Diatomaceous Earth: 10 Amazing Uses for DE Around the Home

Diatomaceous Earth: 10 Amazing Uses for DE Around the Home

Tell your youngsters it’s “skeleton powder.” Or that it slashes and dehydrates bugs to death! If you have got boys particularly, they'll inspect your natural storeroom with an entire new respect!
You won’t be lying  … kieselguhr (or Diamond State for short) is all that and more! Here square measure all the (not therefore gory) details on this natural remedy surprise for anyone with pets or a family.

What Is kieselguhr, Anyway?

DE is, as mentioned, a white powder present from the fossils of diatoms (a variety of alga found in watercourse bed and lake beds). The diatoms type a awfully exhausting shell of silicon oxide during a hollow form.

When dry, kieselguhr seems terribly fine and soft to the oculus however microscopically it's some terribly distinctive qualities:

• High silicon oxide Content: These fossilised diatoms have a awfully high silicon oxide content (which is employed to make hair, skin, and nails).
• Hard as Nails … or Diamonds: Diamond State is incredibly exhausting (only 2 points not up to diamonds on the hardness scale). it's sort of a little cylindrical tube with several holes in it once viewed through a magnifier.
• Holds sturdy|a robust|a powerful} Negative Charge: Diamond State contains a terribly strong electric charge, that makes it purifying and helpful in many ways in which.

Since the Nineteen Sixties Diamond State has been ordinarily utilized in things like dentifrice, as Associate in Nursing anti-caking aid, for instructive  brew or wine, and to eliminate pests naturally. In fact, you’ve doubtless consumed merchandise that contain traces of Diamond State while not even knowing it! whereas I’m sometimes not a disciple of hidden ingredients, Diamond State is one we tend to don’t ought to worry concerning.

That doesn’t mean it doesn’t have its share of disputation … not all of it guaranteed.

How Do i do know Diamond State Is Safe?

In this article, I’m referencing Food Grade kieselguhr, that the FDA classifies “Generally Recognized As Safe” for human consumption, even once pregnant or nursing. it's NOT the economic grade kind utilized in pool improvement. abundant of the misunderstanding concerning the advantages of Diamond State stems from the distinction in these 2 sorts. the economic grade is toxicant to humans and will be avoided. it's conjointly toxicant to employees World Health Organization collect it.
Food-grade kieselguhr is pure and amorphous, not crystalline. it's inert Associate in Nursingd harmless (as long as you’re not Associate in Nursing insect with an exoskeleton).

What will kieselguhr Do for the Body?

For the physique … Associate in Nursingd even for animals … Diamond State is an ally. because of its robust electric charge kieselguhr binds to unwanted toxins within the epithelial duct. On the skin, it acts as Associate in Nursing oil binder, a purifier, Associate in Nursingd an exfoliant.
For unwanted bugs and insects, it’s quite another story.

Does Diamond State Kill Insects?

In a word, yes! several use kieselguhr as a natural chemical. Its sharp and robust structure permits it to puncture and drain the systema skeletale of insects from their protecting fats and oils on a microscopic level. This causes them to dehydrate and die (while humans and animals square measure left fully unharmed).

10 ways in which to Use kieselguhr

Some sources claim that Diamond State may be a cure for everything from parasites to viruses and everything in between. They claim it eliminates free radicals, remineralizes bones, and halts aging in its tracks.

I haven’t found any analysis to make a copy these claims, however there square measure studies on silicon oxide and alternative compounds found in Diamond State. These square measure the advantages that appear credible supported the accessible body of evidence:

1. As a Natural various to Pesticides

Most blightericides and pesticides work by poisoning the pest. sadly, chemicals that square measure harmful to little pests can even be harmful to humans and carry risks. Insects can even develop immunity over time.

DE works automatically on:

• fleas
• bedbugs
• cockroaches
• ants

Just sprinkling a touch Diamond State round the house bonds to and absorbs elements of the waxy coating on the systema skeletale of those insects, inflicting them to dehydrate and die. Sprinkle a fringe round the exterior of the house and conjointly inside wherever issues square measure determined.

The Federal pesticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act classifies Diamond State as safe for house use. The Environmental social unit classifies it as safe for house and wonder use moreover.

2. To Treat Fleas on Pets


I will be forever grateful for Diamond State and its facilitate once we had a frightful ectozoon infestation. we tend to adopted a rescue kitten and he or she brought on a couple of thousand shut friends … FLEAS.

The fleas quickly troubled the whole flat we tend to were living in at the time and with a brand new baby and toddlers, it absolutely was a large drawback. I didn’t wish to use any variety of harmful chemical either since my youngsters were travel around on the ground.

To stop the ectozoon irruption, we tend to wet Diamond State everywhere our carpet and soft surfaces many times daily. the sole potential concern with Diamond State is irritation from inhalation,

therefore I wore a mud mask once sprinkling it round the whole house. I worked the powder into the carpets Associate in Nursingd let it sit for concerning an hour. Then, I vacuumed it up. I recurrent this a couple of times daily for four days till the fleas were gone. (Yes, this is often a untidy process!)
We conjointly killed the fleas on the kitten by fastidiously dusting her with Diamond State a couple of times daily, avoiding the eyes and nose.

We currently mud all of our animals with Diamond State before and when going hiking with them within the woods, or if they show any signs of fleas.

3. Fighting Bed Bugs

Were you hoping bed bugs weren’t real? Well, sorry … they positively square measure and don’t discriminate against even terribly clean homes!

DE is well documented for its ability to eliminate bedbugs. Even blighter management firms generally use Diamond State for removing bed bugs safely. Follow these steps if you see or worry bedbugs. permanently live, I sprinkle Diamond State on mattresses on every occasion i alter the sheets to assist thrust back bed bugs and alternative pests.

4. As a supply of silicon oxide

DE is 84-90% silicon oxide with over twenty trace minerals that square measure troublesome to get in today’s world and required by skin, teeth, and hair. A study from the University of Cincinnati’s faculty of Pharmacy showed that silicon oxide might facilitate increase hair growth and thickness once taken frequently. The skin conjointly uses silicon oxide and deficiency might result in dry or brittle skin.

Studies show that dietary semiconducting material is useful to bone and animal tissue, tho' the particular type in Diamond State isn't well studied. proof shows a positive association between dietary semiconducting material intake and higher bone mineral density, tho' the precise reason is unclear. One theory is that semiconducting material helps the body synthesize albuminoid (which the body uses in joints, animal tissue, bones, and skin).

More analysis on the direct effects of Diamond State on silicon oxide levels is required, however silicon oxide itself is indisputably sensible for hair, skin, and nails.

5. to help in Detoxifiction

This is wherever claims begin to urge murky. On the one hand, there square measure thousands of merchandise that claim to get rid of “toxins,” while not clearly process what “toxins” square measure. Since “toxins” may be a term that would apply to a good vary of drugs, these claims square measure troublesome or not possible to live.

On the opposite hand, there's proof that kieselguhr might have a measurable have an effect on on many substances that hurt the body, as well as reducing atomic number 13 and alternative significant metals.

DE’s high silicon oxide concentration can also contribute to the detoxification claims. Some proof suggests that silicon oxide might facilitate fight radical injury during a similar thanks to antioxidants. this could ensue to its ability to stay stable and carry a negative electrical charge, attracting charged free radicals. tho' mostly unverified by actual analysis, this mechanism is probably going the premise of the claims that it reduces aerobic  injury and has anti-aging effects.

6. To Fight Parasites and microorganism Overgrowth

When my husband was battling SIBO his practician had him drink Diamond State daily to assist bring his gut bacterium into balance. There isn’t abundant analysis on DE’s ability to get rid of parasites in humans, however it's well documented in animal studies.

In one ordinarily cited study The Oxford Journal of Poultry Science examined DE’s role in reducing parasites and rising egg quality in organic and unconfined chickens. The study primarily complete that hens fed Diamond State had higher eggs and fewer parasites relative to controls.

If you happen to be a chicken combating a mite drawback, Diamond State may be a nice remedy. the tactic in humans is a smaller amount clear, however many of us have used Diamond State internally to fight alternative forms of enteric parasites. Anecdotal reports abound of DE’s edges in human parasites moreover, however a lot of analysis is required.

7. As how to cut back cholesterin

Amazingly, the foremost well-researched advantage of Diamond State for humans isn't typically mentioned. In fact, the sole study I found that checked out Diamond State as a dietary supplement dates from 1998 and examined its role in rising cholesterin levels. The results square measure fascinating:

• Participants all had a history of high cholesterin
• They took kieselguhr multiple times daily for eight weeks
• At the tip of the study, the topics total cholesterin had got down by thirteen.2%
• LDL (“bad”) cholesterin minimized the foremost
• HDL (“good”) cholesterin raised slightly

The researchers complete that whereas the results were promising, any studies square measure required with larger teams and an impression cluster. Anecdotal reports abound of individuals World Health Organization used Diamond State to assist with cholesterin levels. A friend saw a thirty purpose reduction in vital sign numbers from mistreatment Diamond State.

8. In Sensitive Skin toilet article

I’ve been creating my very own natural toilet article for years currently (using this recipe) and am passionate about it. Some folks react to the bicarbonate within the direction, doubtless as a result of it's therefore basic and will irritate bound skin sorts. This direction may be a nice sensitive skin various mistreatment kieselguhr in situ of the bicarbonate.

9. To Fight Foot plant

DE is of course drying and will cut back wetness. I couldn’t notice any studies to back it up, however a disciple claimed that sprinkling it in her socks daily helped her beat a decade-long battle with toenail plant.

10. Mixed in Beauty merchandise

A bonus use for DE!
I in person love mistreatment kieselguhr on my skin in beauty merchandise. My skin tends to be naturally oily, therefore I typically add a touch little bit of Diamond State to homemade  facial cleansers and face masks to get rid of some excess oil. Bonus: It makes a pleasant natural exfoliant!

Cautions and Risks

It is important to solely use food-grade kieselguhr for consumption. alternative sorts of Diamond State don't seem to be thought-about safe and may be harmful to the lungs if inhaled . several of the misconceptions concerning kieselguhr comes from confusing these sorts. Food grade Diamond State is recognized as safe by each the FDA and also the EWG. Industrial grade has several uses however isn't safe for human use or to inhale!