I have been using it on myself and my animals for four years now. Science claims or not; I find noticeable effects in a few key area's. I can say whole heartily that it is not just placebo given the expelled parasites, improved hair/nails/skin and mood... along with a few other benefits I am not comfortable debating with anyone about here.

I am not sure why some people are so against it really...if it works for only 3% of the people that try it SO what, at least that 3% notices a change. People routinely add so many harmful things to their system yet anything natural needs to be tested/proven and win fist prize before it is accepted. That is crazy to me.

For parasite control i has worked wonders both externally and internally on the pharm. Since I eat the eggs my chickens produce- I really hate using any kind of manufactured substance on/in them since I do notice the subtle hints of it in the eggs right away. I use a mix of water and DE in a spray bottle to kill cluster flies and it works great for me yet I read that it will not work when wet?! I laugh at all your claims while watching it work myself.

With most powders just do not inhale it-be extra careful and you will be fine. It does not kill every insect or parasite but it does work on most...be careful as it will kill bee's.

What makes you so sure it is not placebo without any proof? The claim was made that DE has such health benefits, so the burden of proof is on the one making the claim. Furthermore, long term exposure to silica can have detrimental effects on ones health. So, you are claiming a potentially hazardous material has health benefits, yet scoff at anyone asking for proof? Sorry, that's not how this works

Psybin, have you done any research on this at all? Like even maybe just reading the wikipedia page which specifically addresses the issue of silicosis. To be clear, it is a risk for people whose jobs it is to breathe crystalline silica 8 hours per day. But commercially available, food grade diatomaceous earth contains no or almost no crystalline silica.

As for the health effects, even minimal digging would have come up with the study which I posted a couple posts back. Not conclusive by any means, but it indicates that there is something going on.

I'm not sure why you seem convinced people are such fools for doing something that works for them. Especially when you apparently have done no research on it.

Slewb - what is the mechanism by which it works? I skimmed the wiki page, and it didn't talk about it's health benefits in any detail? Is it just by cleaning out parasites in the GI tract?

Blessings
~ND

All I was referencing in the wikipedia page was the safety section regarding the risk of silicosis. The study I posted earlier (this one) showed lower cholesterol and a positive influence on lipid metabolism (which I will be honest I have pretty much no idea what that means) in people who ate diatomaceous earth for 12 weeks. It's not a perfect study, but it had been said in this thread that there is no evidence of health benefits. The conclusion in that study was that there are benefits for people with high cholesterol.

I have no idea what the proposed mechanism might be, if any, or what prompted that study in the first place.

See, that's why I have a hard time getting on board with stuff like this - I would be very hesitant to take a substance with no idea what it was actually doing to my body. People say it works, but how? If you don't know what it's doing, how do you know it might not be doing something bad down the line?

I feel like a lot of alternative medicine is this way. People make claims like "this thing will do X, Y, and Z for you," but when pressed on the mechanistic details, don't have a whole lot to say.

As for the 1 study, that's great, but it's 19 people, and as far as I know, the findings have never been validated by another experiment. Given that large chunks of the scientific field are going through replication crises, forgive me for being a little more conservative.

Blessings
~ND

I can't say that it does or doesn't have benefits, I haven't tried it. I just don't think it should be dismissed offhand as "snake oil." As far as I can tell eating silica is safe (it's common in food production), and it seems to work for some people at least. But I do see where you're coming from about not wanting to mess with something if you don't know how it works. There is a lot to be said for that.

I'm not calling DE snake oil, but the claims of its benefits absent of proof. You make a claim? Prove it.

And furthermore, I did do research, specifically I also read the wiki page in addition to others. Silicosis is a possible result of LONG TERM EXPOSURE, as I repeatedly stated. So I'm not sure what you're point is. I pointed out POSSIBLE health detriments, never claimed it was toxic. All I'm saying is prove that which you claim if you wish to be taken seriously. Just because you believe isn't evidence.

EDIT: No, I am calling DE snake oil. You can't just make all these claims then scoff at skeptics when you lack substantial evidence.

I made two claims. One was that there is no evidence that amorphous diatomaceous earth is harmful to the health. The other was that a study exists which concluded that diatomacious earth has health benefits. Both of these claims are easily verified. Other people here have only made claims about their own experiences.

I'm sorry for being rude earlier but you did come into this thread, roll your eyes, and make a snide remark which contributed nothing. This conversation has nothing to do with the OP, which was looking for people with experience using diatomaceous earth. So I think I'm done.

Psybin- You missed the part where I explained my results (for the past four years) and desire to not ague with those against something they have yet to try.

Do you want my vet fecal reports on four species I have been using it on, me to send you a fecal sample or my medical reports? LOL


Silica and DE are two very different things....you may want to do more google reading before you bash something. There is zero chance of me inhaling it when it is added to a smoothy so please sit down and relax a little.

My biggest fear re the Nexus: Reading in the news some kid dying because [insert dangerous / unproven activity here]. S/He did this because a bunch of drug users on this Internet site "The DMT-Nexus" said it was OK.

I'm all for trying novel things (hello, DMT user) but when it comes to recommendations ingesting unproven substances (a pool filter media no less) let's be sure to do our homework and at the very least warn of dangers and/or unproven claims, similar to RC requirements. If studies come out showing positive benefits, great! The thread can be updated accordingly.

It's the Internet. Think of the worst case scenario and work from there...

I don't know if this helps, but my naturopath has me take it for Candidiasis. Apparently candida albicans has a chitin cell wall when it changes from its yeast form to its more virulent fungal form, diatomacious earth is microscopically sharp and damages the chitin cell wall and allows for the immune system and anti fungals to do their job.

It also anti parasitic in this regard as well.