A lot of people believe in the power of a full moon and its ability to affect anything from a person’s state of mind to fertility to crime rates. But here at Neomed, we know one thing for sure – a full moon is going to excite the parasites in your body.

Whether we like it or not, every person on the planet is a host to parasites.

“We all have, to some degree, a parasitic infection,” explains our resident Naturopathic Practitioner and Wellness Coach, Dina Gavarieva. “It is unavoidable because the world is not sterile.

“If you interact with animals or a lot of children, if you touch any kind of surface, you are going to be exposed. The problems then occur when you have low stomach acid. If you don’t have enough stomach acid to kill whatever micro-organism it is that has entered your body it will pass through all of the digestive tracts and grow.”

And, unfortunately, parasites don’t only grow, they also breed, and there are certain times of the year when this activity becomes frenzied.

Moonstruck

“The problem is not ‘if’ we have parasites, we all do,” agrees Tina Christoudias Spyrou, Neomed’s Functional Medicine Practitioner and Nutritionist. “The real problem arises when these parasites start to overgrow, and when there’s a full moon, there’s much more sexual activity among parasites.”

Although some parasites can be used as a beneficial strategy to modulate the immune system with illnesses like Crohn’s disease (see the link below), for most people, they become one of the root causes of chronic illness that can wreak havoc in the body.

“If you have a very well-functioning immune system and a healthy terrain, which means that the body has low levels of toxicity, all the body systems are working, then parasites might simply transit and come out in your poo and you’ll never know about it, or they will get digested and killed and that will be the end of it. Your body terrain is what will determine how badly you will be affected by parasitic infections” explains Dina.

“And parasites are not necessarily only in the intestinal tract, they could be hiding anywhere; in your organs, in the eyes, in the brain. They could be literally anywhere in the body, and the more toxic your system is, the more prone you will be to attracting bad micro-organisms.”

There are many signs the body gives to warn of parasitic infection, but the most common symptoms include: grinding your teeth; low stomach acid; drooling in your sleep; an itchy bum; skin issues; persistent digestive issues such as bloating, diarrhoea, a voracious appetite or no appetite at all; cravings for sugar and carbohydrates; and a lack of crucial minerals in your system such as iron or zinc.

There’s a full moon on Sept 2nd! What Can I Do?

There’s no one miracle-treatment-cures-all fix for parasites and at Neomed our specialists test guests using applied kinesiology or the Comprehensive Stool Test from Germany so we can gauge which treatments and supplements will work best for the individual. We also have another exciting development coming soon.

Though we don’t advise anyone to do a parasitic cleanse without seeking professional advice, there are a number of healthy options you can add to your daily routine.

• Water. Drink plenty of it. This is one of nature’s best detox methods as long as it is clean.
• Cut the carbs. Carbohydrates feed parasites, as do refined sugars and processed foods.
• Get your energy from good fats like avocados, coconut oil, olive oil and pumpkin seeds, which are actually an anti-parasitic food item.

As most people will have had parasites living, growing – and yes, breeding – within their bodies for years, if not decades, it is extremely difficult to rid the system of them in one go and most people will have to do rounds of treatments that could take a month or two or even a year. And though those who know often choose to do a parasite cleanse in the week before a full moon, this may have to be switched up occasionally because, believe it or not, parasites have grown wise to this method.

“Parasites are resilient and they are smart,” says Dina. “When they come to understand that at the time of a full moon some killing activity starts, they switch their breeding activity to coincide with a new moon.”

Due to the intelligence and resilience of these bad micro-organisms, a parasitic cleanse is recommended once a year for healthy people. However, for the chronically ill, antiparasitic treatments, under the guidance of a professional, are considered a must.

Unfortunately, if you do seek help to get the bad guys out of your system, it’s also worth knowing that you are likely to feel a whole lot worse before you feel better.

Die-off Symptoms and How to Deal with Them

When parasites die, they release all the inflammatory substances that have been harbouring inside of them – such as pathogens and toxins. This is why die-off symptoms that accompany a parasite cleanse can be uncomfortable.

For this reason, free-flowing drainage pathways are a must to remove the waste products of dying parasites. Of course, the issues causing a drainage problem are often the parasites themselves because they have a habit of infesting the liver, bile duct, and many of the other elimination organs.

The most common die-off reactions include aches and pains, cravings, fatigue, flu-like symptoms, headaches, insomnia, mental and emotional issues, skin problems, stuffy nose and mucus, and worsening GI problems. 

The best strategy to deal with die-off reactions is to use a good binder, a substance that attaches itself to the released toxins so that you can excrete them through your stools. Good examples of a binder include Enterosgel, good ingestible clays, activated charcoal and pectin (a naturally occurring starch found in fruits and vegetables).

Here is a brief look at other ways to deal with die-off reactions.

• Aches and pains. Dying parasites release toxins and other inflammatory substances into muscles, joints and even organs. To relieve pain, try Epsom salt baths and forms of heat therapy such as hot water bottles or microwavable gel pads.
• Cravings. Parasites love sugar and grains and they can trigger intense cravings for them if they are denied access to this diet. Herbal teas can help with sugar cravings and adding healthy, natural fats to your diet should relieve hunger pangs.
• Fatigue. Dying parasites may release viruses, bacteria, or other pathogens into your system that can cause mitochondria to change from an energy-generating role to one of cellular defence. While your mitochondria focus on fighting these pathogens, they create less energy. To combat this, quality sleep is vital and B Vitamins are also a valuable help.
• Flu-like symptoms. Fever and chills are not uncommon and hydration is crucial to staying well.
• Headaches. During a parasite cleanse, headaches happen as the body adjusts or even because of parasitic activity in the head. Again, staying hydrated can relieve symptoms and help flush toxins from the body.
• Skin problems. Parasites and their eggs can leave your body through your skin. Consequently, you might experience dry skin, rashes, skin lesions, flare-ups of psoriasis, or other rash-like conditions. Acne or other skin breakouts might also occur. Fortunately, these usually resolve on their own within a few days. 
• Worsening of GI symptoms. Since many types of parasites live in the digestive tract, you may experience bloating, diarrhoea, constipation, cramps, or other issues with your gastrointestinal tract. Pure aloe vera or fresh ginger can help soothe the digestive system. Also, try bone broth or green juice to give your digestive system a break. Thankfully, all these symptoms tend to be temporary.

Interesting links:

For more information on the die-off process, read this excellent article on parasite cleanses by Dr Jay Davidson: https://drjaydavidson.com/parasite-cleanse

Helminth Therapy: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Crohn’s disease: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

TED Talk by Ed Yong about smart parasites. https://www.ted.com/talks