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Many of the herbs used to treat intestinal parasites have toxic side effects or interfere with other medications. Make sure that the individual ingredients in a parasite cleanse don’t interfere with your medication, or you can’t use it.
Parasite cleanses are not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women, children, or people with certain medical conditions.
Part of a wider obsession with gut-health healing, supplements containing these parasite-cleansing herbs can range up to US$90. However, there is little to no scientific evidence to support the claims made by promoters.
Promoters of parasite cleanse products say many people have parasites in their intestines and don’t even know it. They preach their results and usually have graphic images to 'prove' their claims.
Parasite cleanses are not a substitute for medical treatment for a parasitic infection. Visit your doctor or a gastrointestinal specialist and have your stool tested if you suspect you have a parasite problem.
Some experts warn that parasite cleanses can be harmful and may cause side effects such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. It's important to consult with a healthcare provider before starting a parasite cleanse.
Similarly, another study with papaya seeds studied the effects on goats suffering from parasites, whose genetic makeup differs from ours. The health trend follows the idea that there is toxic matter in the body that needs to be purged.
Some popular herbs used in parasite cleanses include black walnut, wormwood, and clove. Pumpkin seeds, papaya seeds, and propolis are also claimed to be effective in parasite-cleanse treatments.
There is little scientific evidence to support the effectiveness of parasite cleanses. One study involving schoolchildren in Nigeria taking papaya seeds from 2004 was taken using a small sample size.
Many types of lab tests are available to diagnose parasitic diseases. A fecal (stool) exam, also called an ova and parasite test (O&P), endoscopy/colonoscopy, and blood tests are used to diagnose infection
Including more garlic, vitamin A-rich foods, probiotic-rich foods, and avoiding meat and fish will help to prevent and fight parasitic infection, so go the claims.
Some people may experience a "die-off" reaction during a parasite cleanse, which supposedly occurs when the parasites are killed and release toxins into the body. Symptoms of a die-off reaction can include headache, fatigue, flu-like symptoms, and other, less-than-desirable effects.
Generally, it’s advised to avoid coffee, sugar, alcohol, or refined grains if you are trying to prevent parasites.
Parasites can be acquired through contaminated food, water, or soil. Intestinal parasite infections are commonly associated with eating bad sushi or bad pork, and drinking bad water.
Tapeworms are one of the most common type of parasitic worms, contracted from contaminated drinking water or undercooked meat. Likewise, roundworms are common and contracted from eating the meat of an infected animal, or undercooked meat.
Ectoparasites live on, rather than inside, the host. Examples of ectoparasites would include head lice or fleas.
Common types of parasites include tapeworms, roundworms, and hookworms. According to the CDC, there are three main classifications of parasites that can cause disease in humans: protozoa, helminths, and ectoparasites.
Giardia and Amoeba are protozoa that can only multiply within a host. You can't see them without a microscope. They are transmitted through contaminated food, water, feces, or soil.
Symptoms are generally vague and non-specific. They can include gastrointestinal symptoms, fatigue, anemia, weight loss, nutrient deficiencies, rashes, and itchiness.
Parasites are organisms that live on or inside another organism, known as the host, and can cause a variety of health problems.
A parasite cleanse aims to kill or eliminate organisms living in your intestines or elsewhere in or on your body. By cleansing the body of parasites, it will work how it’s supposed to and symptoms will lift, proponents claim.
Intestinal parasites are relatively uncommon in developed countries. However, people from lower income households are more at risk.
Parasite cleanses are a type of detox that aim to eliminate harmful parasites from the body. They can be done using natural remedies, supplements, or medications.
Parasites can cause serious health problems such as anemia, liver damage, and neurological disorders.
The parasite cleanse TikTok trend started in late 2020 and gained popularity in early 2021. Many TikTok users claim to have seen positive results from doing a parasite cleanse, such as improved digestion and increased energy levels.
The premise of a parasite cleanse is that if you are suffering from symptoms that seem to be gut-related (i.e. beginning in the digestive tract), which are affecting your mood and energy, parasites may be a possible explanation.
Apart from minor symptoms, parasites, as previously mentioned, can also cause more serious health problems such as anemia, liver damage, and neurological disorders.
Using the hashtag "parasitecleanse," TikTok content creators have encouraged people suffering from bloating to try a parasite cleanse. Often, they are suggested by creators who have paid partnerships with the manufacturers of parasite cleanse products.
It's important to follow a healthy diet and lifestyle to prevent contracting a parasite in the first place. Washing your hands, being mindful of the food you eat and where you eat it, as well as paying attention to any symptoms that appear, are the first steps.
Many parasite cleanse ingredients act as laxatives. If taken in large enough quantities, they can change the microbiome of the gastrointestinal tract. The idea that a healthy microbiome is 'clean' and free from microbes doesn’t hold water, as our gut is filled with good bacteria that is probably better not to flush out.
Remember, the only effective remedy against parasites is prescription medication that's species-specific.
Sources: (Dazed Digital) (Mic) (Daily Mail) (Rolling Stone) (Medical News Today)
(Everyday Health) (Verywell Health)
(The Washington Post) (ScienceAlert)
See also: The health benefits of tropical fruits
Stringy contents that may resemble worm carcasses are likely just pieces of celery or mushrooms, and those seeing them in their stool following a parasite cleanse might not actually have a parasite.
A parasite cleanse is meant to detoxify the body of parasites, so it can function optimally. Parasite cleanses can last anywhere from a few days to several weeks.
Has gut health healing gone too far? If you don’t give parasites much thought, you’re in luck. What began as a trending tag now has hundreds of millions of views on TikTok, and it seems to be here to stay.
Taking a trip down the parasite wormhole isn’t for the faint-hearted. Graphic videos and images are used to back up claims of the cleanse’s effectiveness. But are parasites really that common? And can a parasite cleanse do more harm than good?
Really, are they even safe? Or is it just an expensive way of flushing your money down the toilet? Click through the following gallery to find out more.
Understanding the benefits and myths of parasite cleanses
Parasites have gone viral
HEALTH Detox
Has gut health healing gone too far? If you don’t give parasites much thought, you’re in luck. What began as a trending tag now has hundreds of millions of views on TikTok, and it seems to be here to stay.
Taking a trip down the parasite wormhole isn’t for the faint-hearted. Graphic videos and images are used to back up claims of the cleanse’s effectiveness. But are parasites really that common? And can a parasite cleanse do more harm than good?
Really, are they even safe? Or is it just an expensive way of flushing your money down the toilet? Click through the following gallery to find out more.