How to Do a Parasite Cleanse (with Options for Children)

Did you know that about half of all Americans carry parasites in their bodies? Most of these are too tiny to be seen by the naked eye. They can cause non-specific symptoms, so that most of us are not even aware that we are infected! And the infection can last for years without being detected. Their size ranges from microscopic to 12 meters in length! Feeling queasy yet? Keep reading to learn how to do a parasite cleanse (with options for children)…

These organisms can live not only in your digestive system, but also in your blood, lymph nodes, and organs. Unfortunately the medications commonly used to treat parasitic infections come with a long list of potential side effects. These include disorders of the blood, lymphatic system, immune system, nervous system, kidneys, liver, and skin. 

The good news is that Allah سبحانه وتعالى has provided us with natural remedies which have been shown to be quite effective alhamdulillah. Just remember that these protocols must be adhered to strictly and for the full duration in order for the cleanse to be successful inshAllah. 

So first, where do parasites come from?

A person may acquire a parasitic infection from:

• Contaminated tap water.
• Contact with an infected person or animal (even just skin contact).
• Swimming in natural bodies of water or contaminated swimming pools.
• Eating pork or other infected foods.
• Raw or undercooked foods.
• Overuse of antibiotics.
• Eating a diet high in sugar and processed foods.

Symptoms of a Parasitic Infection

It’s important for you to be able to recognize the symptoms of a parasitic infection in you or your child, because it can be very difficult to detect parasites through laboratory testing. Most labs only test for intestinal parasites, and multiple samples may be necessary before detection can occur. Symptoms may include:

• Diarrhea or constipation 
• Abdominal pain, bloating, and gas
• Weak immune system (frequent colds and flu)
• Rectal itching, especially at night
• Teeth grinding at night
• Food sensitivities, sugar addiction
• Low or high blood sugar
• Thinning hair, brittle nails
• Fatigue, brain fog, anxiety, depression, headaches, hyperactivity in children
• Sleep disturbances
• Allergies
• Sinus congestion
• Skin breakouts, eczema, psoriasis, itchy skin
• Joint pain and rheumatoid arthritis
• Bad breath

Parasites nearly always play a role in chronic, degenerative conditions (such as cancer, diabetes, depression, arthritis, and chronic fatigue syndromes). Therefore this cleanse is recommended for anyone with such conditions, even if they haven’t tested positive for an infection. 

This program provides not only a means of ridding the body of parasites, but also a nutritional plan to protect yourself from future infection inshAllah. 

Take the following remedies for 10 days on, then 5 days off, in at least three cycles to take care of all un-hatched eggs that may still be in the body. You may require up to ten cycles for severe infections. You can use 1-3 remedies at a time, and then switch to another set of remedies during subsequent 10-day durations.  

Since parasites can be transmitted through close skin to skin contact, it’s recommended that everyone in the household perform the cleanse at the same time. 

Step 1: The External Environment

We must first remove the sources of parasites and the factors contributing to their spread. 

• Check your water source and buy a filter if necessary. Avoid swallowing water when swimming. 
• Treat raw foods: soak all produce which you intend to eat raw for 15 minutes in a solution of apple cider vinegar, using 1 tablespoon vinegar per gallon (3.8 L) of water. Or you many soak in hydrogen peroxide for 20 minutes using 1 tablespoon 3% hydrogen peroxide per gallon (3.8 L) of water. 
• Thoroughly cook all meat, chicken, and fish (microwave cooking does not destroy parasites). Use a separate cutting board for animal products and wash it thoroughly after each use. 
• Have pets checked regularly for worms. Mixing a little fresh garlic in their food regularly helps eliminate worms. Don’t allow pets to sleep on your bed or lick your face. 
• Wash your hands with soap and water before eating or preparing food and after using the bathroom, touching pets, or working in the garden. Wash your feet after walking barefoot outside. 

Step 2: The Internal Environment (Intestinal Cleansing)

A slow-moving or inactive colon supports the growth of parasites, which can lie dormant there for years and become active when the immune system is weakened. It is therefore crucial to deal with infrequent bowel movements before attempting to eliminate parasites. Increase the fiber in your diet and add foods which lubricate the intestines and promote bowel movements.

• During the cleanse, eat for breakfast 1/4 cup of rinsed, raw brown rice. Chew thoroughly until liquid, and then eat nothing else for 3 hours. This deeply cleanses the intestines and removes impacted residues. 
• About 30 minutes before each meal, drink 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar diluted in 1 cup of room-temp water. This relieves indigestion and balances the acid/alkaline level in the intestines. (Do not take this at the same time as your fermented foods/probiotic supplement/Diatomaceous Earth)

Make a herbal tea with 1-3 of these demulcent herbs (use 3 tablespoons total). For children, see “Herbal Dosing for Children” section below. These herbs form a soothing film over the intestinal lining. Drink 1-2 cups per day:

• Licorice root (sold at most herbal shops here in Saudi)
• Marshmallow root
• Flax seed
• Fenugreek seed (sold at most herbal shops here in Saudi)
• Psyllium seed
• Rose hips
• Slippery elm

Laxative herbs include:

• Dandelion root
• Turkey Rhubarb Tea
• Cascara bark (adults only, do not take for more than 1 week at a time)
• Barberry bark (adults only)
• Eat dried figs, prunes or drink prune juice

This product contains cascara bark, turkey rhubarb root, and barberry bark

This product for children contains prunes, fig fruit extract, rhubarb root, and peach.

Step 3: Eliminate the Parasites

Primary Treatment:

Take one of these vermifuges or vermicide herbs to kill and expel the parasites:

• Black walnut (adults only, see product recommendations at the end of the article)
• Wormwood (adults only, see product recommendations at the end of the article)
• RAW garlic: Take 1 clove 3 times a day, minced and added to raw honey. For children you can slice it and put it between apple slices.
• Colloidal silver: 1 teaspoon three times daily, children ¼ to ½ of adult dosage.
• Oregano oil (age 10 and up, capsules or diluted essential oil)
• Olive Leaf Extract (8 mg/kg per day, capsules or liquid)
• Grapefruit Seed Extract (capsules or liquid)

Supplementary Treatment (add any of these to your primary treatment):

1. Qist al-Bahri (Costus Root): mix 1/4 teaspoon of Qist with raw honey, water or other liquids. Drink this twice a day.
2. Turkey Rhubarb tea (do not use if you have a history of kidney stones)
3. Aloe vera: 1-2 times daily
4. Concentrated green foods amplify the cleansing effect of the above herbs. This includes micro-algae (spirulina and chlorella) and cereal grasses (wheat and barley grasses).

Step 4: Build a Healthy Intestinal Flora 

• Consume probiotic-rich foods (kefir, yogurt, laban, homemade sauerkraut or kimchi, rejuvalac). Start with small amounts and slowly build up.
• Take a good-quality probiotic supplement during the cleanse.

Step 5: Diet

During the cleanse: 

• Avoid sugar (even fruit and honey, the following are allowed: berries, pomegranates, lemons, limes, and stevia). Note the exception above for mixing a small amount of raw honey with garlic.
• You need not avoid grains, but they should be whole grains which are chewed thoroughly when eaten. Avoid all refined grains. Millet, roasted buckwheat groats (kasha), rye, oats, barley, amaranth, and quinoa are beneficial. Also the lightly cooked sprouts of barley, rice, millet, rye, and quinoa.
• It is best to avoid very starchy vegetables, such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, and yams. Carrots, parsnips, rutabagas, and beets can be eaten regularly. 
• Avoid processed foods, alcohol, and pork.
• Consider (for adults only) doing a colon cleanse (coffee or apple cider vinegar enema) once a week during your parasite cleanse.
• Replenish your body with electrolytes and enzymes (fresh juices like carrot, celery and beet, raw pineapple and figs)

During and after the cleanse:

• Avoid overeating and chew food thoroughly. This allows for proper digestion of food.
• Include anti-parasite foods in your diet, such as: pumpkin seeds, cloves, almond, kelp, coconut oil, papaya juice, beet, cabbage, carrot, garlic, leek, onion, radish, fennel, cayenne, ginger, cinnamon, sage, oregano, and thyme.
• Foods high in zinc and vitamins B, C, and E will provide anti-oxidants which will aid in the cleanse. 

Maintenance Plan

Once a year, take anti-parasite remedies for 2 short cycles of 1 week each, with 5 days off between the cycles. Preferably during the spring or late summer.

Remember that rejuvenating the digestive and immune systems after a severe parasitic infection may take years. 

Die-Off Reactions

Be aware that you may experience symptoms due to the die-off of parasites and your body’s attempt to remove them. This reaction becomes more likely the faster you go with the cleanse. You may experience symptoms such as body aches, cold symptoms, fever, chills, headaches, brain fog, joint pain, or skin issues.

Drinking lots of water, an Epsom salt or magnesium flakes bath, and slowing down the cleanse should help these symptoms to pass quickly. Make sure you eat well, get lots of sleep and reduce stress during (and after!) the cleanse. 

Taking substances to absorb the toxins that are released can also help deal with die-off symptoms:

• Bentonite clay (1 tsp per day in 8 ounces of water + lemon juice for flavor) or
• Diatomaceous Earth (food grade, 1 tsp per day in 8 ounces of water and work up to 1-2 tablespoons a day)
• Raw potato juice 
• Fresh raw apple juice 
• Letting your body sweat by exercising will also help remove toxins

Product Recommendations 

The following products contain both black walnut and wormwood: This product (liquid) and this product (capsules) and this product (capsules)

If you’d prefer a combination product which includes remedies from both Step 2 and Step 3, you can try one of these…

• This product (powder) contains flax seed, psyllium husk, chia seeds, apple fiber, fennel seed, black walnut, cactus, marshmallow root, milk thistle seed, wormwood, and turmeric root.
• This one (capsules) contains black walnut, Pau D’Arco Bark, oregano, olive leaf, Oregon grape root and cloves.
• This product (tablets) contains black walnut, wormwood, grapefruit seed extract, butternut, cloves, garlic, oregano, thyme, and peppermint.
• This one (capsules) contains neem leaf, black walnut, garlic, thyme, artemisia annua, pumpkin seed, gentian root, slippery elm bark, woodworm, butternut, cascara sagrada bark, fennel seed, mugwort, Oregon grape root, and Elecampane Root.

Sources:

1. Pitchford, Paul. Healing with Whole Foods, 3rd edition. Berkeley: North Atlantic Books, 2002.
2. Balch, Phyllis A. Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 5th edition. New York: The Penguin Group, 2010.https://draxe.com/health/detox/parasite-cleanse-top-5-treatments-naturally-2/
3. https://www.healingpowers.net/exploringthelightandthedark/2018/3/16/f9phzc4p5ud9h7xlno5t8ywkswuool
4. https://theherbalacademy.com/choosing-safe-herbs-for-your-kids/
5. http://greenpharmacy.info/index.php/ijgp/article/view/222
6. https://www.ejmanager.com/mnstemps/28/28-1456736954.pdf

Note: 

This cleanse is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding moms.

Herbal Dosing for Children 

(note that I have already mentioned above if a supplement is not recommended for use in children )

Fried’s Rule: for children less than 2 years old. The dose of an herb is obtained by multiplying the child’s age in months by the adult dose and then dividing the result by 150. An example would be if an adult tincture dosage is 20 drops. For an 8 month old child you would take 20 x 8 to get 160. Then divide: 160/150 = which would be approximately 1 drop of tincture.

Clark’s Rule: for children aged 2-17. Take the child’s weight in pounds and divide by 150 pounds. Multiply the fractional result by the adult dose to find the equivalent child dosage. For example, if an adult dose of tincture calls for 30 drops and the child weighs 30 pounds, divide the child’s weight by 150 (30/150) to get 1/5. Multiply 1/5 times 30 drops to get 6 drops. This method can also be used for elders and cats.

Precautions

This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician. And of course always talk with your health care provider before starting any new herbal medications. Especially if you are taking prescription medications.

In addition, avoid dandelion if you have a known allergy to ragweed, daisies, marigolds, or chrysanthemums