Parasitic infections are often an overlooked root cause of numerous health issues. Many people don’t associate chronic or common health problems with parasites, but the symptoms of a parasitic infection can mimic our most common ailments. Lack of detection can lead to unneeded medical treatments, while the parasites remain intact, causing non-resolving chronic health issues.
In this article, we’ll explore what parasites are, how they affect us, and how to know if parasite cleanse is working.
What are Parasites and How Do They Affect Us?
Intestinal parasites are unwanted inhabitants of the gastrointestinal tract that can be the root cause of a multitude of health problems. Parasites can range from microscopic amoebas to 10-foot-long tapeworms.
The most common types of parasitic infections that can cause disease in humans: protozoa, helminths, and ectoparasites. They’re typically transmitted between human beings through contaminated food or water, person-to-person contact, or from the blood or tissue carried through the bite of a mosquito or sand fly.
They are not only restricted to the intestines – parasites and their eggs can enter the circulatory system and travel to various organs of the body, such as the liver, lungs, joints, brain, muscles, esophagus, and even the skin, where they cause elevated, ongoing inflammation.
Parasites feed on nutrients from the foods we eat and can contribute to chronic malnutrition. They can also eat holes in the intestinal wall, leading to conditions like intestinal permeability or leaky gut. One of the major complications with leaky gut is autoimmunity, such as rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, and inflammatory skin conditions. Humans can play host to more than a hundred different types of parasites and often do not even know it.
How Do We Come into Contact with Parasites?
Parasites are everywhere, and we’ve all come into contact with them at some point. Typically, they are associated with tropical countries, but even if we have never traveled abroad, our food sources come from all over the world. Parasites are a public health nuisance in America, especially. The major neglected parasitic infections in the U.S. include Chagas disease, cysticercosis, toxocariasis, toxoplasmosis, and trichomoniasis.
We can get parasites from contaminated food and water, improperly cooked meat, and unwashed fruits and vegetables. Restaurant salad bars can also be breeding grounds for parasites. We can get them by walking barefoot as they are transmitted through the soil. They can also be sexually transmitted or contracted through contaminated blood and feces.
Exposure does not guarantee infection; however, those with weakened immune systems, chronic stress, or poor digestive and gut health are particularly susceptible.
Risk Factors for Parasitic Infections
Several factors can increase the risk of parasitic infections, and parasitic diseases, including:
- Unnecessary use of antibiotics
- Poor sleeping habits
- Poor diet
- Chronic stress
- Major traumas or injuries
- Heavy metals and toxin accumulation in the body
- Low stomach acid, prolonged use of acid blockers
- Travel
- Unclean water
- Owning pets or livestock
- Not washing your produce
Biofilms and Parasitic Infections
Parasites produce biofilms, which are slimy sacks that enclose and protect the parasite. Biofilms enable parasites to survive various environmental conditions, such as changes in temperature, lack of water, extreme acids, and therapeutic agents.
Once a parasite biofilm develops, it can hide away inside it for a long time, waiting for the opportunity to come out and wreak havoc on the body. Biofilms can also make testing inaccurate because they allow the parasite to remain invisible.
Why Testing for Parasites is Not Very Accurate
It is completely possible to have a parasitic infection and not see any worms in the stool. Attempting to catch a parasitic infection via stool testing and/or colonoscopy is often ineffective. Colonoscopies only examine the colon and the lowest part of the small intestine, while parasites can be found in various organs throughout the body.
Stool tests do not show a complete version of your gastrointestinal tract and therefore tend to produce false-negative results for parasitic infections. If this sounds alarming, just know that it’s not as important to know exactly which kind of parasites you may have. It’s often helpful to just act as if you tested positive for parasites and then do a broad-spectrum antiparasitic cleanse every year as maintenance for optimal health.
Signs of Potential Parasite Infection
The presence of parasites should be considered if one or more of these symptoms persist over time:
- Gut and digestive issues
- Food sensitivities
- IBS
- Abdominal pain
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Unexplained nausea
- Headaches
- Insomnia
- Dizziness
- Grinding teeth when sleeping
- Acne
- Inflammation of the skin (any kind)
- Allergies
- Sugar cravings
- Increased hunger, changes in appetite
- Fatigue and weakness
- Muscle & joint pain
- Chest pain or heart palpitations
- Iron-deficiency anemia
- Brain fog, poor memory
- Anxiety, depression or irritability
- GERD or heartburn
- Unexplained weight gain or difficulty losing weight
- Itchy nose, ears or anus
- Symptoms worse close to the full moon
Parasite Prevention and Cleanse
There are a few key aspects to a good parasite cleanse, and knowing how to know if parasite cleanse is working is crucial for effective treatment. Here are some essential components:
- Address biofilms: Proteolytic enzymes like serratiopeptidase and protease, when taken on an empty stomach, help dissolve biofilms and make herbal antiparasitics more effective.
- Herbal antiparasitics: Use herbs such as wormwood, black walnut hulls, neem, cloves, mimosa pudica, and quassia to target parasites effectively.
- Use a binder: Binders, including zeolite, activated charcoal, apple pectin, silica, and fulvic/humic acid, will bind to pathogens and toxins and help clear everything out, also helping to minimize any uncomfortable detox/die-off symptoms.
- Timing matters: Parasites are more likely to come out of their biofilms and be active around a full moon, which makes them easier to kill around that time.
- Cycle: An effective way to address a parasitic infection is to do your supplement protocol in on-off cycles. Pulse dosing, or repeating 10 days on, 10 days off, is effective as it helps not only to address adult worms but also any eggs or residue left behind. It also keeps the parasites from becoming resistant to your treatment. It may be necessary to repeat the pulse dosing for a few months, depending on the severity of the infection.
When considering how to know if parasite cleanse is working, look for improvements in your symptoms, such as reduced digestive issues, increased energy, and clearer skin. Keep in mind that the cleansing process may initially cause some discomfort as the parasites die off and are eliminated from your body.
Two excellent products for parasite cleansing are:
- PARASmart Microbial Cleanse by Renew Life: A balanced detox program that helps cleanse your intestines of parasites and microbes while promoting balanced digestion.
- Vital ParaPURE 14-Day Targeted Microbial Cleanse by Vital Planet: A targeted, 14-day, 2-part microbial cleanse that promotes a healthy balance of intestinal microorganisms.
It’s also vital to remember that you want to make the terrain of your body inhospitable for parasites by also clearing out toxins, heavy metals, viruses, chemicals, and other pathogens, rather than only focusing on killing them. Doing a heavy metal cleanse first or liver support in conjunction with your parasite protocol is highly recommended, as parasites can carry toxic materials, and you want to take advantage of this time to help open and support your body’s detoxification pathways.
Conclusion
Parasitic infections can be a hidden cause of numerous health issues, and understanding how to know if parasite cleanse is working is essential for effective treatment. By addressing biofilms, using herbal antiparasitics, incorporating binders, timing your cleanse correctly, and cycling your protocol, you can effectively target parasites and promote overall health.
Remember to support your body’s detoxification pathways and create an inhospitable environment for parasites to prevent future infections. With the right approach and quality products like PARASmart Microbial Cleanse and Vital ParaPURE 14-Day Targeted Microbial Cleanse, you can take control of your health and eliminate parasitic infections for good.
Sources:
- Dr Jaban Moore. How Do I Know If I Have Parasites? www.drjabanmoore.com
- Dr David Jockers. Mimosa Pudica – The Most Powerful Herb for Parasites? https://drjockers.com/mimosa-pudica-parasites/
- Michael Bramhall, Colby Zaph, Mastering gut permeability: New roles for old friends, European Journal of Immunology, 10.1002/eji.201646842, 47, 2, (236-239), (2017).
- Yeganeh Yousefi, Sabah Haq, Suhrid Banskota, Yun Han Kwon, Waliul I. Khan, Trichuris muris Model: Role in Understanding Intestinal Immune Response, Inflammation and Host Defense, Pathogens, 10.3390/pathogens10080925, 10, 8, (925), (2021).
