Statistics suggest that one-third of the U.S. population have parasites living in their digestive system. While this may sound shocking, parasites are more common than you may realize.
Parasites are organisms that live in or on a host organism. They gain an advantage at the expense of the host. Internal parasites live inside the body and feed off of food or blood. Worms, coccidia, and blood parasites are all types of internal parasites.
They come in many different shapes and sizes and can cause numerous health problems when left untreated. Some consume your food, leaving you hungry and unable to gain weight. Others feed off of your red blood cells and cause anemia. Some lay eggs and cause itching, irritability, and insomnia.
If you want to find out are you one of the many who are dealing with parasites, just continue reading.
It is important to note that parasites can live in the intestines for years without causing symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they can include:
You do not feel full after meals.
You have traveler’s diarrhea while you travel internationally.
Unexplained constipation, diarrhea, gas or IBS symptoms.
History of food poisoning and dealing with chronic digestive issues.
Anemia, iron deficiency.
Grinding of teeth while sleeping.
You wake up often during the night and you have trouble falling asleep.
Skin irritations, rashes, hives, eczema, or rosacea for unexplained reasons.
Aching muscles and joints.
Fatigue, depression, exhaustion or apathy.
If you have any of these signs, there is no need to panic. There are some amazing natural remedies that you can take to help get rid of your parasites and fix your health problems.
Natural treatment for parasites
Internal parasites can trigger multiple health problems. Herbs are one way to strengthen the body and kill intestinal parasites. These are the eight best herbs for treating parasites naturally:
1. Black walnuts
Black walnut nuts and hull (Juglans nigra) have been used for centuries to expel various types of worms, including parasites that cause skin irritations such as ringworm. It oxygenates the blood, which also helps kill parasites. You can buy black walnut nuts and hull as a tincture and use it internally as directed.
2. Cloves
Cloves have antiseptic, bactericidal and anti-parasitic properties that help destroy parasitic eggs and kill intestinal worms within the body. Plus, cloves can help prevent future episodes of infestation.
Add one teaspoon of powdered clove to a cup of hot water. Cover the cup with a plate and allow it to steep for 10 to 20 minutes. Drink this three times a day for a week. After a gap of one week, repeat again in the third week. Always use freshly ground clove powder to get the maximum health benefits.
3. Thyme
Thyme is one of the best herbs that stimulate the thymus, the main gland of the immune system. It awakens the body’s natural defensive system while hindering the growth of parasites. Oil of thyme can eliminate the growth of many parasites, and it kills them in the intestinal tract.
4. Wormwood
Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) is a herb with small yellow-green flowers. Leaves and flowers are both powerful for your stomach problems and wormwood is the perfect remedy for intestinal worms (note that wormwood should be avoided by nursing women). Wormwood also possesses strong antimicrobial properties and can be useful for other infections besides parasites.
Besides being found in many internal cleansing products, you can make tea out of wormwood. Just add 0.5 – 1 teaspoon to hot water and you have a cleansing tea ready.
5. Coconut
Coconut is a very effective remedy for expelling all types of intestinal worms. It acts as a very strong anti-parasitic agent. Both the fruit and oil can be used to treat intestinal worms.
Eat one tablespoon of crushed coconut with your breakfast. After three hours, drink one glass of warm coconut milk with two tablespoons of castor oil mixed in it. Repeat this process daily until the infestation disappears. Castor oil, though, is not recommended for individuals suffering from gastrointestinal disease and children below five years of age. Also, eat 4 to 6 tablespoons of extra virgin coconut oil daily. This oil contains medium-chain triglycerides that help expel parasites from your body and also boost the immune system to fight against them.
6. Raw garlic
Garlic is a popular anti-parasitic food that can help deal with any type of intestinal worms. Raw garlic has sulfur-containing amino acids that are anti-parasitic in nature. Plus, the antibacterial, antifungal and antiseptic properties in garlic help kill microbes in the body.