The defining characteristic of a parasite is an organism that benefits at the expense of another.
While this seems straightforward enough, sometimes a parasitic infection goes completely undiagnosed.
- Parasitic infections are more common than you may think.
- Many times, a parasite can thrive in the human body and show no signs of its presence.
- Other times, a person will feel constantly ill, be on several medications (including antipsychotic drugs), and have no idea that a chronic parasitic infection is at the root of their problems.
One of the most common parasites to infect human beings is the yeast-like Blastocystis hominis, a single-celled parasitic organism that causes abdominal cramping, bloating, gas, and sometimes anal itching.
Other common parasites are:
- Tapeworms, which can grow as long as 60 feet while living in the human intestines. There are currently more than 5,000 different species of tapeworm.
- Hookworms. If given the chance, they will suck blood from our intestinal walls.
- Giardia, a single-celled parasite that is usually the result of drinking infected waters. It typically survives in chlorinated water and commonly lives in mountain streams, earning it the name, “backpacker’s diarrhea.” About 2.5 million cases are reported annually. (1)
- Blood flukes. They mature first in snails and then complete their life cycle by burrowing through human skin and swimming through veins. Blood flukes infect more than 200 million people. There are also other species of flukes found living in the liver, lungs, and pancreas.
- In the case of malaria, a new generation of parasitic microbugs will burst from a single red blood cell.
- Pinworms, the most common roundworm in the United States. Worldwide, roughly 209 million people are infected. (2) The most common sign of pinworm infestation is anal itching at night, which is when the female pinworm migrates to the perineum to lay her eggs. Children are the most common carriers.
A hookworm is a common parasite that will suck blood from intestinal walls. In many cases, you could be carrying a parasite without even knowing it!While it is true that many times one person can harbor a parasite without ever knowing it, another person could be infected with the same parasite and feel completely devastated and fatigued, without ever knowing that a parasitic infection is at the root of a lingering illness.
Why is this?
- When the immune system is weakened by fatigue, there is always the danger of initiating an inflammatory cascade throughout the body.
- This is especially true of the gut, which has a direct line of communication to the brain via the vagus nerve.
3 Red Flags That May Indicate You Are Carrying a Parasite
1. Chronic digestive issues. If you harbor a parasite, any work you may do to heal your gut will be constantly undermined. This is because parasites often create intestinal inflammation and destroy the intestinal lining of the gut.
If you are eating a highly alkaline diet, ingesting good bacteria and cultured foods on a daily basis, and still experience severe digestive pain, gas, bloating, and fatigue, you may want to consider a parasite cleanse.
- Remember, even without a parasite, it may take as long as six months to begin to see improvements in digestion while following the Body Ecology principles.
- This is because it can sometimes take as long as six months to completely cool down an inflammatory response in the gut.
2. Various forms of mental distress. This includes depression, anxiety, body aches, headaches, eye aches, visual hallucinations, behavioral changes, and a strange sensation that something is stuck in the head.
- Very often, these symptoms are treated with anti-depressant pharmaceuticals and go unresolved. Diagnosis can even go so far as schizophrenia. (3)
- Additionally, these symptoms are usually paired with digestive issues.
The gut is full of both neurons and neurotransmitters, specifically serotonin. It makes up what is known as the enteric nervous system. As we mentioned above, the gut and the brain have a direct relationship, commonly called the gut-brain axis.
- This relationship means that distress in the gastrointestinal tract can show up in the nervous system.
- When there is inflammation in the gut, this can lead to inflammation in the brain.
- Likewise, inflammation in the brain has also been linked to directly cause inflammation in the gut.
- Inflammation of the brain will cause mental distress, like depression, anxiety, and cognitive disorders.
3. Autoimmune disorders. Many times, autoimmune conditions have a relationship to one another. The autoimmune flare-ups that have been documented to be specifically related to parasitic infection are gut and joint related, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and reactive arthritis. (4)(5)
- Parasites infecting the gut can ignite an inflammatory cascade within the body.
Finding the Root Cause of a Disorder
Keep in mind that the strength of a person’s immune system and endocrine system largely determines how severely a parasitic infection will affect that individual.
This depends on:
- How the parasite lives off its host.
- The toxins or waste products it eliminates.
- How a parasite activates the immune system.
- If an individual’s immune system is weak or fatigued.
Chronic disease can be troublesome to treat, mainly because it is necessary to find the initial cause of the dysfunction. Consider parasites if you eat a perfect diet, practice stress management, and still struggle with:
- Digestive disorders
- Mental distress
- Autoimmune disease
What to Remember Most About This Article:
In many cases, a parasite infection will go completely undiagnosed. Yet parasite infections are more common than many people realize. The strength of your immune system will determine whether or not you are vulnerable to a parasite infection.
Here are three red flags that indicate you may be carrying a parasite unknowingly:
- Chronic digestive issues, even when eating a highly alkaline diet rich in good bacteria.
- Mental distress like anxiety, depression, hallucinations, and behavioral changes.
- Autoimmune disorders like reactive arthritis and irritable bowel syndrome.
If you eat a perfect diet, practice stress management, and still struggle with the issues above, a parasite could be to blame.
REFERENCES:
- Furness BW, Beach MJ, Roberts JM. Giardiasis surveillance—United States, 1992–1997. MMWR CDC Surveill Summ. 2000;49(7):1–13.
- Goldmann DA, Wilson CM. Pinworm infestations. In: Hoekelman RA. Primary pediatric care. 3d ed. St. Louis: Mosby, 1997:1519.6
- M. Novotna, J. Hanusova, J. Klose, M. Preiss, J. Havlicek, K. Roubalova, and J. Flegr. “Probable neuroimmunological link between Toxoplasma and cytomegalovirus infections and personality changes in the human host.” BMC Infect Dis. 2005 Jul 6;5:54.
- K. Hanevik, V. Dizdar, N. Langeland, and T. Hausken. “Development of functional gastrointestinal disorders after Giardia lamblia infection.” BMC Gastroenterol. 2009 Apr 21;9:27.
- Chelsea E. Matisz, Jason J. McDougall, Keith A. Sharkey, and Derek M. McKay, “Helminth Parasites and the Modulation of Joint Inflammation,” Journal of Parasitology Research, vol. 2011, Article ID 942616, 8 pages, 2011. doi:10.1155/2011/942616
Shawn
I was just as crazed as you when this happened to me. Traditional doctors don't know how to think out of the box. If they don't know about it and don't have a way to measure it, it does not exist except in your head. FORTUNATELY this is not true. I had the same experience. I went to a gentleman who studies bugs and talked to him about it. He said not to let the so called experts make you think you are crazy that people like him are discovering new bugs and finding known bugs that have adapted in new and strange ways to deal with the way we live now and all the pesticides that are used. He had no direct answer for me though. I was ready to go meet my maker, I can tell you. Except I dont belive in givingup. Lived with this plauge for about two years. I moved several times they just went with me. If I went to someones house I may infect thier house as well so I withdrew. I heard from someone that dawn dishwashing liquid kills fleas and other small insects on contact. I started taking a bottle of dawn and diluting it in half and then using it to wash myself and my little inside dog every day. Gave us dry skin but relieved the crawlys. When I first got them they would bite. when I encountered an outbreak later they just crawled. I diluted the dawn in a spray bottle and sprayed it over my furniture at least once a week or when I felt them. CLeaned the carpet with dawn and took a quarter size drop in each load of laundry. The laundry is an important step. I changed my sheets daily and towels and furniture to begin with. If I felt them on me and I was home I would go wash with dawn and change clothes. Eventually they subsided. Every year or two I may have a small outbreak in an area that the dogs are in but it not vacuumed often I do the same routine. Spray and wash everything. IT WORKS!! You will notice a relief immediately but they will keep getting on you from the house and clothes and sheets until a little time has passed. I know that before I came up with the Dawn solution I would take freshly washed sheets take a bath and jump in hoping to keep them off, but as soon as my body heat warmed the sheets they would start crawling on to me. Same with clean clothes. Because Washing alone does not work it does not kill them. some how they form a pupa stage and make it through the wash even on high heat.. you need the dawn it has an ingredient that degrades the exoskeleton and kills them. My theory is that it is a new stage in the flea life cycle that has been caused by using Insect Growth Regulator or IGR in pesticides. I theorize that the flea cannot come out of the larval stage so it has changed so it can bite and survive and even breed by going through some new changed stages. and they never get large enough to easily see. It my not be so, It may be some type of mite they are small and very hard to kill. Whatever it is I am so sorry you have also had to live through the torture of these things. I know first hand how devastating it can be. Good luck. I hope I have helped someone.
Posted on Jun 1 at 8:43 am
This is directly in response to JENNIFER. I know what you are going through with the crawling sensation and not being able to see anything on your skin. I too had this problem some years ago all the doctors and my family also thought I was crazy. I can tell you that the solution is so simple you will laugh, but it works. Bathe and wash your hair with DAWN dishwashing liquid. just use the blue original formula. It is nontoxic and the only side effect is it may give you dry skin which you can stop by using lotion. Add at least a quarter size drop into each wash load of laundry. you can also steam clean your carpets with a little added in to the carpet wash. I was on the verge of going bonkers and then I fould out that Dawn kills fleas and other small insects. DONT GIVE UP. And you are NOT CRAZY! This will work. Just continue to use it. You will feel the results immediatley but you have to use it untill athey have all hatched and been exposed. I still use it. Even though my episode was about 20 years ago. get a small bottle and dilute to I/3 or until it is just sudsy. It doesnt take much. GOOD LUCK!
Posted on May 27 at 10:05 am
Hi guys it's heart breaking to hear all that is going on due to these horrible parasite. I've heard and know that it is effective of a parasitic cleanse. The herbs WORMWOOD, CLOVE, AND BLACK WALNUT come in capsules. You are supposes to have these capsules black walnut, and wormwood before your three meals and clove after your meal. You have to increase it up too three times a day until the bottles are finished every six months. When you guys look online for these herbs make sure they come from a good source. Make sure they are vegan or vegetarian and contain nothing of gelatin that derive from animal wastes. Make sure that you guys stay away from red meat, chicken, and dairy. Limit them strictly and try to go on a vegetarian diet so you can naturally detox your body with greens, juicing, and natural fibers such as fruits. Stay with a most organic and natural diet as possible. Take a multivitamin, probiotics, and fish oil daily. If you need more info feel free to contact me. Through natural healing there is a cure for almost anything. Much love and hope for you guys. And don't forget to pray about it.
Posted on May 21 at 2:45 pm
Its nice to know im not the only one who is suffering from some crazy parasite.about six months ago i notice a weird crawling feeling on my hands and feet, but didnt think anything of it. now my whole body crawls. first doctors said they thought its was scabies or lice but they didnt see anything. they gave me cream sent me on my way.whatever i have is not going away !! I went back and cryed my eyes out i told the docter its not going away and its getting worse. I have a four yr old and he going through they same thing . I Feel soo powerless.Im not crazy..some of my family members have it to but i think they have excepted it but i cant..I am not going to stop until somthing is done. I feel like im in the twilight zone...!! reading the comments on this page makes me feel human agian. thank you.
Posted on May 13 at 11:49 pm
Hi just wanted to add to this thread even though time has lapsed. What some people may be experiencing could also be poor liver function, a hormone imbalance, adrenal fatigue and/or stress. It may not be parasitic related. Lavender tea helps with anxiety and Tulsi tea which helps the nervous system its an adaptogen and can help restore balance as well. If you really feel like its parastic related take coconut oil with the meat for 3 days and try to cut out caffeine. Try drinking room temperature lemon water daily to flush and purify liver raising alkalinity. Boost immune system with plenty of garlic, green tea (detoxifys) and get off of artificial sweetners, all sugary foods for a while. Eat mainly low carb primal diet, or paleo is good. For fiber eat oatmeal, granny smith apples and non starchy vegetables. Coffee enemas flush out the system including the bloodstream. Add lots of herbs like rosemary, cloves, celery seed, tumeric, saffron, fennel etc. and add sugar free kefir yogurt & probiotics. All these can cure many ailments. God bless you on your healing journey.
Posted on Mar 11 at 7:06 am
I have been having what I feel is the toughest time dealing with this strange looking whatever it is that it is so small that with the human eye cant even be seen ! That I know for sure that is crawling on me and has biting me over and all over my body mostly my arm hairs and on the back of my neck and my ears ! Its a very creepy feeling to have what feels like their entering your skin and on your hair on your arms and other parts of your body. Its the most strange feeling and so weird having the sensation that something crawling on you that you cant hardly even see . The worse part is trying to calm yourself down to try to relax and quit ram sacking your brain on what it is exactly that is going on and not be so comprominssed and trying to it figure it out without drawling attention to yourself ! It is really seriously taking it s toll on me trying to stay calm when people around you that you love and care about are starting to have this odd strange not so good thinking about you on a daily now !! I can only hope this will all go away and my life go back to how it was ! Before i started having all these weird symptons and feeling s !! To only thinking that it ll not ever be possible again !! And it s hard for me to not keep thinking back to where it all started !! You see not having the knowledge and understanding of how thing work or develop is tough and easily comprised and you as a person get taken advantage of by these banks and their any approach to make that money and choose to overlook anything even if its your well being is on the line and not letting you know and for them to get away with all these wrong doings to all of us vuliranable people !! Where are right s ??? What are rights ? What is this ? What is going to happen ? Is there anything that can be done ? Most of all em I going to live through this without being effected for the rest of my life ?? This all has been a bad dream that is been going on for way too long !! OK here is my explanation on what has happen to me and what is still currently going on !!! I moved into this house 3 yr ago and have noticed black, orange green mold in the area where I have been sleeping and spending most of my time !! And woke feeling like something had been biting me and more than once in the same area of my chest !! So went and got seen by 3 doctors now and have been mis diagnoised and treated like a number and just basically wrote up a script not really getting any real knowledge if that is really what it is that is going on !! I m losing faith in our doctors and losing faith in society of ever helping me to ever getting over this and on with my life!!! I have a family and I care about and know how important this is to beat and the toll it has taken on them with having to see me living with this whatever it is just want it to go away !! PLEASE IF ANYONE OUT THEIR CAN HEAR MY CRY AND SCREAM FOR HELP TO GIVE ME GET AN INSIDE ON THIS AND HAVE BETTER KNOWLEDGE ON WHAT IS HAPPENING TO ME AND WHAT ARE WAYS I CAN ANY KIND OF RELIEF AND TO GET A PROFESSIONAL CARING DOCTOR WITH AN ACTUAL KNOWLEDGE AND A HEART TO CARE !!!!! SORRY IF I SEEM RUDE OR SO ANGRY BUT THIS HAS BEEN WAY TO HARD AND FRUSTRATING TO HAVE TO GO THREW !!!
Posted on Jan 19 at 1:23 pm
I feel God brought me to this page for my situation is IDENTICAL to Wanita"s comments. I know how she must feel. God help us both! I ask you bear with me and let me explain what I am up against; First, I went to my family doctor with worms ,pest and bugs in a jar to show him what I have been dealing with for longer than I can remember . They started to appear in on the floors and sinks of my bathroom and kitchen. I asked for help from the manager several times and not only did she not help me but threatened me if I ever mentioned begs in my apartment again. I began noticing in my bowel movements that some of what i had seen were now in me. That is when I went to my Family Doctor who wanted send these pests to somewhere to identify them. It is important to state that ONLY the glass jar and the bugs,worms etc were left with him. I waited and kept waiting until in a few weeks I called my doctor's office for what was found and the nurse went to check the results.After waiting a good 10 minutes she came back and said the stool sample was normal. I took no stool sample for him to test. That is absolutely inexcusable!! I then went to one of my very favorite of my Doctors who gave me some jars to get stool samples. About a week later a nurse called and said the stool samples showed no parasites. I Knew this could not be , for after some enemas which I find it necessary to do daily due to one of the medicines I have to take to keep from becoming impacted show these pests clearly.I have great faith in my doctor but for the 1st time that I recall asked for a 2nd opinion. I was refrerred to a doctor at the University of Cincinnati. I had 2 appointments with him. the 1st appointment I was given containers which I brought back two weeks later for the 2nd appointment. On both appointments I would take samples in my own bottles as well. He wanted me to get the bugs etc. and clean off the feces and put them in the provided bottles. At his direction I took my stool samples in the container from my 1st visit to the Lab one floor below. I did that and glanced at what he showed was the diagonsis and it stated...Patient has DELUSIONS of intestinal parasites. He had not run a single test to justify the diagnosis on his own. I now wonder if doctors are now reading information obtained by other doctors who had done tests. My experience has been so bad that I will be moving out of this Hellhole in the next few weeks.
So Wanita, I could complete relate to your comments. May God help us both!
Posted on Dec 16 at 12:31 pm
Parasites are trying to take over my life and everyone thinks i'm crazy! I don't talk about it to any one any more! I'm just waiting for them to finally progress into something that will kill me!
Posted on Nov 13 at 12:17 pm
Donanne,
You should check out the Optimum Health Institute and try to go for three weeks if you can afford it. They are located in San Diego and Austin.
Posted on Jan 20 at 11:55 am
I have purchased the Body Ecology Diet parasite cleanse kit. I have been on a Body Ecology diet for years. I still have major gluten intolerence, IBS and migraines. I was breast fed and grew up on healthy and even macrobiotic diet. I did have heavy antibiotics when I was 2.
I have started the cleanse following all directions and I get a migraine. What do I do now? I cannot continue on the cleanse. The migraines are horrible with vomiting! Drinking Chaga tea causes a migraine too. I guess I will just fast. I don't know what to do. I am so frustrated!
Donanne
Posted on Jan 13 at 11:33 am
Thank you, it's always good to aware of parasites and to do cleansing of the body.
Posted on Sep 23 at 2:28 pm
I have a book called "Coconut Cures" by Bruce Fife, N.D. and on page 199 has a section called "Parasite Purge". It seems to involve using dried coconut. It might be worth checking out.
Posted on Aug 30 at 2:00 pm
I have used the Humaworm Parasite Cleanse along with Common Sense Herbs Colon cleanse with very good results. (My 4 year old did only Humaworm Parasite Cleanse). The minimum age limit is 2 years of age and 30 pounds. We did a family parasite cleanse, even the pets. We used Worm Dr. by Native Remedies for our youngest because he did not meet the minimum weight limit . The herbs from Humaworm are freshly ground and are very potent. I know that they work because the waste smells awful and I did expel some parasites myself. You can find the Humaworm Parasite cleanse at www.humaworm.com
Body Ecology has Ecoclear too for a parasite cleanse.
Best of luck! Some tips to prevent parasites are to wear shoes outside where animals go to the restroom, rinse fruits and vegetables well and the basic, make sure kids wash hands before each meal. Since parasites live in about 80-90% of Americans, its better to just do an annual parasite cleanse for prevention.
Good luck!
Ester Perez
http://supermilkmama.com
Posted on Aug 27 at 9:03 am
I have been recently diagnosed with Lymphangeictasia....my life has turned absolutely miserable (with all of the symtoms)...could this desease have something to do with parasites?????? I need help badly! My own GI has NO advice for me!
Posted on Aug 26 at 11:32 am
Diet is huge, a must-do, in terms of these critters. But I also only made a huge dent in my candida/parasite issue (as well as others with their cancer issues and whatnot) only when I added the GB4000......as it's just so damn impossible to be "perfect". This is it (http://www.thegb4000.com/) but I would get it from www.futuretechtoday.com -- just tell them Erica from School Of RAWk sent you. It is a life-saver!
Posted on Aug 25 at 2:58 pm
Adults typically have measurable levels of adrenal fatigue that often precedes the infection. As mentioned the immune system function greatly determines the bodies ability to ward off an infection. To greatly increase chances of getting rid of any buggers...test and correct your adrenal response prior (1-2 months min) to treating an infection, then continue the adrenal support thru the cleanse and re-inoculation phases.
J Troth
CHEK HLC2 CP2
Kalish method practitioner
Posted on Aug 25 at 2:29 pm
Our three year old was diagnosed with Dientameoba Fragilis at age two. We've been trying to successfully eradicate this nasty parasite with natural cleanses (for 8 months), to no avail. His symptoms wax and wane with the moon phases (which wasn't mentioned here, but is very common with parasitic infection) and are as much neurological as they are physical. We have gone the prescription route (which we HATE to do), since nothing else was helping. We have begun to seen a different side of our child: happy, more flexible, more cooperative, less frustration...although now that we are rounding the corner to a New Moon (which is the trigger for this particular parasite's lifecycle) we are seeing increased die-off again. We hope to beat this bugger this time!!
Posted on Aug 25 at 1:34 pm
Thank you for this straight forward article. I've recently been informed by a trusted professional of the possibility that I am dealing with parasites and it sure makes sense based upon what you describe here. It's been interesting to slim down and get in great shape but still not have the elusive flat belly with all the digestive silliness going on. It's super helpful to know how long the journey to healing is.
Posted on Aug 25 at 11:25 am
Thanks for reminding us of parasites. I believe that it's always good to do a parasite cleanse and clean out your body. Great information will pass it on to my clients.
Posted on Aug 25 at 7:27 am
Suzanne, I have personally used Dr. Natura's Paranil Jr. with positive results. Here's the link: http://www.drnatura.com/products/paranil-jr
Posted on Aug 25 at 7:03 am
I treat children on the autism spectrum and many of them suffer from parasites. I find that the children respond extremely well to being on a parasite cleanse but the results seem to diminish when the cleanse is completed. Do you have any suggestions regarding specific cleanses you suggest or additional information regarding treating the parasites? Thank you.
Dr. Suzanne DaSilva
Posted on Aug 25 at 4:46 am