Sunday, December 14, 2014

9 Uses for Diatomaceous Earth

9 Uses for Diatomaceous Earth

Link to Dr. Group's Healthy Living blog

9 Uses for Diatomaceous Earth

Posted: 13 Dec 2014 07:00 AM PST

diatomaceous-earth-in-jar

Food-grade diatomaceous earth, or D.E., contains nutritive factors in the way of essential electrolyte and trace minerals, such as silicon, calcium, sodium, magnesium, and a bevy of other trace minerals. These characteristics alter the applications and benefits of diatomaceous earth, giving it enormous use in agricultural, health, and medicine.

Interesting Uses of Diatomaceous Earth

Below are just some of the interesting uses and benefits of food-grade diatomaceous earth that make it such a diverse, innovative natural substance.

Gentle Abrasive

Diatomaceous earth is sometimes used in natural hygiene products such as toothpaste and facial washes as it acts as a gentle abrasive. [1] Compounds that exhibit this quality are helpful for removing bacteria that naturally accumulates on the teeth and the skin.

Supplement

D.E. is rich in trace minerals, particularly silicon, and is often consumed as a food supplement. Diatomaceous earth is not a replacement for a healthy diet or multivitamin; yet, it does provide bioavailable minerals often lacking from a normal diet.

Immune Support

There is some evidence suggesting that diatomaceous earth could be helpful for supporting immune defenses by fighting viral and bacterial compounds associated with infection. [2] While the evidence is minimal, many people use the compound during the cold and flu season to amp up their body's protective mechanisms.

Detoxification

Possibly one of the most popular uses for diatomaceous earth is for chelation–or detoxification–of heavy metals. While there is very little research to confirm the in vivo removal of toxic compounds, it is theorized that D.E. binds with heavy metals and assists their transit out of the body.

Insecticide and Commercial Pesticide

Diatomaceous earth is a natural pest control solution, [3] and some compounds are extracted to create chemical pesticides for the non-organic agriculture industry.

Water Filter

The natural detoxification benefits of D.E. are often used as a filtration medium in water purification systems, swimming pools, and consumables like water, beer, wine, sugar, and honey.

Cleaner

Absorbency is another component of diatomaceous earth that makes the product so helpful for cleaning toxic liquid spills, primary ingredient in cat litter, ethylene gas reduction, and to extend fresh produce shelf life.

Medicine

The use of diatomaceous earth in DNA processing and purification has been helpful for a wide variety of applications. [4] Diatomaceous earth is quickly becoming a driving force behind medical innovations.

Gardening

Hydroponic gardening has become an environmentally-friendly growing method for home gardeners and large-scale farmers. Diatomaceous earth has been used in conjunction with this growing medium, helping plants thrive in its prime aqueous environment. The compound assists plants in the retainment of water and nutrients while also allowing fast drainage and high oxygenation.

One Final Thought

The natural sedimentary substance diatomaceous earth, found and mined from the ground in various regions of the world, has been used for an increasingly impressive list of biological and industrial uses over time. We have covered just some of the fascinating and often unknown uses and more and more uses are being slowly discovered as research continues to investigate this powerful product.

Have you used diatomaceous earth for any of these benefits? Please let us know your experiences in the comments!

-Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN, DCBCN, DABFM

References:

  1. Antonides, Lloyd E.. Diatomite. 1997, U.S.G.S.
  2. Michen B, Meder F, Rust A, et al. Virus removal in ceramic depth filters based on diatomaceous earth. Environ Sci Technol. 2012 Jan 17;46(2):1170-7. doi: 10.1021/es2030565.
  3. Athanassiou CG, Arthur FH, Opit GP, Throne JE. Insecticidal effect of diatomaceous earth against three species of stored-product psocids on maize, rice, and wheat. J Econ Entomol. 2009 Aug;102(4):1673-80.
  4. Siun Chee Tan and Beow Chin Yiap. DNA, RNA, and Protein Extraction: The Past of the Present. J Biomed Biotechnol. 2009; 2009: 574398. doi: 10.1155/2009/574398.

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