Written by Rustina
You’ve heard the horror stories. A squiggly worm when you look into the porcelain abyss. A white thing in the diaper. Something crawling out of your eye. Eeew! That one had me cringing when I heard the story. She was terrified to look in the mirror after that, but also couldn’t stand being unable to check every 5 minutes!
Detoxing Parasites
In Everything You Need to Know About Parasites, we discussed some of the different parasites and why (and when) one may want to do a parasite cleanse. We also mentioned that not all parasites cause harm.
It isn’t necessary to do a detox every day. But doing an occasional detox can help keep things balanced. I like to do a parasite cleanser once every three months. Right now, I use a ready-made one from Earthley Wellness called Gut Health Oil because life is just busy, and it’s affordable. It is even made with four of the ingredients we will discuss shortly: coconut oil, cloves, pumpkin seed oil, and calendula.
If you read our blog, Everything You Need to Know About Ivermectin, you know there are some herbs and foods with antiparasitic properties, including but not limited to:
- Coconut oil
- Cloves
- Peppermint (Some nursing moms may find mint reduces their milk production, so be cautious if nursing)
- Pumpkin seed
- Usnea
- Calendula
Other herbs like black walnut or wormwood can be used, but they are stronger and can be accompanied by side effects. These herbs also aren’t recommended while pregnant or nursing.
If you read our blog, Everything You Need to Know About Detoxing, you know supporting your entire body – liver, kidneys, lymphatic system, gut, immune system, and adrenals is a crucial step. Not doing this step is often the #1 detox mistake. The same goes for detoxing while pregnant or nursing. If parasite infection symptoms are low, waiting until you’re finished nursing may be best. Personally, I didn’t use a gut detox until my youngest was about 2 years old (he nursed until he was 4). I used Earthley’s Gut Health Oil and Liver Love (Black liver Oil is another great option, but that wasn’t around when I did my detox).
Some foods also have enzymes that break down food and help support hydrochloric acid for good food digestion and killing parasitic infections. For instance, papaya has papain, and pineapple has bromelain; both are proteolytic enzymes that help break down protein.
Parasite Detox Collection
Options are always helpful. Different things work for different people for different parasites. Not to mention, some things are easier to sneak in on pickier little ones!
Parasite Detox Oil
Great for all food-eating toddlers and adults.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of coconut oil
- ¼ cup of crushed whole cloves
- ¼ cup of crushed usnea
Directions:
Step 1: Put both crushed herbs in a half-pint jar.
Step 2: Cover to the top of the jar with coconut oil and tighten a lid on it.
Step 3: Gently turn up and down a few times to be sure the oil covers all the herbs.
Step 4: Place in a cool, dark location with low moisture for 6-8 weeks.
Step 5: After 6-8 weeks, strain through cheesecloth or a fine mesh and pour the infused oil into a dark glass jar with a dropper.
Usage: Take 5-20 individual drops a day, progressing from 5 up to 20 for older kids and adults or 1 drop up to 5 for younger children. Take daily for 6 weeks, then discontinue for at least 6 weeks (6 weeks on 6 weeks off).
Parasite Detox Tincture
Great for all food-eating toddlers and adults.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of vodka
- ¼ cup of crushed pumpkin seed
- ¼ cup of crushed calendula
- ¼ cup of crushed peppermint
Directions:
Step 1: Put crushed ingredients in a pint jar.
Step 2: Cover to the top of the jar with vodka and tighten a lid on it.
Step 3: Gently turn up and down a few times to be sure the vodka covers all the herbs.
Step 4: Place in a cool, dark location with low moisture for 6-8 weeks.
Step 5: After 6-8 weeks, strain through cheesecloth or a fine mesh and pour the infused tincture into a dark glass jar with a dropper.
Usage: Take 5-20 individual drops a day, progressing from 5 up to 20 for older kids and adults or 1 drop up to 5 for younger children. Take daily for 6 s, and then discontinue for at least 6 weeks.
Parasite Detox Smoothie
Great for all food-eating ages.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup of papaya (and seeds)
- ½ cup of pineapple
- ½ cup of peaches
- 1 cup of plain yogurt
- ¼ cup of pumpkin seeds
- ¼ cup of pure coconut water
- ½ tsp. of powdered cloves (yeah – I just didn’t want to interrupt the “p” pattern going on)
Directions:
Step 1: Put all ingredients in a blender and mix.
Step 2: Pour into cups of the desired size.
Step 3: Enjoy!
Usage: Drink daily. Freeze for up to a month or refrigerate for 3-7 days if not consumed immediately. For kids, try to aim for a ¼ cup or more. For adults, drink a ½ cup to 1 cup. If drinking daily, you can occasionally omit the pumpkin seeds and/or cloves to allow the body to rest between detoxes.
Disclaimer: This post is not intended as medical advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, and nothing in this post is intended to diagnose, treat, or cure anything. If you have questions, please do your own research or seek advice from a health professional.
