Geophagism, also known as earth-eating, is a practice that exists in different cultures and has been observed throughout human history. While geophagism is a term that describes the act of eating earth, there are several synonyms that can also be used. Some of these synonyms include soil consumption, earth ingestion, dirt eating, clay consumption, and mud ingestion. These terms are used to describe the practice of eating soil or earth in an attempt to fulfill nutritional or cultural needs. While geophagism is not considered a healthy or safe practice, it continues to exist in certain parts of the world, with some communities considering it a cultural norm or ritual.