Diatomaceous earth against a wooden background.

Image Credit: Spitfire1973/iStock/Getty Images Diatomaceous earth is the fossilized remains of a kind of algae, called diatoms. It contains many of the essential minerals your body needs to function, including calcium, sodium, iron and magnesium. However, diatomaceous earth is mostly made of silica, a mineral that is integral to the formation of collagen. Collagen is a building block of skin and is necessary to heal inflammation, wounds and skin lesions. You can apply diatomaceous earth as a paste and ingest it with water or juice to get the most benefits out of it.

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Step 1

Place diatomaceous earth into a small bowl.

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Step 2

Add drops of water to the diatomaceous earth until it turns into a thick paste. Mix the diatomaceous earth with a spoon in between drips of water.

Step 3

Apply the paste to your skin lesion with the spoon. Spread it over the lesion lightly; you do not need to rub it into your lesion.

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Step 4

Cover the lesion with gauze pads. Use enough pads to stop the moisture from the paste from seeping through. Secure the gauze pads with medical tape.

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Step 5

Fill a glass with at least 8 oz. of juice or water.

Step 6

Scoop 1 tbsp. of diatomaceous earth into the glass.

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Step 7

Mix the diatomaceous earth into the liquid with the spoon until the powder dissolves.

Step 8

Drink the juice or water.

Things You'll Need

Diatomaceous earth Small bowl 2 oz. of water Spoon Gauze pads Medical tape Glass Measuring spoons Warning Food-grade diatomaceous earth is different from the diatomaceous earth that is used for pesticides. Do not ingest pesticide-grade diatomaceous earth or use it on your skin because it contains harmful chemicals.

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  references
  
      U.S. Geological Survey; Diatomite; Lloyd E. Antonides
    
      Bayer Innovation: New Materials for Wound Healing – Skin Repair Kit Chronic Wound Care
    
      Freshwater Organics: DE for Human Consumption
       




  references
  
      U.S. Geological Survey; Diatomite; Lloyd E. Antonides
    
      Bayer Innovation: New Materials for Wound Healing – Skin Repair Kit Chronic Wound Care
    
      Freshwater Organics: DE for Human Consumption
    




Diatomaceous earth against a wooden background.

Image Credit: Spitfire1973/iStock/Getty Images

Image Credit: Spitfire1973/iStock/Getty Images

  • Diatomaceous earth
  • Small bowl
  • 2 oz. of water
  • Spoon
  • Gauze pads
  • Medical tape
  • Glass
  • Measuring spoons

Food-grade diatomaceous earth is different from the diatomaceous earth that is used for pesticides. Do not ingest pesticide-grade diatomaceous earth or use it on your skin because it contains harmful chemicals.

      U.S. Geological Survey; Diatomite; Lloyd E. Antonides
    
      Bayer Innovation: New Materials for Wound Healing – Skin Repair Kit Chronic Wound Care
    
      Freshwater Organics: DE for Human Consumption