Parasites! How did I get parasites?
Parasites are more common than you might think!
This is the first question patients ask me when I deliver the news of a likely parasitic infection. I realize the words “parasitic infection” conjure up images of tapeworms and other gross bugs teeming in some third-world child’s belly, so I’m quick to point out that this type of infection is far more common than you would think. In fact, approximating the number of these infections is very difficult because so many people carry around some form of parasite without ever knowing it. The first questions is “what kind of parasite do I have” and the answer is always the same…”it doesn’t matter because we support the body in the same way”. All of these little buggers are equal opportunity, affecting people of all races and economic standing, as well as even the most hygienic among us.
Parasites can be found in many different tissues and organs of the body, but most commonly found in the colon, liver and lungs. The most common way to get parasites for Americans that don’t spend a lot of time in 3rd world countries is food allergies. Gluten and dairy are the most common culprits in the US. When a person has a food sensitivity, eating that particular food causes inflammation of the cells of the gut which compromises the gut’s immune system. Other things that increase this susceptibility include acid-blocking medications, herbicides, pesticides, trans-fats, and too much sugar. Eliminating these offenders is the first step in healing.
Parasitic infections have widely varying symptoms. Here is a list of common indicators:
- Constipation/Diarrhea, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Crohn’s Disease, Colitis
- Lower abdominal bloating
- Bumps on the back on the arms
- Anal itching
- Dark circles under the eyes
- Skin rashes
- Abnormal or excessive Hair Loss
- Abnormal Stool: skinny, black specks, white specks, string-like, mucous
- Asthma
- High Eosinophils (Eosinophils are a type of white blood cell that fights parasitic infections)
- Eosinophilic esophagitis (This is an inflammatory condition in which eosinophils affect the esophagus, causing difficulty swallowing, food impaction, vomiting and heartburn)
- Lack of energy
- Endometriosis
- Autoimmune symptoms
The approach Western medical doctors usually take is to attempt to diagnose parasites through stool tests. These tests often do not show infection because parasites wax and wane with the lunar cycle and are most active around the full moon. According to the American Society of Microbiology, the probability of detecting clinically relevant parasites in a single specimen may be as low as 50 to 60%. The result is that allopathic doctors don’t diagnose parasites as the problem and even if they did, the treatment would be antibiotics which are known to cause further compromise of the gut.
A better way to identify parasitic infection is to measure the level of the white blood cell called an Eosinophil. Eosinophils elevate when the parasitic burden is high and are a tell-tale sign that parasites are the underlying problem. Unfortunately, the pharmaceutical industry believes in treating the symptom instead of the root cause, and in response, has developed the drug Falsera to reduce the Eosinophil count. Ironically, Falsera is contraindicated if you have a parasitic infection. Keep in mind, by the time the infection shows up in the blood, the person already having significant symptoms. Because the support for parasitic infection is gentle, we can look to symptoms, muscle testing and EAV testing to indicate parasites before they have shown up in the blood.
The good news is that enzymes and herbs do a great job of supporting gut health. With the right combination, the body’s immune system can be activated to rid itself of these nasty pathogens in a relatively short time.
Besides supporting digestive health, there are several precautions you can take to avoid these gut invaders. People who live in or travel to 3rd world countries are at risk for more dangerous parasites which tend to produce more dramatic symptoms like chronic nausea, persistent weight loss and chronic stomach bloating to name a few.
I always warn patients who are traveling to less developed countries to avoid meat and street vendors while encouraging them to take preventative herbs and enzymes.
With clean food, a well-supported digestive system, and proper precaution, you’ll be well on your way to preventing parasites from wreaking havoc on you! Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions, suspect that you have a parasitic infection or are interested in taking preventative herbs and enzymes.
You can reach me at 847-860-9200 or info@jbswellness.com, or view our contact page.
If you’re not in the Lake County, Illinois area, connect with Dr. Shaw at Authentic Health’s Website.
