Using Diatomaceous Earth for Mast Cell Activation
I remember the first time I ever used diatomaceous earth. It provided a noticeable benefit at high doses but eventually caused stomach pains. After this experience, I knew there was something special about this stuff, but it was evident that balance was essential.
In the article, I will discuss the Jekyll and Hyde nature of diatomaceous earth. In addition, I will list the pros and cons of using diatomaceous earth for mast cell activation (MCAS). After, I will cover common questions about using DE for MCAS. Scroll down to get started!
Diatomaceous Earth – The Double-Edged Sword
Diatomaceous earth (DE) is the fossilized skeleton of a diatom that lived in the sea. It has tons of tiny pores and a strong magnetic charge that allows it to attract and trap things. DE has plenty of potential benefits. It can detoxify your body of heavy metals/mycotoxins, eliminate parasites, remove biofilms, help rebuild tissue, and more. In a short period of using it, I experienced mental clarity, relief from food cravings, increased energy, and improved mood and stamina.
I was extremely excited about the prospects of using diatomaceous earth until I woke up one day with really bad stomach pains. Granted, I was using 3 tablespoons per day for about five days before this started to occur. Once it did though, it was hard to repair. It took me over a week to get my gut back to normal following the use of diatomaceous earth.
At that moment, I realized that the benefits must be weighed against the downsides. Clearly, it was irritating my gut lining and potentially reducing beneficial bacteria. In the next section, I will outline the potential benefits and risks of using diatomaceous earth in great detail. This will help you understand whether diatomaceous earth is a good fit for your MCAS symptoms.
Benefits of Using DE for MCAS
Elimination of Parasites
Limited studies support the use of diatomaceous earth for removing parasites. When I used it, I saw stringy things come out of me that resembled parasites. It has some potential with worms but is unlikely to eliminate a protozoan infection.
Removal of Harmful Toxins
Plenty of studies show that diatomaceous earth can bind to various types of toxins. Its strong negative charge attracts toxins with a positive charge. Once a toxin is magnetically drawn to it, it sticks to the surface of the DE until it is eliminated from the body.
Removal of Biofilms
Diatomaceous earth is abrasive, which helps scrub the gut lining. It can remove biofilms attached to the epithelial lining and dislodge other organisms that are not supposed to be there. The only downside is that if the intestinal lining is already inflamed, it could potentially irritate it. This is why I follow any diatomaceous earth cycle with raw colostrum to heal the gut lining and restore gut bacteria.
Increases Alkalinity in the Body
Diatomaceous earth can dramatically increase the body’s pH level, which improves cell permeability. This allows toxins to flow out of cells and nutrients to flow in, which can be beneficial if you are trying to cleanse the body of metals or built-up toxins. If the body is still acidic, it is unlikely to have sufficient cell permeability to detox the body at the cellular level. This is where diatomaceous earth can come in to raise PH levels.
Improvement in Mental Clarity
When I first started taking diatomaceous earth, I felt clearer and sharper mentally. This was probably my favorite benefit I experienced while using it. I assumed this was due to the removal of toxins that were making me feel foggy. When I looked further into it, I saw that silica also had many potential benefits for the brain. Who knows why it was making me feel good, but it was.
May Encourage Gut Repair
Diatomaceous earth can improve your gut lining by giving it a gentle “scrub,” evicting unwanted parasites, calming inflammation, and balancing your microbiome. It can also help repair the intestinal lining by boosting collagen production and improving nutrient absorption.
Downsides of Using DE for MCAS
Flushes Toxins Out Too Fast
Some people with mast MCAS experience toxic overload to the fullest! When this occurs, you must start extremely slow with diatomaceous earth and pair something else with it, like carbonized bamboo. By pairing DE with another binder, you can prevent some of the detox response. If your cells start to dump toxins, you can at least use the carbonized bamboo to clean up the mess. That is much less likely to cause a dump of cellular waste since it has less magnetic charge.
Could Irritate the Gut Lining
The abrasive nature of diatomaceous earth is one of its most beneficial and harmful characteristics. Though it can remove things from the gut like no other, it can also trigger inflammation of the gut lining. The truth is, it all depends upon how much of it you are using and how irritated your gut lining is already. Just be careful, and take a significant break at the first signs of stomach issues.
Could Activate Mast Cells
Recent studies have shown that silica can cause mast cells to secrete histamine. These studies are based upon the inhalation of silica, but not necessarily its ingestion. When I consumed diatomaceous earth, I felt calm. I thought it was calming down the immune system since I had no worsening MCAS symptoms. Regardless, just be careful with it and make your own judgment.
Disruption of Gut Microbiome
Diatomaceous earth can remove pathogenic bacteria and beneficial microbes, making it a risky venture if your gut microbiome is already compromised. For this reason, I typically pair diatomaceous earth with prebiotics and raw colostrum. This helps to offset the potential side effects and disruption to the gut flora.
FAQ- Diatomaceous Earth and MCAS
Is diatomaceous earth worth trying if you have MCAS?
You may want to pass on diatomaceous earth if you have a very sensitive stomach. If you don’t have chronic stomach pain, you may be able to tolerate DE in smaller doses. For example, you could start with a teaspoon five days weekly and work up slowly from there. Just remember, you must find the dose that provides benefits without side effects. This is how you use diatomaceous earth for MCAS.
Does diatomaceous earth calm down the mast cells?
In my experience, larger doses of diatomaceous earth can definitely calm down the mast cells. If you are doing more than a teaspoon, you will notice a slight calming effect coming over the body. Also, you will see additional stamina and energy. This sounds great, but you must pay extra close attention to your stomach and if any detox symptoms arise. If you have detox symptoms, you have already triggered the mast cells. The last thing you want to do is set yourself back by using diatomaceous earth. Trust me, it’s very possible. I did it myself on multiple occasions.
What brand of diatomaceous earth is best for MCAS?
I bought my bag of DE from diatomaceousearth.com. It seemed like good quality and it did what it was supposed to. There are plenty of companies out there selling it. I would just make sure to buy food-grade diatomaceous earth. Also, look for third-party lab testing to verify purity.
Can diatomaceous earth eliminate mycotoxins and heavy metals?
Diatomaceous earth has been shown to help remove certain mycotoxins and heavy metals. For this reason, you must start slow, or you could move around a lot of toxic material too quickly. As with anything that detoxes you, you must begin with a low dose and gradually increase over time. If you notice a detox response, throttle it back a little bit and then try to increase the dose again two weeks later.
How much diatomaceous earth did you take for MCAS?
I started with a tablespoon daily on an empty stomach, 30 minutes before food. I did this five days per week. After a couple of weeks, I moved up to 3 tablespoons. At that time, I started to notice significant benefits but also began to notice stomach pain, which forced me to stop it. The next time, I stuck with one teaspoon, which did not cause issues as long as I used it every other day. I couldn’t notice the same benefits as with large doses, but I didn’t have side effects.
If you are considering diatomaceous earth, pay attention to your stomach. That is the only thing to be concerned about. Ideally, you do not want to be experiencing a significant detoxification response either. If that occurs, use the carbonized bamboo (Takesumi Supreme) and eat plenty of plant fiber. Also, make sure you use it NO MORE than every other day. If you want to increase your detox, pair it with other binders like carbonized bamboo, micronized zeolite, or MediClay FX. Learn more about the best mycotoxin binders in the link provided.
How is diatomaceous earth different from zeolite?
Diatomaceous earth differs from zeolite in various ways. Despite this, both have the same properties that help you detoxify harmful chemicals. In my opinion, micronized liquid zeolite is slightly better than powdered diatomaceous earth. The reason is, it can go deeper into the cells and is more agreeable with the stomach.
Conclusion- Diatomaceous Earth is Risky for MCAS
I tried diatomaceous earth on multiple occasions during my MCAS journey. It has some potential, but it also has some risks. If your gut has been a long-standing issue, you must be careful with diatomaceous earth.
In contrast, if you do not have gut pain, diatomaceous earth could be helpful in the right doses/frequency. It has a unique capability to attract and eliminate toxins that could be contributing to your MCAS symptoms.
If you have any questions about mast cell activation or diatomaceous earth, get in touch. I am willing to help and blessed to have the opportunity!
Happy healing everyone!
Matt Nedin
Certified Holistic Nutritionist
EndSickness – Founder
Phone: (734) 846-8619
Email: endsickness@gmail.com
WhatsApp: +17348468619
