Parasites, the stealthy invaders of the natural world, are masters of survival and adaptation. These tiny hitchhikers can turn the most unsuspecting hosts into their personal playgrounds, living off their resources and often wreaking havoc in the process by creating a wide range of health issues. However, a holistic perspective allows us to understand the broader implications of parasitic infections and how they interact with our bodies. By doing so, we can better appreciate the importance of maintaining a healthy ecosystem within and around us.
So what are parasites? Parasites are organisms that live on or inside a host organism, deriving nutrients at the host’s expense. They come in various forms and sizes, ranging from microscopic protozoa to larger worms visible to the naked eye. Unlike predators, parasites do not usually kill their hosts, as their survival depends on the host’s well-being to some extent.
Many people assume they can’t get parasites, believing they are a problem only in underdeveloped countries or among those with poor hygiene. This misconception stems from a lack of awareness about how easily parasites can actually be contracted. In fact, I think you will be shocked to see just how easy it is to contract a parasite. Some of the most common sources include food, water, airborne, soil, biting bugs, people/pets, public surfaces, and even during intercourse and in utero. Once the parasites are in our system, they feed off our organs.
Parasites can be broadly categorized into three main types- protozoa, helminths, and ectoparasites. Let’s break down all three types.
Protozoa: These are single-celled organisms known for invading and suppressing the immune system. Some examples of protozoa parasites include Giardia (can cause diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and nausea), Toxoplasma (can cause behavioral changes and affect the eyes and the brain), and Babesia (can cause anemia, POTS, ear ringing, anxiety, and sleep issues).
These are single-celled organisms. Examples include Giardia lamblia, which causes giardiasis, and Plasmodium, which is responsible for malaria. Protozoa parasites are known for invading and suppressing the immune system.
Helminths: These are larger, multicellular organisms, commonly known as worms that can also invade our immune system and cause symptoms such as anemia and iron deficiency. These types of parasites are also most commonly found in the gut and include roundworms (nematodes), tapeworms (cestodes), and flukes (trematodes). Roundworms such as ascaris, pinworms, and hookworms are known to cause abdominal pain, malnutrition, anemia, allergies, food sensitivities. Tapeworms such as taenia (pork) echinococcus can cause nutritional deficiencies, cysts, allergies, biofilms, and gut symptoms. Flukes such as schistosoma which feed on the glucose in our bodies and clonorchis can cause liver and spleen enlargement, skin rash, and anemia.
Ectoparasites: These types of parasites live on the surface of the host. Some examples include ticks, fleas, lice, mites, and leeches. Most of these parasites cause symptoms such as skin rashes, fevers, joint pains, body aches, skin inflammation, bleeding, and allergic reactions.
The symptoms of parasitic infections can vary widely depending on the type of parasite and the organs affected. Here is a comprehensive list of some of the most common symptoms and how parasites can affect different parts of our body.
Digestion: Diarrhea, constipation, bloating, and abdominal pain
Metabolism: Unexplained weight loss or gain
Energy: Chronic fatigue and weakness
Respiratory: Coughing, wheezing, shortness breath, immune/histamine reactions elevated
Neurological: Headaches, migraines, memory, cognitive decline, brain fog, dizziness, weakness
Skin: Itchy skin, hives, rashes, and swelling eyes joints
Behavioral: Irritability, mood swings, anxiety, and depression
Nutrition: Sensitivities in gluten and dairy, nutritional deficiencies in vitamin B12, iron, and copper
Miscellaneous: Tenderness, dehydration, fever, itchy anus, sleep disturbances, insomnia, teeth grinding, anemia (hookworm) blood in stool or urine, dark circles under eyes, muscle and joint pain
Parasites can significantly impact the immune system, as well multiple organs within our body. Some parasites have evolved mechanisms to evade the immune response, allowing them to persist in the host for long periods. This chronic infection can lead to immune system dysregulation, causing either an overactive immune response (autoimmunity) or a weakened immune response (immunosuppression).
Effects on the Intestines
The intestines are a primary site for many parasitic infections. Protozoa like Giardia and Entamoeba Histolytica can cause severe gastrointestinal distress, including diarrhea, cramps, and malabsorption of nutrients. Helminths such as hookworms attach to the intestinal wall, leading to blood loss and anemia. Chronic intestinal parasitic infections can result in malnutrition, stunted growth in children, and impaired cognitive function.
Effects on the Liver
The liver can also be affected by parasites. For instance, the liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica) can cause liver inflammation, bile duct obstruction, and liver cirrhosis. Protozoa like Leishmania can lead to a severe condition known as visceral leishmaniasis, which affects the liver and spleen, causing hepatosplenomegaly (enlarged liver and spleen).
The stress on our liver gallbladder system can impact hormones, bile and digestive enzymes, and our detox abilities, all of which can manifest throughout the body and into the skin with rashes, hives, or eczema.
Effects on the Lungs
Parasitic infections in the lungs can lead to respiratory issues. Paragonimus westermani, also known as the lung fluke, causes paragonimiasis, which manifests as chronic cough, chest pain, and hemoptysis (coughing up blood). Ascaris lumbricoides, a type of roundworm, can migrate through the lungs during its life cycle, causing Loeffler’s syndrome, characterized by transient respiratory symptoms and eosinophilia (increased eosinophils in the blood).
Effects on the Skin
Ectoparasites such as lice, fleas, and mites cause direct skin irritation, itching, and allergic reactions. Parasitic infections can also lead to secondary bacterial infections due to scratching and skin damage. Additionally, some parasites, like the hookworm larvae, can penetrate the skin, causing cutaneous larva migranes, a condition characterized by serpiginous (snake-like) tracks under the skin.
You may be thinking, wow, I have a lot of these symptoms so I must have parasites! And while that is a pretty good guess (since almost all of us are walking about with parasites in our body), it is very important to test to determine which parasites you are dealing with.
One of my favorite ways to test for parasites is by using bioenergetics testing. This is an alternative diagnostic method that assesses the energy fields of the body to detect imbalances and potential health issues, including parasitic infections. This approach is based on the concept that every living organism emits a unique energy signature. By using specialized devices that measure these energy patterns, practitioners can identify disruptions that may indicate the presence of parasites. Unlike traditional medical tests, bioenergetics testing is non-invasive and involves scanning the body’s energy fields and interpreting the readings to determine if parasites are affecting the individual’s health. Results typically take about 2 weeks to come back as it’s highly sensitive and accurate because it can pick up on resonating toxins that many conventional testing (like stool) misses.
One of the reasons that I prefer this type of testing vs a traditional stool test is because there are so many different ways that parasites can evade positive test results such as:
Detoxing parasites from the body has gained attention as a natural health practice, believed to improve overall well-being by eliminating unwanted organisms that may be causing all of the various health issues I mentioned above. Parasites are thought to be most active during a full moon because of the moon’s influence on the Earth’s electromagnetic field, which may stimulate parasite movement and reproduction. Consequently, many detox protocols recommend timing parasite cleansing routines around the full moon to maximize the effectiveness of the treatment, harnessing the period when parasites are purportedly more vulnerable to elimination.
Opening Detox Pathways
Because parasites release toxins that burden the liver and other detox organs, this leads to an obstruction or slowing down the pathways which leads to toxic accumulation. This is also why it is very important to make sure your detox pathways are open so that your body can naturally get rid of those toxins that are building up in your system. Ways to do this include having daily bowel movements, sweating (ideally in a sauna), dry-brushing, and lymphatic massages.
Foods & Herbs to Support Detoxing
It’s also very important to make sure you are eating the right types of food to help support your body while you are going through a detox. H
There are also a wide variety of herbs that have been shown to help support the body through a detox and aid in the overall process. These herbs include black walnut, wormwood, cloves, garlic, oregano, Pau d’arch, neem, cat’s claw, thyme, holy basil, cinnamon, mimosa pudica seed, berberine, vidanga, triphala, tansy, and diatomaceous earth.
Detox Symptoms
While going through any type of detox, know that it is also completely normal to experience some die off symptoms as your body works to eliminate the parasites and the biofilms they produce. Some of these symptoms can include nausea, headaches, changes in bowel movement, skin reactions, emotional fluctuations, sleep disruptions, and depression.
When we kill off parasites, they can even release their own endotoxins like metals, chemicals, and more. A period of die off can then result in more symptoms while the body is purging the parasite and its contents from the body.
Who Should NOT Cleanse
While we are on the topic of detox, it is very important to note that certain individuals should NOT do a detox or cleanse of any type without consulting with a medical professional first. These individuals include anyone who is currently pregnant or breastfeeding, has liver or kidney disease, is on medications such as blood thinner and heart medications, are just coming off a surgery, and are currently undergoing chemotherapy or radiation.
As we now know, parasites are a part of the natural world, and understanding their impact on human health from a holistic perspective allows for more comprehensive management strategies. By maintaining a healthy lifestyle, practicing good hygiene, and being mindful of our environment, we can mitigate the risks of parasitic infections and ensure our well-being.
However, should you find yourself dealing with parasites or suspect that you are dealing with parasites, I highly encourage you to speak with a trained practitioner to determine which testing option is best for you and then work with them to help eliminate the parasites from your body.
