Organic Diatomaceous Earth Kills Bugs, Improves Health

Organic Diatomaceous Earth Kills Bugs, Improves Health

The USDA studied diatomaceous earth from 1963-1970 and found it more effective than malathion in protecting grain storage as a means of natural, poison-free insect control. The EPA approved and registered diatomaceous earth for use against indoor and outdoor crawling insects. Diatomaceous earth is a natural, non-chemical product consisting of broken up shells of tiny critters, called diatoms, which lived long ago and died in groups so massive that they are mined.

Diatomaceous earth appears to be a powder, but it is actually razor-sharp crystals to fleas.

Diatomaceous earth controls pests by physical, not chemical, action. It punctures an insect’s exoskeleton and absorbs its body fluids—thus posing no harm to warm-blooded life.

Pests cannot develop immunity to DE, as they do to most synthetic chemical treatments you purchase at the store. Perfectly safe for skin contact, diatomaceous earth, as well as borates, is a long-term residual organic insecticide treatment to protect you, your pets and livestock from fleas and ticks. Diatomaceous earth can be used almost anywhere around the home, yard or animal housing.

Rubbed lightly onto a dog, cat, gerbil or even bird it is very effective in the ridding of fleas, ticks, lice, and microscopic red mites that attack the legs of pet birds and other pests around the premises.

Diatomaceous earth powder will fall off where the animal sleeps, killing fleas in the bedding. You might want to reapply DE a few times, two or three days apart, until the fleas are gone. Apply again in a few weeks in case new eggs have hatched that survived the original powdering.

Diatomaceous earth has a remarkable repellency factor. When diatomaceous earth is present, insects tend to stay away: ants, roaches, silverfish, bedbugs, flies, fleas, box elder bugs, scorpions, crickets, ticks, and many other unwelcome pests.

The floors, carpet, furniture and closets.

Make a dust can by punching or drilling a bunch of holes in the base of a used dairy or food container. Make your own flea remedy by mixing 3 cups diatomaceous earth for every 1/2 cup of boric acid. Sprinkle the powder thoroughly but lightly over carpet, under beds and in closets. Use a safety mask to avoid inhaling the dust. Harmless when ingested, diatomaceous earth—just like any dust—should not be inhaled in large amounts by pets or people. Broom-sweep the granules deeply into the carpet fiber, and vacuum after two days.

Place a flea collar or moth ball crystals in the vacuum bag to kill any vacuumed fleas. In getting rid of fleas, it is important to vacuum all floors, carpets and furniture at least twice a week, even before you spot a flea. Physical removal of the eggs, larvae and adult insects is the safest way to keep flea populations under control. Pay special attention to high-traffic areas, and those places where your pet spends a lot of time.

Place towels where your pets lie and wash them every week in hot water. For bedbugs, dust the bed frame and mattress, under and around the bed, including cracks in the floor and where the wall meets the floor. For roaches, dust the floor and cupboards, corners and cracks, behind the stove, under the sink and sprinkle some DE in the garbage can. For ants, include window and door sills.

Note that the diatomaceous earth we are referencing is NOT the DE sold for pool filters. That DE is chemically treated and can be dangerous to humans and animals.

Diatomaceous earth can also be used as an organic wormer for parasite removal in both humans and animals.

Diatomaceous earth is 84% silicon dioxide (silica). Life cannot exist without silica. Silica is arguably one of the most important trace minerals for human health!

Diatomaceous earth contains over 14 trace minerals to improve animal health, a natural product that can be given orally or used topically. Feeding dogs and cats half teaspoon per day will kill internal parasites and worms naturally, without the use of chemicals.

Silica is responsible for depositing calcium and other minerals into the bones. It speeds up healing of fractures and reduces any scarring at the site of a fracture, can help slow the degenerative process of connective tissue, fights ulceration, fights decay of bones and teeth, and lessens inflammation.