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Parasites & The Damage Done

DIE-OFF SYMPTOMS ...  HERXHEIMER REACTION

10/24/2017

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Die-off symptoms when doing any cleanse may include one having a fever and/or chills and other flu-like symptoms including headache, dizziness, etc. 

Jarisch–Herxheimer reaction (often simply called a Herxheimer reaction) often refers to endotoxin-like products released by the death of harmful microorganisms within the body during antibiotic treatment. 

Jarisch–Herxheimer reaction is traditionally associated with antimicrobial treatment of syphilis, when both Jarisch & Herxheimer independently observed this reaction when treating their patients with mercury.... yes, mercury.  Mercury is toxic to not only us, but pathogens as well.  Some of you may remember the topical antiseptic called Mercurochrome (Merbromin) that contains mercury.  It is no longer available in the United States, but is still on the market in other countries per the Wikipedia entry (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merbromin).  Unfortunately, I was injured often as a child and my mom swore by Mercurochrome (and still does).

In short, effective antimicrobial, antifungal, and anti-parasitic therapy results in destruction (lysis) of bacterial, fungal, and parasitic helminth and protozoan cell membranes, resulting in the release into the bloodstream of toxins, producing a systemic inflammatory response and/or an immune system reaction.

***********************************************************************************
die-off [noun]: a sudden, natural perishing of large numbers of a species, population, or community.

Die-off reactions that I experienced:
  • Itchy skin and/or crawling sensation in skin
  • Nightmares (I had terrible nightmares for the first 5 nights, but none directly involving worms).  This was expected and I was not alarmed. 
  • Bad dreams helped me remove the human parasites from my life and deal with emotional issues that I needed to address and process by bringing these issues to the surface.
  • Pain in right side of abdomen that "traveled" as parts broke up and caused more material to be in my intestinal tract ... keep in mind this will only occur when dealing with large worms not protozoan (single-celled) parasites or small helminths (i.e., worms).
  • Headaches, general body aches, fatigue, malaise. 
  • Flu-like symptoms (I consumed extra Vitamin C-rich foods and one or more of the following: Echinacea – tea or tincture, Goldenseal – tincture, Cat’s claw – tincture) to boost my immune system, when this occurred.
  • Breakouts
  • Rashes
  • Irritability
  • Anxiety

References:
die-off. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged. Retrieved September 21, 2017 from Dictionary.com website http://www.dictionary.com/browse/die-off

Belum GR, Belum VR, Chaitanya Arudra SK, Reddy BS (2013). "The Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction: revisited". Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease. 11 (4): 231–7. PMID 23632012. doi:10.1016/j.tmaid.2013.04.001.

Other symptoms observed as a result of a Herheimer reaction include rapid heartbeat (tachycardia), hyperventilation, hypotension, possibly vasodilation with flushing, muscle pain (myalgia), exacerbation of skin lesions and anxiety.

NOTE: Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction is also seen in the other diseases caused by spirochetes (group of spiral-shaped or corkscrew-shaped bacteria): Lyme disease (from bacteria called Borrelia) and leptospirosis (from bacteria called Leptospira).  There have been case reports of the Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction accompanying treatment of other infections as well. 

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Common Symptoms of Intestinal Parasites

8/9/2017

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It is claimed that most parasitic infections are asymptomatic, but that is not true. From the first day of being infected, it is placing stress on the body and activating the immune system.  The parasite is also depleting the nutrients in various ways: by consuming your food, by physically interfering – as is the case for helminths (i.e., worms and flukes) – with proper digestion, which disrupts nutrient assimilation, and by the metabolic waste being released by the parasites which further increases the body's need for more nutrients to address the extra toxic burden.

The health issues increase over time due various factors including the aforementioned nutrient depletion and excess burden on the body by the release of the parasites’ metabolic waste combined with the increase in size and/or the number of parasites and any obstructions that may occur in the intestines or the organs, such as the gallbladder.
 

Not all symptoms may be experienced, as the symptoms depend on many factors: type(s) of parasite(s) one is infected, overall parasite load, health of individual prior to infection, length of time of infection, diet and lifestyle of individual, age of individual, etc.  Also some symptoms come and go (i.e., occur intermittently).  Some days can be better than others, but damage to the body continues to get worse over time.  

Digestive Issues (Complaints):
  • Abdominal or Stomach Pain / Abdominal Swelling and/or Pressure
  • Bloating / Bowel Upsets / Churning Stomach / Upset Stomach
  • Heartburn / GERD
  • Diarrhea / Constipation
  • Foul Smelling Stools & Foul Smelling Flatulence / Gas
  • Mucus in Stool
  • Incomplete Digestion Resulting in Undigested Food in Toilet
  • Floating Stools and/or Oils in Toilet Due To Poor Fat Digestion
  • Nausea / Vomiting
  • Excessive Hunger / Food Cravings / Lack of Satiety
  • Food Allergies
  • Food Sensitivities or Intolerances (especially to Gluten and/or Dairy)
  • Increase in Seasonal Allergies
Nutritional Deficiencies:
  • Anemia (from Iron and/or B12)
  • Nutritional Deficiencies
  • Malnutrition
  • Neuropathy / Numbness & Tingling in Extremities (common symptom of a Vitamin B12 deficiency)
     NOTE: Fish tapeworms are known to cause Vitamin B12 deficiency.
     Intestinal flukes cause iron deficiency.
Mood Disorders:
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Irritability
  • Schizophrenia (linked to Toxoplasma gondii)¹
  • Bipolar Disorder¹
  • Anger Issues / Aggressive Behavior¹
Pain:
  • Headaches / Migraines
  • Joint Pain (Wrists, Elbows, Knees, Hands, Feet, etc.)
  • Muscle Aches And Pains
  • Back Pain / Neck Pain
Skin Issues:
  • Acne
  • Dermatitis
  • Eczema
  • Rashes (including itchy, red, inflamed, painful, tender, blistering and/or weeping sores; dry, scaly, itchy patches on any part of the body)
Sleep Issues:
  • Insomnia 
  • Sudden Waking (Especially Within First Two Hours of Going to Bed)
Energy Issues:
  • Fatigue
  • Lack of Energy / Low Energy
  • Lethargy
  • Weakness
Immune Function Issues:
  • Poor Immune Function
  • Weakened Immune System
  • Having Flu-like Symptoms
  • Getting sick more frequently
Other:
  • Bad Breath / Unpleasant Taste in the Mouth
  • Brain Fog / Poor Attention / Lack of Concentration / Restlessness
  • Dizziness / Lightheadedness / Fainting
  • Poor Blood Sugar Control
  • Teeth Grinding 
  • Itching Around Anus (Typically from Pinworms)
  • Cough² (Typically from Ascariasis or Hookworms)
  • Shortness of Breath² (Typically from Ascariasis)

NOTE: There are parasites that live in the blood, various organs, the brain, the spinal column, etc. and will cause additional symptoms not listed here. 

Future posts will discuss:
- Symptoms of Vitamin B12 Deficiency
- How parasitic infections are linked to various diseases, especially auto-immune diseases.

Thanks for reading!  With love to all!

Sources:
¹Del Grande, C., Galli, L., Schiavi, E., Dell’Osso, L., & Bruschi, F. (2017). Is Toxoplasma gondii a Trigger of Bipolar Disorder? Pathogens, 6(1), 3. http://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens6010003
²University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). Roundworms:
http://www.umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/condition/roundworms
 
References:
CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/diphyllobothrium/faqs.html

Mayo Clinic
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tapeworm/basics/definition/con-20025898?p=1

NHS (National Health Service)
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Tapeworm-infections/Pages/Symptoms.aspx

Medical News Today
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170461.php

WebMD
http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/tapeworms-in-humans#1

Medline Plus
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001375.htm

WHO (World Health Organization)
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs376/en/

8 Comments

    Author

    Learned about intestinal parasites from personal experience. 
    Degrees in Research Methodology, Applied Mathematics, & Natural Sciences. 
    Extensive coursework in Nutrition, Anatomy, and Herbalism.

    Symptoms of Parasitic Infection - BLOG

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The information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other healthcare provider.  Please consult your healthcare provider before embarking on any diet, fast, exercise, or supplementation program and/or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem.  Do not use or consume any wild plants based solely on the information on this website.                            © 2016-2023 I Love Iodine. All Rights Reserved.
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