How To Recognize and Treat Parasitic Infections

According to the World Health Organization, 24% of people worldwide have a parasitic infection. (1) This frequently happens from drinking or eating contaminated water or food products, and while it’s easy to think of this as a “third-world” problem, that’s far from the truth.

While this may sound overwhelming, I have good news — there are many methods for eliminating parasites in your body.

LISTEN: Parasite Deep Dive: Symptoms, Labs, Cleanses + Treatments For This Gut Health Problem (+ Emotional Parasites That Damage Your Health!)

Some parasitic infections clear up on their own, but many require anti-parasitic drugs, natural treatment methods, or a combination of both to resolve the infection. These prescription medications and natural treatments kill the parasites or their eggs, paralyze their movements, or prevent parasites from growing.

The damage parasites have caused before treatment will determine if you need additional pharmaceutical intervention, but many natural herbs possess powerful anti-parasitic properties. The right herbs are great options for a completely natural approach, but they can also work as a fantastic supplementary treatment alongside anti-parasitic drugs.

Below, I review the primary ways a patient with a parasitic infection may address this issue, how to recognize an infection, and the common types to look out for.

Traditional Treatments And Side Effects

Anti-parasitic drugs are the first line of defense in conventional medicine. (2) The most common drugs to kill parasites are:

• Chloroquine
• Atovaquone-proguanil
• Metronidazole
• Tinidazole
• Ivermectin
• Albendazole
• Praziquantel
• Mebendazole
• Pyrantel pamoate
• Nifurtimox
• Benznidazole
• Pentamidine
• Eflornithine
• Suramin
• Sodium stibogluconate

These drugs can cause many uncomfortable side effects that can be almost as bad as the parasitic infection itself. Adverse effects of some of the most common antiparasitic drugs include (2):

• Fatigue
• Gastrointestinal disturbances
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Rashes
• Insomnia
• Diarrhea
• Flu-like Symptoms

Some anti-parasitic drugs are known for their high failure rate during treatment. (2) If you are treating a parasitic infection in a way that removes the parasites quickly, there is a possibility of a Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction (3).

Parasites release toxins as they die off. Without proper liver support during detox, your body may respond to this elevated toxin load with symptoms like headaches or the worsening of current symptoms. Basically, your symptoms can get worse before they get better.

To avoid this reaction as much as possible, it is important to remember to start with a low dosage of either pharmaceutical or herbal anti-parasitics and gradually work your way up to a full dose. Talk to your doctor to figure out what’s best for you.

Natural Treatment Options

There are plenty of natural remedies or defenses against parasitic infections, many of which have fewer or less severe risk factors than traditional treatments.

1. Dietary Changes

Parasites feed off of what you eat, which is why upgrading your diet could help solve your parasite problem. Certain diets that improve the microbiome may reduce the severity of parasitic infections. (4)

Diets rich in fiber, antioxidants, prebiotics, and probiotics are beneficial in promoting gut health, balancing the microbiome, and potentially enhancing the body's natural defense mechanisms against parasites. Microbiome diversity is critical for a resilient immune system, which plays a key role in fighting parasitic infections.

More About Your Microbiome’s Health: Bacterial Dysbiosis: Why This Insidious Gut Problem Could Be The Root Of All Your Health Problems

Alongside helping the microbiome, some foods can kill parasites. These anti-parasitic foods include:

• Papaya seeds (5)
• Pumpkin seeds 6)
• Garlic (7)
• Onion (7)
• Ginger (8)
• Pomegranate (8)

Will fasting get rid of parasites? Fasting can help fight parasitic infections. (9) Although fasting alone may not be able to eliminate parasites, it can be an option to go alongside other natural remedies.

Related: My Favorite Tool For Restoring Gut Health Naturally

2. Specific Herbs And Supplements

Any natural herbs possess powerful anti-parasitic properties. These are great if you want to take a completely natural approach or want to take something alongside anti-parasitic medications in accordance with your doctor’s recommendations.

Some of the best herbal treatments for parasites I like to use with my patients include:

• Wormwood (10)
• Oregano oil (11)
• Black walnut (12)
• Berberine (13)
• Grapefruit seed extract (14)
• Papaya seed (5)
• Pumpkin seed (15)
• Garlic (16)

3. A Parasite Cleanse

A parasite cleanse uses parasite-fighting natural treatments (diet, herbal supplements, etc.) to support the body’s natural detoxification processes. Adequate hydration and stress management are also common features of a cleanse.

Side note: While many people believe that a salt water flush is one way to cleanse the digestive tract of parasites, a salt water flush and a parasite cleanse are not the same thing. It’s important to know the difference between the 2 home remedies.

How To Recognize A Parasitic Infection

Before trying any remedies, you will need to know if you have a parasitic infection. You can identify an infection by recognizing the symptoms or by taking a test. Some of the most common symptoms and signs of intestinal parasites include (17):

• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Weight loss
• Anemia
• Skin rashes
• Itching
• Cough
• Muscle pain
• Joint pain
• Constipation
• Bloating

Lab Tests

If you suspect your symptoms are due to a parasitic infection, there are a few ways to know for sure so you and your doctor can start target treatment accordingly.

1. Comprehensive Stool Test

This test looks for the ova, or eggs, of a parasite in your stool to determine the presence of an infection.

2. Endoscopy and Colonoscopy

A stool test may fail to find any parasites, but your healthcare provider still suspects an infection. In that case, they can examine your intestines with a camera located at the end of a tube inserted through either your mouth (endoscopy) or rectum (colonoscopy) to look for signs of parasites.

3. Blood Tests

Blood tests look for specific types of parasitic infections. A serology test looks for antibodies produced when the body is infected with a parasite, and a blood smear test looks for parasites in the blood by examining the sample under a microscope.

The 3 Common Types Of Parasites

Helminths

These parasitic worms live inside the digestive tract. They will deplete the body’s resources and can contribute to long-term, sometimes severe, chronic health problems because of this. The most common helminths are tapeworms, roundworms, flatworms, hookworms, and whipworms. Pinworms, whipworms, and hookworms are all types of roundworms. (18)

Tapeworms are types of flatworms that live inside your intestine and can grow up to 35 feet long, laying close to one million eggs per day. They eat the food you eat and can cause feelings of constant hunger. Most of the time, they are commonly contracted through eating undercooked, contaminated meat.

Protozoa

Protozoa are single-celled parasites that can multiply in your body and contribute to acute health issues. (19) They target the blood, digestive system, brain, liver, and skin. These parasites can be received by contaminated food and water, undercooked meat, or insects. Protozoa come in various forms, cause various symptoms, and all appear in various areas of the body.

Ectoparasites

Ectoparasites are the insects and arachnids we think of when talking about parasites. (20) This category of parasites includes ticks, mites, fleas, lice, and bed bugs, which all attach to our skin.

These parasites can all cause itching, allergic reactions, skin irritation, or infection if bugs aren't taken care of properly. Ectoparasites are taken care of easily by good hygiene, pest control, and cleanliness in the living environment.

Is There Such A Thing As A Beneficial Parasite?

The very word “parasite” sounds dangerous and destructive, but believe it or not, in some cases, parasites can actually be beneficial.

The hygiene hypothesis theorizes that the significant reduction of exposure to parasites in industrialized nations is a major reason why the incidence of autoimmune conditions continues to rise. Many of these conditions are virtually nonexistent in developing nations where parasites are more common. (21)

More sanitary conditions that reduce exposure to microorganisms increase the likelihood of the immune system becoming over-reactive, which increases the likelihood of developing autoimmune diseases in response to exposure to toxins, a poor diet, and other environmental factors. (22)

Related: AIP Diet Guide.

The simple fact is that humans have co-evolved with helminths for thousands of years. Since the goal of any living thing — parasites included — is to stay alive, these parasites have evolved to tolerate and modulate the human immune system to avoid being eliminated. If a parasite can sidestep immune system attacks but not suppress the immune system to the point of compromising the health of the host (that’s you), then the parasite and human can co-exist.

Helminths’ presence can increase good bacteria in the gut. (23) Since around 75% of your immune system is located in your microbiome, helminths contribute to healthy functioning in multiple ways. There is a great deal of evidence to support this, and helminthic therapy is on the rise for many people struggling with autoimmune and other inflammatory conditions.

Related: 4 Inflammation-Busting Therapies You Won’t Believe (Hint: Poop Transplants!)

While this may seem extreme, studies have shown that this therapy can greatly reduce the symptoms of autoimmune conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS), asthma, inflammatory bowel conditions (Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis), and type 1 diabetes. (24)

Dealing with autoimmune conditions? Try my self-directed course to learn more about how to reverse autoimmunity naturally.

Helminthic therapy is not widely available in the United States but is an emerging therapy in holistic and functional medicine. If you are interested in trying this therapy, working with a reputable doctor is essential. Never buy helminths over the internet, as there are many possible side effects, and this should only be done under the supervision of a knowledgeable practitioner.

Treating Parasitic Infections Through Functional Medicine

As the first telehealth functional medicine clinic in the world, we regularly see patients who are struggling with parasitic infections or are interested in helminthic therapy. If you’d like medical advice on which of these natural options would be best for you, schedule a consultation today.

As one of the first functional medicine telehealth clinics in the world, we provide webcam health consultations for people worldwide.