In this post I discuss natural parasite treatment considerations and options available if you’ve been diagnosed (using appropriate testing) with having intestinal parasites.These include herbs, supplements, detox and lifestyle modifications.

In fact, I’m sharing with you here my clinical experience (of 10+ years) in applying various natural methods and the steps I use to help my clients to either eradicate parasites or significantly decrease their numbers so the immune system can better ‘manage’ them.

I also provide you with an overview of the current research in this area so you’ll better understand the methods I use describe here.

In addition, I also talk about effective blastocystis hominis diet and anti-parasitic nutrition in general, using specific foods is an important  part of the natural approach and the foundation of good gut health. You can download my FREE “Key Nutrition Guidelines for Parasitic Infections” guide below.

Let’s dive right in!

Table of contents

Eradicating parasites – yes or no?

Many people are searching for information on various parasite treatments nowadays. Gut health, and intestinal parasites in particular, are areas of special interest and research in my practice.

I find that intestinal parasites are often overlooked as a potential cause of disease in the digestive system and in many other seemingly unrelated health concerns.

Research and clinical practice provide evidence of the ability to cause ill health by relatively common parasitic organisms previously considered to be commensal organisms (i.e. living together in balance with other organisms in a given environment).

Thus parasite treatment options become important to consider in chronic conditions with or without digestive symptoms present.

In such cases it’s important to investigate and remove/reduce the parasites, where they are found in people presenting with significant gastrointestinal complaints such as cramping, bloating, diarrhoea, constipation, pain etc; combined with fatigue, low energy, brain fog and memory lapses, anxiety, depression or headaches, to name a few.

Dientamoeba fragilis (D.fragilis) and Blastocystis hominis (Blastocystis) are two common parasites living in our gastrointestinal tracks (the large intestine) that are found throughout the world. They can negatively impact many aspects of health in both children and adults.

These two parasites are quite common in Australia and around the world.

Blastocystis lives in the large intestine and has various forms: vacuolar, granular, amoeboid, and cyst. The cyst form is the most resistant one and is able to survive in harsh conditions because of its thick multilayered cyst wall. It’s not certain how Blastocystis is spread. Because it’s found in the gastrointestinal tract, transmission is most likely to occur via the faecal-oral route. This means that infection might occur if you swallow something that had contact with the faeces of a person infected with Blastocystis (e.g. dirty hands) or if you swallow food or water contaminated with the organism.

D. fragilis also lives in the large intestine but doesn’t survive outside of it for more than 24 hours. Unlike other amebae, D.fragilis has a trophozoite (the activated, feeding stage in the life cycle) but no cyst stage in its life cycle. The highest incidence of D.fragilis infection is during the winter season, followed by autumn, summer and spring. Direct transmission from infected persons is the most likely mode of transmission, and household pets and other environmental factors play little or no role in transmission (source: Bioscreen lab).

Causes of parasitic infections

Blastocystis and D.fragilis are both protozoan type microbes (i.e. microscopic, one-celled organisms) that can infect the human digestive tract. Causes of gut parasite infections are many but the main ones include:

  • Microbiome imbalances – the gut microbiome comprises all of the genetic material of all the microbes within the human gut. Microbiome imbalances refers to imbalances between so called good and bad bacteria – not enough good bacteria and too much bad bacteria.
  • Altered internal environment – e.g. excess of internal and/ or external toxins caused by poor digestion and elimination (e.g. constipation), and impaired detox system (e.g. low liver and gallbladder function, dehydration)
  • Low or dysfunctional immune system allowing the gut parasites to thrive instead of being eliminated
  • Adrenal fatigue and/or chronic fatigue – depleted adrenals causing low energy and tiredness imparting the immune system and gut health
  • Too much stress impacting the overall gut health, immune system function and microbiome health
  • Damaged gut wall resulting in a leaky gut syndrome e.g. caused by antibiotic use. Dysfunctional gut wall also impacts the digestive function and well as the immune system
  • Poor diet including low fibre diet high in processed foods, sugar overload and low water intake
  • Low level of hydrochloric acid in the stomach. One of the functions of stomach acid is to kill parasites and bacteria present in food before they travel down to the digestive system. So it’s body’s first line of defence against gut parasites.

Often parasites are acquired during overseas travel when eating poorly prepared food and drinking unboiled contaminated local water. Many are infected by having either direct or indirect contact with people who are carriers e.g. people who have parasites and work in restaurants or take-away food outlets.

Importantly, many of those infected are asymptomatic carriers and don’t know they are infected (1). Once a person has been infected, the parasites live in the large intestine and are passed in faeces.The parasites are protected by an outer shell, therefore they can survive outside the body for long periods – months and even years (2).

Symptoms of gut parasitic infections

Stomach parasite symptoms severity depends on the parasite genotype (for example there are multiple species of Blastocystis, up to 15 have been identified so far, some of them may not be harmful though), person’s own genetic makeup, levels of immunity and age, to name a few.

Stool culture (minimum of three days stool samples or a one day PCR stool test) currently provides the most sensitive diagnostic method for evaluating the presence and levels of Blastocystis and D.fragilis.

However, the tests are not 100% reliable and some tests can produce false negative results due to the varying methodologies, the PCR test (that looks for DNA of different microbes) is being considered as the most reliable at present.

It’s not uncommon for both parasites to be present in the large intestine at the same time producing more severe symptoms and increasing the complexity of treatments (3).

Unfortunately there is not one typical symptom associated with Blastocystis hominis and D.fragilis infections to help with identification and diagnosis. The two parasites are associated with a range of similar, non-specific gastrointestinal symptoms commonly classified as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). In addition to gut symptoms, there are other signs and symptoms that can be noticed in clinical practice, as listed below.

Main gut parasite symptoms include:

  • Diarrhoea and/ or constipation, bloody stools, anal itching
  • Abdominal discomfort and cramping pain
  • Severe bloating and flatulence
  • Food sensitivities, reacting to many foods that were no problem before
  • Histamine intolerance – find out more here
  • Reflux (heartburn)
  • Nausea, vomiting
  • Headaches or migraines
  • Dizziness and feeling light-headed
  • Weight loss (unexplained)
  • Anxiety or depression
  • Low-grade fever not responding to treatment
  • Fatigue and tiredness
  • Some case reports have also suggested that inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) such as colitis and Crohn’s disease; and IBS are associated with Blastocystis and/ or D. Fragilis infection.
Interestingly, IBS is the only functional bowel disorder where a protozoan infection has been found in almost half of diagnosed cases (2).

Increased intestinal permeability or leaky gut also exacerbates in people with Blastocystis and D.fragilis infections as well as other parasites such as Giardia, because they actually can damage the gut wall with the toxins they produce.

The parasites can adhere to the gut walls creating structures called biofilms ‘aka’ bunkers where they live and hide from the immune system, which is in charge of discovering and removing them.

This finding supports the view that leaky gut increases during the course of pathogenic protozoan infections, causing damage to the intestinal wall, while other non-pathogenic protozoan infections have little to no effect on it. The increase in leaky gut in patients with Blastocystis supports the view that it can be considered a pathogenic protozoan (3).

While many people are exposed to the same parasites or bacteria, only some people will get infected. This difference in susceptibility to intestinal pathogens is a reflection of the status of sIgA (secretory immunoglobulin A) which is the first line mucosal immune defense.

When you have strong mucosal immunity (i.e. normal sIgA production), the lining of your gastrointestinal tract is able to defend you from invading pathogens. However, if you have lowered mucosal immunity you will have a decreased ability to fight the pathogens successfully.

Having stated the above symptoms and negative aspects of parasitic infections, it’s important to note that it is not yet definitely proven that Blastocystis is a pathogenic parasite in all cases. A more accurate term proposed recently by the Blastocystis expert Professor Rune Stensvold, is that Blastocystis is a ‘symbiont’, so in many people it could well be just an incidental organism (an organism that normally lives on a host other than its normal host).

Some researchers are even proposing it could be commensal and playing a beneficial role in some way. More research will bring answers in time but in the meantime, each person with detected parasites needs to be evaluated based on the facts (test results) and their symptoms.

Here is link to a handy list of human parasites you may find useful.

Testing for intestinal parasites

At present the most reliable and accurate test for intestinal parasites is a stool test called PCR test (PCR stands for Polymerase Chain Reaction which tests for DNA fragments of parasites and is highly accurate).

Your GP can refer you for this test which is covered by Medicare in Australia. The test detects 10 most common parasites and bacteria:

  • Parasites:  Dientamoeba sp, Blastocystis sp, Cryptosporidium sp, Giardia sp, Entamoeba histolytica
  • Bacteria: Salmonella sp, Campylobacter sp, Shigella sp, Yersinia enterocolitica, Aeromonas sp,

Other tests I commonly refer my clients for are performed by functional labs and include:

  • GI Effects by Genova Diagnostics – this is a comprehensive test that also covers detailed gut microbiome analysis, digestive function and gut inflammation markers. It provides invaluable information for tailoring treatment protocols for each client, the management of gut health and overall health as well. The test is done at home (one stool sample is needed) and then posted for analysis to the US.
  • GI Map by Diagnostic Solutions – a test covering bacterial and parasitic pathogens, opportunistic bacteria, fungi, viruses, good bacteria, GI markers, digestion markers, sIgA, immune response and inflammation levels. The test is done at home (one stool sample is needed) and the stool sample is posted to the lab for analysis.
  • Complete Digestive Stool Assessment (CDSA) where a stool sample is collected every day for 3 days to gauge the digestive function and microbiome bacterial balance. This test is done at home and the specimen are couriered to the lab for analysis. DNA Multiplex PCR test can be added to any CDSA test if parasites are suspected.

For more comprehensive information on testing and clinical cases discussion read my article Testing for Blastocystis, a clinical perspective.

Natural parasite treatment options overview

Overall, there are two groups of people with confirmed parasitic infections (via the stool test):

  • Individuals with no apparent symptoms – gut or other symptoms as described above, who are otherwise healthy and well (as reported by them and supported by ‘within range’ blood test results.
  • Others who suffer from moderate to severe symptoms (digestive and other symptoms as described above) that significantly interfere with their health and wellbeing, often leading to long-term poor physical and emotional outcomes and decreased quality of life. These are the people who need to consider embarking on parasite treatments such as one described below.

Many people may suffer for years or even decades with often severe IBS-like symptoms that can’t be explained, before a proper parasite diagnosis is made. In fact, they are often misdiagnosed as having ‘IBS’ (irritable bowel syndrome), sadly without a hope of improving if the parasites are present but not investigated and removed or decreased in numbers.

Doctors most often treat parasitic infections with a combination of strong antibiotics, after which some patients report either resolution or a significant reduction in symptoms.

However, such parasite treatment methods often fail further down the track, even after repeat treatments with strong antibiotics, as the parasites likely become resistant to the drugs and the gut, the immune system and microbiome get damaged by the drugs, and subsequently not able to protect against re-infection. It would be hard to call it a ‘successful treatment for blastocystis hominis’ by any means.

Many people may even get worse because of the likely subsequent gut damage caused by the antibiotics, and the weakened immune system.

To be successful, any gut parasite treatment must effectively kill/decrease parasites at all stages of life (from eggs to adults), and must continue on beyond the incubation period of the eggs to ‘get’ all of them. Therefore, short term treatments, such as over the counter parasite cleanses and even antibiotics, are often not effective as they mostly target the adult forms of parasites or worms.

My current understanding is that there is no one reliable parasite treatment /therapy to eradicate Blastocystis or D.fragilis. However, there are traditional naturopathic parasite remedies including utilising specific antimicrobial and anti-parasitic herbs that are helpful in eradicating parasites over a longer period of time (3+ months).

Natural parasite therapies are much gentler on the body, albeit longer to act, than repeated courses of antibiotics which, as mentioned above, often don’t work. In addition, gut damage and microbial imbalances from taking antibiotics can be challenging to repair long-term, if ever.

Importantly, in my experience Blastocystis can also stop responding to anti-parasitic herbs as it can likely adapt if the same herb(s) are prescribed for a longer period of time.

Fortunately, by using multiple herbs with many different natural constituents makes it much harder for the parasites to become resistant to the therapies used, as the herbs act synergistically to eliminate the parasites. Also, the herbs and supplements support the gut lining, the liver, digestion and absorption of nutrients, thus speeding up the healing and repair process at the same time.

Therefore, herbal treatment for blastocystis hominis and dientameba fragilis can be a very good option to pursue. One effective strategy using natural treatment for blastocysts dientamoebas is to employ a periodic rotation of specific antimicrobial herbs throughout the treatment. This method gives the immune system an advantage over the parasite’s abilities to adapt, thus increasing the likelihood of eradication over time.

Homeopathic remedies are also helpful when used in conjunction with herbs and dietary therapy to further progress the removal.

Other synergistic nutritional supplements and foods are also key in making the parasites wanting to permanently move out. These include: garlic, ginger, black pepper (5), herbs like wormwood, black walnut, turmeric, Pau D’Arco; pomegranate husk, citrus seed extract; oregano oil; prebiotics and probiotics, especially Saccharomyces boulardii.

Unfortunately, many people find that after trying to eradicate Blastocystis for months or years, they still test positive for it and continue to have symptoms. As mentioned above, the parasite may become resistant to drugs or natural remedies and therefore, they may never be fully eliminated in some people, even after years of treatment.

On a brighter note, even if the parasites are still detected on testing after a natural treatment, many people feel much better and their symptoms subside considerably, whilst they adhere to specific nutrition, supplements and lifestyle choices which support the immune system and the gut.

It’s known that taking multiple rounds of antibiotics has many negative effects on the gut and the immune system function. Therefore, in my opinion it’s prudent to investigate other possibilities first.

For example, many people (working with gut health knowledgeable practitioners) who just focus on healing the gut and improving microbiome health / diversity (know as a microbiome diet) by using prebiotics, probiotics and dietary adjustments significantly improve or even solve their symptoms all together.

As mentioned above, before commencing any parasite treatment, it’s very useful to perform comprehensive digestive stool analysis that uses PCR technology. This test also measures the levels of dysbiosis (imbalances of gut flora), pancreatic function, nutrient malabsorption, and other digestive markers. These are important parameters to consider before commencing gut repair therapies.

IMPORTANT NOTE: After performing the tests, many people find that having Blastocystis is not their main problem or the cause of their symptoms. Instead their source of ill health could be SIBO (small intestine bacterial overgrowth), Giardia (another common parasite), gut dysbiosis (bacterial imbalances), leaky gut, candida, hernia, or just high stress.

By addressing those other identified imbalances first, many people start to feel much better and their symptoms decrease significantly, thereby avoiding antibiotics. They may still have Blastocystis, according to the tests, but they feel well and have no symptoms.

Natural gut parasite treatment considerations

Parasites are the most important area to look at first because many other organisms that disrupt our health can live inside them. These include bacteria (e.g. borrelia bacteria that causes Lyme disease), viruses or even mould spores.

In my experience as well as from feedback from other natural health practitioners working in this area, parasite treatments, both natural and conventional, can be long and complex. They need to cover a number of aspects as determined by patient’s severity and duration of symptoms, his/ her current state of health, stress levels and their nutritional status.

It’s essential to stage and plan any parasite treatment over time and not panic and attack the parasites straight away with ‘heavy weapons’ such as multiple antibiotics, strong antimicrobial herbs and other harsh purges.

In my experience, more aggressive strategies are unlikely to work in most cases, as the parasites ‘defend’ themselves cleverly whilst the gut and immune system are depleted. To make major inroads, you’ll require patience, perseverance and education on how the body works to naturally expel the parasites, combined with tailored specific remedies, herbs and foods for gut health.

Understandably, most clients want the parasites out as soon as possible regardless of their immune system strength and their bodies’ readiness for the likely long and often tricky fight. More often than not there is also a significant stress component to deal with, as clients find that having been diagnosed with parasites is unnerving, uncomfortable and physically and mentally draining.

Natural parasite gut cleanse – my approach

My natural parasite treatment approach is based on the clinical experience helping clients with parasitic infections for the past six+ years as well as researching and studying the most effective natural approaches applied by leading practitioners in the field. Therapies used are personalised for each person and typically encompass the following stages:

  • Stage 1: Preparatory (duration: 2-4 weeks) – boosting the immune system, the adrenal glands, decreasing stress, providing gut and liver support plus improving body’s detox capacities to remove some toxins prior to the parasite eradication step.
  • Stage 2: Parasite purge (duration: 4-8 weeks or more as per client’s needs) – anti-parasitic treatment using specific natural remedies such as antimicrobial herbs, supplements and foods. supporting gut microbiome.
  • Stage 3: Removal of toxins and debris + gut repair + digestive support + immune support (duration: 3-6 months). The main natural remedies applied here are: specific herbs and supplements, probiotics and prebiotics, specific foods for gut health, lifestyle modifications such as very important stress reduction.

In my clinical experience, the above steps cover all key areas needed to be addressed for a successful parasite treatment over time, and keeping them away for good. This approach also allows for tailoring any aspect of the treatment for each client, as needed.

Moreover, from the start clients know and understand why and what is recommended and applied, and also have a good idea about a likely time frame for their natural parasite treatment, which helps with incorporating it into their lives and finances!

The above natural parasite gut therapy/ cleanse works quite well for people who have had the parasitic infection for shorter periods of time (up to 12 months).

For clients with long-standing infections (sometimes lasting for 5-10+ years), a combination of antibiotics and natural medicines may be necessary. For those who’d need to do it, I recommend they go through the preparatory and gut repair treatment stages listed above, prior to taking antibiotics. Plus they are well/ strong enough to tolerate high doses of antibiotics.

Importantly, such individuals also need to follow the steps of my natural parasite gut cleanse AFTER taking antibiotics, as stated above, to restore gut health and the immune system function.

Naturally, each client needs to be assessed on an individual basis and treatment tailored to their needs. Check out the Natural Parasite Please package HERE.

Click here to book your online consultation now!

Restore gut health diet during parasite gut cleanse

Free guide nutrition guidelines for parasites

Anti-parasitic diet and nutrition (duration: ongoing – before, during and after the protocol) using specific foods, is the key part of the natural parasite treatment and the foundation of good gut health.

It facilitates leaky gut repair, balancing of beneficial bacteria levels and building immune system resilience to minimise possible re-infestation in the future.

Adherence to the dietary guidelines is vital and plays an important part of the treatment; however, nutrition alone is not likely to eradicate the parasites.

Over time I developed specific nutrition guidelines for clients undergoing natural parasite treatments, using certain foods for gut health and herbal teas, in addition to the antimicrobial and anti-parasitic herbs and supplements.

Here’s the summary of my recommendations you can download and start implementing the guidelines today as the first step in undergoing any parasite treatment, either natural or orthodox.

Download the Key Nutrition Guidelines for Parasitic Infections HERE. 

Naturimedica’s Natural Parasite Cleanse Program

After working in this area for a number of years, I developed the Natural Parasite Cleanse Program to provide holistic, personalised and effective therapies to eradicate intestinal parasites, improve digestion, gut health and function in general.

The program focuses on natural treatments for parasitic gut infections such as blastocystis hominis and dietamoba fragilis, and balancing of the microbiome at the same time.

For convenience and easier access to natural gut parasite eradication options, I offer either Zoom or telephone consultations for Australia-based individuals only (blastocystis hominis treatment Australia, dientamoeba fragilis treatment Australia, blastocystis hominis treatment Sydney).

I’m afraid I’m not able to offer any specific treatments or advice to individuals based in other countries at this time.

To book a consultation, click the button below. I also offer a free 25-minute initial discussion to talk about your circumstances and how I can help.

Book free call now

I look forward to connecting with you and to helping you to feel healthier and happier soon!

Summary

Parasitic infections of the intestines are emerging as significant components of many digestive and other inflammatory conditions, and, in my view, need to be taken into account during initial health assessment, when indicated.

Particularly, if you suffer from multiple, non-specific gut symptoms such as IBS (bloating, flatulence, cramping, pain) or other non-specific symptoms such as anxiety, unexplained sleep disturbances; mood disorders or brain fog; aches and pains, and have not been investigated for the presence of parasites.

Please consider testing for gut parasites as part of your comprehensive naturopathic health assessment. It may well be the missing piece in the puzzle!

In conclusion, any long-term success with eradicating or significantly decreasing parasite levels depends on your overall health, good gut wall integrity and digestive function, a well-functioning immune system and effective stress management, including good sleep and rest.

Unless you improve the gut microbiome diversity, change your internal environment (the terrain), re-activate your immune system to detect and kill the clever, ever changing and hiding pathogens, and make the internal environment more hostile (i.e. more healthy!) for opportunistic parasites, viruses and bacteria; there is little chance to permanently remove them or succeed long-term.

Now I’d like to hear from you! Leave a comment below to tell us about your experience and results with eradicating parasites.

Best of Health

Joanna Sochan
Wholistic Health and Lifestyle Therapist
Natural and Lifestyle Therapies for Abundant Health and Wellbeing

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Get your copy of the FREE Sleep Guide: Top 3 Nutrition Tips for Better Sleep Tonight! Key nutrition tips for insomnia plus my top 3 bedtime snacks for deeper and restful sleep

References

1) Oh my aching gut: irritable bowel syndrome, Blastocystis, and asymptomatic infection. Boorom KF, Smith H, Nimri L, Viscogliosi E, Spanakos G, Parkar U, Li LH, Zhou XN, Ok UZ, Leelayoova S, Jones MS. Parasit Vectors. 2008 Oct 21; http://www.parasitesandvectors.com/content/1/1/40

2) Blastocystosis in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms: a case–control study. Ayhan Hilmi Cekin, Yesim Cekin, Yesim Adakan, Ezel Tasdemir,  Fatma Gulsun Koclar and Basak Oguz Yolcular, Department of Parasitology, Antalya Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
BMC Gastroenterology 2012 12:122 DOI: 10.1186/1471-230X-12-122.  http://bmcgastroenterol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-230X-12-122

3) Blastocystis Research Foundation. http://bhomcenter.org/wp/

4) Cytokine changes in colonic mucosa associated with Blastocystis spp. subtypes 1 and 3 in diarrhoea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome. Yakoob J, Abbas Z, Usman MW, Sultana A, Islam M, Awan S, Ahmad Z, Hamid S, Jafri W. Parasitology. 2014 Jun;141(7) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24598032

5) In vitro sensitivity of Blastocystis hominis to garlic, ginger, white cumin, and black pepper used in diet. Yakoob J, Abbas Z, Beg MA, Naz S, Awan S, Hamid S, Jafri W. Parasitol Res. 2011 Aug;109(2):379-85.  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21431384

6) Blastocystis hominis and Dientamoeba fragilis in patients fulfilling irritable bowel syndrome criteria. Yakoob J, Jafri W, Beg MA, Abbas Z, Naz S, Islam M, Khan R. Parasitol Res. 2010 Aug; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24598032

7) Dientamoeba Fragilis – an unusual intestinal pathogen. Digestive diseases and sciences 41, no.9 (1996):1811-1813

Additional resources

Disclaimer: The above material is for informational and educational purposes only. It should not be used to self-diagnose and it is not a substitute for a medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, prescription or recommendation. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should not make any changes in their health regimen or diet before first consulting a doctor or other qualified health provider with any questions they may have regarding a medical condition or their particular circumstances. 

Joanna Sochan is a Natural Therapist and founder of Naturimedica Holistic Wellcare. She has a passion for helping clients transform their lives by becoming healthy and well naturally. Joanna has 12+ years experience in clinical practice and has special interest in solving complex cases, gut health, food sensitivities, hormone imbalances, autoimmune disorders and weight loss. She helps clients individually (mostly online) Australia-wide and also offers online therapeutic programs, eCourses and self-help books. View full bio.

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