Think parasite infections only strike those traveling in exotic locations? Think again.
Do you suffer from chronic diarrhea, abdominal pain, frequent yeast infections, or other GI (gastrointestinal) symptoms? Have you been diagnosed with IBS, Crohn’s, colitis or other inflammatory GI issues?
If so, listen up: Did you know a parasite could be contributing to your symptoms?
Could You Have a Parasite?
Have you ever been sick from food poisoning or foreign travel and not felt quit right since, yet you’ve been told nothing is wrong? I can’t tell you how many clients I’ve had come to me for consultation after they’ve been put through the ringer with colonoscopies and other tests, only to be told there’s nothing wrong with them (even when they’re having pain and GI symptoms!), or they’re just given a diagnosis of IBS and sent away with a prescription.
You may be tested for parasites through your doctor and told the test came back clean, causing further confusion. Conventional medicine typically only screens for and treats acute parasitic infections, meaning the infection is present right now: chronic and severe diarrhea (common with giardia) for 3 weeks after trip to Mexico, for example. You’re probably sent away with antibiotics. Outside of this model, the testing doesn’t screen for chronic parasitic infections which may be misdiagnosed as colitis, heartburn, IBS, Crohn’s or gastritis. Worse yet, you may be given antacids or other drugs to treat the symptoms, not the underlying cause, which worsens inflammatory GI issues long term.
The failure to properly and fully diagnose can be detrimental, as seemingly unrelated problems such as hormonal imbalance or fatigue begin to arise. Because your immune system is stressed constantly fighting the infection (that you may not even know you have), your cortisol levels rise in response to stress, and sex hormone levels therefore drop since your body is using all raw materials it uses to make hormones to produce excess cortisol. Weight gain, infertility, and menstrual irregularities can occur.
Common parasites that can infect the human gut include
- worms
- Giardia
- Amoebas, like hystolitica
- Cryptosporidium
- Blastocystis
- Dientamoeba fragilis
These parasites commonly cause cyclical or recurrent diarrhea, cramping/abdominal pain, vomiting, heartburn, or sometimes seemingly unrelated issues like heavy periods, fatigue, or nutrient deficiencies.
Although anyone can contract a parasite infection, if your immune and digestive systems are in tip top shape, you have a better chance of fighting off the offender. Most often, parasites hitchhike into your body via food or contaminated water. Your stomach acid should kill them as they enter, but if your digestive system isn’t working well, they have a better chance of surviving and infecting you. You may experience food poisoning or begin to notice that you’re not feeling quite right.
There are generally two common issues contributing to chronic digestive problems.
One is food allergies/intolerance, most commonly to gluten, dairy and eggs; the other is GI infections and/or overgrowth of bad bacteria.
Consuming foods to which you are intolerant completely destroys the villi (lining) in your small intestine, and the lining becomes inflamed. Kind of like taking a blow torch to a lush green lawn, leaving it barren and charred. When this lining becomes damaged, food particles can leak through and become tagged by the body as antigens, and the body mounts an immune attack, seeing the food as an invader (after all, food is not meant to escape from your digestive tract). This is called leaky gut syndrome, and it creates inflammation and is responsible for the development of numerous food intolerances. When you eat the food you’re sensitive to, you experience a heightened immune response. If you are repeatedly eating foods to which you’re sensitive, your immune system is running on hyper-drive and can begin to run amok and attack itself: an origin of autoimmune disease.
The inflammation from leaky gut encourages bad bacteria overgrowth and lowers the immune defenses that can help prevent parasite infections.
The second issue that causes digestive symptoms is low-grade chronic infections in the digestive tract such as parasites, overgrowth of “bad” bacteria, pathogenic bacteria and yeast overgrowth. Either or both of these two issues causes tissue damage and inflammation in the digestive system, and that leads to constipation, gas, bloating, diarrhea, heartburn, or indigestion. The bacteria feed on and ferment carbohydrate starches you eat and multiply, emitting endotoxins and slowing digestion, which causes pain and bloating after meals. When you have leaky and and bacterial imbalance in the gut, you are more susceptible to contracting parasites.
To make matters worse, parasites or pathogens in the digestive tract lead to major inflammation and exacerbate leaky gut. Left untreated, these buggers in your GI tract can cause fatigue, hormone imbalance, weight gain, systemic inflammation, insomnia, anxiety and malabsorption. They also contribute to IBS, Crohn’s and inflammatory GI issues.
Because digestive wellness is the focal point of my practice, I see a lot of folks who suffer from IBS and major GI problems. They’ve been to countless doctors who haven’t been much help. I recommend GI assessments (stool testing like the GI MAP test) to these clients, and to most of my clients, for that matter. The stool assessments screen for parasites, pathogenic bacteria (such as h pylori), dysbiosis/bad bacteria overgrowth, worms, amoebas, and yeast. I rarely see one come back clean. And these little buggers can be responsible for a whole host of ills outside of the digestive tract. Often times, people don’t display any obvious symptoms.
(NOTE: when I refer to GI infections in this post, I’m referring to parasites, pathogenic bacteria, dysbiosis, worms and yeast/candida)
If you suspect infections in the GI tract, your best bet is to see a practitioner and do a stool sample to test for giardia, amoeba hystolitica, blastocystis, and cryptosporidium. These tests can also check for pathogenic infections like c difficile, klebsiella, h pylori, e coli overgrowth, candida, etc.
In my practice, once I see what’s going on, I can design a GI cleanse using herbs to kill off whatever bugs are present. Depending on what shows up (they are all treated differently), I’ll use a combination of wormwood, berberines, oil of oregano, black walnut, grapefruit see extract and olive leaf extract, for example. I’ll have the person eliminate inflammatory foods like gluten, dairy, soy, alcohol and sugar for best results. I also recommend a good probiotic and a digestive enzyme along with the herbs. It takes about 6-8 weeks, then we work on recolonizing the gut with good bacteria and healing leaky gut.
Here is the general parasite cleanse I use
It’s not uncommon to see yeast occur with parasites. I sometimes recommend following up a parasite cleanse up with a candida treatment . This can be a similar herbal cleanse using berberine, oregano oil or leaf, caprylates, and pau d’arco, among others. Colloidal silver works great against candida too– it’s a natural antibiotic and anti-microbial. A candida cleanse diet should be followed as well: in addition to gluten, cut out anything with yeast or mold such as beer, cheese, mushrooms, and also minimize fruit and sugars.
Parasites, bacteria and yeast are little bugs that cause big damage. If you have been given a leaky gut or IBS diagnosis, or you suffer from any GI symptoms, get tested for GI infections! I offer this testing in my practice.
Mary Vance is a Certified Nutrition Consultant and author specializing in digestive health. She combines a science-based approach with natural therapies to rebalance the body. In addition to her 1:1 coaching, she offers courses to help you heal your gut and improve your health. Mary lives in San Francisco and Lake Tahoe in Northern California. Read more about her coaching practice here and her background here.
My daughter, 35 years has been suffering from severe bloating, especially bad afternoon and evenings, lots of doctors, test, all negative.
As I mention in the article, if she’d being tested through her doctor, they may not be running labs to find chronic, underlying infections. The 2 best labs to use are BioHealth & Metametrix. This podcast explains more: https://maryvancenc.com/2013/06/podcast-8-ibs-crohns-colitis-this-is-for-you/
Or it could be food allergy related.
I’ve been on a gut flora protocal (working with a naturopath) for 5 weeks. (Side note: it has drastically improved/fixed my chronic constipation). Last week I started taking diatomaceous earth internally (2 tbs in water twice a day) for potential parasites. Now I’m getting itching spells – it lasts for a few hours. Feels like mosquito bites and I’m actually seeing a tiny welp. It’s too cold for mosquitos and I don’t see any other bug. I’ve researched mites but these welps look different than actual bug bites. And there isn’t always a welp. When there is one, it goes away pretty quickly unlike a mosquito bite. It seems to happen all over my body: bottom of feet, inside elbows, eyelids, legs, arms, stomach, back, etc.
Have you ever seen or heard of anything like this? I’m wondering if this could be a symptom of detox? Perhaps a parasite or fungal issue? I also have scabs on my scalp and dry skin on my nose and around my fingernails. I suspect that could be a fungal infection symptom. Thanks in advance 🙂
My opinion is that sounds like a detox reaction from toxins being released as a result of the diatomaceous earth (which isn’t the best way to get rid of parasites), though your best bet would be to confer with the naturopath you’re working with.
Mary,
I found your explanation of a leaky gut to be both precise and concise. I just had a stool test done for candida and wish I would have read this first and thrown in some testing for parasites. This article was great and I shared it on my FB page!
Thanks, Alison! It’s hard to test for yeast too (sometimes won’t show up even if you have overgrowth)…. I typically just recommend taking the herbs to kill it off if you suspect you have it 🙂 and don’t forget the colloidal silver for candida– works great!
Mary,
My stomach is awful as I write this…I have emailed you a day or 2 ago about all my symptoms. My stomach is worse today..throbbing in pain with headache and traveling muscle tension. I have been tested for all besides h pylori and yeast. Of course, all is ‘normal”. ugh ! My naturopath gave me homeopathic drops for parasites but I feel I need more support!! I feel so yucky. I’m so thankful for your wisdom and that most importantly, you are sharing it!!! would GSE kill off both yeast and parasites? Is it a good all in all? Thank you 🙂
What do you think about food grade diatomaceous earth to rid parasites? I have just started that treatment after self-diagnosing ?
HI Mary.. I need your advice, I don’t know where to start.. I will try to make my story short.. I exercise on a regular basic, eat very good, I think. like 6 months ago, I started to become bloated around late afternoon, going on overnight.. but now, I wake up and I’m already bloated… or I could say I look like I’m 4 month pregnant (I know I’m know really pregnant). And my belly is hard.. I’m all mixed up in which testing I should do..or which diet I should follow..blood type, paleo, fodmap, candida.. (I don’t have constipation, diarrhea, heartburn, or indigestion) I had to stop brussels sprouts, they were giving me gas.. I have started drinking Kombucha like since 2 months.. so I kind of thinking that I should get tested for candida..
Your input would really help me !!!
thanks
Annie
Hi Mary!
I have been working with digestive issues and chronic fatigue for years. Although I have come a long way, my digestive issues persist and I have a lot of trouble with fatigue in the eve and morn. I was recently diagnosed with SIBO and underwent treatment. I saw no improvement. Was tested several times for candida which was negative but many signs point to me having it. I started Candigone as well as a diet to starve it out. I am afraid there still might be something else at play (say parasites). Is there any harm in letting the Candida cleanse play out for now then testing for parasites later? Or should I get that tested ASAP? Also, should it be taking a strong probiotic now? Or wait until the Candida cleanse is over. Thank you so much!!
Jessica
In my experience, just one product isn’t fully effective. typically you need at least 2-3 different herbals combinations, depending on the parasite. they’re all treated differently, which is why I recommend testing to see what’s going on.
Hi jessica,
nice to hear from you! Sounds like you never did any stool testing for other pathogens/bacterial overgrowth to see exactly what’s going on? If there is another parasite/gut bug present, that always contributes to candida overgrowth and can prevent it from fully being killed off. It’s hard for me to give you advice without fully knowing the details of your case, but it sounds like there is something bigger going on that is contributing to the SIBO and yeast (which can typically be secondary infections). I would probably test now (biohealth 401H) and see what it reveals so you can better plan out course of treatment. Good luck!
Hello, I just came across this post and it is very timely. My father was recently diagnosed with an extreme case of H. Pylori and my mom and I have been scouring the web and all of our resources for remedies that we can pair safely with the intense antibiotics his doctor has put him on. The first round he took was ineffective, so much so that he tested 40% positive for H. Pylori the second time (compared to a 20% positive the first time). My mom has him on licorice root tea several times a day, and I recommended looking in to a good probiotic, but I wanted to inquire to see if you might have any other sure fire ways to kill this thing? I should mention, also, that there’s a good chance that ulcers have come in to play, as he’s been suffering symptoms that point to the H. Pylori infection for well over a year, and has recently started exhibiting symptoms that indicate ulcers as well. Any help or information you can offer is exremely appreciated. Thank you so much for this post!!! ^.^
Hi Mary-
Hope you may be able to give some advice. I’ve been going through candida, leaky gut and recently parasite programs. The last parasite cleanse I did from Dr Clark has left me with constant heartburn. I thought perhaps I needed to decrease my betaine hcl intake but if I do I have yeast show up in the toilet. Additionally I have been going through night sweats as well. I was told this could be due to the body trying to balance the acid levels and it was suggested to try arginine. Do you have any thoughts what is going on?
I can’t really give you advice unless you are a client of mine, but night sweats are largely due to hormone fluctuations or detox reactions.
H pylori is very difficult to kill off, so I recommend working with a practitioner. I typically recommend mastic gum in high doses and probiotics. Good luck.
Could you please provide sources that indicate the efficacy of the compounds listed in your general parasite cleanse?
Thanks,
Ryan
What would you recommend for klebsiella overgrowth? Been using golden seal but no luck eliminating the numbers.
Klebsiella usually doesn’t require too much intervention. it can be starved out with a strong probiotic that includes saccharomyces boulardii. Try Strengtia. But goldenseal will not do the trick.
Okay thanks, I am also trying Thyme Oil which is in Metagenics Parex, would Thyme Oil + Goldenseal have any effect ?
Hi there, I second Ryan’s question:
“Could you please provide sources that indicate the efficacy of the compounds listed in your general parasite cleanse?”
I went on PubMed, and could not find any research backing wormwood, or black walnut etc. I’m currently taking an anti-parasitic product. In the end i believe an anti-parasitic antibiotic such as albendazole or mebendazole may be more beneficial. I’d like to see why you choose the products you recommend, and where the research is that backs it up!
thanks!
rob
Toronto, Ontario
Mary,
What do you think of the Candida cleanser called CCWS?
From the website candidacleanser.com
Not sure what I should trust!!
Thanks
Vanessa
Hi Mary,
I’ve been going through parasite problem 4 5yrs nw. Doctors ve prescribe drugs 4 me which i used, but stil suffering of it. Pls, what are the common natural cleasing herbs in Africa, i need to use. Tnks.
I’m 27 and I have had digestive problems (heartburn) and loss of appetite since my early childhood. However, my indigestion worsened 9 years ago when I was under a great deal of anxiety, and it lasts to now. I stopped gluten and I got better, but digestive symptoms like gases, heartburn, bloating and sometimes liquid stools with some foods not being digested, sometimes hard stools with multiple colors. I am thinking about being tested for H Pylori sometime soon. I was also ADD for my entire life, and pretty sure it has something to with digestion. What can you advise me? Thanks!
Please contact me at info (at) maryvancenc (dot) com to discuss how my programs can help if you’d like to consultation on how to address your health issues.
Similar to Annie
I exercise on a regular basic, eat very good, My sister and I work in Africa – we started to become bloated after any meal / drink big or small (we have had no change of diet) now we wake up and were already bloated… or I could say I look like I’m 4 month pregnant (I know I’m know really pregnant). And my belly is hard.. I’m all mixed up in which testing we should do. (I don’t have constipation, diarrhoea, heartburn, or indigestion).
This has been going on for about 18 months – the pain in my stomach and lower back became so bad that they removed my appendix as it was showing it was severely inflamed. The pains arnt as often but I still have the same issues.
We have both been tested for parasite in the UK and Malawi.
How do we get a home remedy/ Testing?
.
Alice, I can’t give you detailed advice unless you are a client of mine. You can email me through the contact page to learn more about how to set up a consult.
Great article, thanks for the info!! Have a quick question….I was wondering if E.Coli is necessarily a bad thing if it shows up on the Bio-Health 401 H test? For example, if all ova and parasites came back negative, but for stool culture it says, ” Escherichia coli isolated Abundant”- is that usually a normal part of the microbiome?
the one that shows up in the top section of the 401H is normal. they will alert you if the pathogenic strain is overabundant.
Dear Mary,
I have always been IBS and now Fibromyalgia (13 yrs). I have begun a Nutrasystem diet for weight loss. It has all sorts of ingredients I should not have, but since nothing is over the daily allowances, is it alright to use?
I would never recommend Nutrisystem for any reason, but I cannot give you personalized advice about what you should be eating unless you are a client of mine.
hi,
After researching about h pylori, mastic gum and parasites, i came across your website.
in you experience with clients, is it possible that mastic gum causes extreme heat especially head and limbs? is it a normal die-off reaction? And a disturbed sleep after starting on mastic gum?
thanks
No, that is not a typical response, but die off can cause all sorts of different symptoms in people.
hi ms mary i know its rather late to get a response now but im 19 and the last time i took wormout i was around nine, therefore monday evening (aug 1) i bought 2 white zentel adult pills from the pharmacy (over the counter) and i had eaten long before the pills and couple hours after again. after taking the pill for a few hours i was fine but late in the night i felt rly hungry as a result my diet increase and i usually sometimes eat once or two times a day. For the past few days ive been feeling extremely hungry even after eating after an hour. and when i eat until my stomach is full i feel bloated and cramps and the liquid from the food come right back up my throat. other symptoms i have are; gas, cramps (abdominal area& near diaphragm), bloating, feel heavy, stick and itching near anus, constipation(had constipation couple days before the pill) and after the pill i had 2 small amount of aerated stools and one normal feces but i started drinking alot of fluid since i took the pills, and also experiencing shallow breathing from the chest instead of my diaphragm
please let me know what you think ASAP Thank you for your time
You should contact your doctor or prescribing physician with your questions as soon as possible.
Hi Mary, I have been on a year journey when I have come across you, where do I began I’m sure after reading and doctors and more,reading I have some sort of parasite/ worm fungal infection. Where do I began? Thank you
Hi Michele, if you’re interested in working with me, you can use the contact form on my site to arrange a phone chat so I can let you know how the process works. I offer testing for parasites and other gut infections. Best wishes.
Good article,
I arrived to this site short after I found an issue with parasites I discovered by mistake.
I’ve been taking MSM for the past few days and at some point when I increased dosage from 2g a day to 3-4g, I started noticing some white spots on my stool. After a research I got to the conclusion that in my specific situation it can only be caused by parasites.
I used to suffer from mood swings, irritability, dry skin, brittle hair and more recently, low blood pressure, alcohol and coffee intolerance/sensitivity and fatigue(causing me to sleep during the day like for 2 hours, when possible). I also suspect my skin itch(including scalp) to be a symptom as well(currently getting better). All these symptoms alleviated greatly when I started taking these pills. I also take quercetin and vitamin c, but I suspect that these two don’t contribute to my parasite cleanse. Please note that my stool was checked for parasites in a lab in the past, but nothing was found. I’m guessing that parasites simply didn’t go out because they were attached to my intestinal wall. MSM known for its ability to get ’em off the intestinal wall, thus eliminating them on the way.
I really hope that this cleanse continues the same way.
Once my mood, skin and hair got better, my online research continued and I found out that MSM has anti-parasitic effect on Giardia, Trichomonas, roundworms, and nematodes and also enterobius and other intestinal worms.
Hope that my experience will help someone and someone else will get better.
Hi Mary,
I have recently been diagnosed with Crohns disease but I am not convinced. I spent 9 months travelling around South East Asia kissing and cuddling animals.
My symptoms are bloating, gas, abdominal pain, frequent bowel movements with mucous and stringy bits (TMI sorry) inflammation and infection showed up when I was hospitalised and they found an ulcer on the colonoscopy.
Is there anyway that this could be parasites. I have recently started taking oil of oregano and probiotics and seem to be passing a lot of small round black shells…they seem to be disappearing as I continue treatment.
I am so confused because I have doctors saying I have crohns (a chronic illness) when it makes more sense to me that I would have parasites.
Help!
Thanks
Bridget
Hi Bridget, you’d need to do a stool test to determine the cause. It could just be bad bacteria overgrowth. But the only definitive way to know is to test.
I wrote a long comment & lost it right before I was done! I live in NC too & wondered where your practice is? I have had skin rash, bites or disease going on 5 yrs now! I had 5 serious skin infections and has moved to different areas of my body but on same place on both sides of body at the same time. I won’t wear shorts sleeves or shorts in summer bc of the horrible places on me! I think that the doctors here aren’t educated enough on parasites unless you went out of the country but know I have something in my blood too now & pulled a half inch segmented worm from my knee, I had these bites or soars mostay on my limbs but horrible scars on my uppper arms now. They don’t hurt, itch except around my fingernails! I have pictures and videos of these things! Hopefully will have time to write more next time bc it was a lot more details in the one I just lost & spent an hour writing it! I just saw your practice is in Ca. Curious what part of NC you were from? Maybe you refer me to a good Dr in my area. There’s one but doesn’t take my insurance. I had 5 serious skin infections and just had a uti with blood & bacteri in my urine & in a lot of pain. I wake everyday with new soars or bites and 4 pest control companies came out & no bedbugs. Afraid I’m going to wind up with sepsis bc open soars on me. Great site & usually don’t like to talk about my skin & infections. Maybe someone will be of help. Most Drs aren’t educated on parasites in US but need to be! Thank, Tracey
Hi, I am suffering from GI issues for years, but the last 4 year it’s getting worse and worse. I have bloating, gas and chest pressure, I lost about 12-14 pounds, but doctors can’t find anything. They took my gallbladder out, but it didn’t help. After doing some research, I fond that my symptoms are very similar to the ones with Candida overgrowth. It’s been 8 months since I am on a very strict Candida diet, no sugars, small amount of carbs, no gluten etc., but I don’t see a big difference. I started taking Nistatin twice a day a couple of months ago, but don’t see a huge difference either. I had a comprehensive stool done and it came back positive for some kind of parasite, then I repeated the test a couple of weeks later and it came back positive for another parasite, doctors prescribed me antibiotics, but I decided to not take them. I am constantly taking antifungals along with Nistatin, not sure why I am still having these parasites. Can you suggest anything? I am exhausted of being constantly sick. Thank you. Victoria
Victoria, I would get tested for SIBO: https://maryvancenc.com/got-bloat-sibo/
I have been diagnosed for H. Pylori after submitting a stool sample. Can H. Pylori be confused by the laboratory for tapeworm? Also I have a crawling sensation which does not hurt at the entrance of my oesophagus. This is mostly happening in the evening. I put my finger in my throat and pulled nothing out but strings of saliva. In my mind, I think that because I have been taking DE, that if I have a tapeworm, it may try to escape in my throat, or any kind of other worms/parasites?
No, assuming it’s a qualified lab, there would not be a mixup between h pylori and tapeworm. I’d recommend getting a full stool panel to see what else is going on.
Dear Mary,
I have been suffering with what I thought was IBS for several years now diarrhea , constipation, severe stomache pains for awhile, my doctor offered no solutions. Just two weeks ago I actually saw parasites in the toilet. I had never seen them before or since, based on this obvious observation I realized that I had parasites. I got a formula with wormwood, cloves and a walnut tincture.However my under eye area is all swollen and I wondered if this could be a die off reaction. I want to keep taking the formula but if I am just allergic to the ingredients I would need to stop.Do you think I can keep taking the formula, I itch less an stomach pains are mostly gone but I look terrible. really need to know if this could just be die off. thank you so much. I live in Calif, Yucca Valley near Palm Springs if you are close I could see you.
Hi Paula,
I can’t give you health advice over the internet or answer any questions about your case specifically without knowing your health history or unless you are a client of mine. I am happy to work with you on this if you’d like information about coaching options.
Mary, I read your page here and my symptoms are textbook…along w the testing, etc
I recently was diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia and had to get iron infusions. I have since felt better but they still have not found where the blood loss is coming from.
I struggle with constipation and use Ducolax to go to the bathroom. Been diagnosed with IBS, AS, ADHD, anxiety, depression, mood disorder, among others.
My stools recently have been worrisome to me. I have pics bc I feel I may have a parasite or worm
??I have 3 children, give fast pitch pitching lessons and have a salon…please help! I’ve guven up hope on Gastroenologist’s
Thx Jordan
Hi Jordan, please get in touch via my contact page if you’d like to connect on coaching options: https://maryvancenc.com/contact/
I am cleaning out the G,I, track with Turpentine and castor oil.It is horrific what has come out for the 8 th time doing this.Am grateful stuff comes out!!
Hi, thanks for this. I have a question: from your experience, would you be able to tell whether someone has a H. Pylori infection or a parasitic infection based on symptoms alone? Or would you need to do the stool test? What ate the give-aways that it’s bacterial vs parasitic infection?