Few people suspect that they are the host to small worm-like creatures in their gut. According to statistics, most people are hosts to some form of parasites, no matter where they come from. There is a common misconception that people in developed countries have eliminated the possibility of parasites because of the better sanitary conditions. This, however, is not the case.
Parasites can be found everywhere, and children or adults with weak immune systems are most likely to fall victim to a parasite infection. Because of the lack of awareness, parasite infections can go on for years and contribute to health symptoms that often disappear with the removal of parasites.
Signs and symptoms of a parasite infection
Signs and Symptoms of a parasite infection can be complicated and mixed up with other suspected conditions. There are some staple conditions for the presence of parasites in the body.
- Problems with digestion, including excess gas or constipation
- Skin rashes, eczema, or hives
- Pain in muscles and joints
- Fatigue
- Feeling hungry after eating
- Teeth grinding at night
- Anxiety
- Appetite loss
- Anemia
- Yeast infection
- Itching in the anus and vaginal area
How parasites enter the body
What is the way in which parasites enter our bodies? The most common way of getting a parasite is to consume it through contaminated food or water source. The most common food that can lead to parasites entering the body is uncooked meat. Even things as simple as touching something which had microscopic parasite eggs on it can be enough to get in contact with these worms.
Contracting parasites are easy. There are plenty of options for getting parasite eggs in the system. From then on, it is a matter of immunity and the general health of the person to expel these parasites and keep them at bay.
The positivity’s of Parasites
While parasites are certainly an unwelcome guest in the body, their presence in it is not all negative. Parasites have lived and evolved with the human organism for centuries. Parasites, like everything in nature, have their own place in the scope of the workings of the body.
It is almost impossible to eliminate all parasites. In fact, eliminating all parasites is not the idea of a parasite cleanse. Having balanced parasite numbers can be beneficial for the body.
Parasites work to turn off inflammatory cells like Th1 and Th1 that are responsible for chronic inflammation. They also regulate immune T-cells. This effect of helminths is especially helpful to people who have autoimmune conditions. Parasites are especially important in countering the effects of conditions such as asthma, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, and inflammation of the bowel.
Parasites are also part of the microbiome of the gut. They can help regulate and co-exist with beneficial bacteria in the gut. That is why eliminating parasites and the exposure to parasites completely by living in a completely sterile environment is a double-edged sword.
Ways to check for parasites
There are a couple of ways to test for the presence of parasites. If you suspect that you might have them, you can use the following ways of testing for parasites.
Stool Test
Stool is collected to see for the presence of eggs in it. It is one of the most commonly used tests, but it is not the most accurate. Parasites have a dormant cycle in which they cannot be detected in the stools. If the stool happens to be taken during the dormant cycle of the parasite, they will not show up in the laboratory results. This could lead to false negative results.
Colonoscopy/Endoscopy
Colonoscopy can be used when there is the results of the stool test are negative just to double check. In this test, a camera is inserted into the intestines to see if there are any parasites or not.
Blood Test
A blood test is good for some forms of parasites that can live in the blood. The blood test also looks for the presence of parasite antibodies.
Comprehensive Stool Test
Like the stool test, this one uses a stool sample to test for the presence of parasites. It is more sensitive than the ordinary stool test and can detect the presence of parasites even in their dormant phase. This is because it can detect DNA presence of different helminths.
Getting Rid of Parasites
There is a medical and natural approach to the treatment of parasites. Conventional allopathy uses substances like Albendazole and Praziquantel to treat a wide specter of parasites. This treatment is very abrupt and can potentially have other side effects, including insomnia, headaches, and nausea.
Unlike these medications, nature has its own assets in killing off parasites even if it is a longer process. The holistic approach to treating parasites is boosting your immune system through a healthy diet and lifestyle and taking of natural herbs and supplements that eliminate parasites in the long run safely and without drastic side effects.
According to the article from Microbe Formulas entitled “13 (+1) Benefits of Natural Parasite Cleansing (and some hockey)”, some of the foods that can prevent or even expel a parasite infection include papaya and pumpkin seeds, garlic, apple cider vinegar, berries, pomegranates, and olive oil.
Herbs such as wormwood, black walnut hulls, cloves, oregano leaves, and berberine are effective in cleaning both parasites and microorganisms that could be symbiotically living in your body.
The role of parasites in your body is not all black and white. While parasites have their place in the complexity of our body, when they multiply too much, their effect on the body is not positive. Toxins released by them can intervene with the work of the organism.
The most natural way of handling the problem is through the use of natural anti-parasitic foods and plants that can gently and gradually lower and balance the presence of these organisms in the body.