Parasites
are not a third world problem. If there is life present, parasites are
included. That means you could be hosting nutrient-robbing parasites
anywhere on or inside you at this very moment.
The CDC estimates that millions of Americans develop parasitic
infections and symptoms often go unnoticed or are misdiagnosed. They are
typically picked up through food and water. An infection can lead to
serious health problems, including seizures, blindness, pregnancy
complications, heart failure and even death.
The CDC’s List of the 5 Most Common Parasitic Infections:
- Chagas
Disease - More than 300,000 American are infected with Trypanosoma
cruzi, the parasite that causes Chagas disease, and more than 300
infected babies are born every year. Chagas disease is transmitted
through a bite from the triatomine bug, which then deposits its feces in
the skin opening.
Some people may never know they have it as long as they live, but
about a third of infections remain permanent, and a third of those
develop serious chronic disease. Chagas disease can cause long-term
digestive, cardiac and neurological complications.
- Cysticercosis
- The taenia solium tapeworm latches to human tissues, such as the
brain and muscles. Larval cysts from the parasite form in the body and
can cause a number of complications, including seizures. There are at
least 1,000 hospitalizations for cysticercosis per year in the U.S. This
tapeworm infection is often the result of eating uncooked pork that
contains larval cysts.
- Toxocaris
- The vast majority of Americans (roughly 86%) don’t have antibodies
protecting them from this roundworm infection. We can get them from
dogs and cats. 46 million people—14% of the US—have toxocariasis. The
CDC says true numbers are higher because people rarely connect many of
the symptoms and even eventual blindness to roundworms.
- Toxoplasmosis
- In the U.S., more than 60 million people are chronically infected
with toxoplasma gondii, contracted from coming in contact with cat
feces. The parasite is also found in undercooked meat and even some
unwashed fruits and vegetables. Health experts say toxoplasma can put
pregnant women at risk for birth defects. Symptoms of this parasitic
infection include swollen lymph nodes, muscle aches and eye
complications.
- Trichomoniasis
- This affects 3.7 million people in the United States. However, only
about 30 percent of people will actually develop symptoms, which can
include itching and burning in the genital area, pain during urination
and discharge. Every year, 1.1 million Americans contract trich, but
hardly anyone knows because 70 percent of the people with it show no
symptoms, according to the CDC.
International travel and immigration are common ways develop
parasitic infections here in the U.S. The bottom line is that MILLIONS
of Americans have parasitic infections and don’t realize it. According
to the CDC, there are more than 100 million cases of the above five
parasite infestations in Americans right now.
“Some of these parasites have evolved along with us for millennia,”
says Bobbi Pritt, director of the Mayo Clinic's Clinical Parasitology
Laboratory. “Many infestations don't cause symptoms, the symptoms are
too vague, or they cause very internittant symptoms, so they're not
likely to come to medical attention until it's too late.”
Anti-Parasite Nutrients
Medicinal plants have been used throughout history to maintain the
health, integrity, and security of the GI tract to address the presence
of parasites. The modern discipline of pharmacognosy has identified
specific chemicals within many medicinal plants that appear to be active
molecules, particularly terpenes, alkaloids, and artemisinin.
Terpenes - Originally used to treat malaria, terpenes have
been proven to arrest parasite development and inhibit growth. It has
been shown to be harmless to humans while deadly to parasites.
Alkaloids - Like bacteria, parasites have developed
resistance to drug resistance. Sophora moorcroftiana (S. moorcroftiana)
is an alkaloid shrub that grows in Tibet Plateau of China. Decoction of
the seeds has been used as a traditional Tibetan medicine to treat
parasitosis for years. It acts as helminthic agent and destroys them.
Artemisinin - Derived from sweet wormwood, this nutrient has
been proven to kill and digest parasites. It works by breaking down the
parasite’s proteins and digesting them.
Optimal Opti-Para
is formulated to address the health and microbial balance of the GI
tract. It contains digestive enzymes from bromelain and papain as well
as health-supporting herbs such as sweet wormwood, wormseed, guarana,
passionflower, and lavender. Black walnut hull, pumpkin seed, grapefruit
seed extract, oregano, and aged garlic bulb provide additional
gastrointestinal support. All of these nutrients are harmless (and
beneficial) to humans while poisonous to parasites, like the theobromine
in chocolate is harmless to humans yet poisonous to dogs.
Dosing for Opti-Para
Take 2 capsules twice daily, or as directed by a health professional.
- https://www.cbsnews.com/news/parasites-causing-infections-in-the-us-cdc-says/
- https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/a3m88j/millions-of-americans-have-a-parasite-and-dont-realize-it
Yours in Health and Wellness,
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