Some people love to entertain and be the "host" of the party. Most people would agree though that being the host of certain guests is definitely not fun. These "guests" I am speaking of are parasites within our bodies. What people don't realize is that every one of us is a host to these guests naturally. It is when these "guests" become too unruly in the hosts' house that it becomes time to shut the party down and clean up the place.
An overabundance of parasites has contributed to such problems as colitis, chron's disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and "travelers diarrhea." Some researchers hypothesize that they may also be connected to cancer. To keep these little fiends under control, it is wise to do a parasite cleanse twice a year in spring and fall.
Parasites are so common that it is very difficult to avoid coming in contact with them. Parasites can invade our bodies from many different sources such as beef, fish and pork that has been undercooked. Getting too close to our pets by hugging and kissing them is also a risk factor. They are in the soils in which we garden or walk barefoot; they can attach themselves to the outer skin and make their way inward. Infected water, and food that is not washed properly or washed with infected water are other sources.
Common symptoms associated with parasite infestation in children are blisters on the inside of the lower lip, restlessness, grinding teeth, and a constantly running nose. Adults can suffer from symptoms such as chronic fatigue, flu-like complaints, depression, impaired concentration, depressed immune function, constipation, diarrhea, gas, bloating, anemia, nervousness and allergies. Chronic anemia can be related to parasites because many parasites thrive on iron and other minerals which depletes our systems of these vital nutrients. Tiredness after eating is another sign that parasites are eating our foods and robbing us of nutrients. Parasites can take tiny bites out of our intestinal walls and organs to cause a form of internal bleeding that can deplete iron stores. Parasites can group together to form a blockage or tumor that settles in organs such as the brain, lungs and heart. They give off metabolic waste that our weakened bodies have to try to manage. This poisoning is referred to as "verminous intoxication."
In cleansing these parasites from our bodies, you have to kill off the adults, the young and the eggs that are about to hatch. The optimal time to do a parasite cleanse is with the cycle of the moon. Parasites become more active when there is a full moon so it is recommended to start taking a cleansing formula five days before the full moon and continue until the bottle is gone - approximately three weeks. Hulda Clark, in her book "The Cure For All Cancers," states that a parasite cleanse should be done for three months. The main parasite, called the intestinal fluke, takes only five days to kill off but the program should be continued for three weeks and should be followed by another fairly high dose for another two months. This ensures that the program will rid your body of most other types of parasites as well. She also recommends that if one family member does a parasite cleanse then all the others should as well because family members usually have the same type of parasites. At the same time the pets in the family should also be cleansed.
It is very important to keep the bowels moving properly during a parasite cleanse, otherwise the eggs can hatch and the whole process will start over again. A herbal laxative may be needed during a parasite cleanse to aid this function. A very efficient parasite cleansing product is called Sangster's PARA Formula. This product includes the herbs wormwood, neem leaves, elecampane root, quassia bark, tansy flowers, el campuri leaves, walnut leaves and hulls, cloves and butternut bark. This combination helps oxygenate the blood to kill off parasites, works as a germicidal, improves the digestive system to promote elimination of parasites, and expels worms and their eggs.
An important note to remember for the prevention of parasites is that they cannot live in an acidic environment. Our stomachs are supposed to be acidic and with the number of antacids in common use, our stomachs can be turned to an alkaline environment. This is an unnatural state for the stomach and parasites can thrive in this environment. It would be wise to take apple cider vinegar before each meal to help with the acidity of the stomach for proper digestion and the killing of any parasites that you may be ingesting with the foods that you eat. Pure unsweetened cranberry juice will also help keep the system slightly acidic. Eat more pumpkin seeds and garlic because these are known to ward off parasites. Avoid untreated water, undercooked meats, sugar, excess carbohydrates, and fruits and vegetables that are not washed or have been washed with questionable water. The most important step is to do a parasite cleanse twice a year, spring and fall. This will give you the upper hand in your health.
By Sharie Hohn, Master Herbalist and Symptomatologist
Parasites: Dealing with Unwelcome Visitors
