The Benefits of Diatomaceous Earth
Jan 5th, 2011 | By Esther | Category: Food, Gardening | Print This Article
What, you ask, is diatomaceous earth? Isn’t all earth… well, earth? Of course, but diatomaceous earth is a particular type of earth. Okay, it’s basically dirt, but it has many benefits, both dietary, medicinally and as a garden resource. For the back-to-basics lifestyle, diatomaceous earth is a vital part of the formula.
Where does Diatomaceous Earth Come From?
You aren’t going to find diatomaceous earth in your backyard, or most likely anywhere on land, for that matter, regardless of how much you dig. The secret to diatomaceous earth is that it comes from the seabed. Diatomaceous earth finds its source far below the oceans waters, deep in streams and lakes. It is created when sea organisms, so small they can’t be seen with the naked eye, die and fossilize, mixing with the nutrient rich ground. You could say that the ocean and lake beds are God’s compost pile. Some diatomaceous earth is found where oceans, rivers and lakes once stood but have long since dried up. In those cases, the diatomaceous earth is often far below the earth’s surface, covered by eons of buildup, and impossible for anyone to reach without deep drilling and excavating tools.
Types of Diatomaceous Earth
Excavated diatomaceous earth is sold in two forms: industrial and food-grade. Industrial- grade diatomaceous earth is made for commercial products, and most often in pool filters. You need to buy food-grade diatomaceous earth for both dietary additive and pest control for pets and in gardens.
Food-grade diatomaceous earth is an excellent cleansing additive for digestion and colon health. It helps get rid of parasites by gently scrubbing the intestines, and is extremely absorbent so it gathers up bacteria, virus, fungi and detoxifies the system by getting rid of buildups of pesticide, metals and drugs (prescription or otherwise) in the system.
Diatomaceous Earth Makeup
The largest component in diatomaceous earth is silica, the same natural product found in commercial fiber additives to help you regulate your digestive tract. Although diatomaceous earth contains up to 85% silica, it also has as many as 20 minerals for a very well-rounded health aide that is known to help reduce age spots, increase lung elasticity, and rejuvenate skin and digestion. It is easy to take by simply mixing a tablespoon or two with juice, water or right into foods as you prepare them. It is tasteless so it won’t change the composition of your meals.
Pest Remover
One of the biggest benefits of diatomaceous earth to homesteaders is its pest repellant capacities. Just rub it on your dogs, cats, horses and other livestock for a great way to ward off fleas, ticks and lice. It also works as a great natural and safe de-wormer when given internally. You can encourage your animals to eat it by mixing it in with their feeds.
It makes your fingernails stronger and healthier, your hair shinier, produces healthier teeth and gums as well as helping some conditions such as arthritis.
Where to Find Diatomaceous Earth
Food grade diatomaceous earth is easily found in health stores, the drug area of most department stores, and online. Diatomaceous earth can also be found in gardening catalogs. Do not buy industrial, or pool-grade diatomaceous earth. Although it comes from the same source, it has been leeched of its nutrient value in order to get a higher concentration of silica for pool filters.
How to Use Diatomaceous Earth in your Garden
Mix it in water for a great spray-on insecticide, or sprinkle on or around plants to get rid of aphids, slugs, beetles, earwigs, flea beetles, thrips and other pests. You can also use diatomaceous earth sprinkled on the floor of your home, or on furniture to repel fleas if you end up with a flea problem.
Using the wet mix is best because it reduces the likelihood of inhalation, which can be very harmful to your lungs. Wear a dust mask when sprinkling dry diatomaceous earth in your home, on your animals or on your food.
Is There no Limit to the Benefits of Diatomaceous Earth?
Nope, not really. It’s an amazing product with lots of uses. You can even use it in baths, or mixed with water to form a paste for a delightful and refreshing facial scrub. Diatomaceous earth is truly one of God’s wonders.
©2013 Off The Grid News
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Can you be more specific in how to use diatomaceous earth? Such as the measureable amounts used for the bath, ingestion, facial scrub, etc.. Also where can I go for more information about diatomaceous earth and how to specifically use it in the garden?
You can find more information on the following sites:
http://www.earthyhealth.com/index.html
http://www.nmia.com/~galenvtp/immunecf.htm
This is one element so to speak I know a little about and use for my family. This element so to speak was in the ground in northern california where we used to live. Recently I looked into alternatives for internal pests (nasty). My family had encounters with pin worm, unfortunately. So of course we went to the doctor who gave us pills, helped, returned. Walgreens carries a liquid for this problem too, over the counter, worked, returned. As I looked into the problem of parasites (internal) I came across this diatomaceous earth approach. If you look it up, you will find many uses for pets, yourself and gardens. I found I could buy and pay shipping on 50# of this for about $65.00. Smaller amounts the price per pound increases and with the added freight, lager amounts made sense. I also found that grainerys use this to keep out weevels! Small amounts mixed with flour, keeps the pests to a minimum. Speaking for myself and family, this has solved our problem and we all feel better. You can put it in coffee, juice, cereal for breakfast, what ever you like. This is a little grainy, but has no negative flavor so the kids will accept it without a fuss. I have given it to friends for about a year as they ask for it, they always give positive feed back. This element will cleanse your system so you should expect at first go visit the bathroom more often at first. You should also expect to loose a little weight in your stomach, and have increased energy. I would recomend this element to anyone, and the pest problem we had is gone! Ammount to take, we used about 1-2 heaping teaspoons a day. I have taken as much as 6 teaspoons a day without negative effects of any kind. Take care folks.
Very important! there are 3 grades. You want FOOD grade is you plan to use this for consumption! Not the other two.
I find that when it gets wet it is no longer effective against the insects since it just hardens. The dustiness of it is what kills them–the crawl through it and get all white, since they breathe throught their pores it suffocates them. Expect it to take about 24 hours. They are not going to just drop dead. But it really does work. When it rains I have to reapply. Also had much success using it indoors with ants. Kind of messy inside but it SURE beats pesticides!
it not only suffocates them it works like putting sand in a wheel bearing its the equivalent of having ground glas in your joints i like it for fire ants and fleas in my yard your rite about it not working after it gets wet i usually wait till later in the spring to put it out here then my whole yard looks white i usually use one o them seed or fertilizer spreaders to put it out mix it with grass seed so it dont clump up in the spreader or you can use play sand i use the seed and that way my chickens get some of the diatomaceous earth which naturally worms the chickens and gets rid of fleas lice and mites when they bathe in the dirt in the yard
Hi I gave diatomateous earth to my horse -he got very constipated-ended up calling a vet and he had to have mineral oil pumped into his stomach so he could go to the bathroom. was in a lot of distress from it. Has anyone else had a problem with this-please let me know-thankyou -Penny
How much did you give to your horse? I know for people you are supposed to start with very small amounts like tsp or so.
I use this for the past 2 yrs for my horses when u first start feed 1/2 cup a day every other day for 30 days. this is because worms like round worm have a life cycle of 80 days. I only do every 4 months feed for 3 days. I add to their evening grain. we have had NO problems love the stuff ps helps with fly control
Diatomaceous earth kills insects by scratching the waxy coating on their exoskeletons leaving them unable to retain moisture. It is safe for humans because our skeleton is on the inside. It does NOT work when wet. Wet DE does not kill anything at all. It is still great for all the other things, but loses its ability to kill insects. Seeing as how the majority of horses have wet gastrointestinal tracts, DE is useless as a dewormer. There is no scientific evidence in existence to support its use in de-worming. Further because DE has not been approved by the FDA as a dewormer, it is a violation of federal law to use it as one.
If you don’t believe me, do a simple test. Get two cups of DE and mix water into one. Then get some ants or any insects from your yard and put a few in each cup. The ones in the wet DE will not die, and the ones in the dry will die quickly. Once the DE dries, it will work again.
http://www.extension.org/pages/36103/can-i-use-natural-compounds-such-as-bt-diatomaceous-earth-or-dolomite-to-deworm-my-horses
I wouldn’t worry about the FDA and what they make illegal – that’s a load a crap that you can’t use something as a de wormer because the FDA hasn’t approved it. In my opion we can’t afford the FDA financially because we’re broke as a country. and actually I believe the FDA is bought out by the pharmaceutical companies. Because of the FDA restraining us we have to over pay for medications and they make stupid rediculous laws to keep regular people from using things like vinigar to kill mold. it’s a rediculous and worthless organization and even if it was a good idea in the first place there’s no point in having the FDA anymore. Most of the crap they come up with isn’t even legitimate and totally useless and wastes billions in tax payer dollars.
Wet DE DEFINATELY works when ingested even though it gets wet. My cat had worms and after 3 days… no more worms. It is very effective against internal parasites.
Just want to say what a great blog you got here!I’ve been around for quite a lot of time, but filnaly decided to show my appreciation of your work! Thumbs up, and keep it going!CheersChristian,
I gave this to three of my cats. One of them got so constipated I had to rush her to the vet today. They were taking a tsp. per day every other day. In one week, she got very backed up. She has been very sick throwing up all over the house. It was almost a complete blockage. I will not be giving it to her again. I’m now not so sure this is the best product to use for worm control.
Was told by some that diatomaceous earth causes weight gain in animals, is this true
I use DE on my quail and dogs. It works great! I buy mine at Tractor Supply in a 20# bag. It’s in the horse area. Here’s a link to my blog on how I use it for my quail.
http://gardenforyourlife.blogspot.com/2011/12/bird-care.html
Ken
This site here has some great info about it’s use. http://wolfcreekranch1.tripod.com/defaq.html
What if i have sprinklers? Will DE need to be reapplied every time after i water the lawn? How often should it be done?
If DE only works as a pest control when it is dry, how does it control internal parasites when ingested?
In the 70′s we used to put diatomaceous earth in our smoothies. But you have to be really careful and not use much. We used to put a teaspoon of DE and some kind of healthy oil like almond old in equal amounts. If you use to much you will ruin your digestive track. The purpose was to kill worms in the digestive track which meat eaters get.
How often can you ingest per year and how much? Twice a year for two months? Any ideas?
I am thinking of using d-earth for flea control around my property; if it gets wet I understand it does not work for this purpous while wet, but will it work if it dries again or will I need to re-apply it?
Thank you.
This is to Linda, Post #10. You made the statement that too much DE will ruin your digestive track. I have been drinking DE for over a year now. About a tablespoon every morning in a glass of water. Of course I appreciate any warning of harmful effects about DE. From where did you get your information? How much is too much?
I do not know whether it’s just me or if everybody else experiencing issues with your website. It appears as though some of the text on your content are running off the screen. Can someone else please comment and let me know if this is happening to them too? This may be a problem with my browser because I’ve had this happen before.
Thank you
My homepage; Webdesign Webdesign Berlin
I am going to try sealing up my unlined fishpond with DE..hoping it will seep into the places where the water seeps out… I remembered when we had a pool and used it to coat the filter, so I figure if the food grade is as fine grit, it might work the same way.
Has anyone here used it this way?
What will happen to you if you eat too much of it? How will it ruin your digestive track?