How to Regain Wellness

Parasitic Cleansing

This is a subject that most people would rather not think about. The idea that another living organism could be thriving within our bodies is an unpleasant thought. Informing yourself on this issue will help you on your journey to improved health.

There are over 100 different types of parasites common to North America and over 400 in tropical countries. The four main groups of parasites are Nematoda, Cestoda, Trematoda, and Protozoa. The first three groups can be visible to the naked eye while the last is microscopic. Nematoda are worm like parasites. Pinworms are a type of Nematoda common to North America. If one person, usually a child, becomes infected the whole household is at risk of infection. During the night the female pinworm exits the anus to lay its eggs before returning. These eggs are so fine they can float in the air where they can be inhaled. The larvae can migrate from the lungs to the intestines where they mature. Itching around the anus is a classic symptom of pinworms. Pediatrician Dr. Leo Litter also linked symptoms of abnormal EEG, epilepsy, hyperactivity, and visual problems.

Cestoda are the infamous tapeworms. If you eat rare or medium-rare beef, you are at risk of picking up a beef tapeworm infection. These parasites can grow to over twenty feet and have a life cycle of 20-25 years. Even though this parasite can grow at great length they can be almost asymptomatic. The classic symptom would be to pass a segment of the worm with your stool. Symptoms of diarrhea, cramping, loss of appetite, nausea, and nervousness may present themselves.

Trematoda parasites are also known as Flukes. Flukes are flat leaf shaped parasites originating from snails. The larvae are released into the water where they can penetrate the skin of other life forms in the water including swimmers. The liver Fluke is common to the Orient and is usually acquired from eating undercooked fish. The Fluke can cause liver enlargement as it takes residence in the bile ducts. This can lead to jaundice and even hepatitis.

This last main class is the Protozoa. These are single celled parasites that are of course microscopic. Don't let their size fool you, they can be dangerous especially when they cause tissue damage in vital organs. Toxoplasma Gondii is a Protozoa type that is common to North America. Just like pinworms, the toxoplasma eggs can be inhaled making them very contagious. It is common that cats are infected and the eggs are passed in their feces. Infection has also been linked with eating undercooked meat (beef, pork, lamb, rabbit), organ transplants, and congenital. Toxoplasmosis can lie dormant within the body creating no obvious symptoms. In an acute stage it can mimic symptoms of mononucleosis including chills, fevers, headaches, and fatigue. Chronic infection can produce hepatitis symptoms, swollen glands, and possible blindness.

There are many parasites that are asymptomatic. This means without symptoms or obviously related symptoms. This makes it difficult for your MD to associate parasites having anything to do with your main complaints. Even if your MD suspects a parasite, the testings tend to focus on a small percentage of the total types of parasites. Even if you have testings done and they come back herbal parasitic cleansing should be done anyway. Practitioners working in the field have put together lists of subtle symptoms the body can produce in the presence of parasites.

Here are a few of those symptoms:

1. Itchy nose, ears, and/or anus
2. Lack of appetite
3. Excessive appetite
4. Grinding of the teeth at night
5. Snoring at night
6. Restless sleep
7. Dream disturbed sleep
8. Drooling while sleeping
9. Cravings for sweets or meats
10. Swollen extremities
11. Yellow tone to skin
12. Biting fingernails
13. Any bowel disorder
14. History of allergies
15. Bluish cast around lips

Most people experience one or more of these symptoms on a regular basis and the truth is most of the population has parasites. Here are some of the reasons why parasitic infection is so common:

1. Increase in international travel
2. Contamination of municipal drinking water
3. Popularity of day care centers
4. Increase arrival of refugees and immigrants from endemic places
5. Popularity of household pets
6. Exotic foods coming from endemic areas
7. Antibiotics and Immunosuppressive drugs
8. having many sexual partners in a lifetime

Cleansing the body of parasites is just as important as eating nutritious food. Using Homeopathy and Herbal medicine has proven to be useful in this cleansing process. This is something that should be done on a yearly basis. For more information please read Guess What Came To Dinner  by Ann Louise Gittleman and contact Steve Darlington at Darlington Acupuncture and Massage.