Silica supplementation (diatomaceous earth)

[sungoddess]

Originally Posted by Kissa

PJ, don't you feel bad. You are the most kind, helpful, informative woman, and I know no one blames you for any issues DE may have caused.

As Kristen says, we are all very different.

PJ I certainly hope you don't think I blame you for my woes. Honey- no! I didn't take it because of you or this thread. I took it on the advice of my nutritional guy and took my first dose of it before this thread was even started.
I am so happy when people put info out there that may be helpful to others. It is up to each of us to determine what is going to work for us and what might not.
Sometimes there is no explanation of what happens in a body. My friend had great luck lowering her BP with beet juice. It caused rashes in me. There is no real explanation for it.
I LOVE all the info you share with all of us!

[Kissa]

Well said Beverly.

[Kettleboy]

Absolutely agree with Kissa, I hope my experience didn't come across as pointing fingers, far from it. I still think the food grade DE in far smaller doses can sort my IBS, and once settled the experimentation will begin. But a little slower and more careful this time:-)

[WJS]

I agree about what others have said and hope you don't feel bad PJ. It is such a good thing to post info that can help others. As said unfortunately we are all different and we must take that into consideration when trying something new. So do please keep posting about things that help you or others. I love reading your posts.

I am so sorry to read about the problems Sungoddess and Kettleboy had, it sounds absolutely horrendous. I hope you both are feeling better.

I have decided to continue to take it but in smaller doses. As I mentioned I see no difference positive or negative at the moment and would like to continue to see but more moderately. I have quit giving it to my husband to his delight.

[piratejenny]

No, no, I don't feel like anybody has blamed me!
I just feel bad! And wish nobody had bad effects from it.

I mean, it would be one thing if it just didn't help some people,
but the fact that you guys have experienced pain from using it...

[metqa]

hey Kettle, I'm sorry to hear about your constipation woes. I remember far back someone mentioning when people started taking calcium supplements that it caused constipation in a lot of people because it wasn't absorbed but settled. You ought to check that Feed grade DE , it might have other ingredients in it intended to be okay for animals but not in large quantifies for humans. You might just want to "chalk" it up to a bad decision and get some food grade instead and lower your dose. I heard the same thing about some Iron supplements, how different combos would act differently, and taking iron oxide for example would cause constipation but taking heme ( blood based) Iron was absorbed almost completely.

I'd be careful of taking too much of the kind that has clay in it. I wonder if it were black because of bleeding? Black poo could mean blood from the stomach digested and collected in the bowels, but I'm not trying to scare, just wondering what happened.

I still haven't bought or tried any DE yet, but I'm still eager and reading along.

[cici52]

Last few days I have had a lot of arrythmia, muscle spasms, headaches and general feeling crummy. Also, not sure if related, have felt extremely stressed. I have lost control of eating, sometimes hunger, sometimes stress. In the past few months, I have noticed a remarkable decline in my skin, too. (Wrinkles, wrinkles everywhere) So I have been reading up on these supplements and just picked some DE up at the local HFS. Also thinking of ordering some Pterostilbene. I hope to see some changes in some of these symptoms and some others that fall in the TMI catagory. I have been using CO for about a month. I used to use turmeric daily and may start again for its anti-inflammatory properties. OTT I generally hate taking supplements and try to keep it simple.

I plan to take it internally, brush teeth with it and exfoliate with it as it seems you are all doing one or more of these things.

What do I hope for?
Regular heart rate
Change in muscle pain
Better skin tone
Whiter teeth
Decreased appetite
Increased sleep (I have never slept 8 hours and am used to it, but maybe this could change and might help weight issues)
Would be a nice bonus if hair and nails improved.

It is good to read some of the issues that you have experienced so I can be sure to drink enough water, etc. Thanks for all your input. Any comments are appreciated.

[piratejenny]

Hi cici--

I've been reading about MSM lately, and I think it might help with a couple things you mention; muscle pain and skin tone, specifically.

I have a jar of it and was taking it a while back--maybe a year ago--but stopped because I thought it was upsetting my stomach. (Now I think it was my diabetes med, metformin.) I started taking it again a week or so ago and tummy's okay. I started with 1/2 tsp and am at 1tsp now. Some people say that really amazing health improvements start happening when you work your way up to 2-3tbsp (!!!).

Day-to-day, I don't feel like a sick person, but the reality is I have many problems--diabetes, bipolar disorder, insomnia, torn cartilage in my knee, constant ear problems, acid reflux, high blood pressure, tachycardia--that add up to really having to take care of myself, plan my meals & supplements, lie down with peroxide in my ears for 40-60 minutes almost every day, etc, etc!!! Some of the things are mostly under control but will come back after just 1 or 2 days of neglect or careless food choices.

[cici52]

Thanks, PJ. I started anti-inflammatory diet and supplements today. Will see how much that takes care of. THen go from there. Will take threadjack issues it to another thread.

[Kettleboy]

Thought I should report back...

The feed grade has been binned, to answer an earlier comment, the poo was black as when damp the feed grade went almost black, no blood thankfully, easy to test as when it hits the water in the loo the black dried blood would create red clouds. Too much info...

Anyway..

Have started again with the food grade, which is almost white, and in water appears cream coloured. Started again end of last week. This time concentrating on getting the desired effect with the lowest dose.( not trying to build up to max dose of 2x 2 tablespoons/day following Internet recommendations).

I'm pleased to report at one heaped teaspoon shortly before dinner in water, everything is fabulous, IBS symptoms completely disappeared as before. But this time I will stay with food grade, the extra cost is not ridiculous, and will stay at 1 heaped teaspoon, if the effect stops I may have to review, but won't do this unless forced.

[cici52]

Originally Posted by cici52

Last few days I have had a lot of arrythmia, muscle spasms, headaches and general feeling crummy. Also, not sure if related, have felt extremely stressed. I have lost control of eating, sometimes hunger, sometimes stress. In the past few months, I have noticed a remarkable decline in my skin, too. (Wrinkles, wrinkles everywhere) So I have been reading up on these supplements and just picked some DE up at the local HFS. Also thinking of ordering some Pterostilbene. I hope to see some changes in some of these symptoms and some others that fall in the TMI catagory. I have been using CO for about a month. I used to use turmeric daily and may start again for its anti-inflammatory properties. OTT I generally hate taking supplements and try to keep it simple.

I plan to take it internally, brush teeth with it and exfoliate with it as it seems you are all doing one or more of these things.

What do I hope for?
Regular heart rate
Change in muscle pain
Better skin tone
Whiter teeth
Decreased appetite
Increased sleep (I have never slept 8 hours and am used to it, but maybe this could change and might help weight issues)
Would be a nice bonus if hair and nails improved.

It is good to read some of the issues that you have experienced so I can be sure to drink enough water, etc. Thanks for all your input. Any comments are appreciated.

Now that health is generally back to balance. I am going to start this internally. Still having muscle spasms/charliehorses. Could still use some help with appetite.

The heart has already gone back to normal with dropping coffee. I was drinking a lot of it on DDs.

I have been adding a dab to my toothbrush and like that fresh from the dentist feel. And teeth are a bit whiter I think.

I have a shaker in the shower using with my cleanser to exfoliate. Leaves a nice smooth skin surface. Found a great face cream that is helping with the wrinkles for not too much $$$.

Now to see if taking by mouth it will improve any other things.

[cici52]

Kettleboy, glad you are on track and getting good results.

[Kissa]

I have been adding a dab to my toothbrush and like that fresh from the dentist feel. And teeth are a bit whiter I think.

I do this every other day or so and love it.

Glad things are sorted Kettleboy.

[adillenal]

I started a thread to report back from my dentist visit after brushing with DE for 6 months. Good results.

[cici52]

bumping

[Kissa]

I am still using a Tbsp most nights.

I have the best nails in years. The age spots on my hands are definitely fading. My hair is growing really fast. My skin is smoother and more hydrated than I can remember. My toenail fungushas almost disappeared.

Saw my dentist last week and he said I was an 'example of how growing older doesn't necessarily mean your gums recede', and his hygienist had so little to do it was a rip off paying their bills.

What is not to like?

[LoCarbGal]

I may have to start taking this soon. I'd love to have better skin and nails. My hair is pretty long, and it's real thick, but I lose what seems like a lot each day, and it scares me that it could be thinning. I haven't seen any real evidence of that, but it's kind of alarming.

I'd also love the...ahem...regularity some of you have said you get with DE.

[Kissa]

Yup!

[cici52]

My skin and teeth are looking better but I have forgotten to take it internally as originally planned. Started last night again.

[stargazer]

Won't you get the nail hair and skin benefits from other forms of silica? I had to give up my DE as I was one of those who found it caused bad constipation.

Once I get to the shops after the holidays I plan to start on horsetail again.

[Kissa]

Quite possibly Star. I was taking a silica supplement before I got my dirt. Certainly worth a try. But it will be much more pricey.

Such a shame it caused you problems. Did you start with a little and work up?

[LoCarbGal]

Okay, I did it. I ordered a pound from Amazon, and it'll be here sometime during the first week of January. I'm looking forward to seeing what it'll do for me! Dang, you guys are good salespeople and so convincing!

[adillenal]

Originally Posted by stargazer

I had to give up my DE as I was one of those who found it caused bad constipation.

Me too. All I use it for now is to brush my teeth. So sad since my hair is getting fly away again.

[LoCarbGal]

Bumping to remind me to reread this entire thread. Mine should get here Monday, and I want to really understand how you guys are using it. I'm looking forward to brushing my teeth with it too. Seems like after the holiday carb-fest, no matter how much I brush, they don't feel quite is clean.

[cici52]

I keep forgetting to take it. Maddening

[piratejenny]

Originally Posted by LoCarbGal

...and I want to really understand how you guys are using it.

I just mix mine into water & drink it.

[Kissa]

I use one of the slightly flavoured waters, no probs. Some stir it into yogurt.

[zagnut]

I mix with almond milk and peanut butter and dark chocolate cocoa powder on UD's, I feel i've become addicted to that concoction lol

[LoCarbGal]

Thanks for that info guys. Sounds simple enough. I think mine will arrive today, so I can start it tonight or tomorrow.

[gotsomeold]

Well, the surgeon poked and prodded and told me my hernia is healing perfectly. So, my DE should arrive in a few days.