Eating Dirt

Have you ever eaten dirt?  Although you may be unaware, the answer is likely yes.  Perhaps you have inadvertently eaten particles of unwashed produce or consumed Pepto Bismol or Kaopectate, which contain clays.  Geophagy is the word to describe the consumption of clay.  This practice has been used to aid in child birth, male virility and various other cultural beliefs.  My father remembered as a child that a black woman he knew commonly ate clay as a remedy for intestinal issues.  This was part of the African culture.  My favorite earth mined substance is diatomaceous earth (DM). 

DM is the fossilized remains of hard-shelled algae known as a diatom.  This multi use silica abrasive has been used in toothpaste, in scrubs, deodorizers, facial masks, and as an insecticide.  DM can absorb six times its weight in water and is used in cat litter boxes. 

As an insecticide, it absorbs lipids or fats from the waxy outer layer of insects causing dehydration.  It is an effective, non-toxic substance that can be used as a dust for fleas or cockroaches. It can be taken by animals or humans internally for intestinal parasites.  For dogs you can make cornmeal biscuits with DM.   Wet DM for horses and mix in their feed.  And for humans, mix a tablespoonful in juice and drink.  The only precaution is not to breathe the dust because it causes silicosis, a respiratory disorder.

Silica is also an important mineral that is vital for skin, hair, and nails and for the recalcification of bones.  You will find it in any quality calcium/mineral supplement or hair, skin, and nail formulas.  It is commonly listed as horsetail, an herb which contains silica.  Silica may also interfere with the body’s retention of aluminum. 

The Homeopathic Materia Medica for Silica terra (Flint) is useful among other things “for soreness in the feet from the instep to the sole”.  I can offer a personal testimony for its effectiveness.