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Diatomaceous Earth (DE) is a silica(found in humans, animals, plans, and essentials for healthy bones, nails, skin, hair, and other body parts/organs)-rich mineral made from the remains of diatoms (organism found in lakes, oceans, rivers, streams, and anywhere there is water). It is a very hard rock that is crushed into white power. It has many uses and health benefits for humans, animals, and even plans. There are two types of DE - Food Grade and Non-Food Grade. The safest type to use is the food-grade one for both internal and external uses. There are many uses and health benefits of Diatomaceous Earth; I'll share just seven of them.
1. Detoxifies the body and improves health inside out
When taken internally, food-grade Diatomaceous Earth detoxes the body by absorbing toxins from the blood and killing parasites and viruses from the body. It also cleanses the gut, as a result, clears the skin and improves the overall health of other body parts/organs. DE strengthens the bones, joints, teeth, nails, hair, and eyelashes. Make sure to stay hydrated when taking DE as it can cause constipation.
How to take it:
Put a teaspoon of food-grade DE in a cup of water, mix it, and drink it on an empty stomach 1 hour before eating, or 2-3 hours after. Do this once a day in the morning or evening. Take DE 10 days on, and 10 days off. After a week or two of taking DE, you can increase your intake to 2 teaspoons or 1 tablespoon. Start gradually to see how your body reacts to it. There are many ways of taking DE, this is just one of them.
2. A natural deodorant for sensitive skin
If you're into making your own natural deodorants to protect your body from harmful substances found in the conventional deodorants, you may want to consider DE as a substitute. Baking soda is commonly used as an ingredient in DIYs deodorants, but many people find it irritating on their skin, especially when used in big quantity. If you have sensitive skin, you can replace the baking soda with DE.
How to use it:
a. Apply it directly to the armpits without mixing it with anything.
b. Mix 3/4 cup of arrowroot powder, 1/3 cup of food-grade DE,
1 teaspoon of baking soda (optional since it's a small amount; if your skin can handle it), 8 tablespoons of soft organic cold pressed extra virgin coconut oil, and 10 drops of essential oil of your choice. Store it in a glass jar, and use as needed.
c. Mix 3/4 cup of arrowroot powder, 1/3 cup of food-grade DE, 1/3 cup of melted organic cold pressed extra virgin coconut oil, 4-6 tablespoons of melted beeswax pellets, and 10 drops of essential oil of your choice. Store it in a deodorant stick or glass jar, let it cool down, and use as needed.
3. Toothpaste for strong and clean teeth
Use DE as a toothpaste or mix it in your current toothpaste.
How to use it:
a. Put a little bit of DE on your toothpaste, and brush your teeth as usual.
b. Mix DE in your store-bought toothpaste or DIYs toothpaste.
c. Mix 5-10 tablespoons of DE, 5-10 tablespoons of
Bentonite Clay, 1-3 teaspoons of baking soda (optional), and 2-3 tablespoons of activated charcoal. Mix it all with a wooden spoon (avoid any metallic item because it will cancel out the Bentonite Clay), and store it in a glass jar.
d. Mix 5-10 tablespoons of DE, 5-10 tablespoons of
Bentonite Clay, 1-3 teaspoons of baking soda (optional), 2-5 teaspoons of organic cold pressed extra virgin coconut oil at room temperature, 3-5 drops of peppermint essential oil. Mix it all with a wooden spoon (avoid any metallic item because it will cancel out the Bentonite Clay), and store it in a glass jar.
4. Skin products, facial mask and scrub
DE is a common ingredient found in many skin products such as soaps, facial masks, and facial scrubs. If you make your own soap, you can use DE as one of the ingredients for smooth and clear skin. But for now, let's talk about the facial mask and scrubs.
How to use it:
a. Mix a tablespoon (or less) of DE with few drops of distilled water to create a paste-like consistency. If you have dry skin, try mixing it with a bit (drops) of carrier old such as coconut oil, almond oil, olive oil, or other oils because DE can be very drying. Apply it on your face by gently scrubbing it in a circular motion. Leave it for about 15-20 minutes, and wash it off with cool water.
b. Mix a tablespoon (or less) of DE, 1/2 teaspoon of honey, and 1/2 teaspoon of plain yogurt. Apply it on your face by gently scrubbing it in a circular motion. Leave it for about 15-20 minutes, and wash it off with cool water.
c. Mix a tablespoon (or less) of DE, 1/2 teaspoon of honey, 2-5 drops of apple cider vinegar (less for sensitive skin), and 2-3 drops of tea tree essential oil (
optional, do this before bedtime to avoid direct sun radiation after applying tea tree essential oil) . Apply it on your face by gently scrubbing it in a circular motion. Leave it for about 15-20 minutes, and wash it off with cool water.
5. For stronger and fuller hair
Diatomaceous Earth strengthen the hair when taken internally and externally. For external use, please be very careful with the dosage because it can dry the hair and have the opposite effect.
How to use it:
1. Put 1-2 teaspoons of DE in your shampoo/conditional, mix/shake it, and use as usual.
2. Mix 1 teaspoon of DE in your usual deep conditioner.
Warning: Based on experience, I prefer to NOT use DE in my hair anymore. It can be extremely drying, but that's because I used a lot more than I should have. So, experiment with it by using a very small quantity.
6. Natural deodorizer
Use DE to keep your house, carpet, and refrigerator smelling fresh. Much like baking soda, DE neutralizes odors. If you have a pet, you can even use DE to keep its litter fresh and odorless.
How to use it:
For refrigerator: Put DE in a small open container and leave it in the refrigerator. For better result, change it every 2-3 weeks.
For Carpet: Brush or dust a little bit of DE throughout your carpet. Let it sit for 24 hours, then vacuum the carpet. Cover your nose when doing this to avoid inhaling the DE.
For Pet Litter: Put about a cup of DE in the pet litter (along with the usual litter items). Frequently change the litter as usual.
7. A natural pest control
DE can be used to kill pests such as bedbugs, cockroaches, and other pests that make their way in a house. It can also be used to control the pest in gardens and farms. Even though DE kills pests, it is still not harmful to humans, animals, and plants. The reason is because DE kills pests by drying out their outer coat.
How to use it:
For Home: Vacuum the house or clean it as usual, cover your nose, and dust a little bit (thin layer with a brush or baby powder container) of DE throughout the carpets, in cracks, and around/under the beds. Leave it for 24 hours, then vacuum the whole house. Do this every day for about 1-2 weeks.
For Gardens and Farms: Dust DE throughout the garden/farm while it is dry. DE works best when it is dry.
8. Protects animals from fleas
DE protects animals from carrying and spreading fleas.
How to use it:
Vacuum, then dust any area that the animal visits with DE. Leave it for 1-2 days, then vacuum it all. You can also dust the animal with a thin layer of DE, and comb through its fur using a flea comb the following day. Continue doing this for 2-3 weeks or until you are sure all the fleas are gone.
There are much more uses and benefits of Diatomaceous Earth. Make sure to always do your own research before using any of the above recipes that I have shared.
Disclaimer: None of what I've shared is meant to diagnose or treat any illness/disease. These are only my personal opinions and research. Please always make your own research before taking any advice/opinions.
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