Disclaimer- This article is purely for entertainment purposes. None of this information, nor the products discussed in this article, are intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease. Consult your healthcare practitioner before altering your diet or using any herbs or supplements.
What are parasites?
A parasite is an organism that lives on or in a host and gets its food from or at the expense of its host. In other words, the parasite uses the resources of the person it’s living inside of, such as the very food that that person eats, in order to survive. Worse, parasites can cause disease in humans.
How does someone become infected with a parasite?
Believe it or not, a relatively high percentage of adults living in the United States may carry parasites. Parasites usually come from consuming contaminated food or water, or through contact with infected animals, but people with imbalanced gut bacteria, leaky gut syndrome, heavy metal toxicity, or a weakened immune system may be more susceptible. Some can also be spread through the bite of a mosquito or sand fly, or from animals that are infected.
Eating undercooked meat and seafood can transfer harmful organisms, including beef, pork, shellfish and crab. Drinking or bathing in contaminated water is another major cause.
Symptoms of parasitic infections
- Digestive issues, including constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, gas, heartburn
- Stomach pains and tenderness
- Loss of appetite
- Fatigue
- Chills
- Aches and pains
- Symptoms of dehydration
If you think that you may have parasites, it’s recommended that you visit a doctor to be tested.
What is a parasite cleanse?
A parasite cleanse involves eating a diet that’s free of foods that can feed parasites (such as sugar and grains) and consuming more of the foods that are anti-parasitic, such antioxidant-rich foods. It’s pretty close to a Candida diet, which is why we can often incorporate the two together.
Supplements are important for supporting your gut and immune systems while you recover on a parasite cleanse, and certain herbs will help kill off the parasites.
Our parasite cleanse is followed for 10 days, followed by a few weeks off, and can then be repeated if need be. I recommend following the parasite cleanse during the week of a full moon, because it is believed that is when parasites are most active in our bodies.
What types of side effects might you feel when following a parasite cleanse protocol?
It’s possible that you may feel run down or have digestive issues for a couple weeks while recovering. If you lose your appetite, have diarrhea, and aren’t able to drink or eat much, fatigue can be common. Make sure to keep drinking fluids, and try to eat smaller meals regularly to keep your energy up. It’s also crucial that your bowels keep moving regularly during the cleanse, so that toxins are being expelled, not re-absorbed. Remember to consult with your own personal doctor before adding any new diet, herbs, or supplements to your routine, and never attempt a cleanse if you are pregnant or nursing.
The Parasite Cleanse Bundle
Our Parasite Cleanse bundle includes tinctures, a mineral binder, and an optional detoxifying bath mix.
You’ll receive two bottles of the Parasite Cleanse Tincture, which is made with the following herbs-
-Wormwood
Wormwood’s name stems from its historical use as an antiparasitic. Wormwood contains strong bitter agents which stimulate digestive and gallbladder function. Wormwood is believed to stimulate digestion and relieve spasms in the intestinal tract. It can also kill and remove unwanted parasites.
Black Walnut
Black Walnut aids digestion and the intestinal system. Its hull contains juglone, a chemical that is antibacterial, antiviral, antiparasitic, and a fungicide. Taken internally, black walnut hulls are used to treat intestinal worms. Black walnut is also an anti-fungal and has been used to fight Candida.
*If you need a nut free version due to an allergy, reach out to Gina and she will provide a substitute.
Clove
Clove has demonstrated anti-parasitic effects in lab studies. Clove can damage the cuticle of parasites, leading to their death. Studies have also shown that clove inhibits the metabolism of certain nematodes, reducing their energy production and causing them to be expelled from the host. Clove is traditionally thought to dissolve parasite eggs in the intestines.
The third tincture included is Digest-Ease.
This tincture is a powerhouse that will help just about any tummy issue or digestive issue, and in this cleanse its purpose is to help keep the bowls moving and detoxify the gut. It contains Fennel Seed which has been shown to help with digestion by reducing inflammation in the bowels and decreasing bacteria that cause gassiness. It also purifies the blood, which is important with any type of detox. It also has Peppermint which helps relieve stomach cramps, and bloating, particularly during a cleanse like this. Ginger is another ingredient in Digest-Ease, to help encourage good gut microbes, which in turn can help make the gut inhabitable to parasites.
The bundle also comes with Diatomaceous earth (DE) — This natural mineral powder comes from phytoplankton. Due to its microscopic sharpness and drying effect, DE can dehydrate parasites, ultimately killing them. Start out with 1 tsp mixed into 8 oz of water. Drink this either 1 hour before a meal or two hours after a meal. Because of its high silica content, you may also notice healthier hair, skin, and nails when you consume DE.
Detox Tincture is an option with this cleanse, and we highly suggest it. Using it daily will help keep your liver clear and detox pathways open throughout the cleanse period, so your body is equipped to eliminate all the toxins being released from deep within your tissues. If your pathway aren’t kept clear, the toxins may be reabsorbed and cause even more problems.
The anti-parasitic diet
A parasite cleanse diet helps kill harmful organisms living in your digestive system by fighting bad bacteria and fungus that these parasites live off of. This type of cleanse involves following a diet that is free of all sugar and all grains.
I recommend that you limit your fruit intake or better yet, eat no fruit whatsoever.
A food that can be very healing when fighting harmful organisms in your GI system is pumpkin seeds, as well as pumpkin seed oil. Pumpkin seeds support gut health because they contain compounds that can paralyze worms and make it difficult for them to survive in the intestinal walls.
Eat up to one cup of pupmkin seeds a day, for example, by adding some to a smoothie in the morning, or you can make pumpkin seed butter.
Here are some other top anti-parasite foods to include in your diet:
- Garlic and onions – Both of these immune-boosting veggies have anti-parasitic effects due to their sulfur compounds and antioxidants. These are both key ingredients of our Fire Cider.
- Herbs – Certain herbs, like oregano and ginger, can have antibacterial and antiparasitic effects because they help increase the production of stomach acid, which can kill parasites and prevent infections. Cook your meals with lots of culinary herbs whenever possible.
- Pineapple, papaya and their juices – These fruits contain compounds that can help decrease colon inflammation. As part of a juice cleanse, their juices can also have anti-parasitic effects. These are the only fruits we suggest consuming during a parasite cleanse.
- Coconut oil – Coconut oil has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties.
- Probiotic-rich foods – Consuming high probiotic foods like kefir, sauerkraut and yogurt can keep parasites in check and improve the health of the gut.
- Apple Cider Vinegar— Helps restore healthy pH balance and can generally improve digestion.
- Other fresh vegetables — These are rich sources of protective compounds that help nourish the gut, and they provide fiber, which encourages regular bowel movements.
- Bone broth — This can help soothe and heal the gut from damage caused by parasites and Candida.
Other foods that are good to consume during your parasite cleanse are organic pasture raised meats like beef and poultry, eggs, and all types of fresh veggies. Be sure to drink plenty of filtered water. shooting for a gallon each day.
Foods to avoid:
It’s equally as important to avoid eating foods that promote and feed parasites during this cleanse. That includes-
- Added sugar – Can feeds harmful organisms in the gut and contribute to inflammation.
- Processed foods – Do not support immune health and may be hard to break down.
- Alcohol – Does not allow for proper immune system functioning.
- Wheat – Many grains, especially those containing gluten, can break down into sugar quickly and cause intestinal inflammation.
- Pork – Can potentially be contaminated with parasites.
- Raw meat and raw fish – can potentially be contaminated with parasites.
Raw veggies can sometimes contain parasites as well, but soaking your veggies in a large pot filled with cold water, with a couple tablespoons of salt, baking soda, or apple cider vinegar can help kill them / clean them off.
It is suggested to follow the anti-parasitic diet for 3 days before you start the 10 day cleanse, and another 2-3 weeks after you finish the cleanse.
We routinely do group cleanses in our Wellness Library group on Facebook, and it’s a great place to find lots of cleanse approved recipes as well.
Additional helpful supplements
Activated Charcoal — This is not included in the bundle, but can help support your body during the process.When harmful organisms are dying off within your body, they release toxins which can cause symptoms like brain fog, lethargy, nausea, and rashes. To help ward off these “die-off” reactions, you want to make sure to be drinking LOTS of water, and also take a binder like activated charcoal. Activated charcoal bonds itself to the toxins to keep them from doing damage, and then both are together eliminated from your body.
Dosage Instructions
Before the cleanse-
Three days before you begin the cleanse, use 20 drops of Digest-Ease tincture once a day, for those three days, and, optionally, 20 drops of the Detox Tincture once a day.These can be combined together in a glass of water and drank. This will help to get your liver and your digestive tract moving regularly (but not urgently) in preparation for the cleansing. Ages 6-12 use 10 drops of each. Ages 3-6 use 4 drops of digest ease, but please avoid the Detox Tincture for this age group. It’s also a great idea to start the parasite cleanse diet 3 days before the cleanse begins.
For 10 days, preferable during the full moon-
Tinctures: Combine 40 drops of Parasite Cleanse Tincture, 10 drops digest-ease tincture, and 10 drops detox tincture in a glass of water, 3x a day for 10 days. You can mix them all into the same glass together. You can also mix them into pineapple juice or papaya juice instead, to help mask the flavor. Best used on an empty stomach. Ages 6-12 use 20 drops of Parasite Cleanse, 5 drops of Digest Ease, and 5 Drops of Detox. Ages 3-6 use 8 drops of Parasite Cleanse and 2 drops of Digest Ease.
Diatomaceous earth: (DE) — mix 1.5 tsp into a glass of water, once a day for 10 days and drink on an empty stomach. If you notice constipation, lower the amount of this that you are using. Ages 6-12 use 3/4 tsp, ages 3-6 use 1/4 tsp.
Days 11-30, after the cleanse-
Use 20 drops of Digest Ease Tincture, 1-2 times per day to encourage any remaining toxins to be flushed out. It’s also great to continue the anti-parasitic diet during this time, if possible.
Congratulations on completing the parasite cleanse. If you feel compelled to repeat it, you can do so the following month, but please take at least a few weeks off in between. Our family chooses to repeat this cleanse once a year, as a preventative, since we live on a farm around lots of free-range animals, and enjoy eating raw foods like sushi.
