What are Parasites/Worms?
The last thing anyone wants to hear is that they’re body is full of worms – parasites that living off you – in you! Though this is an unsavory topic to discuss, it is absolutely vital that it be addressed.
What’s more, According to the World Health Organization, intestinal worms, or parasites are among the most common diseases in the world. They are most often transmitted They are transmitted by eggs present in human feces which in turn contaminate soil in areas where sanitation is poor, but they can also pass from your pet to you, or even contaminate the food you eat or water you drink, which will then cause them to take up residence in your body.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) define a parasite as an organism that lives on or in a host and gets its food from or at the expense of its host. Parasitescan cause disease in humans. Some parasiticdiseases are easily treated and some are not. Though parasites most often affect people who live in tropical and subtropical climates, they can affect anyone, no matter their place of residence.
Common types of intestinal worms include:
- flatworms, which include tapeworms and flukes
- roundworms, which cause ascariasis, pinworm, and hookworm infections
Symptoms of Intestinal Worms/Parasites
The problem with intestinal worms is that people sometimes don’t even know that they have them. This can go on for years, allowing the parasitic worms to take over someone’s entire digestive tract. You may have wormsand not know it if:
- You have a huge appetite and never feel full
- You crave sugar
- You are fatigued even after getting a full night’s rest
- You experience unexplained weight loss
- Gas/Bloating
- Abdominal tenderness
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Rectal itching, especially at night
- Lowered immunity
- Constant sickness (one cold after another, for example)
- Allergies
- Skin rashes around the sexual organs
- Weird food cravings
- Brain fog
- Irregular menstrual cycles
- Anxiety or depression
More extreme symptoms which must not be ignored include:
- Fever
- Blood in the stool or in the urine
Without being treated, chronic yeast or intestinal worm infectionscan lead to:
- Cancer
- Infertility
- Osteoporosis
- Malnutrition
- Vitamin Deficiency
- Leaky Gut
- Kidney Stones
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Insomnia
- Depression
- And more
Allopathic Cures for Intestinal Worms/Parasites
If you suspect you have intestinal worms, you can see your doctor for a diagnosis. They can check for antibodies which your body produces when infected with worms, taken from a blood sample. Stool samples can be taken as well to see if your feces have been infected. Also, if you have recently travelled out of the country (especially to what are considered third world countries) you should see a doctor who can diagnose a parasitic infection as they are more common in these parts of the world.
The diagnosis is part one of handling this problem. From there, you can choose to take anti-parasite medications prescribed by your doctor or choose, instead, to try another natural remedy.
Common treatments prescribed for a roundworm infection, for example, include mebendazole (Vermox, Emverm) and albendazole (Albenza).
The benefit of getting rid of worms/parasites naturally is that they do not cause as many side effects as many pharmaceutical medications. Common side effects for Vermox include:
- Stomach pain
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
Natural Cures for Parasites
In many cases, parasites will be expelled naturally by your body if you have a healthy gut and a robust immune system, however, many people have chronic inflammation and poor immunity to begin with due to their diet and lifestyle choices.
A Worm-Free Diet
There are many foods you can easily add to your diet that will naturally rid your body of intestinal worms. These include:
- Garlic– a natural antiparasitic, and antibacterial food
- Wormwood– especially helpful for killing adult parasites that live in the intestines
- Cloves– they help to kill even the eggs laid by adult worms
- Black Walnut Hulls– can kill the larger parasites
- Probiotics– these will help the good bacteria in your body to overtake the smaller parasites in your body
- Onions – this food contains a plant compound called alliinaiswhen they are cut or chewed. Intestinal worms do not like allinais.
- Vegetables– the antioxidants in vegetables act as food for healthy bacteria in your body and can also help to expel toxins created by these nasty creatures living inside of you
- Coconut Oil– full or lauric acid, this is an incredible antiparasitic, antibacterial, antifungal agent
- Apple Cider Vinegar– should only be taken in small doses, temporarily, so as not to cause irritation to the lining of the mouth, throat, stomach, or intestines
- Papaya– this fruit has digestive enzymes which help to kill parasites and unhealthy pathogens
- Grapefruit Seed Extract – this extract is a deterrent to parasites
- Pumpkin Seeds– these seeds contain cucurbitins, a plant compound which paralyzesthe worms, and makes it impossible for them to hold onto intestinal walls.
- Cucumber Seeds – These seeds are also great for getting rid oftapeworms due to a special enzyme contained in them.
Foods to Avoid
Just as with bad bacteria that take over the gut, worms thrive on highly processed food, refined sugars and starches(including alcohol), and unhealthy fats. The very same foods that make you feel sick and tired, will fatten up an intestinal worm so that is soon dictating what you should eat – because whatever you put in your mouth is feeding them!
An anti-parasite diet is one of the slowest, but surest ways to rid the body of parasites. You can expect it to take up to two months to get rid of all the worms, and their eggs, which can be lodged in different organs of the body.
Intestinal Cleanse
Along with changing your diet, you may want to get an intestinal cleanse by scheduling a colonic, or try one of many over-the-counter colon cleanses that utilizes fiber like psyllium husks to help move dead and dying parasites out through your bowels.
Herbal Remedies for Parasites
Along with food, there are herbal remedies which will kill intestinal worms and parasites in your body.
- Berberine– this plant compound is available in a variety of herbs such as the European barberry(Berberis vulgaris). It has been found to fight off intestinal parasites. This herb contains a powerful anti-parasitic called arbutin.
- Turmeric – Although technically a food, the rhizome of the turmeric plant contains an amazing compound which is not only anti-cancerous, anti-viral, and anti-bacterial, but it also helps to flush parasites out of the body with its active compound, curcumin. Curcumin kills parasites on the spot.
- Echinacea – While this herb won’t kill parasites directly, it can boost your immune systemso that it does the eliminating for you.
- Cinnamon – This is a natural anti-parasitic substance.
- Vitamin C – Taken in its food-based form ideally, but also available as a supplement, Vitamin C is helpful for parasite removal. Aim for 5000 mgdaily spread out in the day.
- Oregano Oil, Thyme, Peppermint, and Olive Leaf Extract are also excellent anti-parasitic supplements.
Additional Tips
Some pharmaceuticals, especially hormonal birth control (pills or shots) and antibiotics, can deplete the digestive track of the beneficial bacteria needed to keep yeast and parasites in check, and lead to an infestation.
Once you start to kill the parasites off, this is only step one of the process. Next, the eggs must all be killed off, so you may need to do several rounds of herbal or food-based treatment before every last parasite is gone from the body. The third step is to rid your body of the toxins that these little critters leave behind.
Drink plenty of water, get lots of rest, and remember that your body is working hard to get rid of organisms which are literally sucking up your life force. You can expect to feel extra fatigues as they die off and are expelled through your bowels. You may even notice that you have bowel movements more often when taking some of the herbal supplements listed above. This makes staying hydrated paramount in importance as you go through a de-worming.
Don’t become frustrated if it takes a little time to get rid of all of them and to start to see a drastic improvement in your health and energy. However, following these anti-parasite protocols will boost your immune system, give you back your energy and vitality, and even replace years’ long nutrient deficiencies that were caused by the parasites in your body.
To prevent future parasitic infections, drink only clean, purified water, reduce the consumption of red meat (which is easily infested), practice good hygiene, eat lots of fresh, organic fruits and vegetables, and keep your pets de-wormed as well with regular visits to the vet. Once you’ve gotten rid of parasites – you’ll never want to become infected again!