This article originally appeared at www.factoidz.com, written by this same author. It is presented here as one single article.
Diatomaceous Earth - Part 1 – How to Eradicate Bed Bugs without Chemicals
Diatomaceous Earth - Part 1 – How to Eradicate Bed Bugs without Chemicals
What
if there was a product that would kill insects, anything with an
exoskeleton, but be completely harmless to pets, children, and adults? What if that product was completely organic and not only caused no harm but had many health benefits for humans and pets? What if this product was downright cheap compared to other products and medicines and procedures that could be used?
Surprisingly, there is such a product and it’s called Diatomaceous Earth.
Diatomaceous Earth (DE) is a soft white powdery mineral predominantly pure silica. It has formed from fossilized remains of diatoms, a type of algae. It has numerous uses in addition to insect and pest eradication: flea
control for pets and livestock, household uses for metal cleaning,
tooth cleanser, removal of oil stains on concrete, household odors, foot
odor, garbage can odors, and carpet stain removal. As I
delved into the information about this product that, I uncovered so many
different uses that I will be writing a short series of articles
directed toward each specific use.
This article is specifically about its use for the eradication of bed bugs
One of the biggest insect concerns in our country today is the outbreak of bed bugs. When bitten, an anti-blood clotting chemical is injected into the skin by the bed bug. A few people are allergic to bed bugs. The degree of itching will indicate if these bites are an allergen for an individual or not. The bites have an annoying itch but scratching them can result in an infection. It takes a few days to a few weeks for the itching and welts to disappear. The good news is that bed bugs do not carry pathogens as mosquitoes, ticks, or roaches do.
How does Diatomaceous Earth kill bed bugs? The particles attach to the bed bug’s body and physically cut through the outside shell of the bug’s exoskeleton. The insects then die of dehydration. They cannot become immune to it as they do with some chemicals. It is a mineral so it stays where it’s placed and does not lose its power over time. There are no dangerous fumes or side effects from Diatomaceous Earth and it is very, very effective. There will be no need to call and recall exterminators to your home resulting in big savings.
Here is how bed bugs can be eliminated using diatomaceous earth:
1. Using a bit of Clorox and regular laundry detergent, wash all bedding in hot water. Dry on highest heat. You may want to use a commercial steam cleaner on your mattress and box springs.
2. Arrange the bed so it is not touching any walls. Bed bugs cannot fly so they can only reach your bed by climbing the legs or under skirting on the bed. Make sure that nothing touches the floor, furniture, or wall that would enable the bed bugs to get to the bed.
3. By hand, sprinkle some Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth into the mattress and on the ridges on the edges of the mattress. Also put some between the mattress and box springs.
4. Sprinkle some Diatomaceous Earth all over the room, working into the carpets and corners of the room. Place a bit around each of the legs of the bed.
5. Repeat these actions every four weeks.
6. You may also want to remove the electrical outlet covers and sprinkle some Diatomaceous Earth into the walls. Some bed bugs live in the walls and travel from room to room this way.
Many yard and garden stores stock Diatomaceous Earth. There are two types – food grade and regular grade. Neither is harmful to humans or pets but the food grade is refined a bit more than regular grade.
********
Diatomaceous Earth (DE), as discussed in parts 1 and 2 of this series, is organic and is a mineral. Previous articles discussed how this product could be used to get rid of bed bugs and used for lawn and garden pest control. While diatomaceous earth is very harmful to insects and some types of fungi, it will have no harm for humans or pets. There are no chemicals used at all. Diatomaceous earth kills the insects by breaking or piercing their outer shell which then causes the insect to dehydrate. The product is a fine white powder which insects also carry back to their colony.
The uses for pets are for flea control, ear mites, wormer, dietary supplement, and ticks. Diatomaceous earth comes in two grades – regular and food grade. While
neither grade is harmful to humans, animals, or plants, it is
recommended that food grade be used on and around animals because it is
more refined.
For pets, to use as a daily food supplement or as a safe wormer, mix with pet food in these quantities:
Mini Dogs – ½ teaspoon
Dogs under 50 lbs. – 1 teaspoon
Dogs 50 to 100 lbs. – 1 tablespoon
Dogs 100 + lbs – 1 to 2 tablespoons
Kittens – ¼ teaspoon
Large Cats – 1 teaspoon
Diatomaceous earth can be sprinkled in your pet’s living area by applying to moist areas to reduce odors and dry the area. It will stop fleas and ticks from breeding. Add to cat letter to control dampness and odors.
For older dogs and cats, diatomaceous earth added to their food also helps reduce inflammation caused by arthritis.
Speaking for a particular supplier of Diatomaceous Earth, Veterinary naturopaths and hosts of the online radio show, Animal Talk Naturally, Drs. Kim Bloomer & Jeannie Thomason, www.animaltalknaturally.com, have this to say about (Permaguard Brand) Diatomaceous Earth:
Our
work is based on natural, preventive care for animals so of course we
are always on the lookout for good, quality NATURAL products to help our
clients and our listening audience that won't break the bank. We've
long been proponents of FOOD-grade diatomaceous earth as a natural pest
control for both external and internal use in animals. Earth Works
Health has provided the high quality and affordability of DE in their
Permaguard product that we look for, both for our own personal use as
well as for our clients.
Livestock, including chickens, horses, goats, pigs, cattle, etc. have been observed to benefit in these ways from
DE: flea
and tick control, stimulated metabolism, better feed conversion,
correcting and preventing scouring or diarrhea, reduced odor in barns
and stalls, improved hoof and coat, fly control, mastitis control,
improved egg production, prevents algae overgrowth in livestock water. Application amounts and methods for particular livestock animals can be learned from the distributor of the products.
The
following disclaimers are found on sites operated by sellers of
Diatomaceous Earth, as required by the EPA, FDA, and/or USDA:
* FDA DISCLAIMER
Content on this site is for reference purposes only, based on reviews from users of diatomaceous earth. It is not intended to substitute for advice given by a physician, pharmacist, or other licensed healthcare professional. User statements regarding this dietary supplement have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition. Those with health problems, pregnancy or who are nursing are specifically advised that they should consult their physician before taking any nutritional supplement.
Content on this site is for reference purposes only, based on reviews from users of diatomaceous earth. It is not intended to substitute for advice given by a physician, pharmacist, or other licensed healthcare professional. User statements regarding this dietary supplement have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition. Those with health problems, pregnancy or who are nursing are specifically advised that they should consult their physician before taking any nutritional supplement.
Any
food grade diatomaceous earth uses other than those approved by the
EPA, FDA, or USDA are strictly reports of what hundreds of users as well
as we ourselves have done with diatomaceous earth.
Diatomaceous Earth (DE), as discussed in parts 1 and 2 of this series, is organic and is a mineral. Previous articles discussed how this product could be used to get rid of bed bugs and used for lawn and garden pest control. While diatomaceous earth is very harmful to insects and some types of fungi, it will have no harm for humans or pets. There are no chemicals used at all. Diatomaceous earth kills the insects by breaking or piercing their outer shell which then causes the insect to dehydrate. The product is a fine white powder which insects also carry back to their colony.
The uses for pets are for flea control, ear mites, wormer, dietary supplement, and ticks. Diatomaceous earth comes in two grades – regular and food grade. While
neither grade is harmful to humans, animals, or plants, it is
recommended that food grade be used on and around animals because it is
more refined.
For pets, to use as a daily food supplement or as a safe wormer, mix with pet food in these quantities:
Mini Dogs – ½ teaspoon
Dogs under 50 lbs. – 1 teaspoon
Dogs 50 to 100 lbs. – 1 tablespoon
Dogs 100 + lbs – 1 to 2 tablespoons
Kittens – ¼ teaspoon
Large Cats – 1 teaspoon
Diatomaceous earth can be sprinkled in your pet’s living area by applying to moist areas to reduce odors and dry the area. It will stop fleas and ticks from breeding. Add to cat letter to control dampness and odors.
For older dogs and cats, diatomaceous earth added to their food also helps reduce inflammation caused by arthritis.
Speaking for a particular supplier of Diatomaceous Earth, Veterinary naturopaths and hosts of the online radio show, Animal Talk Naturally, Drs. Kim Bloomer & Jeannie Thomason, www.animaltalknaturally.com, have this to say about (Permaguard Brand) Diatomaceous Earth:
Our
work is based on natural, preventive care for animals so of course we
are always on the lookout for good, quality NATURAL products to help our
clients and our listening audience that won't break the bank. We've
long been proponents of FOOD-grade diatomaceous earth as a natural pest
control for both external and internal use in animals. Earth Works
Health has provided the high quality and affordability of DE in their
Permaguard product that we look for, both for our own personal use as
well as for our clients.
Livestock, including chickens, horses, goats, pigs, cattle, etc. have been observed to benefit in these ways from
DE: flea
and tick control, stimulated metabolism, better feed conversion,
correcting and preventing scouring or diarrhea, reduced odor in barns
and stalls, improved hoof and coat, fly control, mastitis control,
improved egg production, prevents algae overgrowth in livestock water. Application amounts and methods for particular livestock animals can be learned from the distributor of the products.
The
following disclaimers are found on sites operated by sellers of
Diatomaceous Earth, as required by the EPA, FDA, and/or USDA:
* FDA DISCLAIMER
Content on this site is for reference purposes only, based on reviews from users of diatomaceous earth. It is not intended to substitute for advice given by a physician, pharmacist, or other licensed healthcare professional. User statements regarding this dietary supplement have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition. Those with health problems, pregnancy or who are nursing are specifically advised that they should consult their physician before taking any nutritional supplement.
Content on this site is for reference purposes only, based on reviews from users of diatomaceous earth. It is not intended to substitute for advice given by a physician, pharmacist, or other licensed healthcare professional. User statements regarding this dietary supplement have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition. Those with health problems, pregnancy or who are nursing are specifically advised that they should consult their physician before taking any nutritional supplement.
Any
food grade diatomaceous earth uses other than those approved by the
EPA, FDA, or USDA are strictly reports of what hundreds of users as well
as we ourselves have done with diatomaceous earth.
Resources and places to order Diatomaceous Earth
****************
In this final part of this series written about benefits from Diatomaceous Earth (DE), we turn at last to its use by humans.
As a review, Diatomaceous
earth, which is also known as Diatomite or DE, is a type of sedimentary
rock composed of tiny fossilized organisms called diatoms. It has many purposes as shown in previous articles: 1, 2, and 3.
Many
people have reported excellent health benefits relating to the use of
Diatomaceous Earth but since no clinical trials have been done, these
reports are purely anecdotal and as with any nutritional supplements, an
FDA disclaimer is required before proceeding:
"This
information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any
disease. Discussion of Diatomaceous Earth health benefits is based
solely on personal experience and testimony shared by individual DE
users and this company cannot market or label DE as a human health
supplement."
Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth is 89% Silica. It is completely organic and naturally occurring. The
only cautionary side effect noted with use of Food Grade DE deals with
inhaling the powder and so it is advisable to avoid inhaling the powder
as one would avoid inhaling any fine powder, such as baby powder.
Scientists established 60 years ago that silica is necessary for life to exist. Silica is important to many bodily functions and is directly associated with mineral absorption.
On
average, a human has about 7 grams of silica in his/her body and more
silica is needed by the body than iron and other minerals. Many people are found to be silica deficient. Silica is vital for other supplements to be absorbed by the body – such as calcium. If a person is silica deficient, calcium supplements may not be effective and can even become detrimental. Food grade DE is therefore an excellent natural source of silica. Silica is now thought by medical researchers to be a precursor to calcium.
Following are some uses and reports from consumers about their experiences using this product.
Typically, the recommended dosage for humans is one or two tablespoons daily in a glass of juice or water. There really is no taste to DE, but it is perhaps a bit chalky and has a chalky texture mixed with liquid. If too much is taken, the body will simply eliminate the excess naturally.
One of the best uses reported is to get rid of lice. DE can be dusted over all areas of the body infested with lice and dusted on bedding and in other rooms of the home.
Other reported results:
DE has been reported to absorb methyl mercury, E. coli, endotoxins, viruses (including poliovirus), organophosphate pesticide residues, drug residues, and perhaps even the toxins produced by some intestinal infections.
Improvements have been reported in:
Lowered blood pressure
Lowered
bad cholesterol (and elevated good) – Some people have reported as much
as 40 to 60 points after taking DE only two weeks.
Improvements for those suffering Osteoporosis – stopping the pain and helping to restore the body’s self repair mechanism
Weight Loss - Helps with natural weight loss by helping curb the appetite
Hair – Growing back, becoming shiny and glossy; silica is a major component of hair
Nails – Growing stronger and becoming more healthy appearing
Teeth and Gums – Hardens the enamel, prevents cavities and preserves teeth; prevents bleeding gums, gum atrophy and recession
More Energy by due to stimulation of metabolism – Don’t take DE just before going to bed
Less Mucus production
Fewer problems with urinary infections
Helps prevent kidney stones and urinary tract infections because it has a natural diuretic capability
Less suffering with headaches
Improvement in varicose veins
Faster healing from fractures and less scarring
Helps detox the body – even of heavy metals and radiation
Restores collagen to the skin, causing younger looking skin
Improves skin problems such as itching, rashes, abscesses, boils, acne, calluses, eczema, and many more
Lessens Inflammation
Protects lungs from pollution; restores lung elasticity
Reduces swelling in the respiratory tract
Helps with menopausal stress and other menopausal side effects
Helps clear up both diarrhea and constipation
Helps reduce lower back pain
Helps reduce swelling of lymph nodes
Helps decrease vertigo, tinnitus, and insomnia
Help diabetics by improving pancreatic function
Can prevent tuberculosis
Eases pains from arthritis and rheumatism
Helps avoid arterial and coronary diseases by strengthening blood vessels
Can help avoid or alleviate Alzheimer’s disease because it absorbs aluminum (metals, as shown above)
Stimulates the immune system
REQUIRED FDA DISCLAIMER: *
Content on this site is for reference purposes only, based on reviews from users of diatomaceous earth. It is not intended to substitute for advice given by a physician, pharmacist, or other licensed healthcare professional. User statements regarding this dietary supplement have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition. Those with health problems, pregnancy or who are nursing are specifically advised that they should consult their physician before taking any nutritional supplement.* Any food grade diatomaceous earth uses other than those approved by the EPA, FDA, or USDA are strictly anecdotal reports of what countless numbers of users as well as we ourselves have done with diatomaceous earth.
Content on this site is for reference purposes only, based on reviews from users of diatomaceous earth. It is not intended to substitute for advice given by a physician, pharmacist, or other licensed healthcare professional. User statements regarding this dietary supplement have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition. Those with health problems, pregnancy or who are nursing are specifically advised that they should consult their physician before taking any nutritional supplement.* Any food grade diatomaceous earth uses other than those approved by the EPA, FDA, or USDA are strictly anecdotal reports of what countless numbers of users as well as we ourselves have done with diatomaceous earth.
Resources and places to order Diatomaceous Earth
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