Why is my diatomaceous earth gray

Cat flea activity is triggered with an increase in carbon dioxide or vibration. Pet beds, carpets, and furniture are susceptible as areas where fleas will lay dormant. Though cleaning your pet is essential in a flea management program, this method alone is useless. The majority of the flea population lies in wait mostly on pet beds and carpets.

Dispose of the vacuum contents after each clean. Follow with an application of diatomaceous earth in the following places:.

Using diatomaceous earth between vacuuming provides ongoing flea control for those pests missed in the cleaning. One pregnant female can lay up to eggs in her four month lifetime, and a dormant flea egg can remain viable for up to a year. After application, DE remains viable in the fabric or carpet for months to come in case those eggs do hatch. For persistent flea problems, we recommend using electric flea traps along with a program of applying DE.

Locate the trap s in areas of highest flea concentration and apply the DE more broadly throughout the premises. Garden pests are controlled most successfully with DE when the product can be kept dry and out of the way of beneficial insects. Avoid putting DE directly on flower heads because bees are especially susceptible to the effects of the dust. Diatomaceous earth is probably the most overlooked insect pest control available for residential and garden use.

Most people have never heard of it, yet it has a longstanding track record for safety and effectiveness. DE is abundant, natural, effective, long-lasting and very inexpensive, with little to no toxicity to the surrounding environment when applied properly.

In many homes, DE may be the only insect pest control measure you may ever need. Pin for later:. Jessica Dawe Jessica Dawe owns a garden center and has been practicing integrated pest management and permaculture since graduating in with a degree in horticulture.

Read Article. Mined from ancient riverbeds and lakes, diatomaceous earth DE is the fossilized remains of prehistoric, freshwater phytoplankton or algae.

Many years ago these single celled creatures, called diatoms, formed exoskeletons made up entirely of silica. Color and types The different colors of diatomaceous earth reflect the regional differences of diatomite deposits from all over the world.

How diatomaceous earth works Though diatomaceous earth is considered a pesticide under the Pest Control Act, its effectiveness is actually mechanical. Type of Insect Apparent Results Bed bugs 24 hours to 5 days Darkling beetles days Silverfish days Black or red ants 24 hours DE is effective on many more insect types than on the chart above.

If applied correctly, diatomaceous earth is: Non toxic to pets or humans A versatile pest management tool Easy to find in most communities Inexpensive. For the best results: Identify the pest and their habitat. Be sure to check behind furniture, fridges, crevices where floors meet walls, at the back of cupboards, and along windowsills. Using a teaspoon, set out the DE in lines that insects will be likely to cross.

Leave these lines in place. Do not sweep, vacuum or get wet. People who take DE internally report increased energy, decreased joint pain, better skin, thicker hair, improved digestive health, clearer thinking, and other improvements to their health. To take DE internally, begin by taking one teaspoon in liquid daily at least one hour before or two hours after meals. You can increase your dose over time as your body gets used to taking it.

Some people experience flu-like symptoms when they first begin taking DE. This is caused by the toxins being dislodged and leaving your system. These symptoms should go away after a few days.

If they persist or get worse, reduce your DE intake, and drink more water. Some people see positive results within a few days of beginning their DE intake, but if it takes longer for you, that's okay. It can take several weeks or more.

Many people use diatomaceous earth in homemade deodorants , soaps , facial scrubs , toothpaste , and more. Because of its coarse, absorbent nature, it also makes a good cleaner for sinks, tubs, and tile floors.

The ability to absorb moisture also makes it a great preservative for stored grain. People opt for these natural do-it-yourself solutions because they help eliminate the need for the harmful chemicals often found in commercial products. Pest control grade DE is a very effective way to fight off bed bugs, ticks, fleas, ants, and other bugs without using toxic chemicals. DE's bug-killing secret is in its physical structure.

Because it is so coarse and porous, it sticks to insects and absorbs moisture from their exoskeletons. Bugs die from dehydration after they have been exposed to DE for an extended amount of time.

It works on some bugs in a matter of hours, while for others it can take a couple of days. One of the most important precautions to take with DE is to make sure you get the right grade. Never ingest pool grade or use it around your home, pets, or children. Use food-grade DE for you and your pets, and use a chemical-free pest control grade DE to kill pests around your home and yard. If you experience constipation while taking DE, it's usually because you are taking too much DE or not drinking enough water.

Drink more water and lower your DE dosage, and any constipation you experience should go away. Be sure to do your research before you decide what brand of DE to buy. Make sure you research the quality and source of your DE. Finally, be cautious about taking DE while you are on prescription medication. We do not recommend taking DE while you are on medication and encourage you to talk to your doctor before doing this.

Calling bentonite clay "dirt" is a bit more accurate, since it is, after all, a kind of clay. Yet it deserves a more detailed explanation. Like DE, bentonite clay contains a collection of trace minerals, but it's mainly composed of the mineral montmorillonite, which comes from volcanic ash. Bentonite clay deposits are mined and ground into a light brown, earthy powder. There are two main grades of bentonite clay: industrial grade and food grade.

There are also different varieties of bentonite clay with different concentrations of minerals. The two most common types of bentonite clay are calcium bentonite and sodium bentonite. Sodium bentonite is generally mined for industrial uses and is usually not a good choice to take internally.

Like all forms of bentonite clay, it expands when it absorbs liquid, but sodium bentonite can absorb much more than any other type of bentonite clay. This can be problematic if it swells in your stomach or intestines. It can, however, be used externally. Calcium bentonite has much lower sodium content and doesn't swell as much, which makes it safer to take internally, and this is generally the kind people use for this purpose. The second thing to remember is that you need to get food grade bentonite clay if you are going to be ingesting it, just like DE.

Food grade bentonite clay is cleaner and more carefully handled than industrial-grade bentonite clay. People take bentonite clay as a supplement and a way to detox the digestive system. Similar to DE, bentonite clay is rich in silica, though it does not contain as much as DE. Bentonite clay also has, like DE, trace minerals that can be beneficial for your body.

Like DE, bentonite clay is absorptive, which allows it to draw heavy metals and other toxins and help them pass out of the body. One big difference between DE and bentonite clay, however, is that bentonite clay is much smoother than DE. Plan to keep on taking it. The disclaimer MUST be displayed. Sally, speaking of reading to educate..

If you eat anything made from grain, you are eating some DE. It is also mixed in a large amount of pharmaceuticals as a flow agent. I find it amusing that you are preaching to others about using it and may be using it yourself.

I think your message was read to educate… try your own advice. DE has been used for a very long time. My cholesterol came down points in 2 months with this ALONE, it was over and my blood pressure came down to normal from very high levels. You should see what came out of me when I first started, if you know what I mean.

God gave us many things to cure ourselves. I go to many doctors and have lots of manmade chemicals put in my body everyday that are much scarier than eating DE. Good stuff. Thanks for sharing that it helped with your fibromyalgia. My fibromyalgia has been in a flare with all this cold weather. I am going to start using this tonight!! I have been taking DE for about a month and up to 1 tbsp once daily.

I decided to stop this morning because I have been experiencing some weird health problems. Now, I am sick with a terrible cold. How does yeast come out of the body when detoxing? I have Fibro for over 30 years with terrible chronic constipation. I am always looking for an answer to help. I was beginning to think that at the DE was making me sicker…. Your body may need to go really slow……with your current health problems it seems like your body would have a huge backlog of toxins and the amount of DE is pushing it out too quickly.

I also have fibro, and use DE. I started with half a teaspoon and took 2 months to work up to a tablespoon. The things you describe all sound very much like your body detoxing too fast for your health conditions. You can also add a squeeze of lemon to every glass of water you drink. I used to be prone to UTIs until I started doing those things. This is based solely on my own experience, but I hope it helps. How much of this can you put into facial moisturizer?

Oh, I forgot to mention, as for how yeast comes out of the body during detox- Us fibro folks are very prone to overgrowth of yeast, as you probably know. When you start using DE, the DE will kill the yeast, and it gets flushed out along with other toxins. However, because of the major yeast die-off, the dead yeast is decaying and producing other toxins before it has a chance to be flushed out, and this die-off WILL make you feel ill.

I just started taking DE for myself and my kids and my pups! So any previous issues will surface and then the body will remove the toxins. How much do you give your kids? How old is the youngest? You can start your baby off with half a teaspoon every other day for a week then half a teaspoon daily and the following week, one teaspoon…. It wont hurt your baby but the reason to go slow is because expelling worms from your body too quickly can make you feel lethargic and fluey…It will soon have bubs all cleaned out.

Your body is just detoxing. All kinds of things can happen when you are detoxing. You can have headaches, cold, rashes. Just keep going. Going to links within the medical community and medical research sites will help everyone involved.

Knowledge is power. There are plenty of things that the Lord put on this earth that we can use for the good. Unless you are a scientist, a doctor, a chemist, or something else similar to those professions then your opinion is no worse or better then the article you are complaining about. If you are from one of those professions, then please share what you know about DE. Or … perhaps you have done a huge amount of research on DE and you know something about DE that you are not sharing.

If so, share. If not, then please do the research before telling people not to use a product that might very well be what they need to feel better. By now, someone, somewhere, would have gotten a sick animal and we would have heard about the effects of using DE on animals, let alone on people. Clearly this FDA decision is disgusting, unbelievable, and down right wrong. Should we eat the meat from this food? They are NOT a medical association that has been around a long time and has done long term testing for science and knowledge.

All vitamins and supplements have that disclaimer, not approved by the FDA. Does not mean its a bad thing. I will def look into this further. Sounds worth my time and effort. Sorry Sally … the disclaimer is required to prevent lawsuits. Lots of natural substances are actually beneficial without FDA approval. OK, I almost give up!

Natural foods, minerals, herbs, are supposedly really bad for us? What about digitalis? Does the FDA have the last word? The FDA is in bed with big pharma and big food to keep us sick and keep us in their factory of money making greed grabbing cycle of insanity.

If you are really concerned about people not taking things that are natural and beneficial to health…find out why taking DE is bad. Then by all means let us know. The FDA requires all alternative methods of healing and staying well to have a disclaimer like the one you are making sure everyone sees….

I suspect you are in a line of work that lines up with the afore mentioned conglomerates. Ever hear of thalidomide? Thank you, Merry, for stepping in and sharing. All my comments were directed towards Sensible Sally. I think DE has a lot to offer in many different areas of life, and yes, that includes eating it.

There are an amazing amount of products on the market, that people eat, drink, or take into their body in some manner, that their ingredients come from the earth. That means out of the dirt. Have you ever eaten a veggie directly from your garden? Without washing it? Where does salt come from? What about all the minerals we take into our bodies, both from the food we eat and the supplements we take?

Dirt is the least of my worries. I agree with Merry. I would rather eat dirt and take my chances, then take all kinds of man-made pills and risk additional health issues, or even death, when it comes to basic, daily health care. Choose who you trust carefully. Many disgusting practices like slurry fertilization, feeding feces to farm animals and the like are approved practices. Just popping in on the conversation. It was proven Vitamin B5 was used to cure cancer.

FDA said it was banned. So those who say the FDA is in bed with Pharma is correct. Besides I have been using DE for a month now and I feel great my bloating has gone away.

I also use it on my dog and I see a difference in him. Next I plan to use it on my horse, but I wanted to try it out on myself and dog first.

There is nothing to fear I have had no side effects and neither has my dog. I am looking forward to checking my blood pressure and cholesterol. My only concern is can I take it without stopping. I read somewhere where you should take a break after 30 days any thoughts on this. Before there was FDA or pharmaceutical companies, there were herbs and dirt. Back then people lived healthier than most of us now. And what did they eat? Naturally grown foods without chemicals, herbs they picked from the forest around them, and quite possibly ground up dirt.

The FDA and pharmaceutical companies stand to make a lot of money out of something they can easily produce using chemicals. They do not make much money if we start using natural supplements for two reasons. Almost all pharmaceutical drugs have some sort of side effect and some are serious enough to need a second or even third medication to offset the side effect.

Reply and I will fill you in. Got cancer? Get fucoidan. I think it removes all the junk from our intestinal tract that is making us sick, and supplies us with necessary minerals, so that our amazing body can heal itself.

The FDA also approves of the Chinese processing foods for us, using their seasonings, preservatives and such for human and pet products. Look in the news for all of the pets being killed by treats made in or made with materials from China. FDA approves for all of this. When will the people and the FDA start watching out for their citizens? When enough people rise up and argue, point out their faults and fight for the processing to be here in the US and buying US made items and US grown items…Stand up for yourselves, quit being lemmings just following your government unto the unknown.

The word dirt tends to conjure up images of bacteria, impurities, unclean, bugs and so on. Diatomaceous earth is ground up fossils of a once living organism — a preserved plant, basically. As for the grittiness — should we not be using salt or pepper in our food? That is a ridiculous thing to base edibility and safety-to-consume on.

Hi, Sally — please be aware that the disclaimer you are referring to is required by the FDA for ALL non-pharmaceutical products that are health related.

All the really great whole-food vitamin supplements have to carry the same disclaimer. I could purchase it in Italy, great stuff! The best thing to do when you have doubts about natural health promoting products is to find and read the studies to determine for yourself what you feel is believable. I live in MN so different states have different policies. You can buy raw milk. But the farmer with the raw milk cannot advertise that he is selling it, or deliver it, so the customer has to find him first.

I have a neighbor who sells the delicious raw and organic milk. For a while they tried to follow the law but after a while they decided they were losing too much money and decided to start their deliveries again…they might be taking a risk. What they did notice is that when someone is thrown in jail for a bit and talked about on the news…they get publicity. So the man that was in jail for delivering and advertising his milk now has a huge waiting list of customers who want to buy his raw milk!

I know this is a little off the topic of DE but just wanted to put that out there since she brought it up. Greetings Sally! DE is already added to food products to allow for free flowing product, anti clumping agents, etc.

Its FDA approved for such applications. DE is also added into some feed to keep bugs out of the feed stock. Rub it on my legs from knees down to toes to keep chiggers from eating my crotch. I take it internally for bowel cleansing, we use it in toothpaste, and other cleansing products. Why would we really care if the FDA has put its seal of approval on it? There seal is practically useless to us nowadays. After nearing on three decades in administrative law, I can, comfortably, say, blindly relying on government is the errand of fools.

In my world, one plus one remains two. A review of public records reveals great influences of legislative entities by lobbyists. In the private sector, the same would be classed fiduciary breaches that reached the realm of criminal activity.

Take valarium, as just one example. Sally, I appreciate your comment. Exposed inhalation over time does, however, increase the risk of lung cancer. Your eyes are closed…. So I am healthy, and my mother died of diabetes and my brother is close behind. Alternative options are the answer. I have used coconut oil for 17 years now as a toothpaste careful how you dispose of it in North climates, lol…even living in Fl….

Bruce Fife, folks…look him up.. I read hundreds. I recently …6 years ago.. The exoskeleton…. I used to sell it back in the 90s.. I knew about it for bugs and weight loss, but not all these other testimonials….

It is a powerful and harmless detox in this small quantity for adults. And it works, although it contains ricin. It is also, amazing for skin, ad hair with its anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties. I hope that helps! Considering how long it takes for something to become fossilized, NO it is not a renewable resource in the same way of petroleum and coal. I am wondering how DE is extracted, and the effects on the earth from that. DE may be amazing and helpful, but statements like that make the author sound ignorant of body functions, and that makes me doubt her claims about DE entirely.

This is all that was said about our bowels… apparently you skimmed through this part. Nice, diatoms! Regulates bowel movements, lessens gastrointestinal inflammation, cleans out the colon, treats both diarrhea and constipation.

It is a great choice for families on the GAPS diet! I was. I only eat it to make sure it comes out within 24 hrs…. I read somewhere this same question and the answer was there was enough now to last a hundred years.. Perhaps there will be more deposits found by then. I am wondering if the ladies using DE as toothpaste have been to their dentists afterwards?

I ask, because I was looking into activated charcoal. I saw on one site where dentists answered and said it was too abrasive and damaging to the teeth. FOOD grade as in okay-ed for animal consumption, but not human. Is this just red tape? Can I use this stuff since I always have it on hand? I would think that since it is made from fossils of diatoms, assuming that they are not extinct, we could make more.

However, fossilization takes a long time. I am a thinker, not a scientist. Silica shells of one celled diatoms over time sink in the ocean and create layers of deposits. That is what we mine and call diatomaceous earth.

It takes millions of years to create the vast deposits now used for DE mining. Silica, unlike calcium is insoluble in seawater — so it does not degrade or change form. It remains its potent and sharp form which until the government intervened …. That is interesting! I want to try brushing with it now! Maybe it is similar to what the hygenist uses to polish our teeth…? DE is very abrasive and can harm your enamel.

I mix DE and baking soda with peroxide to make a paste … then brush. Very interesting post. I was only able to find one on cholesterol but not on any other effects this has on the body. I like to read more before I put something in my body natural or otherwise.

Cortney, I have no affiliation with the FDA. If you want to cleanse your body there are safer ways to do it. Herbs are better for human consumption. This reminds me of the soy lecithin everyone was eating until the results were calculated.

I drink 1 TBSP in water everyday. My arthritis is practically nil now and my nails are growing for the 1st time in years! I also sprinkle it on my dog for flea control. They testimonials and recipes! Actually a lot of people eat dirt.

Pregnant women can have cravings for dirt. Kids routinely eat dirt. Animals eat dirt! Ever stop and think about the mass production of the foods you eat? Why the nutritional values are lower than they were fifty years ago? We have depleted the soils that our food grows in, so we add fertilizers. Take a good look at commercial fertilizer. DE used to be on and in a lot of the foods we ate including our water sources. Hybridization, over use, chemicals…. It was proven over and over again!

Yet the FDA approved it! Actually Sally, I believe you are a protagonist. DE has been used for centuries as a safe and effective wormer and bug killer. Do some thinking and some research before chatting on about something you know nothing about. Hope that helps. Basically people browsing the notes are into natural remedies and just want to see how many have benefitted by the treatment and I really find it tiresome to have someone banging on about stuff that dosent concern them and that no one cares about or they wouldnt be seeking alternative cures in the first place , due to lack of results in the medical field.

It is used in grain in this country to keep it fresh and keep it from developing bug problems. Every health blog has to put that disclaimer start reading more and you will see it everywhere, oil pulling has been done for thousands of years but if you wanted to write an article on it and the health benefits you would have to put the disclaimer. We certainly do not want them regulating our access to vitamins and supplements or limiting our access. The internet is a great place to share but the people who do the sharing have to protect themselves from frivolous lawsuits.

The FDA has approved a lot of drugs that have really harmful side effects. The moneys they have to put out for lawsuits when someone is badly hurt from their poorly tested drugs is just in the millions. So whatever they pay out for wrongful death or injury is a pittance compared to the money they make rushing new drugs on to the market without the proper studies.

If you think Big pharma is looking out for you, you are very naive. And yeah, billions of people around the world DO eat dirt to survive. DIRT: : a substance such as mud or dust that makes things unclean? Their shoes were covered with dirt. No amount of cleaning will get rid of all this dirt. DE deposits are composed of pure silica; perhaps mixed with some deposited minerals derived from seawater.

Remember, most salt is mined from naturally occurring deposits — it is gritty and comes from the earth. We use bentonite in our calf pens and the calves lick it freely.

Our horses choose to chew it if it is made available. Our chickens dust themselves in it and peck at it. We are animals too…and I can see no reason to consider DE unsafe for humans when it is perfectly safe for other animals. DE is a component of pelletised feeds which binds the pellets together.

Ann, that is interesting.. I have horses and where do you buy the bentonite for them? I have never seen it in the feed store.. Have some for myself, but it would cost too much to feed to them.. Affiliated with a drug company? I am of Cherokee decent and I can tell on solid fact. Ask yourself how American Indians were among the first to be healthy and live longer?? Every see or hear of an old "pilgrim"?

Biggest case in point is the now widening use of medical marijuana. What , may I ask, do you think was in our peace pipes? And yes, I am a direct decent. I was raised on a Cherokee children mission , just out side of Cave Springs, Oklahoma if you care to research that.

The biggest problem with "earth medicine" is you have a few wack jobs out there that become extremists and give intelligent users a bad rep. And if you really want to dissect it, research what the "active ingredient" in your holier-than-thow FDA items. That will really surprise you. At what time , in most countries, education wasn't "approved" either. Why do you think that is? Let people decide for them selves or provide better argument.

Oh and not to bust your bubble, BUT tin foil hats wont keep them out either!!! Soy is very bad for you…any soy product that is processed with any heat releases a gas in you……. Much cheaper sources than them, however they have some interesting articles on the stuff but mostly anecdotal. In regards to published papers… probably not too many studies performed on this non money maker for the sellers of drugs.

Just remember it must be food grade. Industrial grade DE is deadly to the human body. Pool filter DE is an example of industrial DE. Hi Danielle, Thanks so much for this info! If I sprinkle it in the carpet do I need to vaccum right away or can it sit?

Is it safe for my pets to go near after? Hi Libby! I use DE to keep insects at bay. I sprinkle it around our foundation. The only issue I had was it washing away with the rain. I hope to watch the weather better this year before applying. Food grade DE is cheap; buy that. With bee colony collapses, we need every bee we have to pollinate crops, so we have food. We are all interconnected. Yes, I agree! As I mentioned in the article, do not sprinkle on or around flowers.

We need all the bees we can get! We use DE during our production of maple syrup. It is used with filter paper to help make the syrup clear. I never thought about using it in the house.

Ellen, We do sell wholesale. You can send me an email at stein sweetdreammaplefarm. Thank you for asking, looking forward to hearing from you! Amy Stein. There is DE bagged specifically for human consumption. I started using DE about a year ago for my chickens mostly, but I mix it with the feed for the piggies and goats.

I had one pig that most definitely had worms, and In short order she was OK. When I bought my DE, I was told that food grade was white in color, and industrial grade was mostly brown. I put it in the bedding for my chickens and the bedding in my goats pen for fleas, mites, lice, and other insects.

I am learning this week about putting it into the feed for my chickens and my goats. Depending on where I lived, as the shipping is the thing that is expensive…. We used to be heavily involved in Animal Rescue and many of the rescue animals came into the rescue with worms and parasites. But they were too sick to do a de-worming protocol from the vet, so we gave them DE with their food. It also makes their coats shiny and soft. I did a ton of research.

I decided to wait until I could find more conclusive evidence for this one question that lingers in my mind. Knowing that, and knowing the delicate membranes in some of our digestive areas, I still have a concern that those same sharp edges could, over time, act as sandpaper on our intestinal and stomach tissues.

So, at this time, I think the only way I would use this is for a short time burst — then I would let it rest. If that makes sense. This is a very interesting point, and I would also like to know if anyone has come across research that says anything about this. Just a thought. It could also be the amount taken that does not cause any problems within the stomach and intestine? I think that is my concern — I am just uncertain. Sometimes I take a less is more approach until I have my facts secured.

I wondered this also. If it cuts up exoskeletons I wonder what keeps it from cutting up soft tissue? Maybe it softens up with moisture, hence the reason we have to keep applying it if it gets wet?

Yes, I do understand that concern. What gave me reassurance in that area is that it is recommended by Dr. She talks more about DE on the bottom of page 9 and onto page There are a lot of questions and answers to read…very interesting! I have a question? I have a friend who can not eat my eggs if I have fed the alfalfa or she gets sick since she is allergic to alfalfa! Just curious of thoughts.

Unless you plan on eating the shell. I would not say that eggs from chickens could be a source of DE, since DE is technically diatoms. I would say that the egg itself and the eater???? Hope that makes sense. Not sure what happened. We own a feed mill and incorporate DE as we bring in grains, so, ultimately it is in our grist and ground feeds. The USEPA began their witch-hunt and spent a couple days going through our labeling and then spent hours going over our website and concluded we were selling an unlicensed insecticide.

Took them one year, but they slapped us with a fine of over a quarter million dollars. Careful what you say…. Disclaimers do NOT exempt anyone anymore. Farmers use DE to protect their wheat from pests. It has to be dry for it to be effective against carapaced, exoskeletoned beasts. Do you think it changes when you put it in water and swallow it? And, by the way, has anybody heard of Aulterra powder for enhancing nutraceuticals and absorbing EMW radiation?

I bought some and tried it for the little german roaches and they just walked around with it all over themselves. IT is food grade though so maybe I should get the other??

I would stick with the food grade. You might could try reapplying, making sure to cover all crevices and points of entry and reapplying after rain. I hope that helps. I used it for squash bugs in the garden as well as for lots of other things and found in my research and experience that it works on them when they are still young and soft. I use it with my chickens a lot, in their nests, on their droppings, occasionally in their feed, etc.

The first bag I bought was a fine, white powder.