Parasites - Part 2

Are you freaked out by the idea that you may have parasites?

Well, you are not alone! Globally, due to intestinal parasitic infections, 3.5 billion people are affected; 450 million are symptomatic, and yearly more than 200,000 deaths are reported (1). That is such a foreign idea to North Americans because we think our way of living is so clean that we don’t even consider parasites when trying to unlock reasons why we don’t feel our best. For the same reason health professionals are not looking there either. Take, for instance, a patient who was diagnosed with a brain tumour only to find during surgery that it was not a tumour at all. It was a huge nest of parasites! During the life cycle process, it is possible for parasites to travel to the liver, brain and lungs. For example, in multiple studies of autopsied brains of people who died from Multiple Sclerosis, parasitic worms/nematodes were found in 100% of the cerebrospinal fluid samples!( 2)

What are some of the symptoms of parasitic infection?

Parasite infections often go undiagnosed because of limited diagnostic techniques, no noticeable or overtly bothersome symptoms, misdiagnosis or misunderstanding of symptoms. There are many types of parasites, and symptoms can vary widely. Sometimes, these may resemble the symptoms of other conditions, such as pneumonia or food poisoning. Often there are no symptoms, or symptoms appear long after infection, but the parasite can still be transmitted to another person, who may develop symptoms.


Possible, common, yet often overlooked symptoms of parasite infection include: skin bumps or rashes, weight loss, increased appetite or both, abdominal pain, leaky gut or irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea/constipation and vomiting, sleeping problems, anemia, eye spots or floaters or other vision problems, adrenal fatigue, genital discharge, low blood sugar, memory problems, brain fog, seizures, anxiety, depression, swollen lymph nodes, aches and pains, allergies, headaches, fever, teeth grinding, insomnia, weakness and general unwell feeling. Check your stool for evidence of worms. 

Seek medical help if you see worms when you blow your nose or go to the bathroom. When roundworms multiply, they may start to leave your body to find a different host. This means they start to exit your body through different orifices. The most common ways for roundworms to exit is through the mouth, nose and anus.

Is it easy to diagnose parasitic infection?

Yes and no. Obviously, if there are worms in your stool, you can easily tell you have a problem. But often, there are no symptoms so doctors have to investigate. Certain species spend their entire life cycle within the human, so they will not show up at all except by fortunate accident if you begin looking for them specifically, because they don’t need to exit the body. Doctors will look at medical conditions and travel history and will use certain tools to help them: Testing can be interesting but is expensive and tends to yield poor results for parasites.

  1. Faecal examination: if a person is having diarrhea, gas, or other stomach symptoms, three or more stool samples may be collected on different days and examined for a parasite or parasite eggs.
  2. Endoscopy: If stool samples do not contain a parasite, a thin tube called an endoscope may be inserted through the mouth into the intestines to reveal any parasites.
  3. Colonoscopy: As an alternative to an endoscopy, a tube may be inserted through the rectum into the intestines to find parasites.
  4. Blood tests: A healthcare professional may perform a blood test to detect a specific parasitic infection. A serology is a blood test that indicates antibodies or parasite antigens. Another test is a blood smear, where a drop of dried blood is examined for parasites under a microscope. A good indication of parasites within a blood test is if Ferritin level is low and the following levels are all elevated: eosinophils, AST, ALT, alkaline phosphate, LDH and GGT.  
  5. Live cell microscopy looks at a live drop of blood and actually reveals parasites moving within the blood.
  6. Imaging tests: An X-ray can help detect parasite-associated lesions in a person’s organs. For more detailed images of the organs, a doctor may order a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan or a computerized axial tomography scan (CAT). 

Is there an effective treatment for parasites?

Conventional Treatment

For various types of parasitic infections doctors commonly use the following drugs, even though they have some side effects and overall medium to poor results because they usually don’t wipe out all life cycle stages of the parasites during the recommended usage time period:

Metronidazole (Flagyl): This antibiotic kills parasitic infections in the gastrointestinal tract or reproductive system, including amoebiasis, giardiasis, trichomoniasis, and vaginal infections.

Ivermectin (Stromectol): This is available as an oral tablet, cream, or lotion and treats parasitic infections in the intestinal tract, eyes, or skin, including scabies and many types of worms.

Praziquantel (Biltricide): This medication paralyzes and then dissolves tapeworms, so they detach from the intestinal wall and leave the body through a bowel movement.

Pyrimethamine (Daraprim): Doctors may prescribe Pyrimethamine and Sulfadiazine to treat the flu-like symptoms of toxoplasmosis in healthy people, although treatment is not always necessary.

Nifurtimox (Lampit): Nifurtimox and Benznidazole treat the symptoms of Chagas disease (American trypanosomiasis). This is a parasitic infection that can eventually cause organ damage.

Chloroquine: This is one of the main drugs used to treat malaria. Nitazoxanide (Alinia): This treats diarrhea symptoms caused by parasite infections in the gastrointestinal tract, including Cryptosporidiosis and Giardiasis.

Non-Traditional Treatment

Alternatively, you can choose to do 21+ days of parasite cleanse, kidney cleanse and liver cleanse and/or ask your health care professional for other possibilities, such as homeopathic remedies and intravenous infusions to boost the immune system. Whatever treatment you may choose,  you must be sure to engage it long enough to not only kill mature adults but the larva which will emerge from all the eggs that have been laid. It takes from 3 weeks to 6 weeks to clear all stages of the growth cycle. You will feel the difference in your energy level when you are clear. Routinely doing a parasite cleanse twice a year should take care of whatever you may pick up from everyday exposure to parasites in food as well as the environment around you.

What does the life cycle of a parasite look like? 



Can we prevent getting parasites?

There are some routine things you can do to help yourself stay free of parasites:

Wash hands thoroughly and often. 

Deworm pets and family members in the Fall and the Spring (parasite cleanse).

Get to know which foods often have parasites so you can avoid or neutralize the risk.

Eat well-cooked fish and meat.

Familiarize yourself with foods that boost parasite infection and avoid them.

Keep your immune system strong and healthy.

Find out which parasites are prevalent in your area or in locations you may travel.

Use insect repellant in places where mosquitoes are common.

Wear protective clothing.

Eliminate stagnant water because mosquitoes breed and grow in it.

Take extra precautions when travelling abroad: 

  • Avoid eating raw produce.
  • Avoid raw or undercooked meats.
  • Drink clean, bottled water (not tap).
  • Do not drink beverages containing ice.
  • Wash your hands regularly or use hand sanitizer.
  • Take care when swimming in freshwater rivers, streams or lakes.
  • Use mosquito netting.
  • Avoid contact with animal faeces.
  • Practice safe sex.
  • Take along your anti-parasitic remedies.

Foods that commonly contain parasites: (4)

Salads — even if that salad kit says it’s “triple washed,” we recommend thoroughly cleaning your raw veggies.

Salad bars — even if the lettuces and raw veggies were correctly prepared, salad bars can be a source of bacteria and parasites due to all the outside-handling from different people.

Saltwater fish like cod, herring, and swordfish — avoid or cook thoroughly.

Freshwater fish such as trout, pike, and salmon — avoid or cook thoroughly. It is wise to freeze first to kill bacteria.

Pork — avoid or cook thoroughly.

Beef, game, and organ meats — cook thoroughly and source from trusted organic or sustainable farms.

Fresh produce — Wash them thoroughly when preparing at home, especially if using in fresh fruit and vegetable juices or consuming raw. Soaking in water alone or in ozone-bubbling water or adding vinegar to the water or adding 1-2 drops Lugol’s iodine to the water soak or and using organic veggie wash are a few ways to ensure external parasites have “lifted off”. Avoid eating raw produce at restaurants, salad bars, food trucks and open air markets as much as possible unless you’re very confident in the chef or food preparer’s health and hygiene.

Foods that fuel parasites:

These foods attract parasites to you so it would be a good choice to avoid them whenever possible:

alcohol, dairy, grains, processed foods, sugars and syrups

Foods and herbs that help prevent and in some cases, expel parasites:

Pumpkin Seeds have long been used in traditional cultures to treat intestinal infections, including parasites. A recent study proved the efficacy of pumpkin seeds in treating tapeworm in human, with an 89% success rate when combined with the areca nut extract. Plus, they’re loaded with immune-boosting nutrients like zinc, essential fatty acids, and magnesium. Pumpkin seeds are often included in parasite cleanses. (5

Papaya Seeds, like pumpkin seeds, have been used in folk medicine to treat parasites for centuries and were prized in tropical climates. Recent research backs up these claims, proving papaya seeds’ anti-helminthic and anti-amoebic activities. One study found that dried papaya seeds mixed with honey had a 71.4% to 100% success rate in intestinal expulsion of intestinal parasites in Nigerian children. Many parasite cleansing aids contain papaya seeds. (6)

Berries have also been used as a traditional remedy to fight parasites. Their effectiveness is likely due to their immune-boosting antioxidant polyphenols and their natural laxative effect on the gut. Since berries are a source of sugar, be sure to enjoy in moderation and wash them thoroughly before consuming. 

Apple Cider Vinegar, inexpensive and widely available, is highly effective in maintaining gut health, which discourages the embedding and growth of parasites. It’s also high in B-vitamins which strengthens the immune system.

Olive Oil (preferably extra-virgin, cold pressed) helps control fungal infections which can feed parasites. It used to be a topical home treatment for killing head lice.

Cinnamon has been shown effective in preventing and expelling parasites. (7)

Vitamin C boosts immunity and helps keep the intestines moving. Plus, research has shown vitamins are essential in parasite prevention and expulsion. (8

Why do we need parasites?

After looking at some of these parasites and how they harm their hosts, isn’t it tempting to think about getting rid of all of them?  After all, at least half of all known species are parasitic. Well, believe it or not, parasites play an important role in an ecosystem. They help control dominant species, allowing for competition and diversity. Parasites transfer genetic material between species. They can eat and carry 6-8 times their body weight in toxins which they love to find and eat in your body. Unfortunately, today we are inhaling, injecting, eating and absorbing record numbers of toxins, so we continually provide a delectable selection of food source to our parasite friends. The goal is for the body not to be overwhelmed with so many parasites that it cannot maintain balance by kicking them out once any benefit to the body is complete. Actually, the presence of parasites in balance with a host’s protection system is a positive indication of the health of an ecosystem. Who would’ve thought?


Summary

Now you know a lot more about parasites and what you can do to get them under control in your own body. It is not only important to remove excess parasites, though; detoxifying your body from heavy metals, changing up your diet to be as clean and healthy as possible and strengthening your immune system by managing your vitamin, mineral, oil and fibre intake, getting sufficient quality sleep and some kind of daily physical movement. Add to this a positive attitude and you have a good recipe for a healthy life!

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