Fossil Shell Flour (Food-Grade Certified Organic Diatomaceous Earth Powder) is a natural product derived from the fossilised remains of microscopic shells of freshwater algaecalled diatoms. This 100% pure plant-based whole food has many health benefits, provides a natural source of silica for humans, animals, and soil, and is a harsh abrasive against pests in the garden.
Our source is theworld’s finest food-grade diatomaceous earth. Entirely organic and pure, this natural source of silica assists with optimal gut health and nutrient absorption.
Plant Doctor is the sole Australian distributor of this product.
Human benefits:
- Cleanses the digestive system and improves gut health
- Helps remove toxins, impurities and parasites
- Healthier-looking skin, hair and nails.
- Improves functionality of the liver and colon
- Contains minerals including Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, Iron and is >86% Silica
- Increases nutrient and mineral absorption and hydration levels
- Reduces gas and bloating
- Helps improve energy levels
- Promotes regular bowel movements
- Cleanses intestinal walls and digestive tract
Recommend dose: simply take 1/2 teaspoon of food-grade diatomaceous earth with filtered water daily. You can increase your dosage slowly over several weeks up to 1 teaspoon (maximum 3g) per day.
Note: A redesign of our labels will reflect recommended consumption rates for both Human and Animal Health.
Animal benefits:
- Help with internal and external parasite control
- Increases detoxification and removal of heavy metals
- Improves gut health and acts as digestive aid
- Helps improve joint, bone and ligament health
- Contains minerals including Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, Iron and is 93% Silica
- Stimulates basic metabolism
- Reduces odour and moisture in barns, stalls and litter boxes
Recommend dose: Mix with food. For small pets under 25kg, use 1/2 teaspoon per day. For larger pets, use up to 1 teaspoon per day.Livestock & Animals over 150kg, add 1% of the weight to the feed rations.
For external parasite control, make a paste with water or rub full-strength powder on to the skin and/or apply to the coat and sprinkle on bedding/stalls/pens. Birds will naturally use to dust bathe.
Garden Pest use:
Sprinkle on leaves, trunks, branches & soil to deter pests. Reapply after rain/watering. Avoid ALL flowers. This product is indiscriminate and works to make small abrasive cuts to the exoskeletons on contact for both hard & soft bodied insects causing fatal dehydration. Use only where plants are being eaten by pest species and avoid all flowers to protect pollinators. Can be used on in bee hives on the base only for hive beetle. Ensure a thin covering does not allow the bees to come into contact as they enter/exit the hive.
WARNING: Fine particle dust - Avoid inhalation. Please consult your healthcare/veterinary professional before using any product referred to on this website.The statements and products sold on this website have not been evaluated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) or AVPMA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Notes:Keep sealed and store in a dry location.
FAQ
- What is Diatomaceous earth?
Diatomaceous earth is the fossilised remains of microscopic aquatic algae called diatoms. This major group of microorganisms has existed for millions of years and can be found in oceans and waterways worldwide.
- What’s the difference between Fossil Shell Flour and Diatomaceous earth?
While these two are basically the same thing, Diatomaceous earth packaged under the Fossil Shell Flour label ensures you will be receiving the purest form of DE sourced from a freshwater deposit.
Fossil Shell Flour is the registered trademark of Perma-Guard, the original and largest supplier of fresh water, food-grade Diatomaceous earth.
- Is all diatomaceous earth the same?
No, there are many different varieties of diatomaceous earth and not all of them are food-grade.
Some diatomaceous earth cited as food grade contains higher amounts of sediment and clay, making it less effective than its pure counterparts.
Since the Australian market has been flooded with cheap versions of DE, we suggest you check that the product is registered and certified food grade prior to purchase.
- Where does your diatomaceous earth come from?
Diatomaceous earth has been mined for decades from various deposits all over the world, but not all diatomaceous earth is the same.
Plant Doctor sources diatomaceous earth from Perma-Guard, the original and largest supplier of registered food-grade diatomaceous earth products in the world. With more than 40 years of experience, Perma-Guard is known worldwide for using an entirely pure grade of diatomaceous earth.
Out of 600 deposits in the US, only 4 are considered ‘food-grade’ by the FDA standards. Plant Doctor sources from one of these 4 deposits via Perma-Guard. This freshwater deposit is consistent in its purity and has an 86– 92% amorphous silica content, making it very pure.
Plant Doctor is the exclusive Australian importer of Perma-Guard’s Fossil Shell Flour®.
- Is Fossil Shell Flour vegan?
Yes, Fossil Shell Flour is gluten-free, vegan, non-GMO, sugar-free and dairy-free. Also approved by the FDA and EPA for limited uses in the USA.
- Tell me more about the manufacturer.
Perma-Guard Fossil Shell Flour ® Food Grade pure Diatomaceous Earth - 100% Pure, organic and comes from fresh water.
Perma-Guard is the original and largest supplier of registered food-grade diatomaceous earth products in the world and is imported from the United States. Not all Diatomaceous Earth is Food Grade. There are many cheaper versions of Diatomaceous Earth starting to flood the market in Australia, we suggest you check that the product is registered/certified food grade before making any purchases as many types can contain impurities making them unsafe for consumption. To date, there is no Australian Diatomaceous Earth that is certified as Food Grade.
Some Diatomaceous Earth claimed as food grade contain higher amounts of sediment and clay that make them less effective. Depending upon how the deposits were formed, clay particles may be present in sufficient quantities to clog the pores of the fossilized shells. If this is the case, the effectiveness of the Diatomaceous Earth is severely reduced. The shape of the diatom must be tubular with holes in the walls. It must be fresh water because the diatoms form a harder shell and are less fragile than those in saltwater. Perma-Guard Fossil Shell Flour DE is registered Food Grade and contains no chemicals.
Warning: When purchasing Food Grade Fossil Shell Flour Diatomaceous Earth, you should be looking for something that is off-white/bone in colour. When comparing Our product with other, even Australian products, you’ll notice there is a large comparison in colour, this is mainly due to clay deposits found in the Australian and other countries products.
Perma-Guard Food Grade Fossil Shell Flour (DE) - amorphous silica as diatoms (microfossils) is more than 99% and the crystalline silica is generally regarded as less than 0.5%.
PERMA-GUARD is the trade name for a grade and quality of Diatomaceous Earth (DE) and comes from the USA. Actually, DE is not an earth. It is the fossilized remains of microscopic shells of freshwater plankton Algae/plants called DIATOMS.
These products do not contain persistent chemicals harmful to the environment and to higher forms of life. Although not harmful to animals or the environment generally, it may be harmful to fish.
Perma-Guard is uniquely Natural, Organic and Sustainable.
All diatomaceous earth is not the same. Diatomaceous earth packaged under our Fossil Shell Flour (FSF) label comes from an extremely pure freshwater deposit of the diatom Melosira Preicelanica. Why is this diatom so special? Its shell is made of amorphous silica. Its shape and hardness are important to how it works. Its hardness keeps it from dissolving in liquid. The holes along the diatom's wall allow it to absorb moisture.
Why fresh water vs. saltwater DE?Fresh water deposits like ours have a consistent diatom presence. Their fossilized shells have maintained their tubular shape. This shape and strength of the fossil shell is critical to its effectiveness. Our deposit has very high amorphous silica content. Our deposit is more consistent in purity of other elements that have settled in it. Saltwater deposits contain a mix of types of diatoms of different shapes. Their fossilized shells are fragile and break easily. This renders them ineffective for our purposes. The saltwater deposits are less predictable in their sediments.
What's the difference between amorphous and crystalline silica?Amorphous silica is silica in its natural occurring state. It is a trace mineral every mammal on the planet needs to gain full health. It becomes crystalline when it is exposed to extreme heat through volcanic activity or commercial manufacturing means, e.g. the type of diatomaceous earth used in swimming pool, and other, filtration systems are crystalline silica. Crystalline silica is extremely dangerous when inhaled or ingested. It is not biodegradable.
In Australia, Food Grade Fossil Shell Flour has only been approved for sale as an Anti-Caking Agent and animal feed, therefore we can only advertise it as such. Please see the manufacturers websitewww.perma-guard.comto find out more or research on the internet (google, YouTube etc). In Australia it is currently not approved as a human health product, in other countries such as USA and Canada the Perma-Guard brand of Fossil Shell Flour Food Grade DE is approved by PMRA & Health Canada, USDA, FDA and EPA.
FURTHER READING - What Is Diatomaceous Earth?
Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a natural product made up offossilized remains of tiny, aquatic organisms calleddiatoms.Composed of the cell walls/shells of single cell diatoms, it easily crumbles to a fine powder.
In fact, the composition of the diatom cell walls are biogenic silica.
The substances used to make diatomaceous earth are safe and taken directly from the sea, since diatom silica deposits accumulate over time in the sediment of rivers, streams, lakes and oceans.
DE goes by many names other than diatomaceous earth, including:
dinosaur dust
miracle mineral
fossil shell powder (NOT FOSSIL SHELL FLOUR)
ancient treasure
According to theNational Pesticide Information Centre, diatoms found in DE are actually skeletons thatare made up of silica, a very common type of matter found in nature that makes up about 26 percent of the earth’s crust. There are various types of naturalsilica, many of which you probably recognize, including: sand, emerald, quartz, feldspar, mica, clay, asbestos and glass.
What are some products that contain diatomaceous earth?Diatomaceous earth is available in two different grades:
Food Grade — meant to be taken internally by humans
Non-Food Grade — used in industrial practices
Some common products that contain diatomaceous earth include dusts,powders (or a “powder duster”) and pressurized liquids that are used on the outside of buildings, on farms, in gardens, and in human and pet foods.
It usually comes in the form of a white powder and is also used in water filtering, food manufacturing, skin products and farming to naturally eliminate free radicals, viruses, insects, parasites and other harmful organisms by binding to them and drying them out. It also has the ability to improve the body’s use of calcium, improve bone mineralization, protect joints and fight effects of aging.
Diatomaceous earth comes in several forms:
Milled,micronized or granulated diatomaceous earth, a raw material made from crushing silica that’s usually available as a powder and safe for human consumption (to be food-grade, it must contain less than 1 percent crystalline silica), can also be usedin pesticides and insecticides
calcined diatomaceous earth, a heat-treated and activated form used in water filtering and explosives
You can purchase food-grade DE in some health food stores or online. DE for your garden or pest control is also available at many home improvement stores.
Silica used to make diatomaceous earthis a key common component of the earth’s natural rock, sands and clays. Silica is an important component of human ligaments, cartilage and musculature and is also abundant in plants since it facilitates their growth and development.
Studies have shownthat it’san essential mineral for the body to build strong bones, hair, nails and teeth, and it’s needed to carry calcium into various parts of the body.
According to researchpublished in theJournal of Nutrition, Health and Aging, many forms of silica exist in nature, and compelling data supports myriad beneficial effects ofconsuming moresilica within water. Orthosilicic acid is the form of silicon predominantly absorbed by humans and found in numerous tissues, including nails, bones, tendons, the aorta, the liver and the kidneys.
Compelling evidence exists that suggests silica is essential for health and has a strong anti-aging effect. Deficiencies in silica can contribute to:
abnormal growth
deformities in skull and peripheral bones
joint pain caused from poorly formed joints andreduced contents of cartilage and collagen
disruption of mineral balance
damage to the femur and vertebrae
Benefits for the Body
1. Detoxifies the Body
Diatomaceous earth — also known as diatomite — works like a natural detoxifying agent within the body, killing parasites and viruses that can contribute to illnesses while also helping to clean the blood. It’s also inexpensive, simple to use and much safer than many store-bought detox products or plans.
Some of the benefits of using DE internally include reducing odours, helping to curb gas, cleansing the digestive tract, boosting liver function and absorbing harmful toxins within the blood.
How does DE work to help with detoxification?
Silicaworks similarly to antioxidantsfound in high-antioxidant foodsbecause it retains its traits as a stable particle even while continuously suspended in a liquid medium, allowing it to fight free radical damage. It’s broken down into a colloidal form, which acts likea detoxifier for the blood since it carries an electrical charge that attaches to free radicals and other harmful toxins.
Silica particles can then neutralize the charge of free radicals and remove them from the body through sweat, urine and faeces, which slows oxidative damage and has anti-aging effects.
A study published in theAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutritionfound that silica also helps eliminate heavy metals from the body, such as aluminium, making it perfect for aheavy metal detox. In studies, it has been shown to have a high-aluminium-affinity and reduces aluminium availability from the human gastrointestinal tract.
2. Fights Parasites
A2011 studypublished in theOxford Journal of Poultry Sciencefound that DE has the potential to be an effective treatment to help control internal worms (parasites). Interestingly enough, this was observed in hens thatproduce organically raised, free-range eggs.
Giving two breeds of commercial egg-laying hens DE improved production of their eggs and egg quality compared to control groups, effectively working as a parasite cleanse in the process.
The two groups of hens used in the study were found to differ in their resistance to internal parasitic infections, which was observed by examining their gastrointestinal tracts. The hens fed DE had significantly lower incidences of infections, including fewer Capillaria FEC, slightly lower Eimeria FEC, fewer birds infected with Heterakis and significantly lower Heterakis worm infections.
Those fed DE were also significantly heavier in weight, laid more eggs and consumed more feed than hens fed the control diet, plus their eggs had larger yolks and therefore were more concentrated with nutrients.
