.png)
Parasites are organisms that live inside a host, steal nutrients, and cause a lot of havoc on your health. There are many different types of parasites, with a variety of symptoms that are created as a result of a parasitic infection. The #1 symptom is digestive issues, including:
Bloating
Constipation
Diarrhea
Gas
Abdominal pain
Abdominal cramping
Other common parasitic symptoms include:
Brain fog
Anxiety
Fatigue
Itching, especially rectally at night
Skin rashes
Teeth grinding
Weight loss
Chemical sensitivities
Food sensitivities
Mood disorders
Detoxing from parasites is important, and must be done in a specific order to avoid retoxifying the body.
Symptom: Aches and Pains
A very common detox symptom is an aching body. The joints, muscles, or even organs may hurt due to the body eliminating toxic waste while parasites die.
How to Fight It
Epsom salt bath. This helps pull toxins from the skin, and also replenishes the magnesium, which the body uses up quickly during stress.
Exercise because movement is important for our body. Without it we can get very stiff and achy.
Hot and cold packs for relief of joint pain Start with a hot compress for 20 minutes to increase circulation and then switch to a cold ice pack for another 20 to reduce inflammation.
Include more collagen in your diet by consuming foods high in protein, or drinking bone broth. Do NOT consume collagen powders because, due to the way in which they are manufactured and processed, they are loaded with glyphosates and other toxins.
Chiropractic care for instant and long term relief from aches and pains.
Symptom: Anxiety and Depression Parasitic infections, especially food-borne ones, can be responsible for depression, anxiety, and even schizophrenia. Certain neurological symptoms can flare during a “die-off” reaction. That will improve after clearing out the infection. How to Fight It
Get out in the sun and soak up some Vitamin D, which is great for boosting mood and the immune system.
Get in front of a RED light therapy lamp.
Address emotional trauma with processing tools, such as EFT, Gupta and DNRS to help rewire trauma loops in the limbic system without the use of supplements or drugs.
Symptom: Breakouts If toxins such as parasites are built up in the body, this can appear as breakouts on the skin. When it comes to cleansing, the skin may be purging these toxins which can also cause breakouts because the pores are clogged. How to Fight It
Keep skin clean by washing it twice a day.
Apple cider vinegar can be used on breakouts in a face wash, or use it for spot treatment.
Make your own skin rescue cream: almond oil, coconut oil, and tea tree oil. These three oils all have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties that can benefit the skin.
Symptom: Cravings Avoid the foods that feed parasites. The biggest three to avoid are sugar, grains, and dairy, (because of its milk sugar). All sugars feed the parasites the food they prefer and keep them thriving. How to Fight It
Adding more healthy fat, like butter, ghee, tallow, avocado or coconut oil, can help the body feel satiated as well.
Stay away from sugar and food that converts to sugar.
Symptom: Fatigue Fatigue is one of the most common complaints during a parasite cleanse, and it results from the body working overtime to eliminate the toxins that are released when killing parasites. Most people regain energy after the detox and after rebalancing the gut microbiome. How to Fight It
Get 8-10 hours of quality sleep each night to allow the body the time to repair, restore, detox, and heal.
Get some exercise, like gentle yoga or stretching, until your body has had some time to recover first, before doing more strenuous exercise that it might not be ready for yet.
B vitamins can also help combat fatigue. Great sources are organ meat, or an organ supplement.
Mitochondria are the energy producers of the body, so boosting their function during a cleanse can help fight fatigue and is needed to help your body have enough energy to heal.
Symptom: Flu-like symptoms, Fever, Chills If you are fighting Lyme disease, a relapsing fever, or other parasitic infections, you could experience brief Herx reaction. These are negative symptoms due to detoxing, and symptoms normally resolve in just a few hours. Since Lyme hides in the parasites, the Lyme is released as the parasites die off. How to Fight It
Rest is recommended to get over this die-off symptom.
Infrared saunas can be used in short sessions to help warm up the body and muscles or for longer sessions to help body detox.
True hydration will help this process along, especially with a fever.
Take anti-inflammatory painkillers or natural fever-reducing herbs, like moringa and kudzu root.
Symptom: Headache Headaches can occur as the body adjusts to the parasite cleanse, or because of parasite activity is actually in the head. Sometimes they can be experienced coupled with nausea or sensitivity to light. How to Fight It
Use Frankincense oil or WO China healing oil on your temples, across the forehead, and on the back of the neck.
Stay well-hydrated, as headaches can easily worsen due to dehydration. Getting enough sea salt and/or electrolytes will help you to achieve this.
WO china healing oil is also super effective for GI upset and nausea, and works fast.
Acupuncture is another great natural option for addressing headaches.
Yoga helps to relieve stress, which may help reduce headaches and chronic migraines.
Symptom: Increased GI Upset Since parasites like to live in the digestive tract, sometimes digestive symptoms can increase during a cleanse, such as bloating, constipation, cramps, or diarrhea. How to Fight It
Fresh ginger or pure aloe can be calming to the digestive system.
Try a bone broth fast to give the digestive system a break.
Symptom: Insomnia Whenever the body is processing toxins, issues with sleeping can arise. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, there is a body clock that explains why certain times of day align with certain organs. If you find yourself waking up during a certain time frame each night, it may indicate that certain organs may need more support. 9PM - 11PM: Triple burner 11PM - 1AM: Gallbladder 1AM - 3AM: Liver 3AM - 5AM: Lungs 5AM - 7AM: Large Intestine 7AM - 9AM: Stomach How to Fight It
Castor oil pack before bed or you can sleep with it overnight
Take a warm Epsom salt bath
Sleep hygiene is also essential during this detox period. Create a completely dark room, avoid screens late at night, and avoid eating food 2-3 hours before bed.
Symptom: Phlegm or Stuffy Nose Mucus is the body’s way of trapping and eliminating toxins. A flare-up of these symptoms can occur once you start killing parasites. How to Fight It
Do regular daily nasal rinses by using a Netipot or Navage system to irrigate the sinuses and battle the stuffiness that occurs with die-off.
Along with a sinus rinse, a nasal saline spray can also help clear the sinuses by adding moisture and breaking up the mucus.
Symptom: Skin Rashes Skin is an organ of elimination, and sometimes the body tries to eliminate toxins in this way. During a detox your body might try to push toxins out the skin and create these symptoms like dry skin, flare ups of eczema or psoriasis, skin sores, or a number of other types of rashes. These typically resolve on their own in a few days. How to Fight It
Dry skin brushing is a good way to stimulate the lymphatic system and also slough off that dead, toxin-containing skin. Make sure to use a soft, firm brush with natural bristles, and always brush towards the heart. It’s best to skin brush once or twice a day, ideally before a shower.
Using coconut oil with some diluted tea tree oil is a great way to help soothe and heal skin rashes.
You always want to make sure your liver and bile duct are functioning well if you are experiencing die-off. The lymphatic system needs support because it helps process the toxins and waste removal from the body. Tools for drainage support:
Coffee enemas
Castor oil packs
Massage
Infrared heating pad and infrared sauna
Contrast showers
What Next?
Our bodies need drainage and emotional support while we are detoxing and healing.
Experiencing die-off symptoms, alongside existing health issues, can be frustrating. Be patient with the process during parasite cleanses and remember that experiencing die-off is a necessary (and temporary) discomfort in order to achieve optimal health.