A parasite is an organism that lives on or in a host organism and gets its food from or at the expense of its host. Many people have parasites and don't know it. Often, people seek treatment for chronic fatigue, candida, and other sets of symptoms, and are not able to determine the root cause of their condition - parasites.

There are three main classes of parasites that can cause disease in humans:
  1. Protozoa - These microscopic, single-celled organisms are free-living or parasitic in nature and are able to multiply infinitely in humans from just a single organism, enabling the organism to potentially defeat the host. Protozoa can thrive for prolonged periods inside the cells of the body, wrecking havoc on our immune system. Intestinal transmission typically occurs through a fecal-oral route, such as through contaminated food or water, or person-to-person contact. Blood or tissue transmission usually occurs via arthropod vectors, such as a mosquito. Protozoa include amebas (e.g., Entamoeba), flagellates (e.g., Giardia, Leishmania), ciliates (e.g., Balantidium), and non-motile organisms (e.g., Plasmodium, Cryptosporidium).
  2. Helminths ("Worms") - These large multicellular organisms are usually visible to the naked eye in their adult stages and can be free-living or parasitic in nature. Helminths, in their adult form, cannot multiply in humans. Helminths can be divided into three categories: flatworms (e.g., trematodes [flukes] and cestodes [tapeworms]), thorny-headed worms (acanthocephalins) [these adult form of these worms reside in the GI tract], and roundworms (nematodes) [the adult form of these worms can reside in the GI tract, blood, lymphatic system or subcutaneous tissues]. Worms are able to infiltrate the body and subsist on undigested food which accumulates on the intestinal walls. Worms thrive on refined carbohydrates, which become lodged in the lower intestinal region as a result of decreased nutrient absorption. This maldigestion and accumulation is often the result of an insufficient production of pancreatic digestive enzymes.
  3. Ectoparasites - This group of parasites can broadly include blood-sucking arthropods such as mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, lice, and mites.

The prevalence of gastrointestinal (GI) parasitic infection varies based on location. This variation is determined by the mechanism of transmission, the amount of infected individuals in the area, the quality of public health measures to handle waste, and the quality of clean drinking water in the area. The prevalence of many GI parasitic infection is greater in developing nations in which there is a high rate of disease and inadequate public health facilities (Garcia et al., 2017). Given this, it is estimated that 1 in 4 people (25%) have a parasitic infection (Cabral, 2018).

Causes

While the United Sates is generally known to adhere to health and sanitation laws, parasites commonly pester Americans, and there are several causes:
  1. Improper restaurant sanitation
  2. Traveling to a foreign country
  3. Drinking from unfiltered tap water or a contaminated water source
  4. Consuming raw food or under cooked animal products (e.g., sushi)
  5. Working in a hospital, day care center, garden, or sanitation facilities
  6. Using antibiotics and immunosuppresive medications
  7. Pets

Parasites do not usually live in a healthy host; therefore the presence of parasites within a human implies that they may suffer from a defective elimination process, an imbalanced diet, or poor lifestyle habits.

signs your might have a parasite

  1. Adult acne (especially on the forehead and back) or skin issues of eczema, psoriasis or rosacea
  2. Abdominal bloating, gas or pain (especially at night)
  3. Foul-smelling stool
  4. Anal itching
  5. Unexplained constipation and/or diarrhea
  6. Sleep issues that remain unexplained
  7. Grinding teeth at night or while sleeping
  8. Unexplained anemia
  9. Chronic fatigue
  10. Heartburn
  11. Vomiting
  12. Mood swings, varying degrees of depression, nightmares, irritability, spaciness, and hyperactivity
  13. Fever, night sweats, weight loss, loss of appetite, rashes, hives, abnormal itching, arthritis, and insomnia

The wide range of signs associated with parasites is due to the ability of the parasite to compromise the immune system and other essential functions. For example, researchers have observed that parasites can capable of producing enzymes that can corrode the intestinal walls, allowing toxins to enter the body (Null, 2001).

Testing for a parasite

If you have some or all of the symptoms mentioned above, it is possible that you may have a parasite. If you are determined to detect whether a parasite lives in your GI tract, you are in luck, there is an answer: a stool test. While this option is not always financially feasible, it is a surefire way to be certain of the potential cause of your debilitating symptoms which can be the first step to healing.
Keep in mind, the detection of parasites in the body is not always effectively achieved by examining stool samples, since parasites fasten themselves to the mucosal membrane of the intestinal wall (Null, 2001).

herbs that kill gut bugs and parasites

If you have determined that you may have a parasite, do not worry, there are solutions. Fortunately, the life cycle of a parasite is approximately 21 days, so there are certain protocols, such as consuming powerful herbs, that can kill off these nasty bugs. 

  1. Papaya seeds - make sure they are organic! (99% of papaya is genetically modified)
  2. Cloves
  3. Raw pumpkin seeds (the outer shell)
  4. Raw garlic (peeled, ideally juiced - consume before bed)
  5. Cucumber seeds (specifically tape worms)
  6. Ginger
  7. Cayenne pepper
  8. Green hulls of black walnuts (DO NOT EAT! Crush into a powder - best as tincture)
  9. Oregano oil
  10. Olive Leaf
  11. Chaparral
  12. Goldenseal (should not be relied upon for more than a month at a time)

Nutrition and supplements

Consuming raw garlic, onions, horseradish, and raw pumpkin seeds can help prevent contracting parasitic infections. In addition, supplementing with magnesium, vitamin B12, capsium, and calcium can support the body in eliminating parasites. Certain foods such as crustaceans (e.g., crabs, lobster, ad shrimp), pork, raw beef, sushi, or excessive dairy intake, can heighten the possibility of parasitic infections. Moreover, avoid intake of coffee, sugar, alcohol, milk, and dairy products, as researchers have observed these can dibilitate the immune system, consequently facilitating the influx of parasites. While fruit, honey, and tofu have nutritional value, people with parasitic infections should abstain from these foods (Null, 2001).

References

Cabral, S. (2018). The 9 Herbs That Naturally Kill Gut Bugs and Parasites. [podcast] The Cabral Concept. Available at: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cabral-concept/id1071469441?mt=2&i=421392591

CDC (2016). Parasites. Atlanta, GA: Global Health - Division of Parasitic Diseases. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/about.html

Garcia, L. S., Arrowood, M., Kokoskin, E., Paltridge, G. P., Pillai, D. R., Procop, G. W., Ryan, N., Shimizu, R. Y., … Visvesvara, G. (2017). Laboratory Diagnosis of Parasites from the Gastrointestinal Tract. Clinical microbiology reviews, 31(1), e00025-17. https://doi.org/10.1128/CMR.00025-17

Null, G. (2001) The complete encyclopedia of natural healing. New York: Bottom Line Books.