What is bothering you?
Years ago, I took a trip to Mexico City. Along with the memories, I also brought back a horrendous case of Montazuma’s revenge. Of course, I was treated immediately and I thought he was cured. But parasites aren’t that easy to beat, and after years of battling stomach issues, I was finally diagnosed correctly and was able to eradicate the little bug.
While my parasite came from south of the border, you can pick up one of these critters in your own hometown. If you often feel bloated or gassy, if you suffer from frequent diarrhea or constipation, if you are tired or depressed, you may also be the unsuspecting victim of a parasite.
More common than you think
Parasites are a public health problem that is rarely talked about. But the truth is that millions of Americans harbor more than 130 different types of parasites. Diagnosis is also difficult, because the symptoms can resemble many other health problems.
Another reason we miss parasites is because we assume they are a third world problem. However, one of the largest cases of contamination came from a waterborne Cryptosporidium parvum outbreak in Milwaukee that affected more than 400,000 people in 1993. Another parasite, Giardia lamblia, is also common in the US and can cause diarrhea that can last for several days. or even several years in some cases. Since chronic giardiasis can be misdiagnosed as chronic fatigue syndrome, it’s hard to know how many people are affected, but the numbers could be astronomical!
Contaminated water is often the culprit, but fish, meat, and poultry can also contain parasites. Trichinosis can be transmitted to pigs fed raw garbage or feed ingested by rodents. It is then transmitted to humans if the meat is undercooked. Undercooked pork, beef, or lamb can also harbor toxoplasmosis, a parasite commonly carried by cats. Ceviche, sashimi, sushi, and other raw fish dishes can harbor a variety of parasites such as anisakina larvae, eustrongylides, liver and lung flukes, and fish tapeworms. Kind of takes away your appetite, doesn’t it?
pest control
Fortunately, there are some simple ways to protect yourself against exposure to parasites. Wash your hands often, especially before and after handling food. And be sure to rub under your nails. Be sure to wear gloves when gardening. And dispose of pet waste quickly and safely.
You can also bolster your defenses with a little help from the bees. Research in the 1980s found that propolis, the resin collected by bees from leaf buds and tree bark, can effectively thwart parasites, especially giardiasis. A preliminary trial of children and adults with giardiasis showed that those who took propolis experienced a successful parasite clearance rate of 52 to 60 percent. More recently, laboratory tests validated the findings of these early trials. They also found that combining propolis with conventional deworming medications proved to be incredibly effective in ridding the body of parasites and protecting the gastrointestinal tract.
useful herbs
If you come into contact with one of these little critters, you can try one of the following herbs:
Oregon Grape: The secret to this herb’s effectiveness against parasites is berberine. Preliminary trials have shown that berberine can be used successfully to treat giardia infections. In addition, test-tube studies show that berberine kills amoebae, although it is not known if this effect occurs in humans. The amount needed is approximately 200 mg. three times a day for an adult, a level high enough to cause side effects. Therefore, berberine should not be used without consulting a health care provider.
Garlic: This fragrant herb has been shown to kill parasites, including amoebas and hookworms, in test tubes and on animals. Previous human studies support the use of garlic to treat intestinal worms, pinworms, and hookworms. However, due to a lack of clinical trials, the amount of garlic needed to treat intestinal parasites in humans is unknown.
Pumpkin seeds – These tasty seeds are a good addition to conventional antibiotics to treat tapeworms. In Germany, 200-400 grams are commonly ground and taken with milk and honey, followed by castor oil two hours later. Tapeworms can cause serious illness and should be treated only under medical supervision. In China, pumpkin seeds have been shown to effectively treat acute schistosomiasis, a serious parasitic disease that occurs mainly in Asia and Africa and is transmitted by snails.
One last thing…
If you’re suffering from gastrointestinal problems and can’t seem to pinpoint the cause, ask your doctor to check for parasites. Mild cases often respond well to natural remedies. But if you have a chronic or severe case, you probably need a course of antibiotics.
However, the problem with antibiotics is that they don’t discriminate between good and bad bugs. They just kill everything they find. If you need an antibiotic, follow up with a good quality probiotic to recolonize your GI tract. Look for a probiotic that contains several different strains of beneficial bacteria such as Lactobaccillus acidophilus, L. bulgaris, L. bifidus, and Streptococcus faeceum.
This just came…
Red Bull, the popular energy drink, likes to promote itself by saying that it gives you so much energy you’ll feel like you have wings. What they don’t tell you is that those wings come with a catch: an increased risk of stroke. At least that’s what a group of Australian researchers say after investigating the effects that Red Bull has on the heart.
The Australian team looked at the effects that the energy drink had on the cardiovascular systems of 30 young adults after drinking a can of Red Bull. The drink makes the blood “sticky”, and this stickiness increases the probability of developing cardiovascular diseases. Other symptoms observed were similar to those observed in patients with cardiovascular diseases.
What is particularly noteworthy about this finding is that these symptoms were seen in healthy people with no history of cardiovascular disease. The study’s principal investigator, Scott Wiloughby, told reporters that if someone has a history of or predisposition to cardiovascular disease, he should stay away from Red Bull.
I would go much further than that. Stay away from any and all energy drinks. These products are packed with stimulants that can keep you awake, but can also have unexpected health effects. Products like Red Bull are so dangerous that they are banned in Denmark, Norway, and Uruguay due to health hazards.
What speaks even more to the debilitating effects of energy drinks are the dangers of the drink that Red Bull itself makes clear, advising consumers not to drink more than two Red Bulls in a 24-hour period. If a company advises consumers not to drink or eat more than a certain amount of its product, it must tell you everything you need to know about its safety.
This latest research supports a study conducted not too long ago by researchers at Wayne State University. Their results showed that energy drinks like Red Bull raised blood pressure to dangerous levels for people with pre-existing heart conditions. There is also some evidence linking energy drinks to seizures.
When you need a quick dose of energy, an energy drink may seem tempting. But no shot of energy is worth risking a heart attack or stroke. By drinking these and other high-caffeinated beverages, that’s exactly what you’re doing.
Yours in health and happiness,
Bonnie Jenkins Editor
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