How To Recognize And Treat Parasites
I recently found out that I have a parasite! The more I’m learning about parasites, the more I think that most of us have one. Parasites are organisms that feed on our bodies for survival, causing an array of problems. In this blog post, I’ll dive into what you need to know about parasites, how to recognize them and how to treat them!
How do you Get a Parasite?
There are a lot of ways you can contract a parasite. The most common ways include:
- Food (mainly sushi and under-cooked meats) and produce like fruits & veggies can give you parasites
- Pets
- Traveling to other countries
- Drinking contaminated water
- Public swimming pools
- Insect bites
- Walking barefoot in contaminated soil
- An infected spouse or partner
Recognizing Parasitic Infections
Parasites harbor toxins and they imbalance your immune system. They can prevent you from fighting off viruses, bacteria, and yeast. They can activate allergies and cause histamine issues. Some parasites secrete chemicals that constipate you. They do that so you can’t eliminate them- wild, right?
Detecting a parasitic infection can be challenging as symptoms vary depending on the type of parasite. Most people go years without knowing they have a parasite. I have a feeling I’ve had mine for a while.
Common signs include:
- Digestive gas and bloating
- Teeth grinding
- Itchy butt, genitals, and nose
- Seizures
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Stomach pain and cramps
- Sleep issues
- Physical pain (fibromyalgia, lower back pain, etc)
- Skin rashes
- Allergies
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Anemia
- Inability to gain weight or lose weight
- Dark circles under the eyes
- Wetting the bed
Parasites are more active during a full moon due to serotonin levels increasing. Parasitic infections and signs of parasites worsen during this time. People who act up or are weird around the full moon are the people usually riddled with parasites. This is where the term “Lunatic” originated from.
Parasites can be linked to ADD/ADHD symptoms and also autoimmune conditions. It’s important to not rule parasites out when dealing with these common conditions.
Eliminating Parasites
The good news is that parasites are easy to treat with supplements- you don’t need any fancy prescriptions or devices. A great resource that I love for holistic health is Dr. Charlie. He’s my favorite online functional medicine doctor. He talks about parasites A LOT. About 50% of the time he spends treating patients is spent on ridding parasites. He says most people have parasites and he recommends detoxing regularly- he says quarterly (although that seems like a lot!).

The Homeopathic Supplements that Dr Charlie Uses to Treat Parasites are:
- VerVita Klenz. This supplement is high in oregano, which is a great and effective parasite killer.
- Sore to Soar oil. This is an essential oil blend that contains Ho Wood, Spruce, Blue Tansy and Frankincense. These all work together in the body to balance, nourish, and energize. Ho Wood and Spruce are also strong anti-parasitics.
- Black walnut supreme– Black Walnut has been used in herbal medicine for centuries as a very effective anti-parasitic. It is also a powerful antifungal.
- Artemisia supreme– Contains Sweet Wormwood and has been used for over 2,000 years in Europe and Asia and the WHO has recognized it as effective against malaria. Studies have shown it to have widespread anti-parasitic properties. It also has antibacterial, and anti-fungal properties.

In some cases, Dr. Charlie takes a more aggressive approach to rid people of parasites. When there is a more chronic case, he will use:
- Mimosa Supreme. This supplement is most often used for gastrointestinal problems and fatigue. It is best for killing off liver flukes, worms, and intestinal nematodes.
- Melia Supreme. Also known as neem leaf is effective against various fungi, bacteria, parasites, and various viruses.
- Vidanga Supreme: This herb is powered by a berry that is native to Asia and India. It expels intestinal worms and can also help lower cholesterol.
Herbs and Foods That Can Help Get Rid of Parasites
Apart from doing an anti-parasitic protocol, there are a lot of things you can add to your diet to help detoxify parasites. Changing to a clean diet is a big one. Parasites love iron, dairy, and sugar, so avoiding red meat and all dairy products is vital when you are trying to get rid of parasites.

Here is a list of things that you can add to your diet to keep parasites at bay:
- Garlic: Consuming garlic is believed to have antiparasitic properties. Garlic has been used for thousands of years and has a host of well-known medicinal properties. It can also boost the production of stomach acids, which is crucial as chronically low stomach acid has been linked to bacteria and yeast overgrowth in the gut.
- Ginger: Just like garlic, ginger can also increase the production of stomach acid, which can kill parasites, prevent infections and also make your gut overall healthier so that parasites won’t thrive. Ginger is also very good for other stomach issues and is anti-inflammatory.
- Pumpkin Seeds: Rich in an amino acid called cucurbitacin, pumpkin seeds are thought to have anthelmintic effects.
- Papaya and Papaya Seeds: Papaya seeds contain an enzyme called papain, which may help eliminate intestinal parasites.
- Cloves: Cloves contain a powerful germicidal agent called eugenol. This compound along with caryophyllene in cloves travels through the bloodstream and kills parasites, parasite larvae as well as parasite eggs. Making clove tea is a great way to incorporate this spice.
- Olive Leaf: Olive Leaf Extract is a powerful anti-parasitic. It kills parasites very effectively. Especially parasites that infect the bloodstream.
- Diatomaceous Earth: This is a very interesting way to rid parasites. Diatomaceous earth is ground-up diatoms (fossils of single-celled organisms). It has a strong negative charge and is microscopically very sharp. The negative charge of DE attracts to parasites like a magnet and the sharp edges cut the exterior part of the parasite to damage them and cause them to dehydrate and die off. It is important to use food grade Diatomaceous Earth when taking it internally. To learn more about DE check out this blog post.
Other ways to Rid Parasites
I recently did a parasite cleanse and used an at-home enema kit. I saw my parasite come out! I started the cleanse in May with the products mentioned above. Then went to a frequency medicine practitioner in Nashville called Breathe of Life. They told me I did indeed have parasites and I started a homeopathic cleanse. I didn’t experience any horrible detox symptoms for the first month then one month in I was traveling in Europe and started to have diarrhea (for 6 weeks!). I tested the enema kit and didn’t notice anything the first time. I waited a month until I was completely healthy and did the enema kit again. I saw a parasite come out!
See below for graphic photos of my parasite!


Preventing Parasites
After doing a parasite cleanse, it’s important to follow up with some simple practices to make sure these unwanted guests don’t return. The best ways to prevent parasites are washing hands regularly, drinking less alcohol, and reducing stress and cortisol levels.
There are also some good supplements you can take to help optimize your body for anti-parasite success. These include B vitamins, Zinc, and digestive enzymes. Dr. Charlie recommends taking Vervita Inspiracell, and Vervita Immune -Rmor. I’ve been taking Inspiracell for a month now and It makes me feel AMAZING!
I hope this post about how to recognize and treat parasites was helpful! If you liked this post, check out my post about healing your cold, flu and sore throat for more holistic heath ideas.
xx,
Lauren