Parasites have become increasingly the cause of
many diseases in recent years. This is
especially true of parasites that damage the gastrointestinal tract. Years of poor eating habits,
medication overuse,
and increased exposure to these organisms is creating an increase in the number of people suffering symptoms of parasitic
problems. Many Americans think of parasitic infections as something that occurs
only in other, less developed parts of the world. This may be true for certain individual parasitic diseases
like malaria. However, over 85% of all Americans have at least one
type of
parasite and many people are not even aware they have a problem. There is an amazing
number of parasites that can infest various regions of the human body, even the brain. We will
be looking at intestinal parasites, those organisms that invade the digestive tract, particularly protozoa (including
giardia, cryptosporidia, and entamoebas) and different
types of parasitic worms (flatworms. tapeworms, flukes, hookworms,
pinworms, and roundworms). All of these parasites live by feeding off
the cells and tissue of the infected person. Note the nutritional
supplements below are effective for a wide range of different parasites.
The range symptoms and health
problems that can be traced to intestinal and other parasites can
really be amazing. They include indigestion,
constipation, gas, bloating, nausea,
diarrhea, fatigue,
depression, skin
rashes, headaches,
insomnia, anemia, joint pains, and
even just the feeling of being
unwell. There have even been cases in which people with all the symptoms of other
disorders among them allergies,
asthma,
irritable bowel
syndrome, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), heart disease, and
cancer were found to really be suffering from parasites.
Giardiasis, or infestation with the protozoan Giardia lamblia, is one of the
most common parasitic problems that afflicts people. It can be transmitted through contaminated food or water as well
as by direct or indirect contact with body fluids of an infected person. Symptoms, which are usually
relatively mild, can include general abdominal discomfort, burping, flatulence, and
bad smelling diarrhea. If the infestation is severe, it can lead to problems with the absorption of
nutrients thus affecting other aspects of the persons health due to
nutritional deficiencies.
Cryptosporidia are very tiny protozoal organisms that
are spread primarily through contaminated water and food, however they can also be spread from person
to person. Even in a healthy person, they cause explosive watery diarrhea and abdominal
cramping. Symptoms come on quickly and may also go away quickly,
normally about a week later. People who have a depressed immune function, such as cancer patients and people who are HIV-positive,
crypasthtosporidia is a unique problem. For in these persons, the diarrhea is
normally more severe
and the condition may even become chronic and life threatening. While most of
the municipal water supplies are tested to make sure to they contain no more than "acceptable" levels of these
parasite levels deemed not likely to make a healthy person sick - levels lower than that may very
well cause illness in a person with poor or weakened immune function. Numerous cases of cryptosporidiosis are believed to have been caused by drinking
what was thought to be "safe" tap water. There have also been incidents
in recent years in which cryptosporidia in ground water have proliferated beyond the
so called acceptable point, causing entire communities to be advised to either boil their tap water before using it
or, preferably, to use bottled water.
Infection with entamoebas is a more chronic problem, even in healthy people. While in some
people these organisms cause no specific symptoms, others experience periodic flare-ups of gas,
abdominal pain, cramping, and diarrhea, often alternating with constipation
symptoms that can be confused with those of
ulcerative colitis or irritable bowel
syndrome. Some people notice blood or mucus in the stools, and the abdomen may be tender to the touch. In severe cases, a fever may be
present. Without treatment, symptoms can occur over and over for life and lead to nutritional deficiencies
like anemia and others.
Infestation with any of the various forms of worms most often starts with accidental ingestion of worm
eggs, embryos, or cysts, normally a result of contaminated or improperly prepared food. Hookworms, however, are contracted
when worm larvae from contaminated soil penetrate the skin. Whatever the port of entry, the organisms
eventually migrate to the intestines and attach themselves to the intestinal wall, where they begin to feed.
They may or may not cause such symptoms as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. If the
infestation is bad enough, weight loss and malnutrition may occur. In particularly severe or long standing cases, the worms can grow so big, they
can cause blockage of the person's digestive tract.
Pinworms, a comparatively common type of worm infestation that is seen mainly in children, also cause
severe anal itching as the female worms migrate to the anus at night to lay their eggs. The egg deposit is
itchy and irritating to the delicate tissues in the area. This makes it likely the affected person will scratch,
and if some of the eggs end up on the hands, and spread the infection to
other people or even re-infect themselves.
Getting an accurate diagnosis of intestinal parasites is made complicated by the fact that the symptoms
are so variable and mimic those of other diseases. Many doctors simply do not think of parasites as
a cause of health problems unless other possibilities have been exhausted.
It does no harm to use the nutrients listed on this webpage to see if
they help.
Nutrient /
Supplement |
Importance
( 1 - 10 ) |
Helpful notes |
Parasite
cleansing
( Make sure to drink
plenty of water ) |
10 |
a good
herbal formula can help cleanse parasites from the body. The
formula should include the following: areca seed, black
walnut,
cinnamon, chinese ginseng root, ginger,
grapefruit seed extract, lycium,
lemon verbena, licorice,
magnolia bark, mume, rhubarb, schizandra,
tribulus fruit, and wormwood. |
Black
walnut |
10 |
herb
that helps purge all forms of parasitic infections |
Ginger |
9 |
herb
that help with general healing |
Lycium |
9 |
herb
that helps with parasites |
Licorice |
9 |
herb
used in combination with others |
Schizandra |
9 |
boosts
properties of other herbs it is mixed with |
Rhubarb |
9 |
cleansing
herb |
Cinnamon |
8 |
good
herb to add to a parasite cleansing formula |
Multi-vitamin
and
Mineral supplement |
10 |
a good
multi-vitamin and mineral supplement will help with parasites
and damage that they do. Poor eating habits and diet
also make a person more
vulnerable to parasites and a wide range of other health problems.
A daily supplement will provide nutrients required for good general health and well being. |
vitamin
C |
9 |
can help with
intestinal cleansing |
Other Changes To Make
-
drink 6-8 glasses of steam distilled or
filtered water a day
-
eat 50% raw fruits and vegetables (organic is best)
-
nuts, seeds, and whole grains are good
-
juice is good (make your
own with a juice machine)
-
do not worry as much about calories as eating the right foods
-
carrot and celery sticks are good to use as a snack
-
a colon cleansing can be very helpful - (do several times each year)
-
do not drink coffee, alcohol, soda pop, other junk food drinks
-
do not eat processed foods white sugar, white flour, etc...
-
use stress relief like going for walks in the park
(or the 10/90 rule - see
Stress)
-
brown rice is good to eat
-
avoid red meat and animal fats
-
reduce dairy products cheese, milk, and others
-
fast a few days a month
-
get at least 8 hours of sleep
-
exercise light to moderate amounts
-
avoid artificial sweeteners like Aspartame and NutraSweet
-
do not smoke and avoid second hand smoke
-
do not skip meals - just eat better and not as much at each meal
-
do not chew gum - it can cause you to feel hungry
-
do not watch too much TV try reading a book or something else
|