Paige for Wellness

Parasites are something that most of us have only ever heard about as coming from some far off third world country that people only ever attract on vacation in Mexico from drinking the water or on an exotic trip. Well, I’m here to tell you that is far from the truth. Little do many know, nearly 90% or more of the American population is actually plagued with some type of parasitic infection currently or will be in their lifetime (R),(R). I can personally confirm how common this is from having witnessed it clinically as well as having experienced the problem myself. I think that after seeing a list of the symptoms that result from having them, you may be a little alarmed to realize that you may be dealing with them too.

Now I know you may be thinking, if I don’t know about these nasty little bugs, will they hurt me? Well as much as you may not want to come to terms with the fact that there are potentially hundreds, for some even thousands of creepy, crawly little critters inhabiting one’s body, it is nevertheless important to address. Whether you know it or not, these can wreak major havoc on your health. They literally live off of your energy, sucking everything that you have out of you such as nutrients, exchanging them for their own waste products instead. The repercussions of having unaddressed parasites in the body can range from something as simple as brain fog to something much more complex like digestive disorders, all the way to something as devastating as cancer and suicidal ideation. To say the least, these things are worth addressing.

Now lets get started with this list of symptoms, shall we?

Symptoms are our body’s often bothersome way of telling us exactly what is wrong with it. Functional medicine allows us to use these signs and symptoms to also know how to treat the issue, and in turn save you from the potential terrors of unpleasant thoughts, feelings, and illnesses, as you will learn.

Here are some of the commonly documented symptoms that one may potentially be infected with a parasite:

• Dry, non-productive cough (R)
• Fullness in the ears (or persistent ear infection, ear ache not resolved by antibiotics)
• Frequent headaches (R)
• Acne
• Cysts
• Colitis, IBS, IBD (R)
• Brain fog
• Digestive trouble, unresolved by attempts at fixing this. Digestive symptoms includes heart burn, diarrhea, constipation and more. For me it was right shoulder pain, indicating gallbladder dysfunction.
• Itchiness
• Random, unaccounted for pain in various places, even overall tension
• Bed- wetting
• Restless legs (R)
• Persistent unexplained mineral deficiency
• Cancer, history of cancer or tumors (R)
• Irritability
• Anger
• Sadness
• Sleep Disorders (R)
• Hair loss
• Nervousness
• Teeth Grinding
• Joint, muscle aches (R)
• Eye pain (R)
• Drowsiness (R)
• Insatiable Appetite
• Candida, especially recurring
• Anemia, B12 deficiency (unresolved)
• Sugar craving
• Nausea, vomiting (R)
• Appendicitis
• Menstrual cramps
• Depression
• Restlessness, inability to sit still-
• Intrusive thoughts (R)
• Schizophrenia (R)
• White spots on nails

*Symptoms may increase after eating sugar, as parasites love sugar. This can include alcohol as it is metabolized into glucose, the perfect food for these life- sucking creatures. One does not have to have many of these to have a parasite. Parasites often go undetected for years or even for life only to be discovered after death.

Now I’ll add that this list doesn’t even begin to cover the full extent of the symptoms a person may suffer from as a result of having parasites. Especially when you factor in the downstream effects of these pests, parasites can be a potential culprit for innumerable bizarre and otherwise unexplained symptoms. For example, if one has liver flukes, this will lead one to have an inflamed liver and in Chinese medicine the liver is known to be the seat of anger so it makes sense to draw the conclusion that one may be excessively angry if their liver has been infested with flukes for years on end. This is biologically significant because if the liver is not made able to fulfill its normal role of detoxifying the body and supplying it with various feel- good hormones it needs to the brain, then one will likely get angry, upset. This could also effect mood in other ways causing a person to potentially become depressed, or even suicidal (R),(R). To take this example even further, let’s say even without the effects of the liver’s feel- good hormones being at stake, some parasites such as toxoplasmosis gondii, commonly found and carried by cats and often transmitted to cat owners via small particles of fecal matter in the air when cleaning out the litter box, can cross the blood brain barrier (BBB) and physically infect the brain (R). Believe it or not, this does happen in real life. I have seen it clinically and how these parasites truly do lead to the symptom of a feeling of fullness in the ears. If you’ve struggled with unresolved ear infections your whole life and haven’t been able to find out why, it may be wise to investigate– especially if you have some of the other symptoms listed. This is worth checking out, as appalling as it may seem.

Thankfully, there are some relatively simple methods to combat these symptoms. While it is best to talk to a qualified health care practitioner to address detoxification of the entire body, one instance where a client suffering from fullness in the ears for instance, can take control of these symptoms, is by simply applying garlic oil to the inside of the ears. One can easily find garlic oil at the store near the olive oil and use a dropper to drop into the ear. Do this before bed and cover with cotton to help get rid of these nuisances overnight. Alternatively, one can use hydrogen peroxide, just make sure that it’s 3%, and that your ear drum is not ruptured. If you’re sensitive, you should apply olive oil to the ear prior to adding the hydrogen peroxide, which will bubble until it kills the infection. It will also be highly necessary to address the protozoa, helminth, or who knows what internally as well. Garlic is a fantastic option. Fermented veggies, probiotics and strengthening digestion using things like ginger and other spicy foods, ensuring that the body is healthy overall can also help immensely to fend off these toxic invaders. However, once the pathogenic scale is tipped and you’re feeling bad, you’re likely to need something more intense and specific than fermented vegetables. Although, there is one popular “cocktail” many people seem to be using exclusively made of fermented vegetables. Some of the most common ways these can be addressed, though, include herbs like clove, berberine, wormwood* and black walnut hull*. Pau De Arco, mugwort*, and oil of oregano can also be helpful. While most of these can be bought at any store, for the oregano oil in particular I recommend getting it in a micro-emulsified kind, which is much more rare but many holistic practitioners like myself may have access to. This specific kind is important because when you’re infected with parasites they’ll cause inflammation and hinder organ function. Since oregano oil is a fat that needs to be broken down by the gall bladder, parasites can make this hard especially since so many get parasites directly in the liver (where the bile is stored that’s supposed to break down the fat) or in the bile duct so you can’t produce the stuff to emulsify your medicine that you need to release these invaders!

Another, more simple and gentle way that just about anyone can do any time of year to get rid of parasites is to eat pumpkin seeds. These are best eaten sprouted and raw for maximum nutrient absorption. This is a great way to get rid of parasites because they don’t actually kill them, but instead paralyze them, this is a good thing because it can carry them out safely and harmlessly out of your digestive tract (this way they don’t leave release toxins as they do when they’re dying). Still, other effective and non-invasive ways to get these bothersome bugs out is by taking food-grade diatomaceous earth with meals. This substance is beneficial in many ways, detoxifying aluminum (R) and is actually ground phytoplankton exoskeleton and works by going in and shredding the parasites, as well as carrying them out of the body with their positive charge. Many have found beneficial effects to their digestive system from regularity to even less bloating and/ or heartburn. It makes sense that parasites could be causing dysfunctions leading to any of those symptoms. As far as dosage goes, I found it best for myself to start slow, at about 1/2 to 1 tsp at first and work your way up. If you are really sick and/ or toxic and your liver is stagnant and congested, the first thing you should do is focus on supporting your body with necessary cofactors for phase 1 and phase 2 detoxification.

Then, in the case of being especially sick of toxic, once the liver and gallbladder are supported, you may start taking approximately 1/4 tsp of the diatomaceous earth, and keep doubling the dose each week, paying special attention to how your body reacts throughout this process. If it starts to feel like too much, go back to your previous dose and continue with plentiful liver and gallbladder support, in addition to a healthy diet, as always. This is the kind I use.* You can use it mixed in with smoothies, soups, or food even as this substance has no taste and camouflages into most food and beverages with no evidence other than possibly a chalky color. I like adding it into smoothies. It is also advisable to enjoy at least one additional cup of pure water after this to ensure proper hydration. This protocol of drinking with meals or adding it to foods helps to ensure that instead of the parasites feasting on the food you’re eating– gross, I know– you’ll actually get some the nutrients instead of these little thieves.

For maintenance, this can be done once every 7 days or for 1 week every month. Some find they do best if they’re always cycling some anti- parasitic agents or protocol. With the initial protocol intended for elimination, it is important to follow through with any parasite treatment over a period of 90 days in order to account for all life cycles– from egg to maturity. Unfortunately, most herbal remedies do not kill the parasite eggs so it is important to make sure treatment is more of a marathon than a sprint if you will. Clove is also a method that can kill the eggs! I sometimes use it added into my coffee with other warming spices and herbs or in smoothies. It might be easier to take it in supplement form. One of the most effective combinations is wormwood, black walnut and clove. This can be intense so it’s certainly a good idea to start slow and always make sure your detox pathways are supported. Carrots can be another gentle way to kill parasites.

It is also important to account for the bio-film that these critters will form, and one way to go about doing that is pure cranberry juice, diluted in water. For more seasoned veterans, cistus tea is an excellent biofilm buster. Especially if you have a lot of symptoms and haven’t addressed infections like parasites or candida, start slow with cistus, taking only 1 tbsp and seeing how you feel. You may notice a difference in your digestive system. Some will feel great drinking a full cup, but it’s best to proceed with caution, and ideally, it’s best to be under a practitioner’s guidance.

When it comes to doing a full- on cleanse, it is best to get the help of a practitioner. I’m more than happy to help you on this journey, by starting with a one on one consultation.

Most people have been harboring parasites for their whole lives if they’ve never cleansed before (as many other cultures do on a yearly basis) therefore it is very important to find out what exactly your particular body needs.

Otherwise, your body could be in for some serious detox symptoms, commonly known as a Herxheimer reaction, which could leave you feeling worse then than you were before you started. And it’s important not to overwhelm the system with too much to detoxify at a time. This is where functional and energetic testing come in. A licensed practitioner can help you to find out how long to supplement, which supplement or combination of herbs you need, and importantly, what dose to take. Detoxifying from these pesky buggers is not always easy so it is very important to ask the body what it needs you to do for healing.

Try not to be too weirded out by this if you’re experiencing these symptoms as they’ve likely been there your whole life without you knowing it– besides, almost everybody has had or will have these at some point during their life. This is unless you have a digestive system that is essentially made of steel, which is becoming less and less common as we are increasingly inundated with chemicals and toxins that pollute our systems, weakening the body’s natural defenses.

It’s important to note that it is not advised for a pregnant person to attempt to remove a parasite as they can release unwanted toxins into the bloodstream, running the potential to have an effect on the baby. If you need assistance in addressing the problem of parasites, I would be more than happy to schedule a consultation online or in person, as I am a certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner who can perform the functional and energy testing needed to figure out precisely what is needed for you and your body alone. Feel free to contact me at PaigeforWellness@gmail.com if you have any questions or visit the “Book a Consult” page on this site if you would like to arrange a consultation with me to find out what you are personally and uniquely deficient in and subsequently how we can support your body to function optimally on its own.

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