Invaders are constantly trying to take up residence in and on our bodies. Microscopic germs, worms, liver flukes, and other internal parasites can wreck havoc on our digestive system and organs.
Parasites usually live in the digestive tract and colon, but may move locations or hatch in other parts of the body. Parasites weaken the whole system.
There are also external parasites like ticks and mites. These creepy crawlers carry all kinds of disease!
In this post we will concentrate on worms and larger parasites. If you need info on treating virus or bacteria born illnesses with herbs, visit my index of common health problems.
The best defense against parasites is a strong immune system, but infestations may still occur.
External parasites may latch on to your skin or in your hair. They include mites, lice, and ticks.
When parasites strike, look to time-tested herbal remedies for effective relief.
Use black walnut tincture to get rid of worms. Containing powerful tannins, walnut tinctures and teas are made from the rind of the nuts and leaves of the tree. These tannins kill worms so they can be expelled from your body!
For best results, combine walnut tincture with wormwood and freshly ground cloves. Consult with your healthcare provider or a local herbalist for exact dosage recommendations.
Walnut rind tea, tinctures, and extracts contain toxic compounds that kill worms and may cause cramps in humans. Do not over do it!
Also, never take black walnut if you are constipated or if there is a possibility of a blockage.
Other herbs that can kill worms and parasites include valerian, barberry, yellowroot, myrrh, witch hazel, butternut, and cayenne. Take tea or tincture up to six times a day and drink extra water to flush out dead parasites.
Eat a large cucumber followed by two cups of weak senna tea and 1/4 cup of pumpkin seed (the green inside part). Repeat every few days as needed.
Butternut bark or senna tea can also expel worms. Do not try any of these home remedies if severely constipated or if there is possibility of a digestive blockage.
Internal parasites range from a foot long to microscopic in size. Depending on the type of parasite, you may or may not see evidence of them in your stool.
Symptoms of parasite infection include fever, cramping, anemia, abdominal pain, diarrhea, gas, weight loss, bloating, and lack of energy. Just one tapeworm can cause intestinal obstruction and severe distress.
Parasite infections may be caused by poor diet, poor hygiene, spoiled meat, undercooked meat, undercooked fish, kissing infected pets, and poor water quality.
Parasites can come from soil, plants, animals, and other humans. Some can be seen with the naked eye. Some need to be viewed with a microscope.
Amaranth grain and pumpkin seeds can help protect the body from parasite infestation. They can also help remove parasites from the digestive tract once they have taken hold.
Amoebic dysentery is caused by parasites that live in water. For amoebic dysentery, one old remedy says to take carrot, beet, and cucumber juice once a day to cleanse the kidneys. Then drink lemon juice every morning for three days.
Some old timers say to take lemon juice with a fresh egg white.Then on the fourth day, take two teaspoons of Epsom salts to purge the bowels.
See treating diarrhea and dysentery with herbs for more information.
External parasites include lice and scabies mites. Try applications of thyme oil, tea tree oil, and myrrh powder mixed with a good carrier oil like almond oil.
Apply to infested area often throughout the day and before bed. Do not use essential oils near the eyes.
I thought about including photos of mites, ticks, and worms on this post, but if you are like me, you don't want to see pictures of them. If you do want to identify a parasite, there are lots of photos on the internet.
The Center for Disease Control is a good place to learn more about parasites that infect humans.
Ticks are also parasites. Remove a tick as soon as it is found, then wash the area with soap and water. This will reduce the chances of disease transmission.
See a healthcare professional if a bull's eye rash forms around bite or if the tick has been attached for over 24 hours.
Applications of lavender essential oil, tea tree oil, or a wash of strong yellowroot tea can help prevent infection.
Also try applying a poultice containing mashed up plantain leaves with rosemary or oregano added for extra strength directly to bite area.
For more information about diseases transmitted by ticks, visit the Center for Disease Control.
Teasel is an herb known to help fight infections and diseases caused by ticks. It works especially well for treating Lyme Disease.
Sometimes liver flukes are diagnosed as liver cancer and patients are treated with radiation or chemotherapy. What a horrible mistake for modern medicine to make.
Liver flukes feed on blood and are difficult to diagnose. They are even harder to kill without damaging the liver in the process.
Building the immunity is very important in cases of liver flukes. Avoid stress, get lots of rest, stay hydrated, and eat healthy to keep immunity strong. Read more about healing the liver with herbs.
Good diet, daily exercise, and herbs like echinacea, dandelion, astragalus, yellowroot, milk thistle seed, and ginseng should be taken regularly on a rotating basis. This can really help protect your body from parasites.
Besides parasites, air pollution and food poisoning are other ways that our bodies are vulnerable to outside influences. From environmental hazards like heavy metals, radiation, and toxic chemicals, to food contaminants like salmonella, botulism, and even rancid cooking oils, the human body is constantly bombarded by poisons and dangerous toxins.
Read more about using herbs to recover from toxins and poisons.
Parasites affect over 30% of the human population. Vaccinations do not work and parasites become resistant to synthetic treatments fairly quickly.
Scientists are looking at medicinal plants to use in treatment plans. Many plants have anti-parasitic, and anti-microbial properties that interfere with a parasite's DNA and membrane integrity.
Herbs cited as possible treatments for parasite include citronella, white ginger lily, gardenia, nutgrass, pushkarmool, zebrawood, emetic nut, pumpkin seeds, davana, and ayapan.
Many of these herbs are new to me. Isn't it exciting to learn about the herbs and plants of other countries?
Parasites like lice and fleas are unpleasant. Internal parasites like works weaken our bodies, and other parasite infections like malaria and Chagas can be deadly. Parasites can also carry disease.
Scientists need to get busy and find out what plants work best for each parasite. I do not like the idea of a parasite living in or on me!
*Walnut tincture should only be taken internally under the direction of a licensed healthcare professional. Senna is a well known, extremely effective laxative herb that must be used with caution. Do not use when pregnant or if you could have a blockage in the digestive system. Always consult with a healthcare professional before using any herbal remedy.
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/human-parasites
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6268567/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4703238/
Blessings to you and yours!
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