Diatomacious Earth ( DE ) thread :)

[DancingWithElves]

Howdies

Let's discuss.
I am not the resident DE specialist, mama that goes by "me" is.
But I'm starting a thread for edumacational purposes.

So, I'll be back to post some general FAQ stuff, but I'd love for people to contribute on the following:
--How do you take it?

--What do you take it for and how's it working for you?

--How do you give it to kids?

--Where do you get it and how much of it, and how much it costs?

[inesperada]

I didn't realize this was something people take I thought it was a natural insecticide...

[cobluegirl]

Thanks!!

I have heard that it is good for parasites..

[crunchymum]

This link has a video that's helpful: http://www.earthworkshealth.com/

more info:http://wolfcreekranch1.tripod.com/defaq.html

I've yet to use it internally, but I'm planning on doing it for the whole family. I *have* used it as an insecticide, and it works great.

[cobluegirl]

yah I have used it outside in the garden..but not on me yet.

[sweetpeasmommy]

--How do you take it?

In juice...or coffee.

--What do you take it for and how's it working for you?

Leaky gut. Works better than anything else I've tried. For joint pain. It helps if I remember to take it daily. For the pets as a dewormer and for fleas, make sure to not let them breathe it in. I know it doesn't cut it for the mutant fleas here, not sure how it helps with the worms. For the garden, to keep the pests away. I also use it for DS and pets for candida.

--How do you give it to kids?

Same as I take it.

I have bought it several different places. Earthworks, internetgrocer, whoever has food grade DE cheapest with s/h at the time.

[cobluegirl]

whoa... tell me about the use for leaky gut? I think dh has this.... or something similar.

[sweetpeasmommy]

Well probably the best thing DE is good for is making beautiful poo. Whether you have leaky gut or need more regularity it helps. My mom had leaky gut so bad she had to wear Depends and this really helped her too.

[cobluegirl]

So how are you taking it? how much? how many times a day?

dh really has issue's here.

[sweetpeasmommy]

For a big issue, I would probably take 2 TBSP working up to that dose. If you want to be more conservative, try 1 TBSP. IIUC silica that isn't used by the body is just excreted.

[homesteadmama]

Originally Posted by belaruska

--How do you take it?

in my evening tea with milk and honey.

Originally Posted by belaruska

--What do you take it for and how's it working for you?

a parasite cleanse. I read somehwere around here (thanks, Me) about it helping with TMJ. That's my biggest hope. Also have read that it can be used as a natural detoxifier, and is safe while pg and nursing. I like that.

Also, getting rid of parasites can help with night terrors/nightmares, restlessness/tired when waking up, and joint pain.

From the little I've read, I'm convinced it's a GREAT thing. I recently added a handful of it to all my stored foods to keep away mites. We are using it in the garden for fertilizer and pest control. I'm also giving it to the dog because I've read that if one person in the family cleanses, then everyone needs to, including pets.

Originally Posted by belaruska

--How do you give it to kids?

in tea the same as me, or in chocolate milk. I give it to the dog in a little bit of chicken stock.

Originally Posted by belaruska

--Where do you get it and how much of it, and how much it costs?

the most cost effective way for me to buy it was at the local feed and seed store. The smallest quantity they sold in Food Grade DE (which is essential--taking non-food grade can be deadly) was a 50lb bag for $30. I've been sharing it with all my friends (once I tell them all the amazing benefits), and I'm trying to convince the lady who is raising our steer to slaughter in a few months to use DE as the dewormer rather than the shot she usually does. She's researching now, and says she'll get back to me. If she's willing to
go ahead with it, I'm planning on giving her a bunch (might use up the rest of our bag).

Right now we're doing a 90 day DE cleanse as a whole family. And we are pooping like crazy!!!

---------- Post added at 11:51 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:46 PM ----------

Oh, and a question I have. Does anyone know if it settles in the gut and can block absorbtion of things in cattle? I know in humans, if one takes too much, the body will just eliminate it. But the lady with our steer is all worried that it will collect in the cow's gut, and that he won't get fattened up as well because of it. I need links too. She won't believe me if I say "my online friend said____".

Wow, this is fascinating. Is it safe for nursing moms/pregnant moms etc?

[cobluegirl]

posted above.

a parasite cleanse. I read somehwere around here (thanks, Me) about it helping with TMJ. That's my biggest hope. Also have read that it can be used as a natural detoxifier, and is safe while pg and nursing. I like that.

[mountainash]

--How do you take it?

Mixed in smoothies or juice. I think I'm going to try baking with it. I have a hard time convincing my daughter to down a cup of juice but eating a whole cookie she can manage no problem.

--What do you take it for and how's it working for you?

Giardia (a parasite that I think we picked up at the local swimming pool). My daughter and I have had diarrhea/soft stools accompanied by sulfur burps for over a year now. The symptoms went away last summer--I suspect because we were eating a lot of oregano, an anti-parasitic. Last fall, my husband started coming down with the same symptoms.

We've been taking it irregularly for three weeks and are already seeing improvement. (I can't believe how much easier diaper changes are when my daughter has a solid stool! ) I plan to start a stricter regimen next month.

I was really reluctant to try it given that I'd read that it "slices and dices" bacteria in the gut. After further investigation I reached the conclusion that "slicing and dicing" cannot be what makes the DE effective.

--How do you give it to kids?

In juice and smoothies.

--Where do you get it and how much of it, and how much it costs?

We got ours at the local feed store. My husband called them and asked if they had it and how much. They said $28 and he went off to pick it up. I was shocked when he came home with a 50lb bag!