The gut microbiome houses thousands of different species of microbes, including parasites (organisms that live on or in a host organism and get their food at the expense of their host).
Some parasites co-exist with us in harmony, not necessarily causing major symptoms (such as the Ascaris roundworm). Other parasites that travel to humans via hosts like the malaria-carrying mosquito can cause serious disease and even death. Some parasites even live for years in the intestinal tract, while others such as roundworms can also migrate to the lymphatic system or bloodstream.
Gut Health and Parastites
In the West, we can mostly avoid serious parasitic infections. With that being said, it is still possible to pick up threadworms from another infected person, or liver flukes from eating raw fish or even watercress.
Most of the time, parasites are kept in check by a strong immune system, healthy gut microflora and by sufficient digestive secretions, including stomach acid, bile acids and pancreatic enzymes. However, when the inner terrain is weakened through stress, poor diet, toxins produced by bad bacteria and yeasts, parasites can gain the upper hand.
When digestion is compromised, pathogens can become entrenched in the gut and liver, leeching nutrition, and releasing toxic by-products into the bloodstream, these toxins can cause an inflammatory response on the part of the immune system. This then affects the joints, eyes, lungs and causing fatigue and other symptoms.
The inflammation caused by a parasite infection can lead to increased permeability of the small intestine, a phenomenon known as ‘leaky gut’ – compromised digestion can lead to bloating, bad breath, headaches, and insomnia.
Foods to Ward Off Parasites
So if you think parasites might be a problem for you, how can you encourage a digestive environment that’s inhospitable to microscopic critters?
Firstly, it’s a good idea to look at your diet, and cut out the foods that parasites love, namely sugar and refined, processed foods.
Secondly, there are many natural foods that opportunistic parasites hate. Try adding these into your diet:
- Papaya seeds
- Pumpkin seeds
- Garlic
- Apple cider vinegar
- Grapefruit seed extract
- Fermented foods including sauerkraut, beet kvass or kimchi
- Coconut oil
Supplements to Improve your Inner Terrain
Next, consider taking some supplements to help improve your ‘digestive fire’ and create an inner terrain that prevents parasites from reproducing:
- Betaine HCL (the acid your stomach produces naturally)
- Pancreatic enzymes such as protease and amylase to digest protein and fats
- Bitter formulas to stimulate bile flow, such as artichoke, dandelion, gentian, angelica root, camphor, aloe, and myrrh
- Spices such as ginger, turmeric, cardamom, cloves
- A good-quality, broad-spectrum symbiotic
Anti-parasitic Herbs
There are many herbs with antiparasitic properties that can be taken in a tincture or tea to help defeat an infection. However, since pathogens can build up resistance, these should be rotated for best results:
- Black cumin seed oil
- Wormwood
- Black walnut
- Goldenseal
- Oregano
Wormwood has a long history of use in herbal medicine; in Ancient Egypt, it was used as a treatment for intestinal worms. It contains several active compounds that have shown promising results in clinical studies, such as thujone, chamazulene and artemisinin. Wormwood oil has insecticidal properties and has been shown to be an effective treatment for trichomoniasis in birds.3
Black Walnut is another plant that shows promising novel antibacterial compounds, some of which have been found to be effective against a class of Staphyloccus bacteria.4
References
3Youssefi MR, Tabari MA, Moghadamnia AA. In vitro and in vivo activity of Artemisia sieberi against Trichomonas gallinae. Iran J Vet Res. 2017; 18(1):25-29.
4Ho K-V, Lei Z, Sumner L. Identifying antibacterial compounds in black walnuts (Juglans nigra) using a metabolomics approach. Metabolites. 2018;8(4):58. doi: 10.3390/metabo8040058.
