According to Phyllis Balch in "Prescription for Herbal Healing," parasites affect as many as one in six people in North America. Intestinal parasites can be caused by numerous factors, including ingesting undercooked fish or meat, drinking contaminated water and improper hand sanitation. A number of symptoms are associated with parasitic infection--including anal itching, restlessness, sleep disturbances, vomiting, diarrhea and chronic fatigue. There are conventional medical treatments for some parasites, but there are others that are difficult to rid from the body with traditional drugs. For these parasitic infections, an herbal cleanse can often work to help eliminate the parasite from the body.
Instructions
Step 1
Take a combination of wormwood and black walnut twice a day for three days. Both of these herbs are available in tincture form from companies such as HerbPharm or Gaia. Take 20 to 40 drops of each herb (a 150-lb. person would use 30 drops, so use less if you're lighter, more if you're heavier) in a glass of warm water with a tablespoon of honey. Because parasites thrive on sugars, the honey attracts them to the herbs, which are toxic to them.
Step 2
During those three days that you are taking the herbs, avoid sugar, dairy, alcohol and fruit--except for the 1 tbsp. honey taken with the herbs. This assists in killing the parasites, as you essentially starve them of their preferred food.
Step 3
On Day 4, do not take any wormwood or black walnut. Take an herbal laxative, such as cascara sagrada, to cleanse the parasites from the body. Drink plenty of water and eat a diet high in fiber to assist with this cleansing. Continue to avoid all sugars and dairy products.
Step 4
On the fifth through seventh days, don't take any herbs, but continue to avoid all dairy and sugar. There may still be a few parasites in the intestines, and the cleanse will work better if they don't have their preferred food.
Step 5
On Day 8, begin another three-day cycle of the wormwood and black walnut. Follow the same regimen that you did on the first through third days. This kills any parasites or eggs that may have survived the first round of herbs.
Step 6
On Day 11, take another herbal laxative, drink plenty of water and eat plenty of fiber.
Step 7
Once the cleanse is finished, begin taking a probiotic supplement daily. Probiotics contain many of the beneficial bacteria necessary for a healthy colon. Some of these bacteria may have been killed during the cleansing process, so it's important to replace them.
Things You'll Need
- Herbal tinctures of black walnut, wormwood and cascara sagrada
- Honey
- Probiotics
References
- Prescription for Herbal Healing; Phyllis A. Balch, CNC; 2002
- NHI's Student Manual; Steve Schechter, ND; 2002
- Traditional Medicines from the Earth; Richard Salzo and Omar Cruz; 2007
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