My children have had parasites get out of control a couple of times, usually following our fun vacations in Mexico.  Each time, I have treated their parasites naturally and brought their systems back into balance.  Recently, I was diagnosed with parasites that I determined had been plaguing me since 2006!  These parasites had caused me to gain weight, experience fatigue and react to food like never before.  Just last week, I got the parasites under control. I am so excited by how fantastic I feel that I decided to write about these nasty little organisms that can take over anyone’s body.

Parasites are “organisms that derive food, nutrition and shelter by living in or on another organism and do not contribute beneficially to that organism.” Pathology and Nutrition by Lileana Stadler Mitrea MD ND.

Allergies: Disease in Disguise by Carolee Bateson-Koch DC ND explains that probably no other factor has been so overlooked by doctors in North America than the incidence of parasites. The book states that parasitic infection causes toxicity, tissue damage and a weakened immune system.

Common symptoms of Parasitic Infestation include:

• Abdominal cramps
• Anemia
• Bedwetting
• Bloating
• Blood in stools
• Blurry or unclear vision (especially when bending over or standing up)
• Brain fog
• Burning sensation in the stomach
• Carsickness
• Chest pains or heartburn
• Chronic fatigue
• Chronic dry cough
• Constipation
• Damp lips at night, dry lips during the day
• Diarrhea
• Drooling while asleep
• Distended stomach
• Eating more than normal but still feeling hungry
• Excessive weight loss
• Excessive gas
• Fast heartbeat
• Fear – often irrational
• Flu-like symptoms, coughing, sore throat, fever
• Food sensitivities or allergies
• Grinding teeth at night
• Hair pulling
• Impaired memory
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Itchy rectum, nose, and ears
• Joint pain
• Loss of appetite
• Muscle aches and pains
• Nausea
• Nervousness
• Numb hands
• Pain in the back, thighs and shoulders
• Pain in the navel
• Pimples above cheeks
• Rash
• Shortness of breath
• Sleep disturbances
• Slow reflexes
• Unclear thinking
• Yellowish face

Parasites eat the food in the intestine, so you or your child will lose nutrients and subsequently feel very tired.  An itchy anus is a common symptom of parasites in children, as is constant hunger.  Parasites impede digestion and damage the intestinal lining on which they attach.  They are potentially one of the biggest causes of food sensitivities.  According to Allergies, Disease in Disguise, “When organisms such as candida and other parasites are eliminated or brought under control, it is not unusual for 80% of the allergies displayed by the patient to be improved…”

A stool done in your medical doctor’s office does not always reveal a parasite because many are cyclic, going through dormant and active phases.  This is why having a list of symptoms to look for is so helpful.

“The incidence of parasitic diseases in North America is skyrocketing because of increased international travel, contamination of the water and food supply, and the overuse of chemicals, mercury, and prescription antibiotics.” Childhood Illness and the Allergy Connection by Dr. Zoltan Rona.

Children acquire parasites from:

• Consuming food (fruits, vegetables, pork products i.e. bacon, ham, hot dogs, cold cuts, pork chops or beef (cows fed the dried dead flesh of other cows often have parasites), sushi, tap water or other contaminated material
• Skin contact with contaminated soil (a hookworm burrowing into a bare foot in the sand) or pools, hot tubs, gyms
• Crossing the placental barrier
• Injection of infective material e.g. a mosquito bite producing malaria
• Animals e.g. dogs, cats, horses
• Inhalation e.g. dust

It’s not difficult to eliminate parasites in adults or children but it can take up to 3 months. The Resourceful Mother’s Secrets to Healthy Kids tells you exactly how to go about it.  I’m here to tell you that a parasite cleanse can give you or your child a whole new lease on life.  Many naturopaths recommend giving children a parasite cleanse twice a year as a preventative.

I’d love your feedback.  Have you or anyone in your family experienced issues with parasites? Here on my blog, you’ll get commentluv. This is a plug-in that allows you to leave a link back to your own site when you leave a comment.

Until next time,

Meredith