I first discovered about parasites through a first-hand experience of amoebic dysentery in India 25 years ago! I assure you it was a completely hideous experience considering the lack of, along with the state of the toilets which were holes over stinking pits. I apologise to anyone eating their dinner at this moment however I realized parasites are a big problem to many people and can be debilitating, embarrassing and dangerous, particularly in a survival situation. When I first learnt about parasites, I was surprised by how often people were affected by them. I discussed the problem with a parasitologist who loved his job and described the process of searching through peoples stools as little game hunting! He said, 

“Parasites can be transferred in many ways, such as:

• Eating contaminated uncooked food

• People become infected after accidentally swallowing water from swimming pools, lakes, rivers, springs, ponds, or streams contaminated with sewage or faeces from humans or animals.

• Accidentally swallowing the parasite picked up from surfaces contaminated with stool from an infected person, such as toys, bathroom fixtures, changing tables and nappy pails. Parasites like Giardia may be found in soil, food, water, or on surfaces.”

 

Did you know that 90% of parasites can occur without giving bowel symptoms and can live in the brain, eyes, and liver?

 

The symptoms of parasites in the body could be:

• Excess Diarrhoea or Bad Constipation or alternating diarrhoea and constipation.

• Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and abdominal discomfort.

• Weakness in the body and weight loss.

 

Symptoms can occur quickly or take months to notice symptoms depending on the severity and growth rate and spread of the parasite.

 

I found that there were many types of Parasite the most common are:

• Tapeworms – The most common intestinal parasite, is a type of flatworm, Tapeworms embed their heads into the intestinal wall and look like a long white ribbon. They can grow up to 80 feet long and live in a human for 30 years. Symptoms may include anal irritation, diarrhoea, and vaginal discharge. Tapeworms can also cause:- allergic reactions, lumps, fever, and potentially neurological problems.

• Flukes – A type of flat worm, with many varieties with the biggest being only a few inches long in length and make their home in the intestines, tissue, or blood. Symptoms may also include fever and fatigue.

• Hookworms – These are usually less than half an inch long and attach themselves to the small intestine lining with a hook. Symptoms may also include itchy rash, anaemia and fatigue

• Threadworms (pinworms) - These are tiny round worms that live in the colon.

• Trichinosis worm - This is also round. Symptoms may also include headaches, light sensitivity, face swelling, conjunctivitis, muscle tenderness and pain fever and fatigue.

 

These are only a few examples of this vast area of small game hunting you might encounter. In my practice I regularly treat people with parasites. Their symptoms differ from severe diarrhoea to extreme constipation only going once a week to alternating diarrhoea and constipation. Many have fatigue symptoms and generally feel out of sorts. With many showing a dairy allergy on testing (as parasites love dairy products, as it feed them) I normally encourage a cow, goat, and sheep’s milk exclusion for the six weeks of being on the treatment.

 

See your doctor who can refer you for tests if symptoms continue. But if this doesn’t solve the problem you can follow how I treat them.

 

I treat with a combination of anti-parasite preparations such as:

• Cloves - 2 tablets 3 x day

• Black walnut -10 drops 3 x a day

• Wormwood - 2 tablets 3 x day

 

It is important to use all 3 herbal preparations for 6 weeks in order to kill all stages of the parasite such as the egg, adolescent, and adult. I also make up homeopathic marker drops to help mark the specific parasite so that the body can home in on the problem. Treatments also include the use of paprika, and pumpkin seeds with food which have anti parasitic properties.

 

Prevention - The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends:

• Washing hands with soap and water after using the toilet, changing diapers, and before handling food.

• Washing in clean water and peeling all raw vegetables and fruits before eating.

• Avoid drinking water from lakes, rivers, springs, ponds, or streams unless it has been filtered and chemically treated.

• When travelling in countries where the water supply may be unsafe, avoid drinking un-boiled tap water and avoid uncooked foods washed with un-boiled tap water.

 

Almost everyone has experienced a food-borne illness at some point in time. Contrary to popular belief, food-borne illnesses can occur when food is prepared at a restaurant or at home. If food is handled and prepared safely, most illnesses can be avoided.