Parasites
Parasites are organisms that invade the body and feed off the nutrients you eat. This can leave you with many digestive symptoms as well as symptoms of malnourishment and fatigue.
Causes
Whilst many people pick up parasites when abroad from contaminated drinking water or food, it is perfectly possible to be infected never having been abroad. Parasites can be transmitted by insects, pets, improperly cooked meat, water, fresh foods from other countries and other people.
Symptoms of a parasite infection
- Bloating
- Gas
- Diarrhoea or constipation
- Heartburn
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Foul smelling stools
- Blood or mucus in the stool
- Vomiting
- Anxiety / Depression
- Gastritis
- Fever & chills (at onset of parasitic infection)
- Weight loss
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of parasites is usually done in conjunction with a medical specialist or nutritional therapist. Symptoms and client history are taken into account along with test results from stool analyses.
Treatment
A diet that does not encourage the parasites to grow and reproduce is recommended. Recommendations usually involve avoiding excessive meat consumption, sugar, refined foods, alcohol and anything to which you are intolerant.
Doctors generally prescribe anti-parasitic medications. However, there are many herbs with anti-parasitic properties, such as oregano, artemesia, grapefruit seed extract, black walnut, cloves thyme and pumpkin seeds. These can be used to reduce the parasites alongside probiotics to repopulate the gut with good bacteria.
