A parasitic infection is incredibly common, but not always obvious. Why? Because people can be asymptomatic and still have parasites!

A parasite infection is a huge roadblock in any healing journey and can lead to chronic health conditions, immune dysregulation, increased inflammation and a toxic burden that makes hormone, gut, thyroid and many more issues worse.

So, yes while some people can be asymptomatic the list of possible parasite symptoms is lengthy.

Why should I do a parasite cleanse

We tend to associate parasites (organisms that steal the food the person-it-is-living inside eats, in order to survive) as a second or third world problem.

But the reality is that parasites are everywhere and can be picked up in a number of different ways:

• Breathing air
• Drinking water (modern water treatment does not reduce risk)
• Eating fish and meat
• Eating raw fruits and vegetables
• Having pets
• Swimming in lakes, rivers or sea
• Walking barefoot in grass, sand, etc

Parasitic burden

Due to the level of toxins we’re exposed to today it’s much harder for our body and immune system to rid itself of parasites.

Signs you may have parasites

Several symptoms of having parasites are actually very common and often attributed to other things.

People with leaky gut syndrome, a weak immune system or imbalance in their gut microbiome are more susceptible to having parasites.

Here’s a pretty extensive list of symptoms that can be caused by parasites:

• Abdominal pain or discomfort
• Allergies
• Anxiety & Depression
• Bladder pain
• Bloating
• Brain fog
• Constipation
• Chronic fatigue
• Diarrhea
• Flatulence
• Gallbladder issues
• Hashimoto’s
• Headaches / Migraines
• Insomnia
• Joint & Muscle pain
• Low immunity
• Leaky gut
• Nausea
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Seizures
• Skin rashes / Rosacea / Hives
• Teeth grinding

Where in the body do parasites live

Parasites don’t just live in the gut. They can exist systemically too.

Parasites can thrive in organs like the liver, lungs, gallbladder, brain, skin and more..

They are also good at holding onto viruses, mold, environmental toxins, heavy metals, etc which is why they can cause a wide range of health issues.

Viruses have a particular affinity for parasites, and will seek refuge inside the parasite so the body and immune system can’t detect it.

Parasite Cleanse - My Top Tips

A parasite cleanse uses herbs and diet to kill off and eliminate parasites from the body. Essentially, it involves 3 steps:

1. The parasitic invaders themselves must be killed. Combining herbs and natural ingredients will kill the parasite in your body.
2. The dead parasites and the toxins they created must be flushed from the body. Herbs and high fibre foods can expedite this process.
3. The body must be supported in healing and regenerating itself.

What to consider before doing a Parasite cleanse

1. Remove the entire parasite & colony

The parasite cleanse herbal concoction needs to remove the whole parasite - as well as its eggs and larvae in a way that is minimally harmful to you.

If the parasite is killed and left inside the body it creates a huge strain for you to have to produce enzymes to break down the debris and remove all the toxins that come with it.

Also a lot of toxins can’t be broken down so they end up being reabsorbed in the body.

Because parasites hold onto so many other toxins like viruses, mold, bacteria, heavy metals and more, treating parasites as the first step once the body’s drainage systems are functioning well, can reduce symptoms and make a huge difference to wellbeing.

2. Drainage channels must be operating well

It’s super important to make sure drainage pathways are open and operating efficiently, before embarking on a parasite cleanse.

If your drainage channels aren't working well, parasites won’t be able to leave the body properly and will result in the body reabsorbing the toxins.

3. Timing is key

When starting a parasite cleanse timing is key.

A full moon is associated with higher parasitic activity.

Parasites have cycles based on our circadian rhythm due to the rise and fall of certain hormones. These hormonal cycles tend to be in sync with the moon cycles.

During a full moon, melatonin (sleep hormone) levels drop in the body. As melatonin supports sleep and immune function, people can notice an increase in symptoms around this time.

Conversely, serotonin levels rise in the body during a full moon. Parasites like serotonin and use it as a food source to move around more freely in the body, reproduce and communicate.

This also makes it easier for parasites to form a protective biofilm, further damaging the immune system and making it harder to eradicate them from the body.

So starting a parasite cleanse around the full moon is important to ensure that you maximise parasite colony killing potential.

Anti-Parasitic Diet Guidelines

From a diet perspective a parasite cleanse involves eating foods that don’t feed parasites and consuming more of the foods that are anti-parasitic, such as antioxidant-rich foods.

A crucial part of a parasite cleanse is diet as you definitely don’t want to be feeding the critters while you are going all out to remove them from the body.

Foods to remove from your diet

I recommend you avoid the following during a parasite cleanse:

• Added sugar - as it can feed parasites and harmful organisms like fungi, candida (which parasites feed off) in the gut and contribute to inflammation.
• Alcohol - creates more histamine in the body and weakens immune system functioning.
• Grains - those containing gluten, like wheat can break down into sugar quickly and cause intestinal inflammation.
• Processed foods - are full of chemicals and harder for the intestines to break down.
• Undercooked meat - as it can potentially be contaminated with parasites.

Other than the fruit listed below, it’s best to avoid fruit or limit your intake, as it contains natural sugars that parasites will also feed off.

Stick to simple meals like smoothies with for example - cucumber, spinach and avocado for breakfast, soups and salads for lunch and cooked meat or fish with vegetables for dinner.

Foods to include in your diet

Here are some anti-parasite foods that you want to include in your diet:

• Coconut oil - has antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral  properties. As well as cooking with coconut oil, adding a tablespoon to your morning tea or coffee, or in with your smoothie is a way to increase your intake of this oil.
• Garlic and onions - these anti-parasitic vegetables can destroy pathogenic organisms due to their sulfur compounds and antioxidant content.
• Fresh vegetables - nourish the gut and provide fibre to encourage bowel movements..
• Herbs - like ginger and oregano can have anti-parasitic effects because they help increase the production of stomach acid, which can kill parasites and prevent infections.
• Papaya, pineapple and their juices - are fantastic fruits for decreasing inflammation in the gut. Their juices can also have anti-parasitic effects.
• Probiotic-rich foods - If you don’t have problems with histamine or are struggling with mast cell activation foods - rich in probiotics like kefir, kombucha and sauerkraut can support a healthy gut and keep parasites at bay.
• Pumpkin seeds and pumpkin seed oil -  not only are pumpkin seeds packed with nutrients they can also make it hard for parasites and worms to survive in the gastrointestinal tract. You can add pumpkins to salads, soups and smoothies or make some pumpkin seed butter by combining pumpkin seeds and pumpkin seed oil in a blender.

Herxheimer’s Reaction (healing crisis)

Removal of parasites can be uncomfortable at times.

Herxheimer’s reaction, named after the German dermatologist who discovered it, is basically the discomfort caused by the die off of parasites and the body’s attempt to remove them.

This is why it’s also vitally important that you don’t consume sugar or refined carbs, as this will slow down the parasite cleanse process and make for more uncomfortable “die off” symptoms.

Self-Care Is Essential

Removing parasites is a difficult job for your body.

The faster you attempt to treat symptoms and the more potent remedies you take, the higher your chance of experiencing a die-off reaction.

Just one reason why I recommend that a parasite cleanse is carried out with the support of a Functional Medicine Practitioner, like myself.

During this process, it is highly important that you take care of your body as much as possible with regular exercise, good diet, adequate sleep, and limiting exposure to toxins.

Drinking enough water will help flush die-off toxins out faster, and adequate sleep will give the body enough time to regenerate.

Soaking in an Epsom salt bath (1/2 cup Epsom salts in hot bath water) will also help remove toxins through the skin.

Having a massage to encourage the removal of die-off toxins via your lymphatic system and fascia. Believe it or not this is one place many people forget, when detoxing.

Restoring parasympathetic balance is crucial to optimise your parasite cleanse efforts.

Stimulating your vagus nerve or increasing vagal tone will strengthen your body’s ability to detoxify and effectively eliminate parasites from the body.

Creating diet and lifestyle changes is vital to protect the body from future parasitic infection.

 

Parasite cleanses can relieve the body of tremendous toxic burden. They will help to bring your body back into balance and give it greater capacity for cells and organs to switch from "fight" mode to "flourish" mode.

If you suffer with any of the symptoms mentioned in this post, or compromised wellbeing of any kind, I encourage you to consider doing a parasite cleanse as one of the first steps you take on your journey to achieving better health and vitality.

You can contact me here if you would like my support and guidance.

Nicola x