Does anyone else take food grade DE?

bedpotato_2

Crocswearer wrote: »

I don't think its necessary either, when I'm scooping it out of a container and putting into a glass of water.

I think "applying it" means sprinkling it or otherwise spreading it somewhere. It says once its settled it won't bother you. Mine has settled in its container and stays settled!

Indeed. :T

I wonder if all the people commenting wear gas masks when they're baking a cake and adding the flour? :rotfl: Thought not.

"Applying it" probably refers to spraying DE in powder form as an insecticide or pesticide, in such a way that it will rise up into the air. It doesn't mean "eating it" or "scooping a spoonful into a bowl." The negative people who are commenting should inform themselves a bit more before leaping to conclusions!

Even sprinkling it on the floor for fleas is fine. I have done that a lot in the past and it doesn't spray up into the air at all. There is no reason for it to, as you're sprinkling it downwards, not throwing it upwards. I decided once that I wanted to work it right into the carpet by using a stiff broom, Now that was "applying" it (in the warning sense that they mean) because it causes a huge cloud of dust to rise up and completely saturate the air. I made sure I went out and bought a mask beforehand, but the mask was no good because the holes weren't small enough and the DE got through and gave me a sore throat. I was not able to find a mask with a small enough filter to stop DE, so I never worked it into the carpet again. The particles are so fine I think you'd need a gas mask if using this to spray or brush. Extreme caution is advised if you're planning on spraying it in powder form. Sprinkling is fine though (as long as you're not exposed to any winds or draughts that would make the DE go upwards instead of downwards). Eating it is 100% fine, as it's going down your oesophagus and not down to your lungs.

All that's needed (as with most things in life) is some common sense.

bedpotato_2

Update: I am now on about week 3 or 4 (I didn't note the day I started) and STILL the mucus keeps on coming out. :eek: There must have been a LOT of nasty stuff inside of me that the DE killed, because the mucus (nose, throat, and bowels) just won't stop.

Being still in the detox phase, it's too soon to say if it will help my IBS and acne, which were the two things I was hoping for, but here are the things I've noticed so far:

- Hunger pangs and food cravings GONE

- Wake up on the dot with no need for alarm clock

- Lost three pounds in water weight initially due to diuretic effect, then lost a further two pounds and counting (or maybe it was the other way round. Not sure because my weight tends to fluctuate and I have a very bad memory for things unless I write them down)

- Period pain reduced. Normally on days 1 and 2 I am knocked out in bed feeling like I've got influenza, food poisoning, and appendicitis all rolled into one but on the one period I've had since taking DE, I didn't have to go to bed and wasn't out of action at all. I had a sharp sudden appearance of pain that only lasted about an hour and was bearable enough to keep walking around. Also ovulation is normally so painful I've been starting to suspect endometriosis but on my first ovulation since taking DE, I experienced the pain but NO CHILLS, NAUSEA, OR FAINTNESS! :T Was this just a fluke or coincidence, or will all my periods be more pain-free from now on? I'll just have to wait and see!

- !!!!!! colon greatly reduced (still currently consipated due to huge amounts of mucus now being released, but my bowels no longer get horrible bouts of pain nor go into spasm, and everything seems to have been greatly calmed down and soothed in some mysterious way. Things just feel better in there)

Unwelcome side effects: effect on brain while sleeping. Vast numbers of vivid dreams all night long. Far from waking up feeling refreshed, like some people report, I wake up feeling mentally exhausted: like I've spent the last 8 hours doing crossword puzzles. :eek: Granted I am autistic so I ALREADY have a feverish brain and vivid dreams. DE in this respect is far from ideal for me personally due to its weird ability to alter brain activity and make your thoughts go hyper. Other (non-autistic) people rave about how it gives them interesting dreams and how before taking DE they never remembered their dreams at all, but I have quite enough brain activity going on already without adding to it! For this reason, I have to take a small dose. I can't take the recommended tablespoon because if I do my brain goes bonkers at night. It's not only the dreams (that tire me out once I do finally get to sleep), but the feverish thoughts that simply won't let you get to sleep even if you're totally shattered. That sort of brain activity (your brain insisting it wants to keep thinking about the day's events even when you're scolding it and insisting it's time to go to sleep) is something I already experience as an autistic person and for this reason I have to be careful with how much DE I take so that it doesn't cause me to have chronic insomnia.

On the whole, I love DE. The pros greatly outweigh the cons (at least for me). I'm glad I plucked up the courage to try it. But I wish it didn't mess with my mind, so I'd be able to take a higher dose and get more of the benefits without any insomnia.

Oh, another bad side effect for me is the blood pressure thing. I already have low blood pressure so I can't take as much DE as people with high blood pressure can. When I took too much I got some scary low BP-related symptoms, so I had to cut down on it again pretty fast, but I can see how its ability to lower blood pressure would be a GOOD thing if your blood pressure is high.

fatballs

Have you considered that you didn't have worms before you started this, and that the eggs are in the clay powder?

I'm a doctor and would be very much interested in seeing an abdominal x ray of yours.

Be careful.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

This is the same stuff as in clumping cat litter, isn't it?

Are you sure the constipation isn't because you have an intestinal blockage in the making?

peachyprice

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

This is the same stuff as in clumping cat litter, isn't it?

It's about 90% silica the same stuff as in those little 'do not eat' bags you get in electrical goods and the stuff in those little boxes you buy to put on your windowsill to dry out excess condensation.

Elle7

If you wish to just believe any old hype, why did you start a forum post and not a blog?

You shoot down anyone who says anything...

Sparklyfairy

I just wanted to bump this thread a bit as I just started taking DE & have had the BEST results...

Firstly, my BP has been in the mild hypertension range for the past 9 yrs & after taking DE for 2.5 weeks, it has really dropped. I'm now averaging 123/73 ish. Initially I had tons of energy, now that seems to have stopped..my sleep has never been better, albiet with vivid dreams. My appetite has dropped (thank god!) & my hair & nails have grown considerably. I'm taking 1 tbsp daily in some oj in the am 1/2 hour before breakfast. I cannot reccomend this stuff enough!

Here's some links about DE & how it's helped others:

https://www.earthworkshealth.com/human-use-testimonials.php

http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=424078

It literally started to work the next day..I had TONS of energy! I initially bought a small amount to see if the hype was true & now I'm going to buy a 5kg package as I think I'll be taking it from now on purely from the bp results. Hope this helps someone, SF x

Sparklyfairy

fatballs wrote: »

Have you considered that you didn't have worms before you started this, and that the eggs are in the clay powder?

I'm a doctor and would be very much interested in seeing an abdominal x ray of yours.

Be careful.

To address this: DE is actually added to flours to RID any insects. Research has shown that the tiny DE particles are extremely sharp (on a hardness scale where diamonds are a 9, diatoms or DE is a 7). These sharp edges harm the delicate insects bodies & eggs without harming our bodies. In the US, the FDA has stated that the food grade is GRAS - generally regarded as safe.

There are some features about food grade diatomaceous earth that correspond with its ability as both a digestive aid and a colon cleanser. The honeycomb skeletal form of diatomaceous earth is found, under microscopic evaluation to reveal a tendency to become filled and clogged with hard debris such as intestinal scale. Food grade diatomaceous earth has not been found to cause any insult to the mucosa or barrier wall. Farmers have been known to give DE to their animals to prevent parasites for years, so eggs in clay powder would be the last thing they'd have.

fatballs

"Intestinal scale" :rotfl: Whatever man, if you think it works. Each to his own. Some people really will buy anything.

Sparklyfairy

fatballs, nice name man..

Look into it. Read the links I provided above. Why is it that not only has my bp gone way down but so has my LDL cholesterol & triglycerides since I started this (& this alone)?

You never mention what type of "doctor" you are...hardly a professional response imho..but hey ho, as you say "to each his own, man."

Edited to add this stuff is so, so cheap! If you knew me I'm not one of those holistic people who shuns mainstream medical care at all. That's why, initially, I bought a small amount. Since I'm more than happy with the results, I'll purchase more & since it is so cheap, it's a win win situation. It's almost 98% silica & our bodies need it & we generally lack it.

It's been extremely beneficial to me & for those who do some research on it, I suggest giving it a try, (before judging) then decide on whether or not DE works for them.