Unfortunately, since I got COPD from aspartame, yes, ASPARTAME (in only 3-1/2 weeks, with years of allergies since, asthma included,...keep in mind I have never smoked, not anything), when my drs ran out of options for me, having given me every nasal spray, lung inhaler and pill, all three prescriptions at the same time, and every brand until they had no more to try, my only option left was to inhale food-grade DE intentionally, because you see I couldn't breathe, and my nose swelled so shut that even if I put my head upside down until nose drops leaked in, they didn't. I would wake up panicking for breathe. Now, I am a cancer survivor of 8 years, for endometrial cancer, which occurred before I started this, but I can tell you, that was nothing compared to this. DE created the need for no allergy/COPD meds, and I am so GRATEFUL, however, I also must add, you cannot simply have an imbalanced system. Silica is in hair vitamins, Brown rice, even silica supplements, but these are ingested. Whether breathed or ingested, you need a highly acidic diet sufficient to break down silica, apple cider vinegar being ideal, and I have alway taken it daily, and have never had problems with my lungs in 7 years, which is a miracle, as I was on prescriptions (that never worked as well as the DE I might add, for 14 YEARS! This works better. But here's another thought, I also take the eight essential (non-optional in order to have immunity) glyconutrients every day that make stem cells, and stem cells are immunity: they deal with things like interleukin response and stop not only that, most other autoimmunity issues. Since I have fibromialgia, I have improved in energy and health since using both DE, minimally, I might add, and all eight glycos, since missing one or more glycos can result in autoimmunity. Now people may think vinegar sounds ineffective for silica, but think about it. vinegar can break down a crystal or a pearl or even heavy metals in a jar. Balance is the key. The amount of DE I use in order to treat myself for sniffles and now very mild congestion (YAY!), is a mere 1/16 tsp. I do not use an amount that a factory worker might inhale in big production, for that, yes, use masks. I am grateful for drs and all they tried, but I need to breathe, and I am my own one-man walking lab. I will not be waiting for longterm studies to tell me I have to wait years to feel well until they "approve" of a way they think I should be treated. BEEN there, done that. But to each his own, we must follow our own hearts.
