12 Signs You Might Have Parasites

Parasitic infections are more common than you might think. The thought of it can make you feel a bit queasy but as Ed Yong in his book ‘I Contain Multitudes states’, “Even when we are alone, we are never alone.”

If you have a pet or are a lover of sushi, both can make you more susceptible to parasite infection.

Parasites are all around us, in our food, water and the air we breathe.

These microscopic organisms live in the gut alongside all the other bacteria, but can cause a multitude of health issues.

Some eat the food we consume, leaving us hungry a lot of the time, others cause anaemia, feeding off red blood blood cells. Parasites like threadworms can cause anal itching, irritability and insomnia but there are other symptoms you might not link to a parasitic infection.

Signs You Might have a Parasite

• Unexplained bloating, constipation, diarrhoea, foul smelling gas
• Teeth grinding at night
• Recently traveled abroad and experienced diarrhoea
• Food poisoning with ongoing gut issues
• Aching muscles and joints
• Fatigue and depression
• Apathy
• Not feeling satiated after food
• Allergies
• Coughing and wheezing
• Itching around the anus
• Skin irritation and rashes

Common Parasites

• Threadworms
• Roundworms
• Tapeworms
• Scabies

Parasite Risk Factors

• Consuming sushi
• Owning a pet 
• Eating under cooked meat
• Unclean fruit or vegetables
• Not washing hands properly after going to the toilet
• Working with farm animals
• Walking bare foot as they can get in here!

Eliminating Parasites

The simplest way to check for parasites is to send a stool sample for testing. Unfortunately out of over 3000 species, only around 50 can be tested for.

Untreated parasitic infection can cause havoc on the body, damaging intestines and organs and poisoning the body with the toxic waste products they release.

It is advisable to take a herbal anti-parasitic like Viridian’s Clove and Oregano Complex once or twice a year.

Cloves have been used for centuries as a treatment for worms and studies show it acts against various pathogenic parasites and microorganisms. Clove oil has also been shown to eradicate the eggs. It is anti-microbial, anti-fungal and antiviral.