parasites causing gut/growth issues

[momofmine]

Has anyone's child had parasites? Did you do a test? Did you use herbs to treat them?

The chiro muscle tested my 9 yo and said it indicated he had parasites. I have always wondered about this actually, because he's very skinny, has gut issues (mostly loose stools, but they are better now on SCD), and he is ALWAYS hungry. I mean, a voracious appetite, never full, can eat more than a 150-pound man.

So then she tested him for some supplements that might be helpful, and she suggested two, one with garlic and parsley, and the other with wormwood herb, stemona root, Black Walnut green hulls, and Clove bud.

I'm a little hesitant to give him strong herbs without knowing for sure what the issue is, but to be honest, I have always wondered about parasites in the back of my mind.

Anyone have any thoughts?

[momofmine]

bumping

Anyone dealt with parasites? I am wondering if it just goes along with the yeast/bacteria.

[kortner]

I'm curious about this, but don't have any experience. Have you tried clay? I've seen a bunch of threads on here for diatomaceous earth for parasites, but I don't remember if it was deemed safe or not. There's always pascalite too... I guess I am thinking about how parasites may not be a big deal (remember reading a recent post by Pat on this, and a NYTimes article about parasites helping colitis or something to that effect). OTOH traditionally other cultures would do a periodic 'cleanse' (I probably read this on the GFCFNN yahoo group since I have nothing to back it up with), so maybe a cleanse is in order? I guess I would probably want a stool test and then research according to the findings for my next step.

[momofmine]

Yes, I am torn on the topic really. I read that article too, and in the Susun Weed thread the topic came up too, that we may actually need the parasites, that they eat up dead stuff, etc, and when they have done their job they leave. Some researchers, even conventional MDs, purport that our lack of exposure to helminths is one reason why we have an increase in other stuff now. I think PB basically said parasites are not an issue in a healthy, balanced body. So that would say to me, figure out why the parasites are causing problems, instead of just kicking them out. And I have to ask myself, how have we survived as a species without the parasites winning out over us. Yet, as you said, traditionally many cultures did regular cleanses. I think in China they still do, where like the whole community does it at once maybe?

I don't know,I think I'd prefer to test first, but then I've read that sometimes it is hard to identify via testing. It evades it.

[FernG]

Originally Posted by momofmine

I don't know,I think I'd prefer to test first, but then I've read that sometimes it is hard to identify via testing. It evades it.

I've read that you need to test stool at certain points during the parasites lifecycle. Otherwise you will get a false negative. I've also read that the lifecycle is regulated by the moon, but I don't know that it is true.

I had wondered if I had a parasite problem, but I'm not having problems anymore since I significantly increased my fermented food intake and started soaking my grains and nuts.

[nicolelynn]

There are hundreds of types of parasites. Some ARE good, some are just there and do no harm unless the GI gets out of whack (yeast, antibiotics, heavy metals, food allergies, poor diet etc etc). But some truly are harmful.

I was recently diagnosed with blastocystis hominis. I have had constant pain in my lower left abdomen along with loose stools. I keep loosing weight even though I consume 2,000 calories per day (and 70% as fat). I found a website www.badbugs.com which has educated me more than my Dr or Naturopath has.

It is worth really looking into, and finding a specialized lab like Great Smokies lab even if he turns up a false negative on a regular stool culture.

It IS a chicken and the egg thing. Did parasites cause the candida overgrowth? Did heavy metal toxicity cause the candida which cause the parasite which caused the food sensitivities?

I don't know, but I am researching the heck out of these things and trying to get well.

For me my best bet is looking like Bee Wilder's protocol. The parasite I have thrives on grains, sugar (even natural as in fruit), starches and carbs in general. I can only starve it by living on a diet of meat and vegetables. This protocol has healed countless other ailments as well and I just believe will heal my gut and body in general and not just kill parasites and candida.
The focus will be on healing very slowly through whole foods, only adding supplements far down the line and very slowly.
I imagine it would be very very hard for a child to do, it is hard enough for me as an adult to give up anything sweet...even honey and fruit.


Ofcourse, each parasite is different and it is important to find out which he has, and what other underlying things may be going on.

Best of luck to you.

[momofmine]

Your link is kinda funny, it took me to an exterminator's website in CA. Kinda funny, I wonder if that means I need to blast the buggers out of there with the herbs she recommended??

I tried badbugs.org, and I'm thinking maybe that's what you were talking about.

He has not had a stool test yet. The chiro just did this very quick muscle test that was like a few seconds, I didn't even know she was doing it. So I am a little bit skeptical. He's already on SCD and doing great on that, but I know there are still things going on we need to heal. I just don't know whether to just blindly give him these herbs, or try to figure what kind of parasite, if any, is an issue. I always have to ask myself, what will I do with this information? So, if it means I'd do the same thing anyway, then sometimes it's not worth it. But I do feel like a stool test might be helpful. Can you tell me exactly what test you had? Did you have a CDSA from Great Smokies?

I'm thinking that might just be helpful.

[WuWei]

I believe that historically we include natural antifungals, antibacterials, antiparasitic, antimicrobials foods and spices in our diet, along with whole food probiotics. http://www.mothering.com/discussions...&postcount=648

Here is the Pinworm Thread: http://www.mothering.com/discussions...ight=parasites


I'd wonder about nutrient deficiencies on a limited diet as a factor. Also, what about any heavy metal issues?


Pat

[nicolelynn]

The stool test I had surprisingly was just prescribed by my DO and done at a hospital lab. Just a normal parasite test...he actually tested for c.diff and everything. I was surprised he ordered this and that a typical hospital lab turned it up. Well I guess it is on the top 100 hospitals in the nation so maybe that helped hehe.

I just have had my eyes opened to the idea that parasites may be causing problems for alot of people and if they can't get their MD to order one, or even if a regular lab turns up a negative...it is probably worth trying Great Smokies Lab to at least rule parasites out.