Parasites

A student of ours has questions regarding parasitic infections. I wanted to take this opportunity to respond. A parasite is an organism that lives, within, upon or at the expense of another organism (host) without contributing to its survival.

Parasites usually enter the body through the mouth or the skin. Parasites that enter through the mouth remain  in the  intestine and can burrow through the intestinal wall and invade other organs.

Parasites that enter through the skin usually enter through the bite of an infected insect or may bore through the skin. Some parasites enter through the soles of the feet or skin when the ground or water has parasites present.

Most parasite infections are diagnosed by blood, stool or urine analysis. Repeated samples may be necessary to detect the parasite. Food, drink and water are the most common ways we become infected. Poor sanitation and unhygienic practices contribute to most parasite infections.

The most common parasitic infections are ;

• Amebiasis - A single celled organism and probably the most common. It lives in the intestine and the most common symptom is dysentery. It is usually contracted by drinking contaminated water.
• Ascariasis - This is an intestinal roundworm. This is the most common worm infection. More than 1 billion people in the world have this. Contaminated food is the main cause. The worm eggs can survive for many years in the soil. Many people do not present symptoms. If the larvae migrate to the lungs it can cause fever, cough and malaise. In the intestines cramping and distress.
• Cryptosporidium - A one celled organism that produces diarrhea. It is transmitted by ingesting fecally contaminated food or water or by touching contaminated soil or another infected person then touching the mouth.
• Giardia - A single-celled organism that is the most common infection in the USA. It is present in most waters and if ingested causes diarrhea.
• Ancylostomiasis - This is hookworm infection. Hookworm live in soil and can infect a person if they become in contact. The full grown hookworm attaches itself to the wall of the intestine. It secretes an anti-coagulant and feed off the fresh blood of the wound. Anemia is the end result.
• Malaria - Another very common infection from the single-celled parasite Plasmodium. This is transferred to the host by the bite of an infected mosquito. Once infected the person will have intermittent fever based on the life cycle of the organism. Sudden recurring chill followed by fever in set periodicity is usually the indication for the disease. Body aches, headache, and nausea are common. If untreated Malaria can be fatal.
• Pinworm - This is an infection caused by intestinal roundworms. It is very common in children. Itching around the anus is the most common symptom. The eggs are coated in a sticky substance and adhere to many surfaces. Contamination is mostly spread by touching the anus and then touching other surfaces. The eggs are then transferred to other individuals. Children who suck their thumbs are at an increased risk of infection.
• Tapeworm - These are large flat worms that live in the intestine and can grow from 15-30 feet in length. Tapeworm is acquired by ingesting the meat of uncooked animal flesh that has been infected. Cysts in the meat are ingested and grow into tapeworms. Usually no real symptoms are noticed. Occasional nausea or loss of appetite may occur. Weight loss will happen over time.
• Toxocariasis - Infection of roundworms carried by dogs and cats. Infection happens mostly in children exposed to the feces of these animals. Most often it is picked up in the sandbox or by litter contaminated with the larvae. The lungs and liver are most affected by this parasite.
• Toxoplasmosis - This is a common one-celled parasite. Usually healthy people do not experience symptoms. Those with a weakened immune system or new born children that have been infected will show symptoms of weakness, headache, fever, rash, confusion or seizures.
• Trichinosis - This is a round worm in the flesh of some animals that when their uncooked meat is ingested will transfer the cyst to the new host. Many of the symptoms are unnoticed but the eventual cyst may appear in the host. These usually are found in muscles between the ribs, around the eyes an in the tongue.
• There are many more forms of parasite infections that are much rarer and usually found in the tropics.

Treatment for most parasites is through drug therapy but is often unsuccessful since each parasite has its life cycle and often the drug does not kill all eggs or larvae. Homeopathy offers a much better solution overall. The only way a parasite can exist is through the host providing a fertile ground. The healthy immune system will attack and destroy most parasites. It is only when repeated exposure happens that most parasites can get the upper hand. Good hygiene is essential to prevention and the further spread of parasites. Having good health habits will prevent most infections. Washing hands and not putting hands in our mouths will do wonders.

Because of the physical nature of parasites one may think that it would be necessary to kill the parasite by poisoning them. Like all infection and illness it is a spiritual dis-ease of a psoric nature that allows for the presence of parasites. Parasites can only survive in an organism that is not completely filled with its spiritual light. When we give a homeopathic remedy and the body expels worms, the worms are not being killed by a poison. They are no longer welcome as the response by the vital force heals. They can not exist in this environment anymore.  Like all dis-ease, parasite infection is a spiritual dis-ease.

Here are some common rubrics from the Complete 2015 Repertory that may be helpful:

• generalities; worm complaints; children, in (48) : 3Acon., arg-n., asar., 3Bell., 3Bry., 3Calc., 3Calc-p., carb-v., carc., chin., cic., 4CINA, con., cuc-p., 3Dol., 3Ferr., ferr-acet., 3Graph., 2ign., 3Ip., 3Kali-br., 3Kali-m., 3Kali-p., 3Lach., 3Lyc., 3Merc., 3Morg-g., 3Nat-m., 2nux-m., nux-v., 3Phos., 2ruta, 3Sabad., sac-alb., 3Sant., 3Sep., 3Sil., 4SPIG., stann., stram., 3Sulph., ter., teucr., urt-u., valer., verat., viol-o., 3Zinc.
• generalities; worm complaints; hookworms (4) : 3Carbn-chl., 3Card-m., 3Chen-a., 3Thymol.
  generalities; worm complaints; lumbricoides, roundworms (58) : 3Acon., all-s., 3Anac., 3Ars., asar., 2bar-c., bell., bor., bufo, 3Calc., carbn-s., caust., 3Cham., 3Chel., chelo., 3Chin., chlol., 4CIC., 4CINA, coloc., 3Cupr., 3Ferr-s., gamb., 3Gran., 3Graph., gunp., helm., hyos., iod., 2kali-c., kou., 2lyc., 4MAG-C., mag-m., 3Merc., merc-c., 3Nat-m., 3Nat-p., nux-m., nux-v., petr., phos., pin-s., plect., pop., rhus-t., 3Ruta, 4SABAD., sant., 3Scirr., 3Sec., 4SIL., 4SPIG., 3Stann., 4SULPH., 3Ter., thuj., valer.
• generalities; worm complaints; taeniae, tapeworms (74) : 3Ail., alum., 2ambr., anac., 3Arec., arg-n., arge., 3Ars., bell., 4CALC., calc-caust., 3Carb-an., 4CARB-V., carbn-s., caust., 2chin., 2cina, coff., colch., croc., 4CUC-P., cupr., cupr-acet., cupr-o., 2cur., 4FIL., 3Form., 3Frag., 4GRAN., 4GRAPH., grat., 2ign., iod., 2kali-c., kali-i., 4KAM., 3Kou., laur., lyc., mag-c., 3Mag-m., 4MERC., 3Nat-c., nat-m., nat-s., nit-ac., 3Nux-v., pellin., 4PETR., 3Phos., 4PLAT., prot., 4PULS., rhus-t., 4SABAD., 3Sabin., sal-ac., scirr., 3Sep., 4SIL., spig., spong., 3Stann., stry., 4SULPH., 2tanac., ter., 2teucr., thlaspi, 3Thuj., thymol., 3Valer., verat., zinc.
• generalities; worm complaints; trichinae (8) : ars., bapt., con., cupr-o., 2matr-d., 3Spig., ter., 3Thymol.
• generalities; worm complaints; ascarides, oxyuris vermicularis, pinworms (125) : abrot., 3Absin., acet-ac., 4ACON., aesc., 3Agn., 4ALL-S., 3All-u., aloe, alum., 2ambr., ant-c., ant-t., 3Anth., apoc-a., arg-n., 3Ars., arum-m., 4ASAR., asc-c., asc-t., bapt., 4BAR-C., bar-m., bar-s., 4BELL., bor., bov., bufo, 4CALC., calc-caust., carb-ac., carb-an., 3Carb-v., carbn-s., caust., 2cham., 3Chelo., 3Chen-a., 4CHIN., 4CIC., 4CINA, citl-l., coff., colch., cop., croc., 2croto-t., 2cuc-p., 4CUPR., 4DIG., dol., fago., 4FERR., ferr-m., 2frax-e., 3Gaert., 2gran., 3Graph., grat., gunp., 3Hep., hura, 2hyos., 4IGN., indg., jab., kali-c., kali-chl., kali-m., 3Kam., 2lyc., 4MAG-C., 3Mag-s., 2matr-d., 4MERC., 3Merc-d., mill., naphtin., nat-c., 4NAT-M., 4NAT-P., nit-ac., nux-m., 3Nux-v., petr., 3Phos., pin-s., 3Plat., 3Prot., psor., ptel., 3Quas., 3Rat., rhus-r., 2rhus-t., 2ruta, 4SABAD., sabin., 3Sant., 4SCIRR., 2sec., 3Sep., 3Sil., sin-a., 3Sin-n., 4SPIG., 4SPONG., 3Squil., 3Stann., 3Stram., 4SULPH., sumb., 3Tanac., tarent., tell., 4TER., 4TEUCR., thuj., urt-u., 3Valer., 3Verat., viol-o., vip., zinc.
• generalities; malaria, ague, ailments from (65) : alst-s., am-c., apoc., 3Aran., 2arn., 3Ars., bell., 4CALC., calc-ar., canth., carb-ac., 3Carb-v., 2cean., cedr., chim., 3Chin., 3Chin-s., 2chion., 3Cina, 3Con., 2cory., 3Dulc., elat., eup-a., 3Eup-per., eup-pur., 3Ferr., ferr-ar., ferr-m., form., gels., 3Hell., 3Hep., 3Hyos., ign., ip., 3Kali-c., kali-i., 3Lac-d., 3Lach., 3Lyc., malar., 2merc., merc-i-r., nat-c., 3Nat-m., 3Nux-v., ost., 3Phos., plan., polyp-p., psor., 4PULS., 3Rhus-t., rob., sac-alb., 3Sang., 3Sep., sol-n., 3Sulph., tarax., ter., 3Tub., verbe-h., vichy-g.
• fever, heat; intermittent, malarial (342) : abies-n., 3Abrot., 2absin., 3Acet-ac., 4ACON., 2acor-c., aesc., agar., agki-p., 3Ail., alst-c., alst-s., 4ALUM., 3Am-c., 3Am-m., 3Am-pic., 3Anac., ander., androg-p., anemps., 4ANG., 3Ant-c., ant-o., 4ANT-T., anth., antipyrin., 4APIS, apoc., 4ARAN., arg., 3Arg-n., arist-cl., 4ARN., 4ARS., ars-br., 4ARS-I., ars-s-f., ars-s-r., arum-t., asaf., asar., 2asc-t., 3Astac., aur., aur-m., 3Aur-m-n., 3Aza., bac., baj., 3Bals-p., 3Bapt., 2bar-c., bar-m., 4BELL., benz-ac., berb., blatta, blum-o., 3Bol., bol-lu., bold., bos-s., 3Bov., 3Bruc., 3Bry., bufo, 2buni-o., buth-aust., 3Cact., caesal., calad., 4CALC., 3Calc-ar., 3Calc-hp., calc-i., 3Calc-p., 3Calc-s., calc-sil., 2calli., calo., 3Camph., camph-br., 3Canch., cann-s., 4CANTH., 4CAPS., 3Carb-ac., 2carb-an., 3Carb-v., 2card-b., 2card-m., 2casc., caust., 3Cean., 3Cedr., cent., ceph., 3Cham., chel., chelo., chim., 4CHIN., 3Chin-ar., chin-b., 3Chin-m., 4CHIN-S., 4CHININ., 3Chion., 3Chlor., 2cic., 3Cimic., 3Cimx., 4CINA, cist., citl-l., 3Clem., coc-c., 3Cocc., coff., colch., coloc., 4CON., 3Cop., corh., corn., corn-a., 3Corn-f., cory., 2croc., crot-h., 3Cupr., cur., 3Cycl., desm-g., 2dict., 3Dig., dor., 3Dros., 3Dulc., 3Echi., elaps, 3Elat., 3Eucal., euon-a., eup-a., 2eup-c., 4EUP-PER., 3Eup-pur., euphr., fago., 4FERR., ferr-ar., 3Ferr-i., ferr-m., 3Ferr-p., 3Fl-ac., form., 2fum., 3Gamb., 3Gels., 3Gent-l., gent-q., 2geum, gins., 2glech., goss., 3Graph., 2grin., guai., guare., 4HELIA., 3Hell., helo., 3Hep., hier-p., 2hydr., 3Hyos., hyper., 3Ign., 4ILX-A., 4IOD., 4IP., 3Iris, just., 4KALI-AR., kali-bi., 4KALI-C., 3Kali-i., kali-m., kali-n., 3Kali-p., 4KALI-S., lac-c., 3Lac-d., 4LACH., lachn., lap-gr-m., laur., 2led., 2lepro., lept., leuc-a., lil-t., lob., lob-e., lsd, luf-b., 4LYC., lycps., lyss., mag-c., mag-m., mag-p., maland., 3Malar., mang., mangi., med., 3Meny., 3Merc., 2merc-c., merc-i-r., merc-n., merc-s., merc-v., merl., methyl., 2mez., 2mill., morph., mosch., 3Mur-ac., naja, narc-ps., 2nat-c., 4NAT-L., 4NAT-M., nat-p., 4NAT-S., nicc., 4NIT-AC., 3Nux-m., 4NUX-V., 3Nyct., oci., oci-s., ol-j., old-h., 3Op., ost., par., 4PARTH., 3Petr., 4PETROS., 3Ph-ac., phel., phlor., 4PHOS., phyll-a., phyt., 4PLAN., plat., 3Plb., plect., 3Podo., polyg-a., polyp-p., 4POP., prun-c., 4PSOR., 2ptel., 4PULS., 2pyre-p., 4PYROG., 3Quas., querc., querc-r., 2ran-b., ran-s., rham-p., rheum, 2rhod., rhus-a., rhus-g., 4RHUS-T., rob., 4SABAD., sabin., 2sac-alb., 3Samb., 4SANG., sanic., 3Sars., 2sec., sed-ac., 2sel., 3Senec., 4SEP., 4SIL., sin-a., 3Sin-n., sol-n., 3Spig., spong., 3Stann., 3Staph., still., 3Stram., 3Stront-c., 3Sul-ac., 4SULPH., swer-ch., 2sym-r., 3Tarax., 4TARENT., 3Tarent-c., 3Tela, tell., teucr., thal., ther., 3Thuj., tinos., trib., trich-d., 4TUB., tus-p., 2ulm., uran-n., urine, 4URT-U., ust., vacc-m., valer., 4VERAT., 3Verat-v., verb., verbe-h., 3Vichy-g., vip., xanth., zinc.

Some common remedies that may be helpful in the treatment of parasites are:

• Cina- The most common and useful remedy in pinworms especially. Itching of the nose. Constantly picking the nose and rubbing of nose on the pillow or mother. Itching of anus. Grinding of teeth, during sleep. Hungry soon after a meal. Refuses mothers milk. One cheek red, the other pale. Face pale with dark circles under eyes. Useful in long roundworms also.
• Spigilia - Itching with a sensation of creeping, tickling in rectum and anus. Sensation of a worm rising in the throat. Better after eating. Nausea before breakfast. Blue rings around eyes. Dry hard cough at night.
• Stannum Metallicum - Pain in abdomen and colic in children. Better from hard pressure. Nausea after eating. Hungry but can not eat enough. Discharge of mucous from bowels with roundworms.
• Sulphur - Creeping in the nose. Creeping and biting in the rectum. Frequent passing of roundworms or threadworms. Often required to complete a cure when other remedies have done their part.
• Teucrium Marum - Psoric and Tubercular taint. Great itching of the anus and constant irritation in evening and bed due to pinworms, preventing sleep. Picking the nose. tingling of the nose. Crawling in the rectum after stool. Offensive breath. Aggravation from the warmth of the bed.
• Santoninum - When given in very low potency 1X - 6X is useful in expelling roundworms. Three to four doses per day for 4 days may be helpful.
• Silica - Children sickly, wanting in vital heat. Perspiration on the head. Tapeworms.

This is obviously only a partial list of remedies for the common worm parasites. Like all cases you must see what is unique about the case. Understand how the individual expresses their dis-ease and find the remedy most suitable for the individual person, and not the parasite.

Low potencies (1X-6X, 3C-6C) are best given on a daily basis and over an extended time. Treatment can sometimes take months to complete. Along with good remedies to inspire the vital force, good hygiene is equally as important. Washing hands, clothing and bedding will make a huge difference. Practicing good clean health habits and keeping hands away from the face and anus will be best when there is an infection within a family. Because of the life cycle of parasites these habits must be continued.

Remember, like all dis-ease, parasites are a spiritual disease also. Inspire the vital force to heal and no longer can parasites exist in the body. Homeopathy is the best way to accomplish this.