Diatomaceous earth (DE) is the remains of microscopic one-celled plants (phytoplankton) called diatoms that lived in the oceans and lakes that once covered the western part of the US and other parts of the world. These deposits are mined from underwater beds or from ancient dried lake bottoms thousands of years old. This means, diatomaceous earth has an unlimited shelf life provided you keep it dry.

Diatomaceous earth is mined, milled, and processed into a myriad of types for a large variety of uses. Filtering and filler are two main uses but diatomaceous earth also ends up in paints, cosmetics, drugs, etc. Because the milling produces different sized and shaped particles, it is important not to use the filtering type for agricultural purposes.

Pool filter grade diatomaceous earth has been heat and chemically treated and will poison an animal or human who ingests it, so it is always of utmost importance to only obtain food grade diatomaceous earth to use in and around your household.

Diatoms (DE) are the grass of the oceans and lakes. Just as grass is the staple food of earth animals. Diatoms (algae) are the food of the ocean or fresh water grazers. Magnified 7000x, diatomaceous earth looks like spiney honeycombs.

Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth if mined from the purest of deposits. Out of 600 deposits in the U.S., only 4 of these deposits rate in purity by FDA standards to be labeled as "Food Grade."

One of the most exciting trends we have seen is the increasing use of Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth for human and pet health benefits.

Daily recommended food grade diatomaceous earth feeding rates:

• Kittens - 1/2 teaspoon
• Cats - 1 teaspoon
• Puppies - 1/2 to 1 tsp.
• Dogs under 35 lbs. - 1 teaspoon
• Dogs over 35 lbs. - 1 tablespoon
• Dogs over 100 lbs. - 2 tablespoons
• Cattle, Dairy Cows, & Hogs - 2% of dry feed ration
• Chickens - 5% in feed
• Goats & Sheep - 2% in grain
• Horses - 1/2 to 1 cup in daily ration
• *Humans - 1 - 2 heaping tablespoon daily

Internal feeding of food grade diatomaceous earth helps eliminate most internal worms, though possibly not all. It's also excellent when fed daily to keep down odor, since food grade diatomaceous earth is eliminated from the body, exactly the way it went in, it helps reduce the manure odor.

Mix in animal feed or grain and/or feed free choice. Our goats, fowl, and dogs eat it free choice.

*The manufacturers recommended feeding rates for people is 1 heaping tablespoon daily. We take 2 tbsps. daily, simply because the RDA for 100 lb. dogs is 2 tbsps. and most of the humans here weigh 130 lbs. or more. Since DE won't hurt us and we know the DE has to come in contact with worms/parasites to eliminate them, a little more is better than not enough.

I recommend starting with 1 tbsp. daily and increasing as desired, after you are certain you aren't having heavy detox effects from the die off of worms. I recommend starting with 1 tbsp. daily and increasing as desired, after you are certain you aren't having heavy detox effects from the die off of worms. Some recommend to dose humans by mixing food grade diatomaceous earth in a glass of water before bed or first thing in the morning, well before breakfast, to allow diatomaceous earth time to move through and absorb toxins from one;s digestive tract without interfering or absorbing nutrients from foods or liquids. Some report great results consuming 1 tsp. in a glass of water prior to each meal, 3x/day. Some recommend to dose humans by mixing food grade diatomaceous earth in a glass of water before bed or first thing in the morning, well before breakfast, to allow diatomaceous earth time to move through and absorb toxins from one;s digestive tract without interfering or absorbing nutrients from foods or liquids. Some report great results consuming 1 tsp. in a glass of water prior to each meal, 3x/day.

If fecal counts are not zero for worms and ova after feeding DE for 30 days, increase the daily dose. Feeding too small a dose of DE will not give desired results. Increasing the dose, even if greater than the above recommendations, will not harm anyone. Some horses do fine on 1/2 cup of DE daily, others need a full cup. This reminds us, that all beings are different. So again, if the worm and ova counts are not zero, increase your daily dose.

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CAUTIONS:

• DE manufacturers who work in diatomaceous earth mines 5 days/week advise inhaling it is not a problem (tho of course, don't be snuffing it) and we have not had problems when inhaling DE in small amounts. IF you have asthma or some other lung ailment, either wear a mask or be very careful when using food grade diatomaceous earth.
• Do NOT get diatomaceous earth in the eyes. DE is drying to the eyes, so do NOT put it out when you or your pets are down wind of it. DE is drying to your skin, hands, and feet, just as it can be to your pets.
• Do NOT use heavily in carpet. Some advise too much DE causes vacuum problems.
• NEVER use pool filter grade or any diatomaceous earth other than those labeled "Food Grade" for yourself or your animals. It can poison or kill them.
• Some people experience a healing crisis (detox reaction) when beginning DE consumption. If this occurs, reduce the dose, till your body is cleansed, and then increase to the RDA.

To order please visit our new site: Wolf Creek Ranch Organics.

GOING GREEN USING DIATOMACEOUS EARTH HOW-TO TIPS by Tui Rose

More than 101 easy ways to go green using Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth; easy to read book with suggestions for using DE.  Gives tips on how to use Food Grade DE for everything from your animals to environmental uses. 167 Pages. Copyright © 2010.

To order please visit our new site: Wolf Creek Ranch Organics.