The Role of Parasite Infections in Chronic Disease

While it is common knowledge that parasites can give us gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea and vomiting, few people appreciate the connection between these microbes and chronic disease outside the digestive tract such as arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, asthma, skin disorders and depression.

Parasites are able to produce downstream symptoms outside the GI tract by way of

1) direct injury to the gut lining,

2) releasing toxic by-products into the body, and

3) migration from the intestinal tract into the general circulation to other parts of the body.

Gut lining injury

Some parasites directly invade the lining of the intestines. For instance tapeworms and roundworms attach themselves to the lining of the small intestine, resulting in intestinal bleeding which leads to loss of nutrients. Other types of parasites provoke allergic reactions that lead to inflammation of the gut lining. Both contribute to leaky gut syndrome, a condition whereby the pores of the intestinal lining are opened too wide, allowing undigested food particles, environmental toxins and pathogens to enter the bloodstream. These foreign invaders overload our liver and also accumulate in our organs, muscles, lymphatic system and nervous system, creating a wide variety of disease conditions like arthritis, asthma, eczema, and chronic fatigue and memory loss.

Toxic By-products

Like all living organisms, parasites secrete waste products. These parasite wastes add on to their hosts' toxic load and become stressors to our immune system.

Migration

Parasites are capable of migrating from the intestines to organs, joints and muscles. Cryptostrongylus pulmoni, a type of lung worm discovered by Dr Larry Klapow, had shown up in the sputum of 40% of his CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome) patients. Another type of parasite known as E.histolytica had been found to migrate to the liver and is capable of causing weight loss and insomnia. In some cases of ulcerative colitis, elimination of this parasite resolves the condition.

Research Findings

A study reported in the Journal of Nutritional Medicine revealed that out of over 400 chronic fatigue immune deficiency syndrome (CFIDS) patients in New York, an incredible 93 per cent had some form of parasitic infestation. Dr Leo Galland reported that 80% of CFIS patients showed significant improvement of fatigue after receiving treatment for infection by a type of parasite known as Blastocystis hominis.

Many doctors and other health professionals now believe that we may be seriously underestimating parasites as contributors to chronic disease. Fortunately, with the right herbal and nutritional supplements, we can enjoy good health once again.