I know that when you say the word "parasite" some think of the digestive system only.
Sometimes it is hard to go further in our minds based on what we have been told in our pasts.
But. parasites are living in all of us and in ever part of our bodies.
Like viruses we can either keep them in check or NOT.
Babesia is a parasite.
There are others that we get and are exposed to in our daily lives
Sometime we can keep them in check and sometimes we can not.
I was wondering who does parasite treatments and what do you use??
Here is some Long information but this one article goes on and on about
each specific kind.
There is a ton of information out there that needs more attention for us who are ill!!!
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Parasites or Helminths
Over 340 varieties of parasites can live in the human body. The scientific name for parasites is helminths. Many form large colonies inside the folds within your colon. Others attach themselves to the inner walls of your colon and small intestine. Some parasites live in the skin, blood, tissues, and organs - and even in the brain!
A human parasite is an organism or animal which lives inside the host human and survives and thrives by either eating the food ingested by the host, or by eating body cells and tissues of the host. The parasite which is able to find enough food to survive will reproduce and eventually cause an infestation.
An infection by parasites in the human body is called human helminthiasis. Infections by parasitic worms are called filarial infections. This article deals with INTERNAL human parasites such as roundworms, tapeworms, flukes, and the single-celled amoebae and protoza which live inside the human body, including the two blood-sucking roundworm species called hookworms and whipworms.
It does not discuss the biting and blood-sucking parasites like mosquitos, horseflies, leeches and vampire bats which temporarily feed on a human host from outside, or those insect vampires like ticks, fleas, lice and bedbugs which attach themselves to the outer skin. In tropical regions, residents and tourists can be infected with serious diseases by the bite of mosquitos which transmit the parasitic Plasmodium protozoa which causes Malaria, and also the virus which causes Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF).
In its award-winning documentary, The Body Snatchers, National Geographic magazine reported: "In fact, parasites have killed more humans than all the wars in history." In the August 2000 issue of Discover magazine, an article titled Do Parasites Rule the World? stated: "Every living thing has at least one parasite that lives inside or on it, and many, including humans, have far more."
Even newborn or very young babies can be infested with parasites. Everyone on earth will have some kind of internal parasite, but most will not even be aware of them. Many are relatively harmless, like pinworms. But some can cause very debilitating and difficult-to-diagnose diseases. And infection by some parasites like the Naegleria fowleri brain-eating amoeba almost always lead to death of the human host.
The roundworm known as Toxocara canis, which often infects dogs, is now causing a common parasitic infection called toxocarias among inner city African-American and Hispanic children. It is estimated that as many as 23 percent of Americans who live in poverty are exposed to this parasitic worm. Toxocara canis causes a lung disease that resembles asthma. This roundworm infection may be misdiagnosed as asthma, and inappropriate and ineffective treatments may be mistakenly prescribed. Toxocarias can also cause liver and brain disease.
Cysticercosis, which is caused by the tapeworm Taenia solium, is becoming the leading cause of epilepsy among Hispanic populations in the USA.
Toxoplasmosis, an infection by the parasite protozoa Toxoplasma gondii, is now a leading cause of congenital birth defects among Mexican Americans and African Americans. The Toxoplasma parasite is often transmitted to humans through contact with the feces of cats who have eaten an infected mouse or bird, or through contact with garden soil or vegetables which have been in contact with cat feces.
Parasitic worm eggs or oocysts are most often carried to the mouth on fingers which have been in contact with feces - or with grass, soil, kitty litter, dog fur, diapers, or bathroom surfaces which have been contaminated with feces which contain the parasite's eggs or larvae (fecal-oral transmission).
Tapeworm larvae which form protective cysts inside the muscle tissue of cattle, pigs, sheep, rabbits, wild game, and fish can be ingested when a human eats meat or fish which has not been cooked to a temperature high enough to kill the larvae. Just one cubic inch of raw Grade A beef often contains more than 1,000 parasite larvae!
You would be wise to avoid cooking your cuts of meat or hamburgers only to the "rare" or "medium rare" state, which is not hot enough to kill all the tapeworm larvae in the center portion. And consider the risk in consuming sushi made with raw fish.
Now you might understand why the ancient texts known as the Christian Bible and the Hebrew Torah warn against eating "swine" or pork. An ingested pork tapeworm larva (Taenia solium) is the one most likely to cause serious damage or even death, because it prefers to migrate to the central nervous system and can form an ever-enlarging cyst in the spinal cord or the brain or the eyes. The pressure exerted by the growing cyst can cause paralysis or brain damage or blindness.
Blood flukes and their eggs usually enter the body by drinking water which contains them. Microscopic protozoa and amoebae also enter the body in contaminated drinking water or by eating food washed in contaminated water.
Some microscopic parasites, like the Trichomonas vaginalis protozoa, can be transmitted by sexual contact. This is presently one of the most common STDs in women and men.
Some human parasites are transferred from animals to humans in the form of tiny and almost invisible eggs or larvae which attach to the animal's fur or are present in their mouths. A tiny worm larva or the oocyst stage of a worm can enter a human after being transferred to the human's fingers, which later touch their lips or food they consume - or when a pet cat or dog licks their face or hand and it gets transferred into their mouth.
Kissing a beloved cat or dog is an even more efficient way to transfer parasites from the pet's fur directly to the pet owner's lips and mouth. Don't be misled by the myth that a dog's mouth is cleaner than a human mouth (human mouths are never "clean" and mouth-to-mouth contact can transmit many diseases). Don't think that kissing your dog (or cat) is not going to cause any problems. You would be exposing yourself to many kinds of infections by nasty parasites that can be present in your pet's fur or mouth!
You should also wash your hands after touching objects such as balls or toys which have been in your pet's mouth, or when a dog or cat licks your hand. Letting your pet sleep on your bed presents a risk of transmitting parasite eggs or larvae from your pet's fur or mouth to the bedclothes, and from there to your hands or mouth.
The risk of parasite infection is greatly increased when your pet dog or cat spends time outdoors, and especially if it catches wild animals such as mice and birds, or comes into contact with dog or cat feces. Also, you should avoid walking barefoot on (or exposing bare skin to) any ground which has been contaminated by feces from dogs, cats, or humans.
Most Common Species of Human Parasite (Helminths)
An estimated 150 million Americans have an intestinal parasite infestation, and over 55 million American children have parasite worms. Ascaris Lumbricoides, a large roundworm, is the most common nematode parasite found in humans, infecting an estimated 1.47 billion individuals world-wide!
The most common helminth (parasite) species are:
Ancylostoma duodenale, Ascaris lumbricoides, Brugia malayi, Brugia timori, Hymenolepis nana, Necator americanus, Onchocerca volvulus, Paragonimus westermani, Schistosoma haematobium, Schistosoma mansoni, Strongyloides stercoralis, Taenia saginata, Taenia solium, Trichuris trichiura, and Wuchereria bancrofti.
Some helminths which are found worldwide, but are less common, include:
Diphyllobothrium latum, Echinococcus granulosus, and Echinococcus multilocularis..
Where Human Parasites (helminths) Live in Our Bodies
Alimentary tract (digestive system): 197 species
Cavities, organs and tissues: 107 species
Circulatory system (blood and heart): 21 species
Skin and tissues: 56 species
How Parasites Affect Our Health
Parasites sap our strength and weaken our immune system. They steal nutrients from the food passing through our GI tract and leave us malnourished and sluggish even when we eat healthy foods. Some chronic ailments such as allergies, arthritis, and chronic fatigue have been linked to an infection by parasites.
The epithelial cells in the lining of the colon absorb water and electrolytes and transport them directly to the bloodstream. Parasites (and toxins) in the intestines can sometimes enter the blood and be carried to the organs and tissues of the body.
Parasite Symptoms
Some common symptoms which may indicate the presence of human intestinal parasites (helminthiasis) such as colon parasites and blood parasites:
lethargy and slow reflexes, feeling tired all the time (chronic fatigue)
neither you nor your doctor can figure out why you just don't feel well
depression
gastrointestinal symptoms, bulky stools with excess fat in feces
digestive problems such as gas, bloating, constipation, or diarrhea that come and go but never really clear up
irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
burning sensation in the stomach
anemia or iron deficiency (pernicious anemia)
eating more than normal but still feeling hungry
difficulty in losing or gaining weight no matter how you try
excessive number of bacterial or viral infections
tried a program to get rid of a Candida yeast infection which didn't help (or it keeps coming back), and you still have cravings for bread, fruit, fruit juices, or alcohol
headaches
restlessness or anxiety
fast heartbeat, heart pain
insomnia, multiple awakenings during the night (particularly between 2 and 3 am)
bed wetting
teeth grinding and drooling during sleep
transmandibular jaw syndrome (TMJ)
depressed immune system
constant coughs and colds
joint pain, muscle pain, and arthritis-like symptoms
pain in the back, shoulders, and thighs
pain in navel
numbness in hands
skin ailments such as hives, rashes, weeping eczema, itchy dermatitis, acne, cutaneous ulcers, sores, papular lesions, inflammation or swelling
allergic-like reactions with no apparent cause
itchiness in ears, nose, and anus
food allergies, food sensitivities, environmental intolerance or over-sensitivity (to smoke, chemicals, perfumes, etc.)
loss of appetite or strong cravings for greasy foods and sugary foods
forgetfulness, lack of focus, lack of clarity in thinking
sexual dysfunction in men
menstrual cycle problems in women
hyperactivity and nervousness in children.
Parasites can be the cause of many ailments which are often mistakenly diagnosed as a bacterial infection, for which antibiotic drugs may be inappropriately prescribed. Antibiotics are usually ineffective against parasites, and they can make matters worse by killing all the beneficial probiotic bacteria which normally help keep parasites, pathogenic bacteria, yeast and fungus under control.
Rest of Document talking about
Parasite worms, Parasite Amoebae, Brain Eating Amoebae
http://www.astrologyzine.com/health/parasites-and-worms.shtml#parasitic%20
worms
Post Edited (KeepHope) : 3/15/2009 10:47:17 PM (GMT-6)