10 Signs You Might Have a Parasite and What to Do About It

Having a parasite probably isn’t something you think you’d ever have to deal with, but you may be wrong.

In fact, parasites are a common type of harmful microorganism that we encounter through our food, water supply, the environment, other hosts (people or animals), and a variety of other places and due to other factors.

The type of parasites that exist include hookworms, tapeworms, and pinworms just to name a few, but there are always new types of being parasites being discovered as time goes on and as researchers learn just how many types of these harmful bacterial species are affecting people.

Many people have a parasite or more at some point in their lifetime, but symptoms can often go unnoticed as something else or you may be misdiagnosed.

So take a look at the 10 common signs of parasites below and you’ll see that many of them resemble other health concerns.

10 Common Signs of Parasites:

1. Chronic Itching

Parasites can often leave a person feeling as though they consistently have bugs inside of them with frequent itching in designated spots or all over.

Sometimes a rash will appear on the skin and other times it may not. The Center for Disease Control lists many types of parasites and what rashes are associated with them.

2. Multiple Food Sensitivities

Parasites may greatly affect a person’s digestion on a short-term and long-term basis, primarily because the parasite is using a human as a host and using the person’s food for fuel.

Over time, this may affect a person’s ability to digest a variety of different types of food and may cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as bloating and gas due to the way the parasites affect the person’s inner gut bacteria levels.

3. Difficulties Digesting Fats

Parasites feed on sugary foods and use the sugar as a source of fuel for growth and reproduction.

Fats don’t feed bad bacteria like parasites in the same way. Many fats such as coconut products, for example, can actually cause die-off reactions in the body because coconuts contain several compounds, (including caprylic acid and lauric acid), which are naturally anti-microbial.

Therefore, one sign of the signs you might have a parasite is if you struggle digesting fats. Add fats slowly to your diet to help your body cleanse as it’s able to without overwhelming the system.

4. Constant Bloating

If you’re always bloated no matter how carefully you try to eat, this is one sign you may have a parasite. Parasites cause a host of digestive disorders with gas and bloating being two of the worst. This is due to how they affect the gut flora levels in the body.

5. Fungal Outbreaks

Toenail fungus, yeast infections, and other skin-based fungal reactions shouldn’t go overlooked. These are some signs the parasites may be infesting the body and are trying to escape via another way if they’re not getting enough food.

These signs can also be some symptoms of your good gut bacteria levels dying off as the parasites begin to take over.

6. Chronic Inflammation

Parasites also lead to inflammation and can weaken the body greatly over time. Be sure not to ignore any inflammation you have that doesn’t go away with natural treatments like an anti-inflammatory diet and proper rest.

7. Frequently Interrupted Sleep

Parasites are most active between 2 and 4 a.m., and so if you struggle with sleeping in the middle of the night or frequently wake up hungry and feel the need to eat, be aware that you may have a parasite that’s demanding food. Cravings for sugar at night is one sure fire way to tell if this is the case.

Pinworms, a specific type of parasite, also lay their eggs at night which can cause problems with interrupted sleep.

8. Anal Itching

This sign that you might have a parasite sure sounds gross, but it’s also very true.

Anal itching is the parasites leaving the body and cause itching in the process. It can also be a sign of the mother organism releasing eggs and them coming out of the body.

9. Chronic Sugar Cravings

As mentioned, parasites feed off sugar, so if you constantly crave sugar, be aware that your cravings may actually be the parasite demanding food.

10. Brain Fog

Parasites can eventually inhibit brain function if they stay around long enough in the body.

If you eat well and have unrelenting brain fog or depend on caffeine just to function, you could very well have a parasite if you have other accompany symptoms too. Brain fog can be as mild as not thinking clearly and can even lead to depression if left untreated.

5 Things to Do If You Think You Have a Parasite:

If you exhibit at least half of the above symptoms, you could very well have a parasite. Here are five simple solutions that are safe to try at home.

1. Use Time-Trusted Herbs and Foods

Many herbs have been used throughout history to treat parasites and fungal infections. You can buy them separately and take them as a tea, or you can buy these herbs in supplement form; just be sure to choose a good brand that you trust.

You can also find many foods that help eliminate parasites from the body mechanically. These are also listed below.

• Black walnut herb
• Wormwood herb
• Oregano oil/herb
• Olive leaf/herb
• Mint
• Lemon balm herb
• Aloe vera
• Pumpkin Seeds
• Flax fiber
• Chia
• Apple fiber
• Fermented vegetables (kimchi, kraut)
• Non-starchy vegetables
• Coconut products (oil, butter, meat, shreds, flour)

2. Take High Doses of Probiotics

Parasites lower and harm your gut’s good bacteria because the parasites begin to take over the gut.

As you cleanse the body, it’s important to take high doses of probiotics which are good gut bugs that will reset your body over time. You may need to take them a long time and may need to take a very high dose, up to 100 or 150 billion units per day in the beginning.

3. Quit Feeding The Bugs

Remember, parasites feed on anything that turns to sugar in the body. This includes processed foods with added sugars and refined grains, alcohol, processed meats, and conventional dairy products.

Eliminate all added sugars in the diet, even natural sources like maple syrup and honey. After that, avoid all conventional animal products which have bacteria in them and may feed the parasites even more.

You’ll also want to avoid all processed foods and fast foods that are fried, and that contain added sugars and refined grains. Many people may also have to avoid gluten and some other grains until they have properly cleansed.

Eat a diet full of fresh foods and eat a lot of non-starchy vegetables, organic/wild and lean protein from trustworthy sources, raw coconut products, and healthy fats such as olives, almonds, and pumpkin seeds.

Berries and green apples are also fine since they’re low-glycemic fruits and aren’t likely to cause problems since they provide more antioxidants and nutrition than they do sugar. You may want to be mindful of avoiding other, higher sugar fruits for now, though.

As you cleanse your system, you’ll be able to add back in more sources of fruit, whole grains, and other natural sources of carbohydrates after the bugs start to die off. Just be aware that it can take months before you’re able to do this at first.

4. Do Regular Cleanses and Colonics if Needed

You may need to do regular cleanses with herbs (see above), specific parasite treatments you can buy in health food stores, and may even need to consider a few rounds of colonics to cleanse the colon.

Speak with a holistic health coach or nutritionist you trust to discuss natural options in place of antibiotics which can kill off good bacteria further.

5. Eat Detoxifying Foods

In addition to a healthy diet and using cleansing herbs, you can also try some especially detoxifying foods that will help cleanse the body on a more cellular level.

Many of these foods are also so powerful that they cause die-off reactions. Add them slowly to your diet so they can be most effective without making you ill by adding them all at once.

• Chlorella
• Artichoke leaf
• Spirulina
• Homemade green juice
• Coconut kefir
• Garlic
• Onions
• Endive
• Cabbage
• Kohlrabi
• Beets

Pair these with low sugar smoothies, salads, and make beds of steamed veggies by adding these in.

Remember that raw foods are more detoxifying than cooked foods, but a balance of both raw and cooked foods can make the cleansing process more gentle and a little less taxing on your system.

Don’t Forget:

You may not have to adhere to this strict parasite-cleansing protocol forever, but be aware that it can take a long time for you to start feeling better. As the bugs die off, you may feel worse at first.

Be sure you’re maintaining optimal digestion during this time and drinking plenty of water to nourish your body.

As you’re cleansing the body, read up on these helpful tips for taking care of your gut so it can take care of you!

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