filtration grids)
OOPS! I meant to say Pool Grade.
It is, but the swimming pool DE is not Food Grade.
I have been using DE for 5 months now. Originally I bought it at the Health Food store down the road, but the mark up is ridiculous on something that I can get cheap on Amazon (and yes, its still FOOD GRADE). I bought a 12 lb box from a company on Amazon and it cost $24 including shipping.
I have noticed that my joints feel better but the most remarkable thing is how STRONG my fingernails are!! I’ve always had wimpy, flexing, breaking, peeling nails all of my life. Tried to use that as an excuse along with a plethora of other symptoms to say my “thyroid” wasn’t working correct. Well, my thyroid was working fine, it was my crap ass diet that was to blame! Since then, I have cleaned up my act and DE is part of it daily. I put a tablespoon in my morning smoothie and I can’t even tell it was there. If I have to, I put the tablespoon in about 20 ounces of water and give it a good shake. Yep, its gritty- tastes like dirt. No flavor..just grit but not unpleasant. The smoothie is much more enjoyable. (Plus I throw chia seeds and bee pollen in there.)
I also use it in my garden to keep the pesties at bay. Don’t use it on a windy day, though. This stuff is finer than frog hair. #poof
Haha! 😀 Yes, I noticed the same thing. My nails are so strong!
If you want to check your thyroid at home, just takeyour temperature first thing of a morning. It should be 36.5. Normal temperature during the day is 37. It drops .5 while sleeping. If your temp is below 36.5, it points to a thyroid issue.
I used to bring it back from Europe because it was so hard to find here in the US. In Germany it’s a old and well used natural aide not just as a Dietary Aide, Beauty Help…but so many more uses
I am very happy to see more people coming back to the roots and staying away from all the CHEMICALS which have XXXXX side effects and who knows what ever else… Thank you so much for sharing this
Thank you for your comment. I didn’t realize it was an old and well-known remedy used in Germany! Fascinating!
Sorry if you thought I was being snotty. I guess you assumed that was my intent…it was not.
Wow, I’m definitely trying this as soon as I get the chance!
All of my dogs have fleas, so I can’t wait to try this.
My bag, which I got from Tractor Supply to treat my dogs fleas when I found out it was good for that- it worked great! Anyways, it says “Food Chemical codec Grade” What does this mean???? it is not white at all rather a grey brown I would say. hmmmm help!
Food Grade DE is a white color like in the picture. If you are thinking of using it for yourself, you must buy Food Grade.
What is the difference between food grade and pool grade DE?
The difference here lies with the way that each type of DE is treated. Pool grade DE is calcined, meaning that is treated with very high heat. This turns the silicon dioxide that is present in the DE into crystalline silica. Pool grade diatomaceous earth has more than 1 percent 1% (in fact, it can it can range from 60-70 percent) crystalline silica. Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth, on the other hand, has less than 1% crystalline silica and is not calcined.
What’s the difference between grey and white diatomaceous earth?
DE varies in color due to the fact that each deposit is composed of a unique makeup. The reason that Red Lake Diatomaceous Earth is brownish-grey is that, in addition to diatomaceous earth, this deposit is also enhanced with naturally occurring montmorillonite (also known as calcium bentonite).
Credit to: http://www.absorbentproductsltd.com/
Thank you farmer for clearing that up as I bought the Red Lake Earth brand food grade from local feed store and it is grayish not white. I have been feeding it to my horse and reading all this sent me into a panic that even though it says food grade it is still the wrong one.
Yes, that is my same problem. My bag says “food chemical codex grade” is gray on color. Is it safe?
The DE police are on patrol again! Last time I checked we live in the land of the free and the home of the brave. We’re all adults and can make our own decisions about what we should and shouldn’t put in our bodies. As far as the FDA, now that’s a joke. Do some research and find out what’s approved in the U.S. and banned in other countries, you’d be amazed at some of the garbage we have approval on. We have all the drugs in the world yet we ‘re one of the sickest societies on earth, go figure!
My whole family and i , including the dog and our hairless rat have been taking this for five months now.. I take mine first thing in the morning. Yes, we all have noticed the difference in our bodies.. Feel a lot ‘cleaner’, energized … overall GREAT! I highly recommend for others to read about it and give it a try. There’s no side effects, so what’s stopping ya from trying? 🙂
Interesting ideas here. But people should use caution about sprinkling it in the home. My son and I both had terrible cases of asthma AFTER using in the home. After nearly three months, I realized the DE that might be the cause and cleaned it up. Within a week my son and could breath again. And all we did was sprinkle it. My son never had asthma before that. I get asthmatic in peoples homes who keep pet cats. So no major history of breathing disorders here. Just the earth, so please be careful especially if you have pets or kids.
Yes, do take care not to breathe it in. If you sprinkle it inside your home, be sure to vacuum it up after 2 hours’ time.
I love this article, it has verified many of my thoughts.
Thank You
Do you think there would be a problem using DE when I’ve been using Bentonite Clay? Can I use them together? Or are the basically the same?
Laura. 🙂
I have a couple of questions:
1.) DE absorbs heavy metals. Does it also absorb other minerals we need such as magnesium, selenium, calcium, zinc, etc?
2.) How does what DE does for the body compare to what bentonite clay does? What are the relative benefits of both? Do they serve different purposes or the same or similar?
Needing education……..
I have heard it from a trustworthy source that the bentonite will absorb the good and the bad….so I have been advised to take the bentonite only between meals and at bedtime. That is also why it is advised to take bentonite only with water. You don’t want to waste it’s absorbtion ability on the fluid you drink it with, save the absorbtion for the bad toxic stuff that is in your system. It doesn’t just clean out the digestive tract, it actually pulls toxins and heavy metals from your whole body thru the digestive tract. It is amazing stuff! If you take it between meals it can pass thru quickly and will not effect the digestion of the next meal. We prefer to take bentonite at night right before we brush our teeth so we can clean it off our teeth right away..you kinda feel a little bit of that grittyness sticking onto your teeth right after you drink it. I am still learning about the DE so I cannot say if it acts totally the same. From what I have heard in this article and others, the DE is better at the scrubbing, cleansing action. Sounds like it is just more aggressive in that manor, but they both absorb the impurities the same way.
DE is priceless to have and use. I am surprised to see you say it’s ok while pregnant or nursing. Detoxing results in movement of toxins through the lymph system which means they can pass into the milk, on to unborn baby. Where do you get your information that it’s safe to take at these stages? Perhaps if someone wasn’t full of the toxins we are today and took this many years ago that would be different but I would strongly advise nursing or pregnant mamas to research this further before consuming.
I wonder if it would be better if you were using the DE regularly BEFORE becoming pregnant? That would mean that you have been removing impurities for a while and continue the protocol as a maintenance tool. In that way maybe it wouldn’t be so bad because there would be no sudden detoxing reaction like there would be at the beginning of first use. A little detoxing is healthy, otherwise you are just storing it up and it is in the blood stream that effects the baby. If you don’t detox at all, that might be even worse. Another thought is that there are foods and spices that are naturally detoxifying and I don’t hear OB doctors banning these foods from the diets of pregnant or nursing women….again I believe that is because it is in moderation and considered safe. Starting heavy use of DE while already pregnant is probably not a good idea…should start slow and with small ammounts and then you can increase the dosage if no negative symptoms of detox. occur.
Hello everyone! I live close to a diatomaceous earth mine, or as most of us call it, a chalk mine. Another name for it is zeolite. It is used for a multitude of things from kitty litter to health supplements. If you want to google it in the expensive form, google NCD2. I am sure that this is not the only company that sells it for medicinal purposes but it is the one that I am aware of. This one comes in liquid form. I am not in anyway advocating it, but I know people personally that do. I am struggling my way through a colon cancer diagnosis and was given several bottles of it by a friend that feels it cured her. She also gave it to a horse suffering from cancer that was sent home from the vets to be euthanized. After a few days of packing water and feed to the horse and giving it the NCD2, the horse got up and trotted away. They are still riding the horse today, six years later! Her story, not mine, but this was my neighbor, not some random person on the internet. Maybe if you go to this companies website, you can find some sort of believable research. I did ask a homeopath/naturalist about the difference between buying food grade in bulk or the NCD2 andhe said the only difference is the price. I asked my oncologist and he said that the difference could be that one was safer because it was pasteurized. I checked, it was not. Like I said, I am not pushing any of it, just giving a little insight and another resource for information. We have diatomaceous earth everywhere in my area, we just call them chalk hills.
If your looking to help rid yourself of this colon cancer, you might be interested in an article written by a stage 4 prostate/bone cancer survivor called “my dance with cancer” he used sodium bicarbonate to put his body pH into an alkaline state and watched his cancer disappear over a very short period of time.
Dr. Mark Sircus web site also featured Vernon’s cancer protocol on his site.
Also in Dr. Marks site he recommends a combination of affordable and apparently effective strategies to assist in fighting cancer above and beyond what Vernon did.
If your interested…
Ah, thank you! Zeolite is one of the filler ingredients in my supplements. I was looking at that just today and trying to figure out what it actually is. 🙂
Zeolite is not the same as diatomaceous earth. In fact, I would not take zeolites internally as they are aluminum-containing.
“Zeolites are crystalline, hydrated aluminosilicates with very rigid structures.” http://www.absorbentproductsltd.com/diatomaceous-earth-vs-zeolite.html
Do your research before spreading false information that could be harmful to others!
Also, Mike Adams, known as The Health Ranger, runs a mass spec lab and he tested zeolites for metals and found LEAD and ALUMINUM [of course]. Read about it yourself here:
https://www.naturalnews.com/051776_zeolites_detoxification_challenge_blood_lead_levels.html
Because zeolite does not get broken down in the body, it does not leech any elements that make up the compound. Zeolite is not like an essential mineral that gets absorbed in the body and utilized for cellular functions. Zeolite is not absorbed in your body. It simply passes through your blood stream collecting positively charged toxic elements and then is excreted.
I have the same questions as Laura and Karen just above. What is the difference between taking the Bentonite Clay and the DE? Thank you for your article.
Since 1998 30 million have suffered injury or died from taking properly prescribed FDA Approved Drugs. This genocide compares easily with Hitler deaths by a tax payer government approved agency. We are being experimented on by the FDA. side effects and deaths are reported AFTER we start taking the drugs. The drugs are approved before side effects and deaths are reported. Ever read about the FDA approval process? Interesting as greed and power always are…..
It feels like this is the FDA’s idea of population control…they figure if we are stupid enuf to take the damn drugs…we take the chance to be eliminated. I have heard that alot of the vaccine manufacturers don’t vaccinate their own children because they have heard of all the side-effects and brain damaged children….but they keep making the vaccines because they like the money. That looks bad…
Just read this and thought you all may find it interesting. Read it at
http://www.earthworkshealth.com/
Earthworks Health Diatomaceous Earth
Mined from the purest of deposits from prehistoric freshwater lakebeds,
Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth consists of finely milled silica shells of
ancient microscopic freshwater plants called diatoms. Of 600 deposits in
the U.S., only 4 rate in purity by FDA standards to label as “Food Grade”.
I’m not, in anyway, promoting the FDA. I don’t like them either. I just found this interesting and thought I would share because it explains what DE is.
Earthworks Health also uses the Perma-Guard product. Here is another company that sells DE and their explanation of what it is. Thought this may help others.
Got this info at: http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_SPM7214479507P?ci_src=184425893&ci_sku=SPM7214479507&sid=IDx20131030xMPOLxCPA20
Nature’s Wisdom DE contains Perma-guard de. PERMA-GUARD is the trade name known world wide for using a grade and quality of Diatomaceous Earth (DE) that is extremely pure. It was important to have a consistent shape diatom and no unwanted sediment. The shape of the diatom must be tubular with holes on the walls. It must be fresh water because the diatoms form a harder shell and is less fragile that those in salt water. Salt water deposits contain a mix of diatom species. These deposits shapes and sediments are inconsistent making them unusable for our products. Out of 600 deposits in the US only 4 are considered “food grade” by the FDA standards. Other food grade deposits still may contain higher amounts of sediment and clay that make them less effective. We have analysis of many other “Food Grade” deposits and are satisfied that we still obtain the diatomaceous earth for our products from the purest fresh water source.
Perma-Guard products use Diatomaceous Earth, mother natures eco-friendly naturally organic material. Our products fit into the “living Green” lifestyle. Actually, DE is not an earth. It is the fossilized remains of microscopic shells created by one celled plants called DIATOMS
I have used DE as recommended by our dog’s breeder. I just sprinkle it on her coat after a bath and I’ve not seen one flea on her even thought we don’t treat her otherwise to rid them. Because I am only using it externally, I don’t use the food grade. I ordered a small shaker bottle on amazon.com just so I could try it and still have quite a bit left over. I am very careful that neither myself or the dog breathe in the dust. For that purpose, it was also recommended to spread hydrated lime on the yard, which I did.
You should use the food grade because your dog will lick itself and ingest it.
I have some health issues that concern me and I was wondering if you could advise me. I have had kidney stones in the past and have reduced kidney function due to a fungal condition that was treated with medications. I also have diverticulitis. Therefore, I am concerned about bad effects on kidney function and the lining of my intestine. Does your research address these issues and can you pass along that information and your source? Thank you so much. I am very interested in using DE.
Hi Pat, I’m sorry to hear about your health issues. I pray things turn around for you. I cannot advise you in your health obstacles, but I will share this website where I found a lot of interesting information: http://www.earthworkshealth.com Maybe there is something there that can help you. Hugs!!
I have used DE for several years on my hens…..in their food and in their nesting boxes. Be careful not to give them too much as it will cause very loose poops!! Its a great way to control intestinal parasites in them. I also have “human grade” DE that I have not used yet. I bought mine from “Holistic Horse”….fantastic website with lots of great stuff for all kinds of critters!
As for the FDA…..”We are the government and we are here to help”……..ummmmmm…….NO THANKS…..I have my own brain thank you very much!
where does one purchase food grade diatomaceous earth at a reasonable price?
Look on amazon. I see they have the nature’s wisdom brand, $10 for 1 pound or $19 for 5 pounds. I just ordered the 5 pounder since it is a better value and it will last awhile.
Hi..Iy buy mine at ‘Farm Supply’ in Paso Robles, California.. Check where farmers buy supplies and from Tractor Supply stores. 50 lbs cost me about $24. If you buy on internet you will have to pay shipping. I’ve been using for years…I use it in sauces, mac & cheese, thickens things up real nice..drink in my coffee w/ honey & coconut oil,put it in my home made deodorant w/ coconut oil, shea butter & baking soda, & essential oils(works great)
Are you willing to share your deodorant recipe?
DT is fabulous but we need additional help to completely purge parasites. DT does not handle eggs. Check out the work Kerri Rivera has been doing with Autism @ mmsautism.org It will take up to a year to completely purge our systems of parasites. This is a magnificent gift.
I’m purchasing mine on line the prices range from 10.00 to 25.00. I done all the research yesterday and all I can say is I’m excited to begin. Thanks for all the info!
I have a couple of questions. I ordered mine from Amazon in the summer and used it for tick control and any bugs lurking in the house. Wonder if it would help to keep snakes away from my koi pond like irritating their skin and second of all, my little dog has a yeast infection in his ears and feet. Does anyone know if this would help or hurt him? Love these comments!!
for the ear yeast infection, I’ve used apple cider vinegar diluted with water on an old german shephard that would cry if you just looked like you were going to touch his ears, it worked, but I also followed up with colloidal silver and hydrogen peroxide blend (use a base of colloidal silver and a few drops of peroxide) for yeast infections, When you include with the colloidal silver some hydrogen peroxide this helps the colloidal silver do its job, as well as kill any stuff that hydrogen peroxide kills (standard 3% hydrogen peroxide from walmart or where ever is what I use.)
I’m wondering, are we to take DE everyday for the rest of our lives, or is it for a certain period of time to de-tox and then start again in a cycle?
thanks!
If it gets wet ? It gets wet in your body think about it . If comes from the bottom of the ocean lol
Wow, this is so cool. I’ve never heard of using it those ways. Definitely have to give it a try. Thanks for the post!
I just started using DE and appreciate your article. Alot of responses! I have finally found relief from IBS or what the frick-ever the Docs figure it is. No one has been able to give me relief for over 25 years. (Yes Ive done colon cleansing!) Food makes my abdomen painfully swell to 4x its normal size. (Wow, the wise cracks should be flying….)
No dietary changes except to add DE. I dropped over 5lbs in 2 weeks. My hair is shiny, nails havent broken yet and my tummy is flat. I would be willing to lick the proverbial mud puddle! Nice article. #props
Wow! That is inspiring! Everyone wants a flat tummy! I think I will incorporate this with my weight loss diet to speed up the tummy flattening!
While I don’t doubt that Diatomaceous Earth has some positive effects, are some things described in this article just dead wrong. For example the statement that DE is negatively charged and thus absorbs positively-charged pathogens… If you have a basic understanding of physics and physiology, you see that this statement is completely wrong. This article is ruining the name of DE with false statements.
I found a lot of great info here: http://www.earthworkshealth.com/human-use.php
And I can put up a website and say anything on that and people who have poor critical thinking skills will believe it! The first thing you should do is check the source :/ There sure is a LOT of pseudoscience (and some accurate stuff) in this post – positive charge is baloney and as are the implications that positive to negative charges have anything to do with “picking up viruses, etc from your body.” Silica doesn’t help your nails grow. You probably shouldn’t use this stuff in toothpaste, as it (and baking soda and similar alternatives) are too harsh and will wear down enamel very fast! Reduces wrinkles? Detox? This post just made me unfollow this blog entirely, even though it’s a guest post.
You can’t do a dump of “all everyone has ever said about diatomaceous earth on the internet” and pretend it’s a helpful post, without doing ONE BIT of critical analysis. Sure, it has uses – it disrupts the outer shell of a lot of insects and the like, but actual science is nowhere to be found in this article! Just bogus pseudoscientific explanations for things it -doesn’t- do.
A bit harsh but I agree. Do the research first ladies. Bacteria are negatively charged, as are viruses. Some antibiotic resistant bacteria have adapted to change the charge of their cell wall from negative to positive to evade the antibiotics that work by attracting them to their positive charge.
Here’s a link about research on how to disrupt the protein on the bacteria that cause this change.
http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/resistance.htm
Then why are you here on this website? Go work for the pharmacy, unless you already do.
Hi everyone ,, Thanks for the great article Dandy
Im am so glad to SEE that DE is now becoming even more popular…
I have been trying to tell folks all about it and have been even distributing it too! since 06
I even give away tons of healthy stuff ebooks and pdf’s ect. as an incentive Bonus to
hopefully help get even more folks to take a look at and buy this Amazing stuff ,,,
the Bonuses are about DE and much more!
I will also add my own testimonial 🙂 Heck,,, Now I can throw a rock again without any pain.
I just want to say that I had my bursitis in my shoulder acting up again, (I could not even throw a rock) after about fifteen years of getting a cortizone shot in my shoulder. I read about the Human Benefits of Diatomaceous Earth (while searching for a solution for red ants here in the park) and I started taking it. I just thought with the price being so reasonable for a 1 months supply what do I have to lose. After taking the DE for about 4 weeks Now I can throw a rock again without any pain. (-: NO More Shots!!
DE can also DESTROY your electronics, vacuums, etc. If inhaled it can be very dangerous for your lungs. Its particle size is SO small that it aerosolizes very easily and takes forever to settle. If you use it in your home you MUST turn off all your electronics before you apply it and keep them off until well after you’ve vacuumed because of how easily it aerosolizes. It is incredibly drying to the skin. I’ve seen pets get dry and irritated skin from having it applied to them topically. It can cause digestive upset in people and animals. When viewed microscopically, it’s incredibly jagged. That’s why it works for fleas and ticks. It basically gets up under their exoskeleton, lacerates them, and they desicate and die. I definitely wouldn’t want to be ingesting on a regular basis something that can do that.
I was given this information from a good friend. What do you say to this? I was interested in possibly using DE myself, but now I’m not sure. Now I’m a little nervous. Please help with my concern, Thank you
Dalene, maybe this site could help with your concerns: http://www.earthworkshealth.com/Diatomaceous-Earth-FAQ.php Take a look around and see if it helps.
Please Dalene, first, I am an electronics technician, OK? You were fed false information, bordering in pharma-medico scare tactics propaganda.
Second, Fossil Silica, falsely called D.E., not a “dirt’ or “soil”, is, like all other good things for our organism, electrically charged POSITIVE (+), while ALL destructive organisms, from cancer on down, are NEGATIVE charged ( – ), naturally. Therefore, these two attract each other inside our bodies and destroy themselves.
Our bodies then naturally dispose of a toxin, instead of a living bacterium. And because of its positive (+) charge, Fossil Silica can hang in the air until electrostaticly attracted by just about anything in the kitchen or any other place. But rather quickly.
In addition, the personnel who handles FS (DE) for distribution, do not use masks while packing the product that I buy from “Diatomaceous Earth dot com”. The rest of your comments simply don’t add up to personal experience and that of many friends, family, co-workers, and users around the whole planet.
Is anyone aware of any issues combining DE with essential oil use?
I’ve never personally heard of any issues.
Oh my lanta! Who knew DE would cause such grief!? Thank you, Dandy for the post and Jill for hosting. I had written in my garden notes for this year to use this as a natural insect repellent, so this was next on my list to research! Thank you for the post and all the great info included. That helps a lot in my start to research. I think I have seen it next to my chicken feed at the farm supply store, so I’ll be picking that up soon! 🙂 I’m always looking for great natural garden pest tricks, so I love this!
I hear ya… I had no idea that this post would end up being “controversial”. 😉
Thanks again Jill for allowing this important health supplement to be added to your blog. Their are plenty of testimonials out there for the people to check out. I believe more and more people are beginning to take their health and well being into their own hands, and with prayer the Lord will lead them to this amazing dirt!!!
Amen to that!! 😉
Yahoo, I ordered DE from Amazon the day you posted it and it arrived last night. I excitedly took my first teaspoon this morning as you carefully mentioned to start out slow – while my hubby started with 1 tablespoon since that’s what he decided. I take probiotics and a few supplements and the probiotics have to be taken 2 hours before/after a meal. With that said, this morning I took my probiotic at 4:30am and then the DE in a few ounces of OJ at 6:30am. Are there any recommendations of how to take it among probiotics or other supplements?
The comments in this article http://www.earthworkshealth.com/Diatomaceous-Earth-FAQ.php on interfering with medication might be of some use. I hope that helps. 🙂
Please be careful it is a silica and when inhaled causes lung cancer…………….they should have stressed that more!!!
Will it capture chlorine in bath water like bentonite clay?
Sounds so wonderful thank you for the info.. my only concern would be that I have something called leaky gut, where my intestines are very fragile and trouble digesting.. would this be too harsh for me?
I understand the concerns with leaky gut. Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride, creator of the GAPS diet – a diet for those with leaky guts – recommends the use of DE for parasites. You can check it out here in these FAQs: http://www.gapsdiet.com/uploads/FAQS_Listing_0313.pdf I hope that helps. 🙂
Jill,
thanks for featuring Dandy here. Now My wife and I have another great blog to look to for inspiration with our small homestead.
Dandy,
We’ve been using DE in our hen house since we got the ladies in September, and I have been using it to rid our home of ants. It works wonders. Also been giving it to our outdoor cat weekly to keep him healthy. Thanks for the additional uses you suggested!
God bless both of you ladies!
Thank you so much Rusty! Best wishes with your homestead. 🙂
Danny or Jill,
I am very excited to hear what DE does and am ready to try it. But, I was wondering if you know whether DE kills beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract as well as harmful ones? I know they are not all bad guys. Thanks.
Can you take this if you are on Medication??
Have been taking DE for five months. It was recommended to me by my college roommate, a nurse whose dad and son are both physicians. One of her specialist physicians, who is widely respected by other Drs. and lectures to them (that is how she found this Dr., her other Dr. also a specialist, gastroenterologist, had sat in one of his lectures and referred her or she couldn’t have gotten in to see him he is in such high demand) in Atlanta, GA, puts all of his patients on DE when they come for their first visit.
The benefits I’ve noticed are my hair is filling in on my head, eyelashes and eyebrows. I had lost hair due to aging (my opinion!) and my skin, face and body, is like silk.
I was terribly sick for several years from side effects of FDA approved pharmaceuticals my Dr. prescribed. When I became sick I was examined by many Drs. who all wanted to give me more pharmaceuticals. I did try one that I also had bad side effects from.
This ordeal has taken several years to recover from. In the interim I have shared my story with others and have heard their stories of being damaged by using FDA approved pharmas. I have yet to hear any one person tell of being damaged from DE or from a “natural” substance. You always hear that these things are so “dangerous” but find one person whom you know personally who has been damaged. Then look for people whom you know who’ve had problems taking FDA approved pharmaceuticals. You’ll find them.
It wouldn’t surprise me to learn of someone having detox symptoms from taking DE. That’s why you should start taking in in small amounts. But, please don’t think that your detox symptoms are a sign that DE is bad for you!
I have thrived on DE and plan to continue taking it.
Thank you very much for sharing this, Nichole.
Nichole,
I have to completely agree with your comment. I have been using D.E. for well over a year now. At least 5 days a week and I have never felt better. My finger nails grow like crazy, skin is smoother, bowel movements more regular.
I have even got my parents and quite a few friends using it as well. The brand of D.E./Silica that I have been using is called SilaLive.
I’ve tried a few of the other brands like Perma-Guard, but don’t feel safe that it is only advertised to be used as an Anti-Caking agent in animal feed. And if you email them asking if it is safe for human use, they will tell you the same thing.
I would MUCH rather take a D.E. supplement that is for human health only. That way you know that it has gone through refinements so that there are no impurities in it.
Cleaner product = Cleaner you.
But I completely agree with that last part. Take detoxing with D.E. slow in the beginning so that you don’t get hit with a lot of symptoms at once and then feel like the D.E. was bad for you.
Hi,
I’ve heard a lot about DE. My question is, if it’s so hard (scale 7 compared to diamonds 9) and will slice up the bad stuff in your intestine, how do you know it’s not going to slice up your intestinal walls and give you a “real” leaky gut?
My kids have leaky guts and so they have yeast and parasites and I’m looking for natural ways to treat them. This sounds like a nice alternative to help balance their gut. I’m just concerned about the “sharpness” of the DE.
kind regards.
Searching Mom
That has been my concern reading these posts. What the sharpness is doing inside of your body over time. We had an exterminator use it to take care of a wasp infestation we had. He told us how the stuff worked and how many weeks we had to stay out of the attic to avoid contact and avoid breathing it, which he said was very serious. I realize he was probably using industrial strength, but he was so adamant about us staying away from it that I have great concerns for people ingesting it. Just my thought.
I agree with not breathing DE. Buffered by the liquids in the gut, DE does good work. However, the lungs are a far different venue, and unlike the gut, it they don’t have a built-in exit! Stuff accumulates in the lungs and lodges in those tiny alveoli sacs. Think asbestos, another abrasive mineral which wreaks havoc in the lungs.
Moral; eat DE, but don’t breathe it!
Sensible Sally says, “What I do have is a brain that tells me people don’t eat dirt.”
Actually, many people have eaten dirt and continue to eat dirt. Whether or not geophagy is considered a disorder or an acceptable cultural practice often depends on where one lives. Lots of historical references and research available…
Sorry if someone already mentioned this…
Searching Mom and Marlene, I don’t know the scientific answer to your question about the sharpness of DE tearing up anything inside.
I’ve been taking two tablespoonsful a day and my mouth has no abrasions in it so far from the sharpness of the DE.
Also, there are people who’ve been taking it a very long time who swear by it and doubt they would if it was hurting them. And my friend’s Dr. put her on it. She’s a nurse and has been in very bad condition, mostly gastrointestinal, and is very thin and frail (anorexic in appearance). She had leaky gut and a fungal infection. Is allergic to mold that was in her house.
It, alone, didn’t cure her of any of the above but it was helpful. There were many things she had to do that worked synergistically )to heal.
Why don’t you go to earthworkshealth.com and contact them with your questions about DE? They’ve answered some questions for me and seem to be nice people.
Hi, I’m limited to my phone these days and can’t plow through the above vaccine debate to see if my question’s already been answered. (took at least thirty flicks just to get down here) Does anyone know (link please) if DE is detrimental to probiotics? I give my little dogs DE periodically for parasites, but I’ve hesitated to make it a regular thing, especially in combination with the Goats Preferred probiotics I give then regularly. I tried H2O2 in their water (no flaming, please, be civil) and I think it may have had a less than desirable effect on digestion. I’m considering taking both myself.
Kathryn Arnold, you can go to http://www.earthworkshealth.com and fill out a questionnaire
they have on the site. They’ve been very helpful with answering my questions and also have information about DE on the site including links to youtube.
I doubt that DE would be detrimental to probiotics as my friend who had leaky gut, candida and mold spores in her was given DE by her specialist physician who is outstanding in his area of expertise. My post is above explaining, know you don’t want to wade through, though.
Thanks. I recognize that the only ones who have info on these God-given things are the people who sell them, sad as that is. Where God holds the patent there’s no big bucks pharmaceutical company backing for research.
I know a veterinary pathologist who works for a university. If is any comfort to anyone, she says that in all the autopsies she has done over the years on domestic animals routinely feed DE she had never found evidence of DE outside the digestive tract. Animal husbandry experts worth their salt also feed probiotics, so… Outside of info from someone marketing the product I guess that will have to satisfy my wondering.
Cam it be mixed into kefir or would it kill the probiotic?
Also, I take antifungal herbs at night and do coffee enemas in the am. When would be a good time to take de? I tend to get wired, insomnia, and gurgly tummy after the antifungal herbs….. Do i take de with the herbs before bed? In the middle of the night?
I struggle with chronic constipation too.. Will it help with This?
please tell me how to mix up the coffee enema….. ive been wanting to try it
.
Is there a big difference between DE and bentonite clay?
yes– they are two separate substances.
Do they sell these already in capsule form?
can you till it up in your garden dirt?
I’d avoid tilling it into dirt since it may be harmful to the good bugs as well as the bad ones. 🙂
To track back to those who are concerned about FDA approval, here is a link to FDA for DE: http://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/GRAS/SCOGS/ucm261274.htm
There are also companies who do capsulize DE already and are easily found.
Can you take Diatomaceous Earth if you have to be in Stage 1 of the GAPS diet after 6 weeks?
What is the dosage for a 2yr old?:)
I used to be very active on a chicken owners forum, and there were lively discussions about the uses and merits of DE. One man kept claiming it wouldn’t work when wet, so it did no good to use it as a feed supplement.
I found some garden slugs, dampened some DE in a tin pie pan and watched how the very wet DE made short work of these soft-bodied critters. Yes, DE does work ver well when wet!
I bought food grade DE at our local feed mill; a big 50# bag for about $20 (several years ago). The DE NOT to buy is the type sold at swimming pool supply stores, used in pool filters. It is not food grade.
I’ve really been wanting to try Diatomaceous Earth and integrate it into my daily diet as well as for my pets. Do you have any links for purchase online? I use Amazon a lot, but was overwhelmed with the selection. I want to purchase something tested, tried and true as well as get the best deal, so I will consider any online shop or any place local to zip 30096.
I have high blood pressure and heart valve problems. I am on a pill for HBP and a beta blocker, do you think I can use DE? I want to try to get off the chemical and onto something natural for my HBP. My husband wants to try it but has diverticulitis, do you think he can use it as well? We want to detox and purify ourselves. On his diverticulitis, only larger seeds bother him, if it is the size of a tomato seed or smaller, he is fine.
I actually picked up a bag at Big R a couple weeks ago for my chickens… Haven’t opened it yet, but just went to look at it and says “FOOD GRADE” right on the front of the package. It is: St. Gabriel ORGANICS Insect Dust.
The only WARNINGS on the bag say to keep out of eyes and don’t inhale it… So I assume that this is ok for the family to use?
Well, n the bible it says that if u eat something you are taking it in or digesting it. If u are to eat D.E. you are likely diigesting it, or eating it. If it dosn’t make upuke or bother your conscience then it’s not so bad in my book.If its going to benefit in some way, such as get rid of bugs, I see nothing wrong in it. As for God made dirt and dirt don’t hurt!!
We spread DE in our chicken coop, under the bedding, and on the ground in our outdoor animal pens in the spring. It really helps to keep the flies under control. We spread it quickly and easily using a mesh sieve.
I agree with others who caution against breathing DE. I try to keep the animals from breathing it, also.
DE mixes very well in chocolate milk! I drink it every day and it works wonders….
Actually, not all diatomaceous earth is mined from “deep in the earth.” Here, in Central Washington, layers of it several feet deep may be found only a few feet down.
These deposits can be found even hundreds of feet above the Columbia and are the result of the vast lake which once could be found here and which reached to Montana.
Diatomaceous earth is also used in filters for wineries, swimming pools and so forth. HOWEVER, that diatomaceous earth is deadly because it is brought to a couple thousand degrees to crystallize it and the sharp edges are lethal to human and animal alike.
DE’s detrimental nature, with regard to bugs, is due to their relative size and the effect on them when they move over it. As it’s been told to me, their protective layers are removed by the very small, sharp edges and they die.
For us, these sharp edges are not an issue, because they are so small. It, somewhat like dealing with Daddy Long legs. Though all spiders are poisonous, their mouths are too small to bit us.
I would presume these principals would apply to bacteria, but in reverse. That is, they are so small they would not be affected by the sharp edges of DE.
As long as all of you are going down this road, take some time to look into zeolites, another one of those well known, best kept secrets around.
Like DE, if you buy it in small quantities, you’re paying for market hype. You can actually buy it for about ninety a ton!
The more you look into it, the more remarkable it gets. NASA uses it. Shops use it to clean oil spills. Horse people use it to absorb the ammonia. Filter people use it. It’s used to stop life threatening bleeding (they had to overcome it becoming too hot). And on it goes. The more you look into it, the more remarkable it gets. However, like DE, it’s NOT a silver bullet.
Zeolite attracts heavy metals, and won’t let go of them. It grabs ammonia, but will release it when baked under the sun (e.g., laying a layer of glass over it). It can absorb more than its own weight in water, reducing the amount of water lost, or needed when gardening and farming. It can be used in conjunction with charcoal and DE to treat the soil (e.g., our soil, in Central Washington, is selenium deficient).
As a quick aside: There is nothing mysterious about charcoal. Any of us who have built a fire have made it. For example, you can take a metal can, fill it with sticks, turn it upside down and set it in a fire. The sticks will catch on fire, but the can will fill with smoke, they they cannot burn freely.
If you want activated charcoal, it has to be heated to a couple thousand degrees, without catching it on fire, so it fractures. A cup full of activated charcoal has the same area as a football field.
Just want to let people know that Diatomaceous Earth is completely safe. With that being said I believe you can “overdo” anything. I have 2 autoimmune diseases (celiac/hashimoto’s). I have accummulated over 10G in medical bills going to various “specialists”….gastroenterologists (sorry commas not working) endos..and the like. I have suffered for 3 years going from doctor to doctor trying to cure myself. I follow a very strict diet…absolutely eat nothing from a box or package. Organic food only. Purest food on planet. I decided instead of loading my system with pharmaceuticals I would invest in good quality food. Now I came across Diatomaceous Earth years ago when I adopted a dog from shelter. She was a street dog from Puerto Rico loaded with parasites. I googled DE ordered some. Cured her of parasites and bleeding. My assumption ..the minerals helped with the bleeding. Vets did give scripts for dog but they didn’t work. Fast Forward to me…I started taking it in October 2013 after have 12 (YES 12) mercury amalgams fillings removed from my teeth by a holistic dentist who recommended the DE for detoxing. So I did take it every night before bed and I can say I believed it help with my hair loss..and my bowel movements. I will take the product again. I stopped to give my body a break not because it shreds your intestines but because it is very drying and I believe I did not drink enough water to stay hydrated so I developed a UTI. With that being said I would recommend taking it for cycles. Maybe…4 days on 3 days off…just to make sure your body doesn’t dry out. This product is not harmful in any way but you must be vigilant about staying hydrated. Because I have other diseases I wasn’t always “on the ball”. But to the naysayers..I am living proof..there is not harm in this product. I’ll end with this..Always start with a low dose…1/2 tsp. work your way up. I went to 1 TBSP daily and that was enough for my 110 pound body. And always give your body a break from any supplement you take. Dandy..keep spreading the good news. God bless.
Thank you for this very informative post. I just bought some DE and started it today. I have been grain free for 4 years and working on Detoxing my body. I have Epilepsy. I have a son with severe Autism. He was injured by the DPT vaccine at 4 months old. He has been grain free for 1 1/2 years and he has been on the GAPS diet for 1 year. I will be starting him on the DE too. Blessings!
How can you make sure it’s safe for human consumption? The bag I bought is 100% pure diatomaceous earth and it is food grade but the bottom says not for humans.
OMFG you people can NOT be this stupid can you?
Apparently, loads of the homestead/farm bloggers seem to be! Hey, the good news is: it’s an easy way to tell if it’s someone you should be reading (hint: this blog doesn’t seem to be!).
Apparently you are IGNORANT or work for the pharmacy or BOTH!
Hi,
Thanks for this article.A couple of points.I use H2O2 3% and DE /food gr. as my toothpaste,works well.second,I’m in
Europe and I pay double for half quantity, so you do well in the States. I think a teaspoon in yogurt is fine,stevia added. sweet tooth.
that’s it,go well,
CJ
Hi Dandy,
I am glad I found your site. And when I looked up where to purchase the DE I realized it was not far from where we are looking for houses. We are moving from Northern Michigan in June and are looking in the Harrison County area for a home/property whichever suits us.
Its comforting to know there are people in the area who have the same beliefs and ideas!
Thank you, Kirsten
If a person has had a joint replacement, will the DE cause problems with that?
Sorry “Ree Diculous” but I hate to inform you that NOT all DE users are STUPID and yes I actually did my research before trying this product. The 76-year old man that got me interested in it, has been using it for over 20 years and is still alive and well and running 5K’s six times a year! I started drinking DE a few months ago for my fybromyalgia and have felt better in the last few months than I have felt in the last 4 years! I didn’t think I would ever feel good again! I would constantly wake up feeling like I had the flu and aching from head to toe and DE has done wonders for my pain. It has also done wonders for my complexion! I look ten years younger! I can’t complain about that! All my co-workers at work constantly tell me how great I look and ask what I am doing. So, maybe I’m not the stupid one…
Will it kill chiggers in your yard?
What is the difference between de for your flowers and food grade because my dog comes in side and some times she brings fles inside with her
Hi! What would be the dosage of a 3 and 4 year old?
BAD suggestion to add to cat’s litter box! They will kick up the litter and inhale it. It is just as dangerous for cats’ lungs as it is for humans.
Are there benefits to taking a hot soaking bath with diatomaceous earth in it? If so…how much would you use?
Rockwood… Wrong blog… We’re done snorting… We’re detoxing.
Can I drink diatomaceous earth and benomite the clay every day?
I have had fibromyalgia for at least 30 years. My initial symptoms were fatigue and lower back pain which were manageable, and I also became sensitive to hot and cold. I’m a 69 year old male working but struggling with pain. It really kicked in in 1999 with widespread pain and extreme fatigue. I went on to develop pneumonia and during my stay in hospital had all the tests which came back positive with just minor wear and tear to my lumber region. I was discharged and told to get on with it and fought my way back to some kind of fitness again. I then had a breakdown and was admitted to a psychiatric ward following a botched suicide attempt. Somehow I clawed my way back to normality but as always the underlying issues were always there. Around 2012 I had another flare up with all the usual issues but this time my skin became sensitive around the back of my neck. Lots of tests over a 12 month period and again everything was positive. During this period I managed to work but, and just about hold my job down. I decided to find a permanent cure ,so one day i saw so many post about perfecthealthherbalmedicinehome,a women posted she was cured totally from fibromyalgia with the help of perfecthealthherbalmedicine,i was so impressed by the post,so i decided to purchase the herbal medicine for fibromyalgia,i receive the herbal medicine within 2 days ,i was told to use the herbal medicine twice daily for 6 weeks,which i did ,after 6 weeks of usage i was free from fatigue ,lower back pain,and all the symptoms disappeared ,now am totally free from fibromyalgia,please contact perfecthealth to get your own cure .
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How much do you give your kids? How old is the youngest? I want to give it to my 15month old (I think she has a tape worm) but I’m not sure how much? 1/4tsp?
Thank you, great read.
If DE is only work when wet on soil etc. why does it work when we mix it to water? Does it ever dry out in our systems?
GREAT/ GREAT/ WONDERFUL….
It’s look over mattress and furniture seams and the surrounding areas for black fecal matter and blood smears. Diatomaceous earth is an effective bed bug powder. It’s also cheap and free of harmful chemicals. It’s easy to apply around your home and safe to apply near food, pets, and children.The chances of re-infestation are much lower if you do this first.
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this topic for a while and yours is the greatest I’ve
discovered so far. But, what concerning the bottom line?
Are you certain about the source?
I ordered this from an herb store and was so excited to try it and by the time it shipped to my house I found out I was pregnant. What are the sources that say this is safe durning pregnancy?
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The only symptom that I had was tingling in my legs especially at night after I retired to bed. The tingling became more severe where I could not get them to stop. I thought I had restless leg syndrome. My doctor tested me for diabetes and found that I had type II diabetes and the sugar was attacking my legs because it had no place to go. He put me on a sugar free diet and Actos and within one to two days my symptom were gone.. One day I got extremely sick, could not keep anything down, had blurry vision, a rapid heartbeat.I Started taking metformin 1000 mg twice daily. I am writing this to inform others that nothing was really working to help my condition.I went off the metformin (with the doctor’s knowledge) and started on Diabetes herbal formula i ordered from Health Herbal Clinic, my symptoms totally declined over a 7 weeks use of the Diabetes natural herbal formula. i am now doing very well, Visit there website This treatment is incredible!
Can DE be used in enema solution?
I read some where a while back that it coiled. But can’t find that now.
Is DE safe for children?
whoops…
“coiled” should read “COULD”
Sorry.
I have been taking DE for two years and like the results. I have recently read that not only does the DE kill bad bacteria in the gut but also the good. Does anyone know if this is true? Also I take 1 Tbs per day should I increase this?
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Can DE be used in enema solution?
Good Day
I am 5 weeks pregnant and I have been taking DE for over a year now, food grade. I want to know if any woman have taken it while PG and their babies were born perfectly healthy?
It has had an amazing effect on my body and I don’t want to stop it.
Please help.
Thank you
There’s one thing I’m confused about…
DE can’t get wet or it becomes useless until dry again.
Can anyone explain how it helps in the body after mixing it in liquid?
DE, actually Fossil Silica, was created WET: The microscopic spike-full outer shell of a diatom algae. When Earth shrunk and the continents raised, forming the mountain ranges, the previous land lakes dried out, killing the algae but preserving their exoskeletons that laid inert for millions of years under the environment, until re-discovered by intelligent beings.
Thus, Silica, an indispensable mineral for the existence of ALL LIFE on Earth, as declared by a scientist back in 1939 (but hidden by the pharma-medical conglomerate since then), plus the other 14 or more minerals in the pack, just like any other mineral absorbed wet or dry, will be transported and utilized all over the body to repair or maintain well being, and therefore health. Plus, many other proven (family, friends, myself) bodily function improvements, healing, reinforcing of physical condition, without ANY reported negative effects.
Excess ingestion of Food Grade Silica will first be transformed into Calcium by the body if needed, otherwise, it will be discarded and wasted within 24 hours of ingestion. The product I consume is FDA Food Grade, recommended dosage is 1 TBSP a day, and personally I found it most useful in strengthening the body tissue with exercise or just yard work, when consumed less than a TSP in a 12 oz of any juice or water, as many times as needed to consume the recommended TBSP x day.
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interesting info, that can certainly create a case,
Thank you for the information, very helpful.
Yes, This is helpful
so good it feels like I’ve been trying to, thank you for the recipe
Please know that DE also kills pollinators like bees so be mindful of where and when you’re sprinkling it around!
this article is great. Keep on writing informative articles. Thanks
nice tutorial thank you for sharing, I am still learning about this
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I tried this prior it help to clean my digestive tract but then had extreme coughing so I stopped using it. Later I purchased the capsule form so it would clean my intestinal system but bypass the lungs. I threw them out but for the life of me I don’t know what. A friend suggested me giving them another try to assist with the arthritis nodules on my hands. After reading the pros and cons I was considering giving it a try again. I’m 61 and I’m basically in good health my only issues are digestive and occasional hemorrhoids (which I assume is from straining and hope DE won’t make worse) Any suggestions people??? Thanks in advance for your help.
Rosanne
Thoughts about litter box use—
wouldn’t that be risky for cats to inhale DE while using litter box?
I just started taking the food grade DE. The instructions say increase it slowly. I don’t know what that means, specifically. Can you give me some kind of schedule for this? Thank you.
hi ive. been using it for over a month just twice now for 4 days at a time and the last dose (2 teaspoons) has given me the most terrible bladder infection and I have been floored for two days in excruciating pain. I have IC and have been in remission for two years and decided to take DE as my family had parasites and we decided to try this to treat it – please please be careful to anyone who has a chronic condition such as EDS / IC / MCAS as to clearly can be dangerously strong for some of us zebra’s . I am now unable to leave the house and battling a full on flare thanks to DE !! very very peeved off with myself for using this – I think it pays to stick to approved supplements when managing a condition.
Hi,
I am interested in purchasing some diatomaceous earth for detoxification. I would like to know if I can use a metal spoon to stir them into water when I drink them? I know that I cannot use a metal spoon to stir bentonite clay as it causes the clay to lose its effectiveness. Would appreciate if anyone could help me clear up this question.
I have used DE, myself and for pets and livestock for over 30 years. I am 60 years old with no health issues, I take no Pharmaceuticals. I will say that I see alot of you suggesting different things to add it to, personally I have always put mine in my morning yogurt. Also, I slide through menopause with no issues and I attribute that to my intake of my dirt. I can’t begin to list my uses for DE in this comments. Also, I eat mine Monday thru Friday and skip the weekends. Good luck and enjoy the health benefits if you are just starting your adventures with diatomaceous earth ?
I have questions about DE. I just had a kid at my house who was scratching his bum (and I have recommended DE to his parents). However, I have a lot of legos he played with – a LOT of legos. I’m wondering, what is the best and fastest way to get rid of eggs etc on anything he touched? Could I put DE in a box, then rotate batches of legos through that? How long would I need to leave them sitting in the DE, would you guess? What are alternative ways to clean them? Let them soak in hot, soapy water for an hour?
I was getting stomach aches, which I figured out was a developed sensitivity to eggs. I was over doing it! My cousin mentioned DE for his stomach so I tried it. Instantly better. I started taking it daily to every few days or when my stomach bothered me… only about 1/2 tsp in a bit of water, then I chug it & drink more water. I’d rather get the dirt down fast, even if it’s super chalky. I’m planning to take it daily on a regular basis after reading this. It’s magical 🙂 I also some other gut & abdominal issues in the past that never had a clear cause diagnosed. I feel like using this will help clear up any residual effects from that & maybe whatever the root cause was, even though I don’t know.