Parasites – A Serious Health Concern by Dr. Lee Laskonis, ND, MH, CNC, CNHP

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Parasites – A Serious Health Concern by Dr. Lee Laskonis, ND, MH, CNC,

CNHP

 

What are parasites?

 

A parasite is an organism that lives in or on another organism, at the

expense of the host organism. Parasites living inside the human body

will feed off our cells, our energy, off the food we eat, even off the

supplements we take. There are many varieties of parasites. They fall

into several categories. Here are a few: Arthopods, Flukes, Protozoas,

Amoebas, Worms, Viruses, Bacterias and Nano-Bacterias, Fungi, Yeast,

Molds and Slime Molds, and Mycoplasmas. Some are only visible under a

microscope. Some can be passed in the stool and be quite large.

Parasites produce thousands of eggs, and have several life stages,

some as many as seven or nine life stages.

 

Here is a brief description of the types of some of the known parasites:

 

Worms

 

Roundworms are elongated, cylindrical worms with well developed

digestive tracts. Most species are free living but a large number of

species parasitize humans, animals, and plants. In humans, there are

both intestinal and tissue inhabiting species. Some species are

thorny-headed worms, equipped with hooks to help attach itself to the

intestinal wall. Their digestive tract is absent. Some examples are:

Ascaris lumbricoides, Pinworm, Enterobius vermicularis, Strongyloides

stercoralis, and Trichinella spiralis.

 

Flukes are leaf shaped, thin worms with a bilaterally symmetrical body

and hooks or cup shaped suckers. They have both male and female organs

in each individual. They have a simple digestive tract and complex

life cycles with two or more hosts, usually one of which is a mollusk.

Some examples are: Fasiolopsis buski, Fasciola hepatica, Eurytrema

pancreaticum.

 

Tapeworms have an elongated ribbon-like body, with a specialized

attachment organ called a scolex on the anterior end. They contain

both male and female organs. They have no digestive tract and attach

themselves to the inside of the small intestine, or other organs, and

absorb nutrients directly into their bodies. Immature tapeworms invade

tissues and encyst themselves there. Most require at least two hosts.

Some examples are: Diphyllobothrium latum, Echinococcus granulosus,

taenia solium.

 

Protozoas are a single cell animal and have very complex life cycles.

Some examples are: Toxoplasma gondii, Sarcocystis species, and Giardia

lamblia.

 

Bacteria can be present in almost anything. Here are some examples:

Shigella species are frequently in pasteurized milk and cause

intestinal, muscle and joint problems. Salmonella species are

frequently in pasteurized milk and raw eggs and poultry, and cause

food poisoning.

 

E-Coli can also be found in foods. Staphylococcus epidermidis is very

difficult to kill and causes sinus and skin infections. Streptococcus

pneumoniae often causes ear, sinus, throat, and bronchial infections.

Borellia burgdorferi causes Lyme's Disease. It spends part of its

cycle inside the nerve cells.

 

Mycoplasmas are very small degenerative bacteria that need some

special attention to find and kill. They are associated with chronic

fatigue syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, Gulf War illness, AIDS, and

related diseases.

 

Viruses and Warts – Viruses can cause serious illness. Adenovirus

causes the common cold. Respiratory syncytial virus causes respiratory

problems. Influenza virus causes flu. There are many other types of

viruses. Warts are colonies of several species of viruses.

 

Yeasts are species of single cells that divide, and parasitize humans.

Candida albacans is one of many species.

 

Fungi is multi cellular- with long filaments/spores, that can live on

the skin, under nails and inside tumors and tissues. Ringworm is a

fungus of the skin.

 

Arthopods are six to eight legged creatures, such as lice, bedbugs,

mites, ticks, and fly larvae.

 

Prions are an incorrectly folded protein that are treated as a

parasite because of the damage they do. They can get into the cells

and cause holes in the brain. This is the leading cause of Alzheimer's

and Mad Cow diseases.

 

The increase in world travel by tourists, armed forces and immigrants

spreads every possible parasite everywhere. The increase in synthetic

toxins within the body is changing the life cycles of some species

making many parasitology textbooks inadequate. Our changes in

lifestyles have increased the spread of parasites all over the world.

Increased use of nurseries and other child care facilities increase

exposure. Increased eating in restaurants contributes to less control

over parasite contamination. Increased consumption of ethnic foods

exposes us to a wider variety of species. Increased world travel

exposes more people to a wide variety of species for which they have

no natural immunity. Increased levels of stress in modern day living

lowers our immunity. Increased sexual promiscuity and homosexuality

increases exposure. And certain modern medical practices increase the

probability of parasitic infection by compromising the patient's

natural immune defenses. Examples are surgery, blood transfusions,

incubation, and prolonged hospitalization.

 

Parasites can be transferred from one individual to another by direct

contact between the host and a potential host, by cysts or eggs, which

can live for some time outside the host before infecting a second

host. Some are carried by an arthropod vector, which may itself be a

host, if the parasite develops within it. Many have complex life

cycles, requiring two or more species of hosts to complete their cycles.

 

Parasites can be ingested through the mouth, inhaled through the nose,

or by skin contact. They can also be transmitted via body fluids.

Insects and animals can also transmit them to humans.

 

Common sources of parasites are contaminated soil, fruits, vegetables,

raw or rare meats, pets, mosquitos and flys, feces, polluted water,

and contact with another person who is infected.

 

Factors that contribute to the growing parasite epidemic include the

widespread use of drugs that suppress our immune systems. An imbalance

of good to bad bacteria in the colon is also a contributing factor.

Some other factors include wide use of antibiotics, eating refined

carbohydrates, steroid drugs, X-rays and radiation therapy,

chlorinated water, stress, low fiber diet, pollution, poor digestions

and elimination, and mercury toxicity from dental fillings.

 

 

 

Today it is apparent that 95% of all diseases are caused by parasites

and/or toxins. They can affect tissue anywhere in the body. Because

they can get into the blood and travel to any organ, parasites cause

problems that are not often recognized as parasite-related. For

example, a roundworm infestation in the stomach can give the

appearance of a peptic ulcer. And chronic Giardia lamblia can be an

undetected element in both candidiasis and chronic fatigue syndrome.

It is not only the parasites that can cause damage to the body, but

also the waste they excrete. These waste products poison the body,

forcing the organs to work overtime. Processing these wastes also

stresses the immune system. As the detox mechanism becomes

overwhelmed, nutritional reserves are depleted and the immune system

weakens, resulting in disease development.

 

Some symptoms caused by parasites:

 

Hair loss and scalp rashes

Mental confusion and poor learning ability such as ADD and ADHD or

hyperactivity

Memory loss, forgetfulness or chronic depression

Sleeping problems

Nutrient deficiencies and anemia

Headaches or migraine headaches

Loss of coordination, seizures, general weakness or lack of energy

Loss of hearing or itchy ears

Cloudy or distorted vision, blindness and crossed eyes, floaters and

double vision

Skin rashes, Psoriasis, jaundice, or itchy skin

Loss of balance

Horseness, coughing and loss of voice

Over or under active thyroid

Lowered immunity or immune system problems

Chronic lung infections, or breathing difficulty

Rapid or irregular heartbeat, Mitral Valve prolapse

Excessive hiccupping

Pains in the abdomen, neck, shoulder, back, or inflamed joints

Painful or weak muscles, loss of motor skills, numbness or tremors

Loss of appetite

Poor digestion, bloating and gas, indigestion, diarrhea, or

constipation, irritable bowel syndrome

Malnutrition due to poor absorption

Ulcers

Crohn's disease

Hiatal hernia

Acid reflux, heartburn

Weight loss or gain, eating more than normal, but not gaining weight

or still being hungry

Teeth grinding or clenching

Hemorrhoids or rectal itching

Swelling in legs or feet

Hypoglycemia

Prostate problems

Frequent or difficult urination, incontinence, burning or itching, or

bedwetting or chronic uninary tract infections

Painful intercourse, poor sperm count and viability, infertility

PMS, period problems, menopausal problems, miscarriage, endometriosis

Unexplained fevers

Blood clots

Bone pain or deformity

Chronic infections

Tumor formation

Excessive nose picking or itchiness

Allergies

Chronic yeast infections

Chronic fungus infections of toenails and/or fingernails

 

These are but a few of the problems that can be associated with

parasites. Most health care providers, whether allopathic or natural,

tend to miss a large percentage of parasitic infestations and end up

merely treating the symptoms the parasites cause. No one is immune

from parasitic infection.

 

Doctors usually use a stool analysis or a blood analysis to detect

parasites. However, they can be very difficult to detect since they

tend to hide in various parts of the body. There are no specific tests

for certain kinds of parasites. Tests are only available for 40 to 50

types of the more than thousands that can live in your body. Thus, a

negative lab test is no assurance that a person does not have

parasites. The most reliable test is kinesiology or muscle testing,

but only if done very specifically by someone who knows how to detect

them. And then there is no assurance that some may have been missed.

But, it is better to detect what you can and treat them, than to do

nothing at all.

 

In treating parasites, the natural health community has come up with

several steps:

1. Identify what types and species you have

2. Dissolve the cysts they create, and open the cells they are hiding

in to be able to kill them.

3. Kill the parasites, with both a " zapper " and the use of herbs.

4. Clean up their toxins.

5. Rebuild the tissues.

6. Realign the energy fields to help prevent further problems.

 

How can you avoid parasitic infections? Since total avoidance is

impossible, you can help yourself by following these instructions as

well as you can:

 

Avoid eating raw fruit and vegetables that have not been thoroughly

washed.

Avoid eating all meats that are not thoroughly cooked.

Avoid eating meats cooked in a microwave. The temperature varies from

one place to another inside the food, and it does not reliably kill

parasites.

Precook poultry before cooking it on a grill.

Avoid eating in restaurants as much as you can.

Don't keep animals in your house. If you must have a pet, keep it

outdoors.

Don't let animals lick your skin or kiss you.

Keep all pets and farm animals wormed with weekly or daily doses of

herbal formulations. De-wormers given by veterinarians are inadequate

since the pet will get re-contaminated as soon as it goes outside.

Don't wear other people's clothing, especially if they have Psoriasis

or eczema. Such clothing likely contains Strongyloides worm eggs,

which hatch on contact with skin.

Drink only safe water and milk. (Zap it if it is not pure)

Always wash hands after going to the bathroom and before eating or

food preparation.

Avoid breathing dusty or moldy air.

Make sure all household members are parasite free so you don't keep

transferring parasites to each other.

Make sure all dishes are either washed in a dishwasher or scalded with

very hot water.

Keep all open food packages, including bread, in the refrigerator.

Store bread in a paper bag instead of plastic, to delay the growth of

mold.

Keep your fingers away from your nose and mouth.

Use a clean dish cloth daily – cook it in the microwave before using.

When new symptoms appear, recheck for parasites. Kill them before they

do extensive damage.

 

 

 

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