It’s never fun to discuss or think about parasites because of the ick factor. Regardless, it’s important to understand the effects of parasites on digestive health.
Parasitic infections can be the hidden reason why a protocol for SIBO, leaky gut or candida is not effective. And why symptoms like bloating, food intolerance, brain fog and skin issues persist despite consistent efforts to clean up diet, take the right supplements and reduce stress.
When multiple issues or pathogens show up on a stool or breath test, it is important to know which order to address them. Pathogens need to be addressed one by one and parasites are the first ones to tackle.
That’s because parasites become the sponge-like protectors of other bugs and toxins in the body. They do this by absorbing mold, viruses, heavy metals and bacteria into their bodies. By doing this they protect these bugs from eradication.
If you have parasites that harbor viruses like Epstein Bar or Lyme bacteria, you need to eradicate the parasite host first to successfully get rid of these infections.
The challenge with parasites
The reason parasites often go untreated is because they are hard to detect on single sample stool tests. Negative parasite results don’t necessarily tell the full story and this can throw people off the right track to improving their gut health.
The reason lies in the life cycle of parasites. Parasites are only detectable at a certain points in their life cycle. Also, most stool tests only look for parasites in the large intestine, while parasites can also live in the small intestine or the liver and bile duct areas.
The best test for parasites is the GI Map. Since I’ve been offering this test to clients, we found things that other tests missed. Particularly parasites. The GI Map is strong at identifying parasites such as blastocystis hominis, cryptosporidium and giardia.
There are many diverse symptoms from parasites. But some of the common signs are dairy intolerance and/or food allergies, teeth grinding at night, bloating that gets worse in the evening (when parasites are most active), skin issues, excess mucus, weight gain or loss, itchy anus, mood issues and brain fog.
How parasites can cause digestive issues like IBS
As I mentioned, parasites can harbor other pathogens and make eradication much more challenging.
Also parasites that live in the liver and bile ducts will effect bile duct drainage, making it more sluggish.
Bile has two digestive functions. It regulates stomach acid production and emulsifies fats. When bile is sluggish, stomach acid decreases, which adversely affects digestion.
When food is not properly broken down, the undigested food particles feed the overgrowth of bacteria and yeast in the small intestine. This can cause and exacerbate conditions like SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth), candida and leaky gut.
It may also affect fat digestion.
The following info is meant for educational purposes only…
While tempting, it’s never wise to follow a supplement protocol on your own.
Parasite eradication can be tricky, so always work with an experienced functional medicine practitioner, naturopath or health coach.
The desire to save money and do it yourself can often backfire. You could spend more time and money in the long run on trial and error, diets, supplements and treatments that don’t work. Some common mistakes is taking the wrong kind of probiotics or canceling out their efficacy by taking them with antimicrobials.
Avoid making costly health mistakes by getting the help you need. I work with clients remotely to clear confusion, find real answers and shorten their struggle to achieving a healthier gut.
How to address parasites
The main way to address parasites is through anti parasitic herbs. No one herb addresses all parasites but there are a collection of herbs that cover a majority of the 134 bugs in existence. While you can go the pharmaceutical approach, I prefer the natural route due to less side effects.
My favorite herbs for parasites are Aryuvedic herbs including neem, clove, vidanga and mimosa pudica. Neem is also popular for SIBO.
These herbs require an initial 60-day course.
You’ll know the herbs are working after a couple of week if you begin to see worms and parasites eliminated into the toilet. Mimosa pudica suffocates parasites before they pass, so you’ll only see dead ones.
Mimosa pudica, in particular, is a good biofilm buster. Biofilms are protective shields that form around pathogens to protect them from antimicrobial eradication.
If you experience uncomfortable detox reactions during this protocol, you need to address the toxins produced by parasite die off. I use different forms of bioactive carbon or clay to absorb and neutralize these toxins.
Lastly, it is very important to keep the bowels moving during this process. I use different forms of magnesium, high dose vitamin C or an Ayurvedic herb called triphala to keep the bowels moving.
How to protect yourself from parasites in the future
Our first line of defense against pathogenic invasion is called Secretory IgA (or SIgA).
Secretory IgA (SIgA) protects the intestinal epithelium from enteric toxins and pathogenic microorganisms by promoting the clearance of antigens and pathogenic microorganisms. It protects intestinal lumen by blocking access to epithelial receptors, entrapping them in mucus, and facilitating removal through peristaltic activity.
When SIgA is low it leaves us vulnerable to pathogenic invasion, with diminished ability fight them off.
You can test your SIgA status with the GI Map and bolster function by taking a probiotic called S. boulardii.
I never advise buying supplements on Amazon, because it is risky. Amazon doesn’t police their supplement sellers and fake products are rampant.
I use an online dispensary that gets supplements from the manufacturer (and has free shipping over $49). You can join the dispensary here and search for my favorite brand: Pure Encapsulations S boulardii.
S boulardi should be taken alone (away from other supplements) on an empty stomach, 2 capsules per day.
Until SIgA is raised enough to protect you from threats, you are vulnerable when eating at the wrong salad bars or traveling to a foreign country.
An initial cleanse and a follow up seasonal parasite cleanse for 30 days every six months, is enough to clear and detox the body of any unwanted visitors and the bugs they host.
Angela Privin is proof that IBS is NOT an incurable disease, but a cry for help from a gut out of balance. When the body AND mind are complaining, it’s an opportunity to examine what’s not working and change it. After solving her own IBS mystery almost two decades ago, Angela became as a health coach to help others. Angela uses root cause medicine protocols personalized to the individual to solve each IBS mystery. Her tools are lab testing, dietary changes, supplementation, subconscious mind work and nervous system rebalancing . Learn more here.