Of all of foo foo things this person has been into eating, this may be one of the more, at least, inert. Or not. I don't know. Quackwatch doesn't have anything. Perhaps it is too dumb for skeptics or the FDA to get around to investigating? Thinking people would be smarter than to eat dirt?
Opinions?
Wiki blurb:
From someone who is recommending it:Diatomaceous earth (pronounced /ˌdaɪ.ətəˌmeɪʃəs ˈɜrθ/) also known as diatomite or kieselgur, is a naturally occurring, soft, siliceous sedimentary rock that is easily crumbled into a fine white to off-white powder. It has a particle size ranging from less than 1 micrometre to more than 1 millimetre, but typically 10 to 200 micrometres.[1] This powder has an abrasive feel, similar to pumice powder, and is very light, due to its high porosity. The typical chemical composition of oven dried diatomaceous earth is 80 to 90% silica, with 2 to 4% alumina (attributed mostly to clay minerals) and 0.5 to 2% iron oxide.[1]
Diatomaceous earth consists of fossilized remains of diatoms, a type of hard-shelled algae. It is used as a filtration aid, mild abrasive, mechanical insecticide,[2] absorbent for liquids, cat litter, activator in blood clotting studies, and a stabilizing component of dynamite. As it is also heat-resistant, it can be used as a thermal insulator. --wiki
To which a person responded:Over the past two years..., I have gotten more inquiries about DE for human consumption than for all other calls combined. In Asia and Europe, DE is sold widely as a health and beauty product for hair, nails, skin, and bones.
Thanks to the FDA, we can make no such claims; we can state that our Fossil Shell Flour is GRAS (generally regarded as safe) for human consumption. In addition, it is Certified Organic by OMRI.
If you are considering DE for human consumption, I urge you to read Galen Knight's excellent article called DEtox .
By the way, for over three years now, I have been taking a heaping teaspoon of DE with water every night before bed and have had no ill effects because of it. I also know of an associate of mine who took it for over 30 years and never once suffered any ill effects from the DE.
Many of our daily users claim that since they started taking DE, they have had more regularity with their bowel movements than ever before in their lives. They also claim that their colonoscopies have shown that they are "clean as a whistle" and appear to be in no danger of colon cancer.
I suggest that if you plan to take DE, that you mix 1 heaping teaspoon with water before bed. It may be mixed with any beverage or sprinkled in oatmeal or other foods, but we have found that when mixed with 8 oz. of water and then followed up with another 1/2 glass of water, is very easy to take and has no bad taste. I also enjoy it with smoothies and milkshakes, and it is a great way to get your kids to take it regularly.
Safety considerations
The absorbent qualities of diatomaceous earth can result in a drying of the hands if handled without gloves.
The type of hazard posed by inhalation depends on the form of the silica. Crystalline silica (silicon dioxide) poses a serious inhalation hazard because it can cause silicosis and can eventually lead to cancer. Amorphous silica can cause dusty lungs, but does not carry the same degree of risk as crystalline silica. Food-grade diatomaceous earth contains very low percentages of crystalline silica. As a safety precaution, you may wish to use a dust mask if you will be exposed to airborn DE dust for prologed periods.
DIATOMACEOUS EARTH– food grade, freshwater, and amorphous (non-crystalline)
Diatomaceous earth (DE) has been reported in the scientific literature to absorb methyl mercury, E. coli, endotoxins, viruses (including poliovirus), organophosphate pesticide residues, drug residues, and protein, perhaps even the proteinaceous toxins produced by some intestinal infections. Pyrethroid insecticide residues probably also bind to diatomaceous earth, since pyrethrins from Chrysanthemum flowers bind to and are stabilized by this material. The only brand of pure DE currently recommended is from PermaGuard, available from Freshwater Organics (801-949-3570). If there are other DE products out there that have already been approved by the FDA (as a 2% by dry weight food additive, as an anti-caking agent, or as a grain storage additive), let us know and we will subject it to rigorous chemical and morphological testing to ensure that it is safe. Dust from diatomaceous earth products, especially those that contain high amounts of crystalline material, should NOT be inhaled. PermaGuard Fossil Shell Flour is amorphous (non-crystalline) and is Generally Regarded As Safe (GRAS), but as an extra safety precaution the dust should not be inhaled. Since it appears to pass inertly through the digestive tract, releasing only a few trace minerals, decide for yourself what dose works well, bearing in mind that taking large amounts may have some very uncomfortable effects. "DEtox "-ing one's system too quickly might not allow enough time for one's metabolism to re-balance, creating discomfort known as a "healing crisis". This discomfort may be nothing more than inflammation caused by a reawakening immune system as it detoxifies and begins to attack previously unadressed chronic infections. Working up the amount slowly from about a teaspoon to a rounded tablespoon over a few days or weeks may help to avoid this situation. A heaping tablespoonful, as much as we recommend, in water before bed or first thing in the morning, if one doesn't normally eat an early breakfast, will allow the DE time to move through and absorb toxins from one's digestive tract without interference and without absorbing nutrients from foods or liquids.
Sources: http://www.freshwaterorganics.com/human.html
http://askville.amazon.com/diatomaceous ... Id=7672368
Why
Why do you think a teaspoon of kitty litter will do anything good for your body? This stuff is dug out of the earth and costs about $15 a ton. Quite a racket for the packagers and resellers.