Nutrimed Labs: Guess What's Coming for Dinner! (Internal Parasite Infestation)

Are you an unsuspecting host for uninvited parasites? The present generation of Americans, having grown up with indoor plumbing and other modern sanitary conveniences, generally view worms and parasites as problems affecting people in far away, underdeveloped countries or impoverished rural areas. However, ease and frequency of world travel, plus increased immigration into the United States is resulting in significant spread and incidence of parasitic infections. In 1987 state diagnostic laboratories evaluated over 200,000 stool specimens. This national survey showed a variety of pathogenic intestinal parasites that occur throughout the United States. Parasites were found in 20.1% of the stools. The percentage for protozoa, including Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba cold and Endolimax nana, Blastocystis hominis, Entamoeba histolytica and Cryptosporidium species, was highest. Identification of G. lamblia had increased significantly since 1979, particularly in states around the Great Lakes and in the Northwest.

The most frequently identified nematodes were hookworms, Trichuris trichiura, and Ascaris lumbricodies. California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington and Wisconsin reported hookworms in more than 2% of the specimens.(l) In a study of outpatients at a gastroenterology clinic, a 74% incidence of parasites was found.(2) One leading diagnostic laboratory reports almost 30% of all specimens examined are positive for some type of parasite. Between 1986 and 1988, 50 outbreaks of illness from drinking water that affected over 25,000 people were reported by the Center for Disease Control. G. lamblia was the most common pathogen in these outbreaks and many of the outbreaks occurred in community water supplies that were adequately chlorinated but not filtered.

Cryptosporidium
that is not affected by chlorine.(4) In 1993, possibly as many as 281,000 people in Milwaukee were infected by Cryptosporidium, a waterborne parasite that can cause diarrhea. The outbreak was traced to the city's water supply. This parasite is generally confined to the intestines and is self-limiting in healthy people. In immuno-compromised patients, it can be lethal.(5) Parasites Rob Nutrients While most parasites are small, many only a single cell, they are hungry. They rob the body of nutrients and cause diarrhea which leads to nutrient loss. They can also irritate the intestinal lining which leads to poor absorption of nutrients. The host is then left malnourished and vulnerable to other diseases.

Some parasites can perforate the intestinal wall allowing the gut to "leak and trigger autoimmune reactions along with internal bleeding which can lead to iron loss and anemia.(6) In addition, they poison the body with toxic waste products. Each parasite gives off metabolic wastes which the already weakened body has trouble disposing. Some Parasites Can Be Difficult to Detect Several types of parasitic worms can live in the human intestines, the most common being pinworms, tapeworms, hookworms and roundworms.

The chief symptom of the small threadlike pinworm is rectal itching, especially at night. Roundworms can leave the intestines and settle in different areas of the body, causing diseases such as pneumonia, jaundice or peritonitis. While parasitic worms are relatively easy to detect, many parasitic protozoa that live in the intestinal lumen are not readily detected by stool examination. E. histolytica, G. lamblia and others may go undetected and symptoms caused by these parasites are often misdiagnosed. These may be spread directly from person to person or indirectly through food or water.(7) The most commonly reported symptom of parasite infection is diarrhea. Abdominal pain is frequently regarded as the second most common symptom. However, symptoms can also include gas, foul-smelling stools, cramps, distention, anorexia, nausea, weight loss, belching, heartburn, headache, constipation, vomiting, fever, chills, bloody stools, mucus in stools and fatigue. Although specific symptoms are frequently associated with certain organisms (e.g. fever with malaria), most of these symptoms can be present with almost any parasite.

Anti-Parasitic Drugs Produce Many Side Effects
Anti-parasitic drugs, while effective, work on the premise of "differential toxicity." That means that the drug is hopefully more toxic to the parasite than to the host. Sometimes the margin is slim. With each drug, there is a long list of side effects. When a parasite such as Cryptosporidium causes diarrhea, anti-diarrhea! drugs slow transit time and may keep the organism living in the body longer than if no medication were used.

Natural Alternatives
Fortunately, there are a number of herbs and seeds that have been shown to eliminate parasites naturally, without adverse side effects. Annual wormwood (Artemisia annua) has been used effectively in treating patients infected with the intestinal protozoa G. lamblia and E. histolytica, (7) as well as parasites associated with malaria. Clinical studies demonstrated a 100% cure rate in 485 cases of tertian malaria and a 92.7% cure rate in 105 cases of subtertian cerebral malaria. In another series of 2099 malaria patients infected with p. falciparum or p. vivax, Artemisia produced a cure in every case. It's active principle, artemisinin inhibits the enzyme cytochrome oxidase which the parasite needs to maintain its various membranes.(8)

Garlic (Allium sativum) has definite antimicrobial action against gram positive and gram negative bacteria, certain fungi and worms. Because it is readily absorbed and transported throughout the body, it is effective against parasites that may inhabit any part of the body. In laboratory tests, garlic has been shown to inhibit the growth of micro organisms such as Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus viridans, S. haemolyticus, Klebsiella pneumonia, Proteus vulgaris, Escherichia cold and Salmonella. Tested against E. histolytica, garlic "effectively inhibited growth with rapid morphological effects. N ( 9 ) Concentrated garlic has been shown more effective than the drug Nystatin in studies on pathogenic yeast, particularly in complications from candidiasis.(l0) In folk medicine, garlic is used (quite successfully) to eliminate pinworms and threadworms.

Allicin and other sulfur related compounds in garlic make the herb an effective antagonist to parasites. Pau D,Arco (Tabebula avellanedae), also called taheebo, is the inner bark of the South American lapacho tree, a hardy deciduous tree that resists fungal growth, even in its native rain forests. It is traditionally used to eliminate andIor destroy intestinal worms and as an antifungal agent. It has recently become popular in western herbology due to its antifungal activity in treating systemic yeast infections such as Candida albicans. The herb has definite astringent and antifungal action due to its high content of tannins and naphthaquinones.

Pumpkin Seed (Curcurbito pepo) is a safe, effective anthelmintic (agent that destroys intestinal worms) for children or adults and has been used in medications for expelling worms, particularly beef and pork tapeworms and pinworms. The plant amino acid curcurbitin is the active agent against parasites.(u) Black Walnut Husks (Juglans nigra) are an antiseptic laxative for the lower bowels, traditionally used as an astringent, laxative and vermifuge to expel tapeworms and other internal and external parasites. Juglone, one of the main alkaloid principles, has antimicrobial activity, is an effective agent to stop bleeding, and has been reported to stop fungal growth.(u) Homeopathic preparations are also effective for treating parasite infections, as demonstrated in 1991 by a Nicaraguan double-blind clinical trial involving 81 children.(3) Dietary fiber has been reported to reduce the rate of intestinal infection by G. lamblia.

Other natural agents have also been used effectively, including the herb goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) and grapefruit seed extract. Nutritional Balance Must Be Restored It is important to the patient's health that nutritional balance be restored through proper diet and supplementation as parasites are eliminated. Parasites deplete the body's supply of nutrients to the point that supplementation of all nutrients is necessary to restore normal health. To restore intestinal health and balance, acidophilus and/or bifidobacteria and probiotic supplements are also needed.

1. "Results of Testing for Intestinal Parasites by State Diagnostic Laboratories, United States, 1987" Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 1992;40 (SS-4)25-30.
2. Wajaman, R., et al., "Prevalence of B. Hominis and other parasites in an immigrant population," Presentation at American College of Gastroenterology, 56th Annual Meeting, Oct. 13-15, 1991.
3. Jacobs, J., et al., "Treatment of Acute Childhood Diarrhea with Homeopathic Medicine," Pediatrics, 1994;93(5):719-25. Hi. Day, Lorraine, "Is the Water Supply Safe from AIDS?,' National Health Alert, Jan., 1992; 1(9):1,3,
4., 5. Marchesani, R. B., "Cryptosporidium outbreak hits milwaukee; seven deaths linked to contaminated water," Inf. Dis. .W6, May, 1993;
6. (5):1. 4. Nesheim, M.C., "Human Nutrition Needs and Parasitic Infections," Parasitology, 1993;107:S7-S18.
7. Galland, Leo, "Intestinal Protozoan Infection Is a Common Unsuspected Cause of Chronic Illness," J. Adv. Med., Vol. 2, No. 4, Winter, 1989.
8. "Wormwood Researched for Anti-Malarial Effects,'' Herbal-Gram, Winter, 1985, p. 8.
9. Mirelman, D., et al. "Inhibition of Growth of Entamoeba histolytica by Allicin, the Active Principle of Garlic Extract," J. Infect. Dis., 1987;156(1):243-4.
10. Trowbridge, J., Walker, M., The Yeast Syndrome, Bantam Books, 1986.
11. Heinerman, J., Science of Herbal Medicine, Bi-World Publishing, Orem, UT, 1984.