How to Do a Parasite Cleanse

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What to eat to get rid of intestinal parasites
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Drinking contaminated water or eating uncooked meat can cause intestinal parasites, leaving you feeling sick, bloated, and anything but good. If you’ve been dealing with stomach issues and think you may have a parasite, try cleansing them from your body by changing your diet and taking herbal supplements. While there isn’t enough scientific evidence to back up the effectiveness of a parasite cleanse, it may be worth trying with the guidance of a doctor. Keep reading to learn what you can do to remove parasites naturally and effectively.

Things You Should Know

  • Some people believe you can detoxify your body from intestinal parasites by eating more pumpkin, flax, and papaya seeds.
  • Another popular parasite cleanse involves fasting and only consuming fermented drinks, like kefir and apple cider vinegar.
  • To improve your overall gut health, try taking herbal supplements, such as oregano oil, anise, and grapefruit seed extract.
Section 1 of 4:

Parasite Cleanse Diet

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  1. Step 1 Eat pumpkin, flax, and papaya seeds.
    Consuming more of these seeds is said to be a natural and effective way to weaken and remove intestinal parasites. Studies have shown that eating raw seeds for at least a week benefited patients with parasites and helped lessen their overall symptoms.[1]
    • Try sprinkling flax seeds into a yogurt bowl or smoothie.
    • Pour some pumpkin seeds on a salad for a healthy and satisfying crunch.
    • Eat papaya seeds by using them as a garnish on soups or blending them to make a dressing.
    • Be aware that while some studies show that papaya seeds can help reduce parasite symptoms, there isn’t consistent evidence to declare whether or not consuming them is effective or safe.[2]
  2. Step 2 Add more garlic to your diet.
    Garlic is a superfood that may naturally weaken parasites by boosting your body’s immune system. Studies have shown that high doses of garlic could help eliminate parasites in the body.[3] While there isn’t enough evidence to fully support this claim, there’s no harm in giving it a try!
    • Eat raw garlic by blending it into a juice, making pesto, or adding it to mashed potatoes.
    • As an alternative, have 2 garlic supplements 3 times a day at meals for 10 days.
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  3. Step 3 Eat more fiber.
    Add more leafy and green vegetables to your diet to help replenish the body and flush out parasites. Foods high in fiber help your stomach work and process food, and the more you poop, the more likely the parasite will leave your body.[4] High fiber foods include:
    • Lettuce
    • Swiss chard
    • Carrots
    • Spinach
    • Legumes
    • Broccoli
  4. Step 4 Avoid simple carbohydrates, like sugars and bread.
    Parasites often feed on sugar, so try cutting off their food supply by staying away from carbohydrates. Do your best to avoid sugars, fruits, and non-whole-grain bread for at least a week in an effort to weaken the parasite.[5]
    • Simple carbohydrates are the sugars found naturally or unnaturally in food. For instance, brown sugar, syrup, raw sugar, and corn syrup are all examples of simple carbohydrates.
    • Try to consume more complex carbohydrates, like barley, brown rice, oatmeal, and seeds.
  5. Step 5 Fast with fermented drinks.
    If you believe you have a parasite, try detoxing the body to eliminate it. Some holistic experts recommend a 3 to 21-day low-calorie fast with fermented drinks. Fermented drinks have antimicrobial properties that promote gastrointestinal health and may be able to help eliminate parasites.[6] Kefir, fermented ginger, and apple cider vinegar can all help detox the body.
    • Talk to your doctor about fasting before you start the process, as they can tell you if the process is a safe and effective treatment for you.
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Section 2 of 4:

Parasite Cleanse Home Remedies

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  1. Step 1 Some people believe herbal supplements can help cleanse the body of parasites.
    Combining natural ingredients and herbs is an ancient way of getting rid of parasites. A vitamin or 2 a day may help reduce your symptoms naturally and improve your overall health.[7]
    • These herbal supplements are said to help cleanse human parasite infections:
      • Anise
      • Barberry
      • Berberine
      • Black walnut
      • Clove oil
      • Curled mint
      • Goldthread
      • Goldenseal
      • Grapefruit seed extract
      • Propolis
      • Oregano oil
      • Oregon grape
      • Wormwood
    • Holistic experts recommend doing a natural supplement cleanse for 2 weeks.[8]
    • Always consult your doctor before starting a natural remedy. Natural supplements can interact with prescription medications and could worsen your health if you don’t take the necessary precautions.[9]
  2. Step 2 Boosting your immune system with vitamin C or zinc may ease parasite symptoms.
    Some holistic experts believe that one of the best and easiest ways to combat intestinal parasites is to boost the immune system. Daily doses of vitamin C and/or zinc can help promote your overall health and give your body strength to fight the parasite(s).
    • Vitamin C can be found in citrus fruits, like oranges, lemons, and grapefruits. Men 19+ are recommend to take 90 mg (0.090 g) of vitamin C a day, while women 19+ should take 75 mg (0.075 g).[10]
    • Zinc can be found in oysters, beans, and whole grains. Men 19+ are recommend to take 11 mg (0.011 g) of zinc a day, while women 19+ should take 8 mg (0.0080 g).[11]
  3. Step 3 Take a daily probiotic to promote gut health.
    Probiotics are an easy and simple way to help balance and regulate the bacteria in your intestines and stomach. Having a daily probiotic not only helps strength your body’s overall health, but it may also help prevent intestinal parasites.[12]
    • Probiotics are typically taken in a capsule or gummy form; however, they can also be found in yogurts and fermented foods.[13]
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Section 3 of 4:

How do you know if you have a parasite?

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  1. Intestinal parasites can cause stomach issues, like diarrhea and nausea.
    If you have parasites, it’s likely because you ate or drank something contaminated. Traveling abroad or visiting tropical climates is the leading cause of parasitic infections.[14] While each type of parasite has its own range of symptoms, they all have a few things in common. You may have intestinal parasites if you feel these symptoms:
    • Diarrhea
    • Constipation[15]
    • Stomach pain and/or cramps
    • Chronic nausea and/or vomiting
    • Weight loss
    • Bloating
    • Loss of appetite
    • Dehydration
    • Fever
    • Anemia
    • Face swelling
Section 4 of 4:

When to Seek Medical Attention

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  1. See a doctor if your symptoms don’t improve.
    While it’s always best to consult your doctor before starting a parasite cleanse, call them immediately if you don’t feel better after changing your diet or trying herbal supplements. In some cases, a parasite cleanse won’t be able to completely cure symptoms. Because of this, it’s always best to talk to your doctor before self-diagnosing and treating yourself.[16]
    • Depending on the type of parasite, a doctor may prescribe medications or dietary changes to remove the parasite.[17]
    • To diagnose intestinal parasites, your doctor may perform a fecal test (collecting a stool sample), a “Scotch tape” test (where tape is placed on the anus to collect parasite eggs), or an x-ray.
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Warnings

  • Keep in mind that a parasite cleanse or diet isn’t a sure way to eliminate parasites or cure your symptoms. Always opt to visit a doctor or licensed physician if you believe you have an intestinal parasite.
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References

  1. ↑ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17472487
  2. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/papaya-seeds-parasite-cleanse/
  3. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6023319/
  4. ↑ https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/patientinstructions/000193.htm
  5. ↑ https://www.stlukes-stl.com/health-content/medicine/33/000097.htm
  6. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10221066/
  7. ↑ https://www.stlukes-stl.com/health-content/medicine/33/000097.htm
  8. ↑ http://theholisticpractice.com/2017/06/parasite-cleanse-diet/
  9. ↑ https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/detoxes-and-cleanses-what-you-need-to-know
  1. ↑ https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminC-HealthProfessional/
  2. ↑ https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Zinc-HealthProfessional/
  3. ↑ http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/9/5/03-0134_article
  4. ↑ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3002586/
  5. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2754014/
  6. ↑ http://healthwyze.org/reports/243-eliminating-the-parasites-that-you-almost-certainly-have-and-curing-lupus.html
  7. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/papaya-seeds-parasite-cleanse/
  8. ↑ https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/condition/intestinal-parasites

About This Article

Ritu Thakur, MA
Co-authored by:
Ritu Thakur, MA
Natural Health Care Professional
This article was co-authored by Ritu Thakur, MA and by wikiHow staff writer, Aly Rusciano. Dr. Ritu Thakur is a healthcare consultant based in Delhi, India. She has over 14 years of experience in Ayurveda, Naturopathy, Yoga, and Holistic Care. Dr. Ritu also works as a business consultant in the life sciences domain. She has successfully executed 150+ small to large-scale custom consulting projects for both established and development-stage companies. She received her Bachelor Degree in Medicine (BAMS) in 2009 from BU University, Bhopal followed by her Master's in Health Care in 2011 from Apollo Institute of Health Care Management, Hyderabad. This article has been viewed 75,215 times.
22 votes - 91%
Co-authors: 21
Updated: July 11, 2024
Views: 75,215
Categories: Animal Parasites of Humans | Body Cleansing

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