Parasite Infections NYC - Dr. Alicia Armitstead

"Parasite infections are a complex and detrimental human health problem. Many physicians would never think to look for a parasite infestation as a primary cause of illness. This leaves patients undiagnosed or misdiagnosed while parasites continue to cause damage to organs and tissues and steal essential nutrients from the body.

-Dr. Alicia Armitstead

Natural Parasitic Infection Remedies at the Healing Arts NYC Health and Wellness Center in Manhattan NY 10017 and Connecticut

Parasitic Infection Symptoms

Common ailments, including skin rashes, gastrointestinal discomfort, and insomnia, are easily affiliated with other diseases. Certainly, the changes the body undergoes as it passes through different stages of the lifecycle can also mask signs of a parasitic infestation, as can the body's reaction to something ingested, exposure to a chemical, or even seasonal climate changes. Unfortunately, this leaves the door open for inconclusive testing, misdiagnosis, and treatment for symptoms instead of the undefined cause.

Testing for Parasites

Considering that many people harboring a parasite don't know they are infected and because there are few clear signals that point to a parasitic infestation, how can you get tested if your doctor doesn't think a parasite is the likely cause of your ailment? Be your own advocate. Insist on being screened for a parasitic infestation. Tests can be performed to look for evidence of parasites, even in medical facilities that follow the Western medicine approach.

More than one type of test may be needed to confirm the presence of a parasite.

• Stool Sample - This test looks for eggs from parasites that cause intestinal issues such as diarrhea, loose or watery stools, cramping, and gas. A single stool sample may be inconclusive and only show evidence if the sample was taken around when the adult parasite laid its eggs. A more reliable test would utilize three or more stool samples since the elimination of eggs in the stool tends to be cyclical. In addition, parasites in the upper GI tract may not leave evidence in a standard stool sample. A purged stool test using a powerful laxative may yield more conclusive results. This type of test is more useful when looking for Giardia, amoeba, roundworms, threadworms, tapeworms, flukes, Cryptosporidium, and hookworms.

• Rectal Mucus Sample - Sampling rectal mucus may be a more reliable way than a stool sample when looking for a parasitic infestation because parasite eggs are prone to adhere to the mucus.

• Direct Tissue Sample - Parasites that do not inhabit the lower GI tract but rather in muscles and other tissues will not show up in stool samples. Direct tissue samples will need to be obtained and tested.

• Blood Test - Some blood tests can be used as a general indicator of a parasitic infection but may need to be relied on for confirmation. Blood tests can also look for specific antibodies to some parasites. Still, in an individual whose immune system is already compromised to the point that they've stopped making antibodies, a blood test may be of little use. 

• Endoscopy and Colonoscopy - Endoscopy and colonoscopy can be used to look for parasites and other abnormalities in the GI tract. The procedure is done by inserting a tube equipped with a mini camera down the mouth (endoscopy) or through the rectum (colonoscopy).

• X-ray, MRI, CAT - These imaging tests can be utilized to look for parasitic diseases that cause organ lesions.

• Biofeedback - Some holistic doctors, including myself, use one of the increasingly popular biofeedback tests (muscle testing) to gauge physiological function and to determine the presence of a foreign stressor, such as a parasite. 
  

Traditional Medical Treatment for Parasitic Infestations

Treatment for parasitic infestations is not a one size fits all deal. And unfortunately, it's certainly not something that can be cleared fast.

Prescription drugs are often oral pesticides with toxic chemicals that would otherwise not be suitable for consumption, and there's no guarantee that they will work. Sometimes they kill 90% of the parasites, but the other 10% remain to continue causing havoc in your body. In addition, some of the prescribed drugs are recognized as teratogens, agents that can cause the malformation of a developing fetus.

Prescription parasiticides are designed to be effective against a single organism. They generally don't have a broad reach, and as with most prescriptions, they have side effects. If you have more than one parasite (which is common), you need to take more than one drug and suffer the side effects of multiple medications. But before medication can be prescribed, lab testing is required to identify the organism clearly. Unfortunately, testing for parasites is not an exact science, so you may never know just how many parasites are in your body.

Much like strains of drug-resistant bacteria that have evolved over the years, parasites learn to adapt and can become resistant to certain medications and deterrent chemicals that were once thought to be effective forms of treatment. Chlorine, for example, was once believed to be a powerful disinfectant and preventative measure that could keep waterborne illnesses in check. However, outbreaks of Cryptosporidium and Giardia have been reported from water sources that met the chlorine treatment standards of quality at the time.

The CDC was forced to make a bold admission, stating that Cryptosporidium eggs are resistant to chlorine. Their findings were based on several outbreaks of legionnaire's disease, Cryptosporidium, and Giardia linked to the use of chlorinated hot tubs, public spas, and swimming pools.

Natural Remedies for Parasitic Infection

Admittedly, sometimes looking to the past for answers is wise. Some individuals choose to approach parasitic infestations as our ancestors did. Herbal remedies that were used in tribal and folk medicine for centuries have made a comeback thanks in part to trained healers keeping these practices alive and to patients looking for an alternative to prescription medications.

Herbs do not have the toxic, synthetic chemicals found in prescription medications and are less likely to have the unwanted side effects of prescriptions. Further, herbs support the theory of strengthening the immune system and keeping intestinal flora balanced, so parasites are less likely to thrive. Compared to the prescription drug approach, it's easy to see that parasite cleanses with herbs and potent essential oils can be far more beneficial.

Among parasitic infections, the most common herbs that people test for in my office are black walnut hull, garlic, wormwood, and cloves. While each herb has antimicrobial properties, they are often used together for greater effectiveness. Essential oils can also be used effectively against parasites. Using muscle testing (biofeedback), we develop a specifically designed clinical nutrition program for you. 

Patience must be practiced when using herbal remedies. You will need to take them for a few months, even if you start feeling better sooner. You must continue to take the herbs over the entire lifecycle of the parasite. The adults are likely to be killed first, but not the eggs. Being persistent about continuing the treatment better ensures that the maturing parasites will eventually die off as well.

Ultimately, the best treatment for parasites remains prevention. But with the prevalence of parasites in and among our everyday lives, we're all potential hosts on the cusp of being infected.

Consider cleansing the body of other accumulated toxins that suppress immune function and allow parasites to thrive. For example, toxic heavy metals and overgrowth of Candida yeast can strain the immune system over long periods of time without clear signs of doing so. In addition, there's often a correlation between heavy metal toxicity, Candida overgrowth, and parasitic infections with unhealthy biofilms in the gut. So cleansing heavy metals and Candida to improve the health of intestinal biofilms and to empower immune function is often what I help patients with when cleansing parasites. 

Life After Treating Parasites

Once your parasitic infection has been cleared, certain lifestyle changes are encouraged to prevent re-infestation. Now the focus shifts to strengthening the immune system through a combination of protocols:

• Eat a healthy, balanced diet.
• Store and prepare food properly.
• Get your water tested for microorganisms and toxins (remember, parasites like weakened immune systems, including those weakened by toxins).

It's a complex and detrimental human health problem when many of our physicians would never think to look for a parasite infestation as a primary cause of illness. This leaves patients undiagnosed or misdiagnosed while parasites continue to cause damage to organs and tissues and steal essential nutrients from the body. This scenario also leaves physicians prescribing strong drugs that cause further stress on the immune system and the liver by introducing potentially toxic chemicals into the body. In a nutshell, it comes down to this:

Take Preventative Measures

• Be your own health detective and get tested for parasites.
• If you have a parasite, weigh the pros and cons of each treatment type and decide which course of action to take.
• Be diligent yet patient with your treatment – you won't be cured overnight.
• Finally, strengthen your immune system and keep up with the preventative measures to limit re-exposure.
  

Additional References

• About Parasites - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Parasitic Infections - Healthline
• How to Get Rid of Parasites - Healing Arts NYC Podcast