Parasites

 

Parasites are organisms that live in or on another organism (the host) and survive by taking nutrients, space, or energy from it—usually at the host’s expense. They’re way more common (and fascinating/creepy) than most people realize, and their effects can be physical, neurological, and psychological.

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There are three big categories:

 

1. Protozoa (single-celled)

Microscopic but powerful.

• Examples: Plasmodium (malaria), Toxoplasma gondii, Giardia

• Usually transmitted via water, food, insects, or animals

• Multiply rapidly inside the body

 

2. Helminths (worms)

Larger, multicellular parasites.

• Examples: roundworms, tapeworms, flukes

• Can live in intestines, blood vessels, muscles, even lungs

• Often long-term residents (years)

 

3. Ectoparasites

Live on the body.

• Examples: lice, ticks, fleas, mites

• Feed on blood or skin

• Can transmit other diseases

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While most parasites in humans are found in the hair, skin, gut and intestines, some parasites may find their way into the reproductive organs, heart, lungs and even the brain.

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How Parasites Affect The Body:

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1) Nutrient Theft & Energy Drain

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Parasites often:

• Consume iron, glucose, vitamin B12, protein

• Interfere with nutrient absorption
  This can lead to:

• Fatigue

• Anemia

• Weight loss or failure to gain weight

• Muscle weakness

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2) Chronic Inflammation

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The immune system is constantly fighting an intruder, causing:

• Ongoing inflammation

• Gut irritation

• Tissue damage

• Autoimmune-like symptoms in some cases

 

 

Organ-specific Damage

 

Depending on where the parasite lives:

• Gut → diarrhea, bloating, abdominal pain

• Liver → enlargement, fibrosis

• Lungs → coughing, breathing issues

• Blood → anemia, fever cycles

• Brain → seizures, headaches, cognitive changes

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Some parasites even form cysts in tissues, including the brain and muscles.

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How Parasites Affect The Mind & Brain

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1) Neuro-inflammation

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Parasites can:

• Trigger immune responses in the brain

• Alter neurotransmitter balance

• Affect the blood–brain barrier

 

This may result in:

• Brain fog

• Memory problems

• Difficulty concentrating

• Headaches

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Mood & Mental Health Changes

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Reported effects include:

• Anxiety

• Depression-like symptoms

• Irritability

• Emotional flatness

• Sleep disturbances

 

These can come from:

• Chronic inflammation

• Nutrient deficiencies (especially iron and B vitamins)

• Direct neurological involvement

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Behavior Manipulation

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Some parasites appear to alter host behavior to improve their own survival.

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The most famous example:

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• Toxoplasma gondii

  • Infects rodents → makes them less afraid of cats

  • Cats eat rodents → parasite completes its life cycle

  • In humans, it’s been linked (not conclusively, but intriguingly) to:

    • Risk-taking behavior

    • Slower reaction times

    • Subtle personality changes

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This may sound like some fictional, sci-fi, zombie movie, but it is very real. ​In the animal world parasites can make bugs go against their natural survival instincts, putting themselves in danger, and allowing predators to eat them so that the parasite can propagate and find new hosts. Some infected animals that are docile in nature suddenly become extremely aggressive, attacking other animals as well as their own kind.​

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Why Symptoms Are Often Vague, Missed Or Misunderstood:

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Parasite infections can be:

• Slow-moving

• Low-grade

• Mistaken for stress, IBS, anxiety, depression, or “burnout”

 

Many people don’t realize they’re infected because symptoms are:

• Non-specific

• Cyclical

• Mild but persistent

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How The Body Defends Itself

• Stomach acid

• Immune cells (especially eosinophils)

• Gut microbiome

• Fever and inflammation

 

How Some Parasites May Counter The Defences

• They disguise themselves chemically

• Suppress immune responses

• Hide in tissues with limited immune access

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Elimination Of Gut Parasites: Deworming

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Deworming is one of those topics that sounds medieval but is very much modern medicine. It’s about identifying and eliminating parasitic worms (helminths) from the body and supporting recovery afterwards.

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At its core, deworming is:

1. Detecting a worm infection (or treating presumptively in high-risk settings)

2. Using anti-parasitic medications to kill or expel the worms

3. Repairing and rebalancing the body afterward

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Why Deworming Needs To Be Done

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Worms can:

• Steal nutrients (iron, protein, B vitamins)

• Damage gut lining

• Trigger chronic immune activation

• Release toxins and waste products

• Interfere with hormone and neurotransmitter balance

 

Deworming aims to remove a long-term physiological stressor that the body may have adapted to without fully recovering.

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Common Worms Targeted In Deworming

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Most protocols focus on:

• Roundworms (Ascaris)

• Hookworms

• Whipworms

• Pinworms

• Tapeworms

• Flukes (in some regions)

 

Each has a different life cycle, which is why treatment is often repeated rather than one-and-done.

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How Deworming Medications Work

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Anti-helminthic drugs generally:

• Paralyze the worm

• Disrupt its metabolism

• Prevent nutrient uptake

• Or interfere with reproduction

 

Once weakened or dead, worms are:

• Expelled through the gut, or

• Broken down and cleared by the immune system

 

This process can stress the body temporarily.

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Effects Of Deworming On The Body

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Gut Changes

• Reduced irritation and inflammation

• Gradual healing of the intestinal lining

• Shifts in gut microbiome composition

 

Some people notice:

• Improved digestion

• Less bloating

• Better appetite regulation

 

Others may feel temporarily worse before better.

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Nutritional Rebound

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After deworming, the body may:

• Absorb nutrients more efficiently

• Correct long-standing deficiencies

• Increase red blood cell production

 

This can feel like:

• Slowly returning energy

• Improved temperature regulation

• Better exercise tolerance

 

But rebuilding takes time.

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Mental And Emotional Shifts

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This part surprises people. After deworming, some report:

• Clearer thinking

• Improved mood stability

• Reduced anxiety or irritability

• More vivid emotions (good and bad)

• Changes in sleep patterns

 

Why?

• Reduced inflammation

• Improved iron and B vitamin status

• Less immune-brain signaling

• Gut–brain axis rebalancing

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After Deworming, Recovery Matters

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Clearing worms is step one. Recovery may involve:

• Nutritional replenishment (iron, protein, micronutrients)

• Gut repair

• Immune recalibration

• Monitoring symptoms over weeks to months

 

People often underestimate this phase.

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Food That Suppresses/Eliminates Parasites:

• Turmeric

• Cinnamon

• Garlic

• Ginger

• Onion

• Cayenne Pepper

• Horseradish

• Clove

• Oregano

• Pineapple

• Papaya & Papaya Seeds

• Pumpkin Seeds

• Pomergranate

• Coconut

• Fermented Food & Probiotics - Yogurt, kimchi, kefir, sauerkraut and natto

• Apple Cider Vinegar

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