Diatomaceous Earth - Editor's Choice

Over the years, Earth Clinic readers have sent us many reports about their treatments for Diatomaceous Earth. The editors at Earth Clinic consider the below posts to be some of the most helpful and informative and have named them 'Editor's Choice'. We hope that you will find this useful.
The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.

Detox

Posted by Ali (Wales) on 08/17/2021

Editor's Choice

I know it's been some time since this comment was posted but joint pains may well be part of the DE detoxification.

Over time calcium deposits around the body inappropriately. We don't always notice it until it's built up enough to trigger arthritis, etc. Silica is apparently part of the nutrients that are necessary to ‘orchestrate' calcium into the bones & teeth, etc, so it may be that the silica in the DE is pulling the inappropriate calcium deposits out of the joint tissue for transfer into the bones or anywhere else it's needed, which may trigger temporary pain.


Painful Teeth, Rotting Wounds

Posted by Chirka (Gurgaon, India) on 07/02/2021
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth (FG DE) for rotting or painful teeth and rotting wounds

The fastest acting use I have experienced for FG DE is for teeth. I have a lot of teeth problems from a narrow jaw and bad dentist interventions. When I get a tooth pain, I place a wad of DE (made into a dough like blob with a drop of water) on the offending tooth, clamp down my teeth and go to sleep. Right as rain in the morning. And this is the report with everyone I've prescribed it to. Unfailingly. But use it the first sign of pain you get.

What more, two teeth that the dentists said have to be pulled off six years ago are serving me fine after my having given them the DE wad treatment for a week continuously.

The DE just pulls out any kind of necrosis.

And that's the second great thing I've seen it work its magic on. It also saved the paw of my cat, which was just rotting and the digits were falling off. Dipped her paw into DE, and the whole thing became a hard lump. But finally, the paw stopped rotting and whatever was left of the paw was saved.

Same thing with another cat I recommended it for. Another cat had an anal sac, with a hole as deep as the first digit of my index finger, and a foul smell. I stuffed it with DE multiple times in a day. After two days reduced application to once a day. By the seventh day, even the scar was barely visible.

EC: Thank you for your post! We have cross-posted it to all applicable sections; wounds (pets) and tooth abscess (people).


Gray Hair

Posted by Chris T. (Albuquerque, NM) on 03/26/2021
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

Diatomaceous Earth! (Food Grade) My husband and I started taking it in a glass of water daily for its health benefits, and his Salt and Pepper hair is 95% black again over the course of 3 weeks. I had come across people claiming it restored their hair color, but dismissed it as silly. But low and behold, his black hair is back!


Candida and Parasites

Posted by Sandra (North Central Washington) on 01/12/2021
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

Hi, Paul (Rad_city (Brea, Ca):

I am an 84 yo female. Many years ago, I was given a bag of FG DE by a friend in Utah. I started using it. I don't remember any problems and didn't notice any benefits. Sometime back then (about 6-7 years ago I had a heart attack and now have a stent. While reading your story, I remember one of the nurses (in a surprise filled voice) saying over and over, "Look at her skin, look at her skin. It's very young."

Well... I just realized something. After quite a few years of not taking DE, I began noticing that the skin on my lower right calf, my skin had become sort of cellophane. I have figured that was because my right leg has for some years now been somewhat numb. So, holy cow, I just realized that that skin now feels soft and supple for a few days since I started using DE about 2 weeks ago!!! When I quit taking it I was still putting about 1/4 tsp in my Chihuahua's food every day. She died this past summer at the age of almost 17. This was right after her vet gave her a big dose of antibiotics. Most of her life she had no health problems at all. I was just about to discontinue the use of DE. Now, I am convinced to continue it until I get the heck otta-here, if you get my drift. I usually put it in my morning coffee. I am now considering My EmergenCy in place of the coffee. Thank you Paul you have done me a great eye opener, and I hope many others will get your message also.


Thin Hair

Posted by Minks7 (Eagle River, Alaska) on 05/02/2018
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

Hi. This is about diatomaceous earth-food grade for thin, breaking, slow growing hair. I'm 62 and found this when I was trying to detox my kidneys and liver. It had a great side effect. My hair which has always been a little longer than my shoulders and no more is now down to my waist. It's still fine but healthier and faster growing. Where my hair was thinning it has regrown. Also my nails are a little stronger and definitely healthier.

Kat from Alaska


Broad Benefits

Posted by Don (Ontario Canada) on 01/21/2018
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I took DE for three months. I never missed a day, I don't know if it was the DE or not (I think it was a herxhiemer effect) but I got sick coughing up phlegm and mucus that lasted for weeks. After about three weeks I started seeing parasites in my stool. I swear I lost ten pounds of Candida. But the annoying cough wouldn't go away so I mixed my own borax mixture and started taking a tablespoon of the concentrate (1 teaspoon of borax dissolved in 1 liter of water) a day. Within a week I started dumping more parasites. Then something that I would say looked like a small scallop with thin white whisks coming off it like a sort a tail.( its hard to describe). I had some nuggets of yellowish waxy looking things come out as well My urine smelled weird. I started this initially as a candida flush but it did so much more.

1- it took away a sense of urgency to pee that I had for ten years.

2- I always was cold, now I'm comfortable.

3- I never get heartburn anymore.

At times I never felt better. I'm 58 and I really think this stuff has given me better health. Can anyone explain to me what all this was that came out of me? I am a cancer survivor and my gut tells me this was some sort of cancerous issue.

Good luck..... Don


Broad Benefits
Posted by Rodezmo (Westminster, Co) on 08/22/2016
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I have been doing Diatomaceous Earth (DE) since May 14 2016. I have been doing Chlorella and Spirulina for years along with unrefined sea salt for a plethora of minerals and Vitamin C, Iodine, Vitamin D3, CoQ10, Resveratrol from Muscadine grapes, and Bromelain. I also take a strong Probiotic. I eat organically and Non-GMO primarily.

I was able to increase DE from 1 tsp to 1 TBS the 1st week and went to 2 TBS the second week. Because of my previous health regimen before starting DE I only experienced a slight headache near the end of the day for around 3 days and that quickly subsided.

I am experiencing dark hair growth in my beard and the hair on my head. Back pain is gone and nails are shiny with the North to South ridges dissipating. My skin has always shined from the previous regimen and there has been no change in that, which is great.

I sleep straight through now from DE and have experienced a bit more energy. Bowels will be a bit constipated if I fail on water consumption so I keep the hydration up and water is better than juices for that.

Initially I would wake up with a stiff neck because I would sleep so soundly that I would not move at night. That has passed.

I swear by DE. I am 66 years old and people say I pass for late 40s. I stay away from Doctors religiously. I would go for a broken bone or if I need a tooth pulled. They are good at killing you. I once worked at a Hospital in Dallas and would see several people going out the back each day in body bags. They never go out the front as it is bad for business. All those people I am sure had been treated by a doctor probably for years. The Hippocratic Oath, which they claim, to follow is nominally only with them. Hippocrates said, " Let your medicine be your food and your food be your medicine."


Broad Benefits
Posted by Cat (Austin, Tx) on 02/05/2016

Editor's Choice

After great, initial results from 3 months of consuming FOOD GRADE DE at a dosage of 1-2 Tablesp. daily, I now maintain a flat tsp. 1-2 times a week.

With DE, I passed a hook worm and "rice" type wormy things by the 3rd day.

My carpel tunnel syndrome disappeared.

My face became VERY clear and bright!

My eyes get white as day whenever I take the DE and my energy shoots through the roof!

I sleep better and earlier.

My nails grow and my hair grows faster (but not thicker- ACV does that better, including de-aging for me).

My upper right hip discomfort disappears.

The best part? My teeth! They thickened into corn kernel shapes rather than the thin, playing card shapes they were. I've seen improvement in my gums (pinkish) and my ongoing pockets look way healthier and closer to the gums. DE also firmly attached a loosened tooth I was worried about. With DE, my brain is more focused, clearer, more precise thinking -- my thoughts don't wander as much.

It is the best, natural teeth whitener! I brush with it once a week (any more would strip my enamel).

This is my Sunday formula:

Pre-wet soft toothbrush. Pile on DE, VCO, peppermint oil drop, Hydrogen Peroxide drops. Make sure the DE is thoroughly wet and not dusty. You want to avoid inhaling the dust, similar to talc, into your lungs.

I backed off to 1- 2 tsps weekly when I began having slight pains on my right side. (Drinking LOTS of water is VERY essential! )

Plus, others have shown that DE may, over time, bring your good cholesterol (HDL readings) too low even while providing fantastic blood pressure readings. "Moderation in all things" is the best advice my granny gave me. Learning through life... CAT!


Broad Benefits
Posted by Ray (Vendome, France) on 09/29/2014
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

Hi, I bought Diatomaceous Earth on amazon.fr in France but it's from UK, name Diaguard which I think very good quality. You have much more choices in amazon.co.uk than in France.

I had a nagging pain at my lower back for about 3 weeks caused by my horse who did rodeo, the stirrups came off of my feet, then he rared, I pushed his neck down so he started to canter then suddenly stopped. I slid up to his neck and rolled down on the ground. And I had dry eye especially at night while I read a book in bed and sometimes cramps on my legs or feet for about 2 years.

As soon as DE was delivered from UK, I took 1 heaped tbls in water immediately.

The lower back pain disappeared almost in a few minutes! I thought may be it was placebo.

Then in the same day at night, I noticed that I didn't have to wipe my eyes with a tissue while I read in bed anymore, and since I started to take DE, no more cramps on my legs or feet.

These benefits started to happen in just 10 days. In a mean while I had to go through healing crisis no too bad as some other people had to go through in this site.

First 3 days I had almost too much energy so I stopped taking it at night, but just in mornings as I wake up. then I suddenly I started to have a cold or flu like symptoms, nose started to block, soar throat, chilling feeling. Totally different from the first 3 days of my experience with DE.

Then the 4th day, I saw about 7 tiny white worms in my stool! Then next got less, took about a week to clear the tiny white worms that I don't know what kind.

As soon as it was cleared my energy came back again and feel great now!

My dogs also passed some worms everyday for about a week and now they seem cleared of it. My Newfoundland dog has been having trouble with hormone after she was sterilized. She pees even while she sleeps, and cries for feeling bad. My vet told me to give her the hormonal medication everyday for a week, then cut back to half then just once a week then stop. He was reluctant to use it because he said hormonal treatment is risky. She has been on it twice a year for about 9 years (now she's 12, vet is amazed and happy that she's lived that long for her giant size). But the pills stopped working suddenly for almost 8 months. She pees everywhere, I took away all the small rugs and cover large rugs with table cloth covers.

My vet said may be caused by hypothyroid. She was on it for 6 months last year then stopped because the vet said it's not too good to continue too long after her hormonal level became normal. Now after blood test, her thyroid hormone was found extremely low level again. She's on the hormone now for about 2 months.

DE was started a month ago. Now her peeing problem is almost stopping, either because she's on thyroid hormone treatment or DE or both. I really can't tell, but she hardly pees in the house anymore, could hold it to the garden.

My horses are also taking it, but I can't tell exactly what's happening to them because they stay in a horse place. In any case, I can recommend to anyone this amazing product. At least I and my dogs are having a great result!

I'm hoping that DE will help my gilding for his emphysema and my mare's arthritis. I'm giving them natural ACV also for 2 years but it seems not very effective.


Broad Benefits
Posted by Danimom (Georgia ) on 09/18/2013
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I too have many health issues and now my children also suffer from health issues. We started taking 1/2 teaspoon of D. E. a day mixed in water and already we are feeling better.

The acne cleared up and my son, who has always been large, has dropped 2 pant sizes because the inflammation is coming off .

I have gone down 1 size. My oldest son, who has terrible allergies has not had to use his inhaler even once since we started and has no ill side effects.....

My mom tried it a while ago and stopped because she too got sick but she was using a lot at once and now that she sees that we are good after 3weeks she has decided to try again but at the 1/2 teaspoon dose we increased to a teaspoon after 2 weeks and will go up another 1/2 teaspoon next week. But my Dr. said no more than the 1 1/2 teaspoon's dose and then every fifth week we should stop for 2 and then start again at the 1/2 teaspoon dose.


Broad Benefits
Posted by Josh (Maryland) on 05/20/2013
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I've been using food grade Diatomaceous Earth (DE) for three days now and being diagnosed with sciatica and two bulging disc. Constant pain everyday and always drained of energy. I can say I have not felt so good in such a short period of time in my life.

The pain is subsiding and dulling down. My blood pressure is dropping. I feel so much more energy. It's almost too good to be true to call this a miracle dirt but by god it's making some magic happen. I recommend this whole heartedly to people who have pain and loss of energy.


Candida and Parasites

Posted by Rad_city (Brea, Ca) on 02/11/2013
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I have never written on a forum or posted about my health but feel compelled to do so about Diatomaceous Earth (D.E.) because I feel it will help a lot of people. (in particular, people with distended bellies, fungal overgrowth, clogged sinuses, mild allergies, food allergies, bad digestion, bad skin, low energy)

* BACKGROUND *
I have suffered from asthma all my life. Since a little child. And i've had a slightly distended belly (I am tall, thin, and not an ounce of fat on me! ) since I was a child. I had strep throat a lot as a kid and would take antibiotics (I now think I probably was allergic to some food, or had parasites, and antibiotics just slowly eroded my gut)

I smoked and drank casually in my 20s, and by my 27th birthday I had sinus infections a couple times a year, but then, things got worse. Tonsils were getting infected, horrible sore throats, fungus on nails, and gradual weight loss. I took more broad-spectrum antibitoics and got a yeast infection. Had to stop.

I developed a weird rash on both legs (on the shins) of tiny red dots. Tried using topical anti-fungal cream. Then turned to tea tree oil, fasted (which encouraged some die-off symptoms), pro-biotics, and then found colloidal silver (which also helped to kill off something in my body, but not totally).

I was coughing up white balls of phglem, bad digestion & constipation/diarrhea. Also have had horrible and chronic localized lower back pain on the right side, to the point where I haven't been able to walk, or bend over. I tried acupuncture, chiropractors, and tons of herbal supplements. I have tried mixing DMSO in a nebulizer and inhaling that, I've taked food-grade H2O2 in water (and inhaled). (If you choose to try these treatments please do a significant amount of research. They are safe but, like most effective treatments, can be harmful if you're not mindful)

I believe all of the above treatments are components of a well-rounded wholistic health system. I have learned so much in trying all of them, and now have an arsenal of alternative health options for the future. Many of them I learned about on THIS SITE! BUT, if you are suffering from a candidia overgrowth and/or parasites, then I believe D.E. is the first offense to clear you out so other things can help to make you healthy.

* TAKING D.E. *
I began taking two giant spoonfuls of D.E. In water twice a day. Within hours I felt a headache. Within days I had full blown flu symptons. Achey body. Feverish. Sinuses in absolute pain. SOMETHING WAS/IS DYING OFF. What's really interesting is that I went through many of the symptoms of my past battles in reverse. I felt my tonsils get inflamed, and sore, for a couple days, then that subsided as the back of my throat was sore, then it moved down into my vocal chords (which as been a source of pain in the past as well), then into my lungs (where I've had horrible bouts of gurgly, phlegm filled coughing-having to use an inhaler many times a night).

I woke up on the 4th day with my tounge COVERED in white. It scraped right off with a toothbrush. I applied the D.E. as a paste to my face, shoulders, legs, and let it dry to white. And it has cleared my legs of the red-dot rash. It is making my pores on my face smaller. It seems to be very powerful in drawing toxins out of the skin. I'm on day 9 and still feel a bit loopy. My distended belly is going down. My gums, which once had dark rings where they met my teeth, now are healing. I've had back pains, then nothing (possible I had some overgrowth in my joints, or taking up residence in my lower back?), i'm having a strange pain in my knee that I think will go away.

I plan on taking D.E. for a year. I think I have a long way to go to help my body find balance. But D.E. seems like an incredible gift. I have been expelling phlegm out of sinuses and lungs for past 3 days. Thick gunk. It is incredible.

* DON'T GIVE UP *

So, I will say to you who are searching for good health: Don't give up! Trust your intuition. Keep moving and experimenting. You can't hurt yourself by trying alternative health methods any more than a Dr. Can hurt you by prescribing harsh synthetic drugs that you might be harming you. Most people don't need antibiotics. They are good for extreme conditions. But most symptoms are caused by bad diet (i am now mostly vegan - has also helped clear my lungs, skin, etc. Highly recommended!) and lifestyle. I do believe that we live in a toxic world, full of pollution, but I believe nothing is more harmful to our bodies than the american diet and lifestyle (processed sugar, processed grains, alcohol, caffeine, etc).

I don't believe people are supposed to have mild allergies, stuffy sinuses, low energy, bad skin, etc. These are all signs from your body that something is wrong internally. You have to treat the internal for the external to be healthy!

If anyone has questions please feel free to email or reply. I love reading testimonials from real people because I feel like you can determine what might be effective for you by reading other people's voices. Every body is different, and what might work for some (like D.E.) might not work for you. But DON'T GIVE UP! Keep going! It is a journey. You can find good health. Keep stripping away the layers of your habbits and patterns and examine every part of your life.

Be Well! Paul


Acne

Posted by Natcat86 (Gaithersburg, Maryland, Usa) on 08/16/2011
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I had really bad acne all over my face and neck with the random appearance on my chest, back, or shoulders constantly for 14 years (starting at puberty), and as time went on it only got worse (so it wasn't caused by changes in hormones as I was led to believe).

I stumbled upon some information on Diatomaceous Earth (DE) and became intrigued because of its many proported benefits (I recommend looking it up). It is relatively unknown, and only sold for pest control and consumption by animals, (but you can buy food grade DE online) but since it is used to mechanically kill bugs in grain silos and just about every person who has ever eaten grain which was stored in a silo has eaten DE, I figured it would be safe and I would try it.

DE is the fossilized shells of a type of algae called Diatoms. Their shells are extremely hard and very sharp (but yet not dangerous to your cells) and they mechanically scrub the walls of your intestines, scraping away any build-up. Some DE passes through the intestinal walls and into the bloodstream and while it is there it scrapes plaque buildup away from the walls of veins and arteries. It basicly acts like a plumber in your body.

I found that most cases of acne are caused by toxins entering the blood stream through the digestive system (some degree of leaky gut), not by a problem with the skin itself. It is your body attempting to expel the toxins from your blood.

When you expel the toxins which originate in your digestive tract through the digestive system, they don't have the opportunity to make it into your blood stream and thus cause acne by pushing through your skin.

So... I began adding 1tsp DE to water every day for a week, then increased it to 1 tbsp gradually after that and drank it daily for 2 months. I noticed a difference my skin within a day.

By the time 2 months was up I no longer had acne. I had to stop consuming it for a little while after that because I slightly threw my body off balance (my skin became a little dry). After a month off, I started consuming it again in moderation and have been ever since.

I have been able to consistently keep the acne away as long as I continue to consume it at least a couple of times a week. I highly recomend it because it is very effective and it gets to the root of the problem instead of just treating the symptoms. I now have had only a few pimples (instead of many hundreds) within the last 9 months, and I know that in time I will get them to go away completely.


High Blood Pressure

Posted by Ray (Payson, Utah) on 02/04/2010
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I read that diatomaceous earth would lower high blood pressure. About a month ago I started taking 2 tablespoons of DE in about an ounce of lemon juice (bottled lemon juice most of the time) and some water. My blood pressure had been 160/100 for years; 2 weeks ago my wife (RN) took my BP and it was 122/80 and tonight it was 112/68. Has anyone else tried this?


Broad Benefits

Posted by Christine (Bronx, New York) on 01/20/2010
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

stomache ulcer

I am so amazed by the fact that , for years i have gone to the doctor for a terrible stmache ulcer that i had. I was diagnosed at the age of 25. I was told that my ulcer was caused by a bacteria, H. pylori. Anyway, i was prescribe on numerous occasions, prevacid and prevpac.The prev pac cause me to get a yeast infection and bacteria vaginoisis that would not go away no matter what. finally, after years of suffering and research, i decided i was going to treat myself. I bought Diatomaceous earth, Clay (Terramin), and powdered wheatgrass. I mixed the diatomaceous earth together, half and half. The wheat grass did not taste so hot so i bought empty capsules and stuffed the wheatgrass in. Every morning before i eat i would drink a tablespoon full of my DE and clay mixture in an 8 ounce glass of water. I also at the same time take 4 of the wheatgrass capsules. I do this every morning and everynight before bed. within 2 week the pain in my stomache was gone. my yeast infection disappeared. the horrible smell caused by the bacteral vaginoisis disaapeared with only a small amount of discharge remaining. Also i suffer from fibroids and i no longer feel them nor the pain that they cause.