Ailment: Bedbugs

Remedy: Diatomaceous earth / silicon

Diatomaceous earth, soluble silicon. Food sources. Supplements.

Comment posted by hakim of Toronto, Ontario, Canada on 18 February 2014 at 13:21       2332

YES
I created a barrier with a heap of diatomaceous earth surrounding our bed so that the bedbugs can't get to us and bite at night. My theory was that if they can't feed everyday, they will eventually die. This theory is not entirely correct, as they can live without feeding for a long time. Also, in the winter they can go on in hibernation for a year. So my technique works well in the summer, which happens to be when bed bugs are more active. So that's good. But you also need to spread diatomaceous earth all over the floor so that bed bugs have no place to crawl without coming in contact with the diatomaceous earth. After a few weeks you will start seeing dead bugs. Remember that baby bed bugs (a few days old) are unaffected by diatomaceous earth and will still make their way to feed on you. You will need to examine you mattress/bed, find them, and kill them. I used the adhesive side of a tape and pressed on them to pick them and then discarded them. Also, note that once you are certain that you are free of bed bugs, cleaning the diatomaceous earth is a pain as they clog the vaccum cleaner filters. You will have to manually sweep it up. Be careful not to breath in the diatomaceous earth directly as it's not good for you lungs.

Comment posted by Mike of Troy, MI, USA on 7 March 2012 at 8:26       619

YES
When Bed Bugs get Diatomaceous Earth on them, they will die. The sharp edges of the diatoms cut the "waxy" coating which causes the insect to dehydrate.