10 Must-know Uses of Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth is a soft, chalky like powder that is made up of diatoms, which are the fossilised remains of ancient single cell organisms.
It is found all over the world in river beds, lakes and oceans and is processed into a fine powder that has many uses around the home and in beauty and health care treatments too.
The main ingredient in diatomaceous earth is silica, which makes up about 90% of its mass, and it has a natural negative charge that attracts bacteria, parasites and toxins to it.
It works, almost like a magnet, attracting and holding onto unwanted particles, like toxins and bacteria, and that means that it can be used to cleanse the human body, as well as it can be used for cleaning around the home.
Here are ten of the many uses of diatomaceous earth.
1. Facial scrub
Diatomaceous earth consists of minute particles that are cylindrical in shape with holes in. This makes it the ideal ingredient to include in a facial scrub.
Mix diatomaceous earth with aloe vera juice and use it to gently exfoliate your face. It will remove all the dead skin cells and attract any bacteria and dirt to it as well.
2. Deodorant
You can also use diatomaceous earth in homemade deodorants that are gentler on the skin than commercial deodorants and don’t contain any harsh chemicals.
To make your own deodorant, mix a quarter cup of food grade diatomaceous earth with melted coconut oil to form a paste. You can also sprinkle diatomaceous earth in shoes to remove bad odours.
3. Pest control
If you have pets, or you just hate spiders, then diatomaceous earth is great for killing pests in the home.
Sprinkle on your carpets to kill pet fleas, or you can leave small amounts of it the cracks and crevices that other bugs hide in and your home will soon be pest free.
If you use food grade diatomaceous earth, the bugs will hate it, but it’s perfectly safe to use around the home.
4. It strengthens hair and nails
Taken internally, diatomaceous earth has many health benefits. Because of its high silica content, it strengthens and promotes the growth of hair and nails.
There have been many reports of people who have experienced significant improvements in the hardness of their nails and the growth of their hair once they started using diatomaceous earth.
5. It increases the production of collagen
Silica is also needed by the body to produce collagen in the skin. You do get silica from certain types of food, but if you take diatomaceous earth, you will greatly increase your intake of bioavailable silicon, which will help to produce more collagen that keeps skin firm and young looking.
6. It strengthens bones and teeth
Silica is also an important constituent of tooth enamel and bones. Regular consumption of diatomaceous earth will help to strengthen bones and teeth and could help prevent the development osteoporosis in later life.
7. It naturally detoxes the body
The negative ionic charge of diatomaceous earth, along with the shape and the tiny holes that are in the particles, makes it attract toxins and bacteria as it passes through the body.
Foreign bodies in the body bind with the diatomaceous earth and then are expelled in the usual way. In other words, it’s the perfect way to detox your body of harmful toxins, on a daily basis.
8. It lowers cholesterol and strengthens the arteries
There is also evidence to suggest that consuming diatomaceous earth could be very beneficial to the cardiovascular system.
Studies have found that diatomaceous earth can remove plaque from the arteries and dramatically reduce cholesterol levels in the blood.
The silica that is in diatomaceous earth also strengthens arteries, which lose silica over time.
9. It boosts the immune system
Silica is used by the body to create the antibodies that are responsible for fighting disease. An increase in silica in the diet would therefore increase the production of anti-bodies that destroy bacteria, viruses and allergens that get into the system.
10. Garden pest control
You can also use diatomaceous earth to kill slugs and other pests in the garden. Food grade is completely non-toxic to humans, but the tiny silica based particles do kill small insects.
You must always be sure that you only use food grade diatomaceous earth around the home and for ingestion.
There are other forms of diatomaceous earth that are used industrial processes and in swimming pool filters, but they are harmful if ingested, or breathed in. Be cautious!
We recommend consulting with your healthcare professional before taking diatomaceous earth internally.
Do you know other diatomaceous earth uses?
Stay happy and healthy!