Parasites are organisms that rely on a host (that’s us!) to survive. Parasites, although not a glamorous topic; are an important one - as a parasitic infection can cause some pretty uncomfortable health issues.

The 3 main categories of parasites are:

Helminths which include:
Roundworms, hookworms, pinworms, tapeworms, flatworms, trichinella and strongyloides.
Some are ingested from raw or undercooked food, or eggs are ingested from clothing, bed linen, toys etc and then they spread by laying eggs usually in your gastrointestinal tract, however they can migrate to other parts of the body. Some burrow into the skin from contaminated soil or water. These can cause a range of health issues.
Protozoa like Guardia, amoeba and cryptosporidium are mostly associated with contaminated water or food and cause stomach cramping, diarrhea, and vomiting.
Ectoparasites live on the exterior of its host and mostly affect the superficial layers of skin with bites and burrowing like fleas, lice, mites, ticks.

While we often associate parasites with underdeveloped countries, they are more common in modern countries than you might think.

How parasites can enter the body:

Raw or undercooked fish - sashimi.
Raw or undercooked meat including pork.
Unwashed produce.
Poor hygiene.
Walking barefoot in contaminated soil.
Swimming in lakes, rivers, streams and the sea contaminated by sheep, cattle or other animals.
Contact with infected pets.
Contact with infected kids, friends, family.
Travel to tropical or undeveloped countries.

Do any of these apply to you? If so, I recommend a parasite cleanse or the Complete Microbiome Map to identify whether you have a parasite infection.

Have you wondered if fatigue, digestive issues, sugar cravings, insomnia may have a deeper cause?

Parasites are sneaky organisms that live in or on the body feeding off your nutrients and disrupting your health. They can move into the gut, liver, lungs, sinuses, joints, pancreas, brain etc causing havoc in these areas:

Digestive problems (bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation)
Unexplained weight loss
Increased appetite
Insomnia
Anaemia
Fatigue - low energy
Weak immunity
Skin rashes or itching ears, nose, anus
Joint and muscle pain
Teeth grinding and clenching
Headaches, brain fog, mood disorders
Vision problems

While some parasites are harmless or cause minimal symptoms, others, in the right environment, can proliferate and cause significant harm or disease.

An interesting snippet is that the life cycle of parasites align with the moon. They are most active during full moon; which means that they are reproducing, pooping and releasing more toxins in the week of a full moon. If you tend to have more itching, poor sleep, low energy, brain fog, headaches, teeth grinding or "crazy" in the week of the full moon, reach out for support in clearing the little nasties and see the difference in your wellbeing.

It is helpful to know WHAT allowed parasites to thrive in your body in the first place so we can treat the causes:

A low acid environment in the stomach prevents incoming parasites (and bacteria) from being killed. Strong stomach acid, good enzyme and bile production help to clear parasites.
A nutrient deficient diet prevents the body from functioning optimally and can allow parasites to proliferate, then parasites can steal your vitamins and minerals and cause nutrient deficiencies creating a viscious circle.
Anything that diminishes your body's vitality like chemicals, heavy metals (fillings), plastics, mould, antibiotics, electromagnetic frequencies, etc creates an environment for parasites (or other pathogens) to increase.
Not managing stress well or being stuck in negative emotions can create high cortisol which in turn impacts gut environment and intestinal transit; however a parasitic infection puts stress on the body with a consequent release of cortisol - another of those vicious circles!
A weakend immune system. Your immune system is designed to detect foreign invaders and deal to them; but obviously it is a much harder job when it is weak.

When doing a parasite cleanse, one of the first priority steps is to identify what allowed the parasites initially to overgrow and address that along with a cleansing protocol.

A word of caution! It is important to start slow and listen to your body as some of the harsh protocols can cause die-off symptoms (headaches, nausea, and fatigue) as toxins are released.

Managing parasites naturally is all about creating an internal environment where they can’t thrive—and where you can.

Parasites and toxin overload must be addressed at the same time. There is a strategy to clear toxins and parasites and heal the gut and immune system.

To support gentle parasite removal:

Follow a clean whole food diet to starve parasites of sugar, refined carbs and processed foods which they feed on.
Increase fibre to help move parasites and waste out of the digestive tract.
It is vital to ensure your drainage pathways are open to clear parasites and toxins out.
Do NOT start a parasite cleanse if you are not having a daily smooth bowel motion! Contact me for details on easing constipation.
Support drainage pathways of liver, kidneys, skin and lymphatics with herbal teas like milk thistle and dandelion root as parasites can release toxins when they die. Raising body temperature with epsom salt baths or sauna and daily movement/exercise can assist lymph flow and detox. Magnesium citrate can help relax the colon muscles and promote a bowel motion. Certain herbs, digestive enzymes and probiotics can ease constipation. Castor oil packs on the liver are also great at moving matter through the colon. A bowel motion should be part of your DAILY life. If toxins and parasites are not removed, they recirculate.
Releasing toxic thoughts will also benefit your physical health.
Support the mitochondria and cellular energy. Sunshine promotes intercellular melatonin to help clean up your cells. As we age levels of Co-enzyme Q10 decline. CoQ10 is a powerful antioxidant that protects from cellular and DNA damage.
Stay hydrated to help flush out the parasites.
Eat foods which have shown anti-parasitic properties like raw garlic, pumpkin seeds, pomegranate, papaya seeds, cayenne pepper, oregano.
Reduce your overall toxic load. Choose clean beauty and homecare products. Avoid synthetic fragrance in candles, perfumes, laundry detergent and fabric softeners, air fresheners, etc.
Good sleep is vital to allow your glymphatic system (the waste clearance system in the brain) to drain toxins.
Vitamin and minerals help the body to function correctly. There isn’t a one size fits all approach to balancing nutrients; however if you want to address nutritional deficiencies accurately I would suggest running a hair tissue mineral analysis with me to identify deficiencies.

It is important to focus on these foundational steps before employing nature’s powerful anti-parasitic plant allies. These herbs have been used traditionally and are research backed:

Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium): Toxic to many parasites; best used in combination formulas.
Black walnut hull: Especially effective against worms; often used in tincture form.
Clove: Targets parasite eggs and complements wormwood and black walnut.
Oregano oil: Antibacterial, antifungal, and antiparasitic.
Neem: Used in Ayurvedic medicine to disrupt parasite life cycles.
Use binders like activated charcoal, clay, humics to protect the gut lining and fulvics to support the gut microbiota and absorb toxins to carry them out of the body.
NOTE: Herbal remedies can be potent and should be used under the guidance of a qualified herbalist or natural healthcare provider.

By eating clean, supporting your gut, strengthening your immune system, using herbs, and caring for your detox systems, you can boost your resilience and feel more energized from the inside out.

Treating children can be a little more tricky as some of the herbs are too aggressive and they may not like the foods with anti-parasitic properties. Contact me for details of homeobotanical or homeopathy parasite therapies.

Can parasites cause cancer??

There is established, scientific evidence linking specific parasites - silent, persistent and often undetected, to specific cancers, e.g bladder, lymph, gastric and colorectal cancers,

The mechanism of action is thought to be…. Parasites:

Secrete toxic by-products
Cause damage to cells by embedding into the tissues
Inflict harm on cellular pathways
Change immune surveillance and function, allowing mutated cells to survive.
Provoke chronic inflammation

These impacts can lead to DNA damage and mutations.

This would make doing a parasite cleanse and elimination of parasites, A PATHWAY TO PREVENTION OF SOME CANCERS.

Navigating clearing parasites can be tricky, so if you have any questions about what approach is best for you, or would like details of anti-parasitic herbals and binders, reach out to me for a one on one consultation.

References:

IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Biological Agents, Volume 100B (2012).

Mostafa MH et al. Bladder cancer: relationship to Schistosoma haematobium infection, Int J Cancer (1999).

Sripa B et al., Trends Parasitol (2012) – “The tumorigenic liver fluke...”

Clearing Parasites Naturally

Heal and Reverse Autoimmune Disease