Diatomaceous earth has a number of health benefits for humans, but it’s most prevalent benefit is easily its’ ability to cleanse and purify the body. Let’s look at how this organic silica supplement can help you cleanse your entire body today.
About Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth looks like a clay-like powder that is soft and chalky. It is a naturally occurring substance derived from organisms referred to as diatoms. Diatoms are prehistoric algae that have existed for millions of years and they are among the oldest living organisms on the planet.
When diatoms diet, they leave behind the chalky powder known as diatomite, which is manufactured into either food grade diatomaceous earth or filter-grade DE.

Diatomaceous Earth and Cleansing
Diatomaceous earth works to cleanse the body in two specific manners. First, diatomaceous earth contains sharp edges on each particle of DE. When these edges come into contact with organisms like insects or worms, they cut the exoskeleton of the organism, causing it to dry out and dry.
This is why diatomaceous earth is a popular bed bud treatment and de-wormer for pets. However, the same benefits apply to humans and endotoxins, viruses, and bacteria, can all be “scrubbed” and eliminated.
Second, diatomaceous earth has a unique “honeycomb” structure that helps to soak up dangerous particles as they pass through the digestive tract. This is very similar to how charcoal works.
This honeycomb structure is unique in that it has a negative charge, and viruses, bacteria, and heavy metals have a positive charge. This causes bacteria, viruses, and heavy metals to be attracted to the structure, allowing it be eliminated through the digestive system.
Benefits of Taking Diatomaceous Earth
We are well aware of the many benefits of taking diatomaceous earth. When ingested, diatomaceous earth eliminates harmful organisms and heavy metals in the GI tract.
Several recent studies suggest that diatomaceous earth may also help eliminate drug residues, e coli, endotoxins, viruses, bacteria, and many other organisms. Basically, DE can act like a complete and thorough detoxifying agent.
The one thing you should remember is that you’re likely to urinate and experience bowel movements on a more frequent basis. This is just your body eliminating toxins out of your body.
Some people believe that diatomaceous earth cleansing may reduce the risk of developing different diseases, although this isn’t 100% proven yet. Most people at least claim they “feel better” while taking diatomaceous earth for cleansing purposes.

Other Benefits of DE
While internal cleansing is one of the main benefits to taking DE, it is far from the only benefit. Some people believe this unique chalk-like powder can be used to treat anything from Alzheimer’s to obesity.
The benefits are not all backed by scientific research yet, but these are some of the other claimed benefits of taking diatomaceous earth:
o Fight Alzheimer’s: Silica found in diatomaceous earth eliminates the accumulation of aluminum in the brain, and high aluminum levels have been linked to the development of Alzheimer’s.
o Improved heart health: Silica can fortify blood vessels, thus strengthening the cardiovascular system. It can also reportedly support tissue strength in the aorta.
o Prevents aging: Silica may increase the production of collagen in the body, which is said to fight off the aging process.
o Boost immune system function: Eliminating harmful parasites and viruses from your body may help boost the immune system and prevent sickness and illness.
o Improved bone health: Silica in DE helps to absorb calcium in the bones, nails, and teeth. Some doctors claim that silica supplements can prevent or eliminate osteoporosis.
How to Use DE for Internal Cleansing
There are two things you should really remember when using DE for an internal cleanse. First, make sure to use food grade DE, which is the only form of DE safe for human consumption.
Second, make sure to increase your water intake by at least a few glasses per day. Diatomaceous earth will cause you to increase the frequency you urinate, so you need to make sure you counter this by increasing water intake.
Start by mixing one teaspoon of diatomaceous earth into a standard glass of water before breakfast. Add another glass of water mixed with another teaspoon before bed.
Once you become more accustomed to diatomaceous earth, you can increase your dosage to three teaspoons of food grade DE per day. Most experts recommend doing so for at least two or three months before lowering the dose down to one teaspoon a day for maintenance purposes.

Is DE Safe?
Diatomaceous earth is one of the safest natural supplements money can buy. It is officially recognized as GRAS (generally recognized as safe) by the FDA. This means scientific studies have found there to be no harmful side effects to taking diatomaceous earth.
This is primarily because diatomaceous earth is water soluble. This means the body simply eliminates any excess DE not absorbed by the body. There is no buildup or tolerance to taking DE – your body simply eliminates the excess DE.
DE is a valuable natural supplement that can help eliminate toxins, parasites, and other dangerous chemicals from your body. There are indeed many more benefits to taking diatomaceous earth, and it’s safe to say your entire body will benefit from adding DE to your diet.
Diatomaceous Earth for Gardening
Diatomaceous earth is a useful supplement for human and animal consumption, but that’s not all DE can do for you. If you’ve got a garden, then chances are you have to deal with pests on a frequent basis. Diatomaceous earth is the perfect substance to prevent pests from taking over your guard. Let’s look at why diatomaceous earth is the only bug killer you’ll ever need for your garden.
What is Diatomaceous Earth?
Diatomaceous earth is a chalk like substance derived from fossilized algae. It is a naturally occurring mineral compound formed from the remains of algae known as diatoms.
To create diatomaceous earth, manufacturers mine and process diatomite – the large deposits formed from the remains of diatoms.
For the most part, diatomaceous earth contains several minerals, including 3% magnesium, 5% sodium, 19% calcium, 2% iron, and 33% silicon. There are several other trace minerals in DE as well.
What You Need to Know About Diatomaceous Earth
If you plan on using diatomaceous earth in your garden, then you need to know several things before you go spreading DE all over your garden. DE acts as a natural, mineral-based pesticide. However, you need to make sure you only purchase food grade DE, since this is the only form of DE safe in the garden.
Non-food grade DE is used for swimming pools and for industrial purposes, generally where stronger chemicals are used. Food Grade DE is meant for internal use and for gardening.
It is also important you wear a dust mask when applying diatomaceous earth in your garden. This will prevent any dust from being inhaled. If you breathe in diatomaceous earth, your throat and lungs can become irritated.
However, once DE has settled into the ground, it will not pose a problem for you or your pets. It will not affect your plants or crops in any way either.
DE in the Garden
If you use DE in your garden, then you can effectively eliminate several pests from your garden. Some of the insects and pests you can eliminate include:
o Mites
o Aphids
o Ants
o Bedbugs
o Earwigs
o Snails
o Cockroaches
o Adult flea beetles
o Slugs
The best thing about diatomaceous earth is that it doesn’t actually have any toxic chemicals like a traditional pesticide. Instead, DE has microscopic edges that are very sharp, and when these edges come into contact with insects, they cut the exoskeleton of the insects, causing insects to die.
DE is also 100% natural, and insects cannot build a tolerance to diatomaceous earth. When using chemical based insecticides, bugs can become immune over time, causing you to have no effective way to kill pests. Diatomaceous earth on the other hand does not enable pests to become immune.

How to Use Diatomaceous Earth
Using diatomaceous earth in your garden is very easy. In most cases, you can find exactly how to use DE as an insecticide in your garden directly on the label of the packing you purchase.
Diatomaceous earth formulas can vary from product to product, so you should follow the instructions if you purchase a different DE product. However, in general, here is how you use DE in your garden.
Dry Method
Most people use the dry method to apply DE to their garden. Essentially, you’ll just need to apply DE as a dust using an applicator. Make sure to coat the topside and underside of all the plants in your garden for maximize results. You will want to use a mask during this process to make sure you to do not inhale any DE.
Most experts do recommend applying DE to your plants when they are a bit wet since moisture helps DE stick to the plants. Therefore, it may be a good idea to apply diatomaceous earth after a light rain or morning dew.
If you’re having problems applying DE into the garden, consider using a parmesan cheese container, or similar container as a shaker. These containers have holes that are the perfect size for applying DE.
Wet Method
Other people avoid the dust issue by applying DE in a wet form. You should use one cup of DE per half gallon of water – as this is the ration recommended by experts.
You will need to stir the wet DE mix frequently to ensure it is mixed well. You can apply the mix in a spray bottle or by “painting it” on your plants.
Make sure to spray the plants until they are wet, but not dripping. As the plants dry, they will have a thin dusty coating which is perfect to repel insects and bugs.
Regardless of whether you use the wet or dry method, you can be assured DE will eliminate and prevent pests from taking over your garden. DE is one of the most effective natural pesticides and it’s no wonder it is one of the most heavily utilized tools to eliminate insects from gardens around the world.
Diatomaceous Earth and Bed Bugs
Beg Bugs are annoying pests that frequently find their way into homes and hotels, and they can be a difficult problem to deal with. Diatomaceous earth is one of the few proven natural solutions to eliminating bed bugs as well as other common insects that may find their way into your home.

Diatomaceous Earth Basics
DE is a powdery clay-like substance cherished for its’ ability to kill bed bugs and other pests. Today, it is commonly used all over the world as a natural insecticide and pesticide.
Diatomaceous earth is a naturally occurring substance derived from diatoms – algae-like plants that have existed for millions of years. In fact, diatoms are among the oldest living organisms on the planet. When diatoms die, their remains form a powder-like substance called diatomite. Diatomite is then manufactured into diatomaceous earth, which is what you can buy at the store.
There are two types of diatomaceous earth – food grade and industrial grade. Food grade DE is used for human/pet use, whereas industrial grade DE can be used in pool filters, spill cleanup, or to kill bed bugs.
DE and Bed Bug Elimination
Thousands of homeowners rely on diatomaceous earth to eliminate bed bug infestations. All you need is a small amount of DE and an applicator and you can eliminate bed bugs in days.
The best part about DE is that there is no need for toxic chemicals or exterminator costs. DE is a natural, solution that works each and every time. It’s also very affordable compared to other methods for eliminating bed bugs.
Here’s how it works:
DE particles contain sharp edges that can only be seen under a microscope. When beg bugs are exposed to these sharp edges, their exoskeletons are cut open. Once the exoskeleton is exposed, the drying mechanism of DE dries out the bugs and kills them rather quickly.
This simple process is quick and efficient to eliminate beg bugs. Since DE isn’t a chemical solution, bed bugs can never adapt or become immune to DE, which is why it works to eliminate bed bugs every time.
How to Use DE for Bed Bugs
To kill bed bugs using DE, you’ll need to sprinkle DE in areas where bed bugs are moving.
To start, apply diatomaceous earth directly to parts of your bedroom affected by bed bugs. You should use a n applicator or shaker to avoid wasting DE since you only need a small amount.
Afterwards, you should sprinkle DE on each of the four legs of your bed. This will kill any bed bugs that try to crawl up into your bed.
Finally, you should focus on the folds and edges of your bed. Coat the edges and crevices and make sure you wash your sheets, pillowcases, and any other blankets you may use in hot water.
You may need to apply DE every few days until your problem is solved, so keep this in mind based on how much DE you have readily available.
DE Tips for Killing Bed Bugs
o Each day beg bugs lay between 1 and 5 eggs. These eggs have an incubation period of around 10 days and require three to five blood feedings to reach adult size, at which point they will start to lay more eggs. This is why you should reapply DE a few times to make sure any and all eggs are eliminated.
o Clorox can help kill bed bugs when you wash your sheets, blankets, and other linens. If you have access to a steam cleaner, it is a good idea to use it on your mattress and box spring.
o Bed bugs do not fly – they walk on their legs. As soon as their legs become coated with DE dust, they will begin to die. Your goal should be to put DE between you and the bed bugs to ensure they die as fast as possible.
o There are several other parasites that you may encounter like bat bugs, swallow bugs, or chimney swift bugs. All of these parasites can be killed with DE the same way bed bugs are killed.
o Learn to spot the symptoms associated with a bed bug infestation. If your mattress or sheets have black spots (fecal matter) or blood smears, then you may very well have a bed bug infestation.
o Pets may inhale DE dust, and this can be harmful – especially if industrial grade DE is used. Therefore, make sure you keep your pets out of the way when using DE to ensure your pet is safe.
o When handling DE, it is best you use protective gear like gloves, a mask, and goggles.
Other Important Things To Know
Diatomaceous earth is an effective bed bug killer, but it isn’t necessarily perfect. Sometimes, you may find that DE hasn’t killed all the bed bugs even after several applications.
Keep in mind it can take up to 10 days to kill a bed bug after it comes in contact with diatomaceous earth. This is why repeat applications are suggested because this kills eggs.
Also, if you put too much DE powder down, then bed bugs may simply avoid the powder, which is why using a shaker of applicator is recommended. Remember, you only need a small layer on the legs of your bed, as well as the crevices around your bed.
Essentially, you’ve got a few decisions to make to eliminate your bed bugs. You can pay an exterminator several hundred dollars to eliminate bed bugs from your home, or you can pay only $20-30 for a bottle of diatomaceous earth. Even if only works 95% of the time, diatomaceous earth is still safe and offers a non-chemical solution to kill bed bugs. This is why DE is a very viable option for bed bug elimination, and is an option you should absolutely consider.
DE for Pets
While DE has many human uses, it is just as beneficial for your dogs, cats, or other animals. In fact, DE is one of the most popular natural treatments for fleas for cats and dogs. Let’s look at how DE can help your pets or animals today.

About Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth is a white, chalk-like powder that naturally occurs in the earth’s soil DE gets its’ name because it is actually derived of “diatoms” – prehistoric algae that have existed for millions of years.
Today, diatomaceous earth has all kinds of uses, including gardening, house cleaning, human consumption, and more. Pet owners have found DE is a reliable solution for flea related issues in pets, which is the main benefit of using DE.
Benefits of Using DE
Many pet owners from around the world rely on diatomaceous earth to eliminate pests on their cats and dogs. Just like DE can fight pets in your garden and home, it can also eliminate pests on your pets as well.
Of course, you’ll want to make sure you’re giving your pets food grade diatomaceous earth – NOT industrial grade DE. Industrial grade has a higher silica content that is not meant for human or animal consumption, so avoid it at all costs.
Once you buy food grade DE, you can use it in two ways on your pets:
1. Feeding DE to Pets
Feeding diatomaceous earth to your dog or cat can eliminate certain parasites like:
- Roundworms
- Hookworms
- Pinworms
- Whipworms
If your pet is suffering from worms, you’ll want to feed your pet DE for at least 30 days to ensure any and all eggs that may have been laid are eliminated.
2. Dusting DE on Your Pet’s Fur
You can take an applicator and dust your pet’s fur or coat once every few weeks. This will help:
- Eliminate external parasites like fleas or ticks
- Kill any eggs laid by fleas or ticks
- Improve the overall health and shine of your pet’s fur
There’s a significant amount of evidence to suggest that diatomaceous earth can absorb viruses, pesticide residues, e-coil, and other endotoxins that may be harming your pet. Essentially, DE is a powerful natural cleanser that can and will improve the overall health of your pet.
How to Use DE for Your Pets
If you plan on feeding diatomaceous earth to your pet, then you should be aware there are very specific dosages. For example:
- Dogs over 55 pounds should take one tablespoon of DE per day
- Smaller puppies, dogs, and normal-sized cats can use one teaspoon per day.
- Kittens and smaller cats (2 to 6.5 pounds) should only take ½ teaspoon per day
If your puppies or kittens are still nursing, then you should avoid giving them DE until they consume solid food. In the event your puppy or kitten refuses to eat food with DE in it, we recommend adding DE to the bag of food and shaking the bag to evenly distribute the powder and to mask the scent.
Powder Coating
If you plan on using DE to control external parasites like fleas, simply rub DE powder into your dog or cat’s coat, while also spreading it on their bedding. It is recommended that you use a dust mask while applying DE powder as it can irritate your lungs and throat.
Once you’ve applied DE to your pet’s fur, wait a few days and then bathe them. Vacuum their bedding if you applied DE on it and make sure to remove any dead or dying bugs that may still be around.
When bathing your dog or cat, make sure to use to thoroughly shampoo their skin. Try to use a moisturizing shampoo since DE does dry out the skin so you’ll want to avoid drying out their skin even more.
Once your dog or cat has been bathed and dried, comb through their fur with a flea comb to remove any fleas or ticks that still haven’t been eliminated. If you do it correctly, there should be few – if any at all.
How Does DE Actually Work?
So does how DE actually work to help your pets? DE works by physically attacking parasites like ringworms and fleas. The sharp edges of every DE particle slices open the exoskeleton of parasites. DE then uses its’ absorbent properties to dry out the bug or parasite. This kills the bug rather quickly, ensuring that the bug is then eliminated.
Thankfully, these sharp edges are too small to harm the internal organs of dogs, cats, or humans. You can safely handle DE without cutting yourself, and it is safe for your pets to consume without any negative side effects.
DE and Heavy Metal Detoxification
Diatomaceous earth is one of the most popular natural methods to eliminate heavy metals from the body. In our short guide, we’ll explain everything you should know about using food grade DE for a heavy metal detox?
What is Diatomaceous Earth?
Diatomaceous earth (abbreviated DE) is a clay-like powder found naturally around the world. DE is actually formed from the remains of small, prehistoric algae. Over the years, these algae became fossilized and formed large deposits of diatomite – the chalky, powdery, and white powder, which is mined and sold as diatomaceous earth.
How does DE help eliminate heavy metals?
Diatoms are among the oldest living creatures on the planet. They have several unique properties that make DE ideal for cleansing the body.
For example, DE has very sharp, microscopic edges on each particle, which literally scrub bacteria and harmful microorganisms in the body. This is one of the many reasons why DE is so popular for eliminating bacteria and other infections.
In addition, DE particles have a unique “honeycomb” structure very similar to charcoal. This structure attracts harmful heavy metals like aluminum, lead, and many more.
Heavy metals are attracted to DE because of the positive/negative charge. Specifically, DE has a negative charge and heavy metals have a positive charge. DE is able to attract all of these particles, trapping them inside the structure. This structure also prevents the particles from further harming the body, and they are eliminated naturally without being absorbed into the blood stream.
Benefits of Diatomaceous Earth
After using diatomaceous earth, many people experience the following benefits:
- Natural GI detoxification
- Restoration of healthy bowel movements
- Better immune system function
- Fewer aches and pains
- Slow, steady weight loss
- Stronger hair, nails, skin, and teeth
- Higher energy levels
- Plus much more
For the most part, benefits attributed to DE stem from its’ ability to attract positively-charged pathogens in the body. These are many of the harmful compounds discussed on a daily basis – bacteria, heavy metals, parasites, pesticides, and much more. DE helps to eliminate these pathogens naturally and safely, improving your body’s overall health.
How to Take DE for Heavy Metal Detox
Before you purchase DE, you should be aware that there are two types of diatomaceous earth: food grade and industrial grade (pool grade). Food grade DE is the only form of DE you’ll want to use when you’re planning a heavy metal detox.

Industrial grade DE is typically cheaper than food grade DE, and it not safe for human consumption. It is used for industrial purposes like pool cleaning, food processing, and to kill beg bugs.
Food grade DE is the only form of DE you should consume and you can start a heavy metal detox by mixing a teaspoon of DE with water. You’ll want to take one glass of DE-infused water before breakfast, then another glass before bed.
For the best results, you should use warm, distilled water instead of standard tap water. Once you gauge your body’s response to DE, you can increase your dosage to 3 teaspoons of diatomaceous per day.
Is DE Safe?
Although some people have expressed concerns over the safety of diatomaceous earth, the truth is that DE is very safe.
In fact, diatomaceous earth is so safe that it has a GRAS (generally recognized as safe) status by the FDA. This means it is one of 370 food products that have exhibited no harmful side effects in any significant study to this date.
One of the reasons why DE is so safe is because it is water soluble. Any excess DE in your body will simply pass through your GI tract and exit your body in your urine. It’s that simple.
When you’re using DE for heavy metal detoxification or eliminating harmful bacteria and parasites from your body, DE is a valuable natural supplement that can improve your general health and help you look and feel better.
