Diatomaceous Earth -Another Great Health All-Rounder!

 If you’ve never heard of this amazing natural substance, read on, it may just change your life!

But firstly what is diatomaceous earth?

Diatomaceous earth comes from the cell walls of fossilized single celled diatoms- ground into very fine powder. There is food grade and industrial grade and you want to only choose food grade so that it’s non toxic.

• When viewed through a microscope, it looks like a hollow cylinder, with holes throughout the side.

  
  

• It carries a strong negative charge and so negatively charged ions are attracted to positively charged ions which means 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, candida, 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.

  
  

• Because of its hardness it’s very sharp so organisms such as parasites and sliced up and killed and swept away in our bowel movements.

  
  

• It’s 84% silica and also contains 20 minerals, including calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, copper, zinc, iron, phosphorus, selenium, manganese, boron, and chromium among other minerals. We cannot exist without silica and is essential for building bones, skin, hair, teeth, nails. Many of us are mineral deficient as stress ‘burns’ through and uses up minerals quickly.

How to Take Diatomaceous Earth?

Make sure you’re using food grade diatomaceous earth; mix a teaspoonful into water or another liquid and drink. Follow with another cup of water. And that’s it! You can also add to smoothies. Start with one teaspoon mixed in liquid once per day, then increase to twice per day and then three times per day.

Diatomaceous earth is a great way to detox your body, so if you start with too much you can detox too quickly and then you may feel a little sick; headaches, nausea, diarrhea- that type of thing- maybe even a cold or flu- if that happens just scale back the consumption a little. No need to stop.

It can be taken by pregnant or nursing mums and it can be given to children in smaller doses- just scale it down depending on their size.

How Does Diatomaceous Earth Taste?

A bit chalky but no taste really.

The Health Benefits  of Diatomaceous Earth

-You may absorb nutrients better and experience less fatigue, because of your digestive system working better and the minerals contained within DE

-Can lower cholesterol and high blood pressure

-Makes hair and nails grow faster- it will help strengthen nails, strengthen teeth and bones, tendons and joints, thicken up hair, reduce wrinkles, age spots and acne

-Sweeps heavy metals out of the body- we all have some heavy metals, but especially useful for people with mercury fillings and reducing risk for Alzheimer’s

-Helps repair and maintain lung function; helps coughs decrease

-Helps prevent kidney stones and osteoporosis

-Can decrease headaches and migraines

-Decreases  vertigo, tinnitus and insomnia

-Regulates bowel movements, lessens gastrointestinal inflammation, cleans out the colon, treats both diarrhea and constipation

-Can be used as a skin exfoliant

-Stabilises endocrine (hormone ) function

-Helps to reduce stress and optimises nervous system

-Treats head lice and fleas

-Provides more energy

-Regulates and promotes healthy sleep patterns

-Reduces muscle weakness and fatigue, because of the mineral content. Phosphate is a high energy mineral because it is used to fuel or bodies and produce ATP.

Diatomaceous Earth For Animals

• Sprinkle on your pet’s food daily- it’s  a great dewormer and they will experience the same internal positive effects (above) as we do. For dogs over 55 pounds (25kg), add one tbsp per day of food grade DE to their food, smaller dogs add one teaspoon per day. Larger cats (over 13 pounds/ 6kg) can be given 1.5 teaspoons per day. Kittens and smaller cats give ½ teaspoon per day.

  
  

• Sprinkle into your pet’s coats to protect from ticks and fleas

  
  

• Sprinkle into their beds and litter boxes to protect form fleas and odour

Diatomaceous Earth Around Your Home

• Sprinkle around windows and entrances to protect from ants, spiders, cockroaches etc. (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 so don’t use extensively. Avoid applying onto flowers.  Does not harm worms or beneficial soil microorganisms.

• DE will destroy ant colonies.

• DE can be used to treat a bedbug infestation

• Sprinkle into your bin for odour and pest protection

• Apply to compost heaps to keep odours and pests away.

• Add to bulk grains to keep pests and moisture out.

• You can use DE to make your own homemade toothpaste! I will be working on a recipe soon!

• You can add DE to your homemade “DE”odorant – I am also working on a deodorant recipe.

• You can sprinkle DE in your toilet for a little extra scrubbing power – it won’t harm porcelain.

Safety First

Make sure that you:

• Wear gloves while handling so that it does not irritate your skin

• Do not inhale DE- it can be abrasive to your nasal passages and lungs so wear a mask if using a large quantity

• Only use Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth

In Conclusion

Just like many natural health products, diatomaceous earth has so many uses. I hope this blog has encouraged you to try diatomaceous earth yourself! 

It's a great product with many uses, which could potentially negate many pharmaceutical drugs. There’s even discussions about cancers and candida overgrowth disappearing, clearing osteoarthritis, great hair and nail growth, reversing digestive problems, arthritis, diabetes , hypothyroidism, while making people look younger and so much more. Interestingly there are not any studies on DE itself, however there are scientific discussions of the importance of silica (and we need more as we get older).

Note: Please note that I am a Naturopath not a medical Doctor therefore I do not diagnose health conditions. This blog is intended to motivate you to make your own health decisions, however if in doubt, please consult a doctor or other health practitioner related to a specific diagnosis or condition

Ally van de Pol is a Certified Naturopath, Herbal Medicine Therapist, Iridologist and Healing Diets Coach