What exactly 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 is non-toxic and very beneficial on multiple levels, and is the type I’ll be talking about today.
Diatomaceous earth exhibits some interesting properties:
- When viewed through a microscope, it looks like a hollow cylinder, with holes throughout the side.
- 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.
- 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.
How Do I Take Diatomaceous Earth?
YOU MUST ONLY BUY AND USE FOOD GRADE DIATOMACEOUS EARTH.
I would start out using a teaspoon stirred into water or juice! Follow that with another glass of water! It can also be added to smoothies! Later you can work up to taking it more but if you do it too fast you may feel sick or have a headache because it is detoxifying you!! So go slowly at adding it to you day!
It is also safe for Pregnant women and children!!
What does it taste like, well like dirt I guess! So it may be hard to get down, but the benefits out way the taste in my opinion!!
Taking in a smoothie is the easiest way to take it, and for giving it to children!
What Can Diatomaceous Earth Do for Your Body?
- 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.
- The beauty mineral: the silica in DE helps hair and nails grow faster. 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.
- Treats head lice and fleas (make sure you don’t inhale the powder)
Diatomaceous Earth for your Animals
It’s true – your pets and livestock will reap the benefits as well.
- Sprinkle a little DE on your pets’ food daily for the same benefits you receive. This is a great de-wormer! We used it for our puppies after they were born and had no problems with worms!!
- Carefully sprinkle onto your pets’ and livestock’s coats – making sure none is inhaled – for protection from lice, ticks and fleas.We also used it on our dog and her puppies, no fleas or ticks!
- Sprinkle in the kitty litter box and pet beds for extra odor and flea protection.
- Sprinkle in your barn, stalls, nesting areas, and coops for pest protection.
- Decreased mastitis and increased milk production in livestock with internal use. Causes healthier coat and hooves.
- Better and stronger eggs produced by hens who have it sprinkled in their feed.
You can use Diatomaceous Earth 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.Planning to try this when we get our horses this summer!!
- Add to bulk grains to keep pests and moisture out.
- You can use DE to make your own homemade toothpaste! I am working on a recipe and will post on my blog when done!!
- 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.
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