A Comprehensive Guide to Parasite Cleansing: Detoxifying Your Body for Optimal Health

a woman with stomach ache

For most people, the very idea of parasites is disconcerting and reminiscent of something from a horrible sci-fi film. Unfortunately, parasites are more common than people think and affect people of all ages and backgrounds.

Parasites live on or inside another living organism (known as a host) and live off of nutrients at the host’s expense. They can enter the body through consuming contaminated food or water, poor hygiene practices, contact with an infected animal, certain insect bites, and touching contaminated soil. 

Boulder Holistic Functional Medicine in Boulder, Colorado, has experience diagnosing and treating many varieties of common parasites. Over the years, they’ve discovered many natural and effective parasite cleanses can help you get rid of harmful parasites and return you to optimal health.

Keep reading to learn all about natural parasite cleansing at Boulder Holistic Functional Medicine, including signs you may have a parasite and effective parasite detox strategies.

What is a Parasite Cleanse?

A parasite cleanse, or parasite detox, is any combination of therapies aimed at removing harmful parasites from the body. Strategies differ but can include any combination of dietary changes, herbal supplements, and other practices like enemas or colonics.

Signs You May Have a Parasite

Parasites are often difficult to diagnose because many signs you may have a parasite are also associated with other conditions like food poisoning, IBS, and IBD. 

What makes it even more difficult is the variety of parasites, including protozoa (single-celled organism such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium) and helminths (worm-like parasites including roundworms, tapeworms, and flukes). Each parasite has a different life cycle and causes different symptoms.

Here are a Few Common Symptoms of a Parasitic Infection:

Digestive Symptoms:
  • Abdominal pain and cramping
  • Diarrhea or constipation
  • Nausea and vomiting
General Health Issues:
  • Fatigue and weakness
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Joint and muscle pain

Skin and Allergic Reactions:

  • Itchy skin and rashes
  • Allergic reactions or sensitivities
Sleep Disturbances:
  • Insomnia or disrupted sleep patterns.
  • Restlessness and anxiety.
Other Symptoms:
  • Fever
  • Flu-like symptoms
  • Brain fog
  • Itchiness in the rectum
  • Acne
  • Allergies
  • Anger issues
  • Excessive appetite
  • Teeth grinding at night
  • Dehydration
  • Nutrient deficiencies, especially iron and other nutrient deficiencies that doesn’t respond to high-dose supplements
  • Anemia
  • Enlarged stomach

How Do I Check Myself for Parasites?

To find out if you have parasites, you and your provider will have to do a comprehensive exam including a review of your medical history, physical exam, and lab tests. Unfortunately, even all of those diagnostic tools may not reveal the presence of parasites. Most parasite tests rely heavily on a stool test, but stool tests don’t reveal the presence of hidden parasites living happily inside a biofilm. That’s why Boulder Holistic Functional Medicine recommends the 3-Day GI Effects or GI Map for parasite testing. The GI Effects utilizes both ova and parasite microscopy in addition to DNA- PCR testing for some common parasites. The GI Map utilizes DNA-PCR testing for some common parasites. If we feel you need more comprehensive parasite testing, we recommend stool testing through Parawellness Research or Parasitology Center Inc. You can also schedule a consultation at Boulder Holistic Functional Medicine to discuss parasite testing here.

The Importance of Parasite Cleansing

Parasites are enormously draining for your body. Think about it – they are using the very nutrients you need to keep your body running smoothly. Not only do they cause a variety of uncomfortable symptoms in the short term, but over time parasites lead to chronic fatigue, immune dysfunction, chronic inflammation, and other issues that severely compromise your quality of life. When you get rid of parasites, all of the body’s systems will benefit. Parasite cleanse promotes healthy digestion and nutrient absorption. They reduce inflammation, boost immunity, and improve energy levels.

Do parasites go away on their own?

No, some parasites will create a home for themselves inside your body inside a substance called biofilm. This substance protects them from your immune system and allows them to live comfortably undisturbed inside your body for many years.

Parasite Cleansing for Adults

Like with all types of detox, parasite cleansing requires you to go slowly. You should also seek guidance from a qualified healthcare practitioner before starting any parasite cleansing regimen, especially if pregnant, nursing, or managing underlying health conditions. Boulder Holistic Functional Medicine focuses on a two-step approach to parasite cleansing that begins by supporting the body’s natural detoxing systems. 

Step 1: Open the 7 Elimination Channels

First, you build up the body’s seven elimination channels – bowels, liver, kidneys, lungs, skin, lymphatic system, and blood. Opening the seven elimination channels before a parasite cleanse is important because it prepares the body for effective detoxification and elimination of toxins released during the cleanse. 

Step 2: Parasite Cleanse

Boulder Holistic often recommends a multifaceted approach to parasite cleansing that includes a combination of herbal remedies, medical protocols, and colon cleansing. You should also try to get enough rest, eat a balanced diet, and hydrate to support your body as it detoxes.

Herbal Remedies:

Several herbs, including wormwood, oregano, black walnut, cloves, and garlic, are antiparasitic and common during parasite cleanses. Boulder Holistic Functional Medicine is happy to recommend our favorite herbal formulations during your consultation!  You may also want to explore comprehensive herbal systems for parasite cleansing. 
Our recommended cleanses include:
  • Cell Core’s Para series paired with a biotoxin binder – an effective treatment for parasites.
  • Tricycline from Allergy Research Group – This treatment combines Berberine, artemisinin, grapefruit seed extract to break biofilm, and black walnut hulls to treat intestinal parasites.
  • The Parafy Kit offered by Ms Rogers Hood – another increasingly popular herbal protocol
All of these treatments are designed to support safe and effective parasite cleansing but should be used with professional guidance.

Medical Protocols

Some protozoal and worm-type parasites require a comprehensive prescription-based antiparasitic protocol, like the Gant Protocol or Simon Yu’s Parasite protocol.

Colon Cleansing:

Colon cleansing can also help remove harmful parasites and toxins from your body. You can try colon hydrotherapy or enemas to flush them out or try fiber-rich foods and supplements which promote regular bowel movements and prevent re-infestation. — Parasite cleanses are a type of detox so you should be prepared for temporary detox symptoms like headaches, fatigue, and gastrointestinal disturbances as your body eliminates toxins and parasites. Always work with a medical professional like those at Boulder Holistic Functional Medicine for added support during your parasite cleanse.

Work with Boulder Holistic Functional Medicine

Parasites can lead to all kinds of health issues, from digestive problems to chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction. They provide an unnecessary strain on all of the body’s systems and removing them may be your first step to optimal health! Boulder Holistic Functional Medicine in Boulder, Colorado, offers comprehensive support for natural parasite cleansing with herbs, medical protocols, and colon cleanses. If you think you may have a parasite, schedule a consultation with Boulder Holistic Functional Medicine and start your detox journey today!

Email Us

Have a question? Need to schedule an appointment? Send us an email. We'll get back to you right away.

Get Directions

2355 Canyon Blvd
Suite 102
Boulder, CO 80302

Phone Icon

Call Us

Need an appointment, prescription refill or have questions? Call us from 9:30am to 4:00pm.
303-390-1245

Dr. Amy Reidhead

Dr. Reidhead is a double board certified Chiropractic Physician and Family Nurse Practitioner. She is also a Fellow of the International Academy of Medical Acupuncture and holds a Bachelor of Science in both Nursing and Human Biology. She has spent the past 25 years honing her skills as a functional and integrative medical provider in Boulder, Colorado.

Read more from the Boulder Holistic blog:

castor oil put in face

Castor Oil: Your New Go-To For Detoxification & Flawless Skin

In a world inundated with remedies, castor oil is one that has stood the test of time. Boulder Holistic Functional Medicine highly recommends this natural remedy for detoxification and flawless skin. Castor oil has a history rooted in traditional medicine and enhanced by modern science. Ever heard of a castor oil pack? The topical application of …

Read More »
two happy women launching after a workout

Sirtuins: Your New Best Friends in the Fight Against Aging

Sirtuins are one of the seven “longevity genes” found inside your cells. These tiny enzymes are essential for regulating cell cycles and protecting your DNA. They also play a major role in cellular processes that control inflammation and metabolism. From deep within your cell, sirtuins influence…

Read More »
stomach system over the body

Revolutionizing Gut Health: The Truth About SIBO And SIFO

In the intricate world of gut health, two often misunderstood conditions stand out: Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) and Small Intestinal Fungal Overgrowth (SIFO). SIBO and SIFO not only sound similar, they have similar symptoms including bloating, gas, and abdominal pain.

Read More »
a happy kid playing with her father

Unleashing Mitochondria Function: The Power Within

When you were in school, you probably learned about the mitochondria as the powerhouse of the cell. Every cell in your body, from your brain to your heart, has mitochondria. They convert energy from our food into a form that our body can use as energy to move, speak, think, and grow.
But what happens when your mitochondria don’t work properly? And how do you keep your mitochondria …

Read More »
a woman sleeping

Sleep: Causes of Poor Sleep & Natural Remedies For a Better Night Sleep

Do you fall asleep easily only to lie in bed wide awake at 3 a.m.? Or maybe it’s easy to fall asleep but you wake up exhausted? Do you dread bedtime because you have such a hard time sleeping? Nobody wants to stay awake in the middle of the night, mind racing through scenarios that may never come to pass. But good sleep is more than a desire – You need to sleep. Not only because sleep supports healthy digestion and detoxification, but because the world …

Read More »
spell out autoimmune disease on scrabble blocks

Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN): A Game-Changer for Autoimmune Disease & Chronic Illness

The functional medicine providers at Boulder Holistic Functional Medicine make it a point to stay up-to-date on the latest advancements in alternative treatments. Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) is one that is increasingly popular among holistic medicine practitioners because studies have shown it has significant benefits for those suffering from autoimmune diseases and chronic …

Read More »
hair loss gathered by a comb

Exploring Hair Loss in Women: Causes, Treatments, and How to Manage It

Hair loss in women is more common than you might think. Women both young and old may have clumps of hair come out in the shower or see areas of thinning in the front or top of their head. Societal standards of beauty often center on healthy hair and skin. So now female hair loss comes with emotional strain on top of worries about potential health problems. Not to mention that stress about your looks and health can lead to high levels of cortisol, which can lead to …

Read More »
Stone stacks

Unlock the Power of Intermittent Fasting: Pros, Cons, and Secrets Revealed

Fasting is an ancient therapeutic technique that dates back to the 5th century BCE. Back then, fasting mainly was a religious practice, but it was also used to treat certain illnesses. It took the advances of modern science to reveal the many benefits of fasting for your health. Intermittent fasting is the most recent trend in fasting, a practice …

Read More »
A man looking at his elbow

What Causes Lyme Disease? The Top 5 Reasons Lyme Disease Remains Chronic

Over 300,000 Americans are diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease every year. Despite growing awareness of Lyme disease’s prevalence, the tick-borne illness often goes unnoticed. Even properly diagnosed, Lyme disease can remain in your system for years and severely affect your quality of life. The doctors at Boulder Holistic Functional Medicine in Boulder, Colorado are Lyme disease specialists who …

Read More »
herbal medicines pills in a wooden spoon

Methylation and Mental Health: Why We Should Pay Attention to Our DNA

Methylation and Mental Health: Why We Should Pay Attention to Our DNA – You might not know it, but a crucial bodily process is often overlooked when it comes to mental health. Methylation and mental health are naturally intertwined, and supporting methylation could revolutionize mental health care. Mental health disorders …

Read More »
Joint Inflamation Graph

Inflammation May Be Aging You Faster Than You Think

Inflammation May Be Aging You Faster Than You Think :: Inflammation may be aging you faster than you think and if you want to live a long, healthy, active life – decreasing your inflammation is critical. Inflammation is a natural, healthy part of the healing process. However, sometimes this inflammatory response is …

Read More »
Menopause on spell out blocks

The 3 Stages of Menopause: The Importance of Teaching Women About Menopause

When we educate ourselves about menopause, we are more capable of understanding and supporting the women in our lives who will inevitably experience menopause. If you’re a man and don’t think this article pertains to you – I urge you to read on. All of us are affected by menopause. We either go through it ourselves or watch our mothers, grandmothers, wives, and lovers experience

Read More »
hand holding a brain light figure

The Functional Medicine Approach for Improving Your Mental Health

Mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, ADD, ADHD, and PTSD are on the rise. One in five children and adults will experience any of these mental afflictions in a given year. Functional medicine offers a unique approach to mental health support. Instead of treating the symptoms, it treats the root cause of mental health. What we get wrong about mental health is looking at the …

Read More »
Membrane Power Shake Drink Duo with Blueberries

Revitalize Your Body and Mind with Membrane Supportive Power Shake

We all know what happens if we don’t change the oil in our cars, but what about the oil in our bodies? Every cell membrane in our bodies is made up of a phospholipid bi-layer and maybe even more importantly, every mitochondrion in our cells also is made up of the lipid bilayer. So what happens to the fats in our membranes over time? Exposure to …

Read More »
French press is best when making coffee enema

Benefits of Coffee Enema

The health benefits of coffee enemas may include relief from symptoms of Lyme disease, multiple chemical sensitivities, and heavy metal toxicity. There are very few toxicity-related reactions that couldn’t be stopped or tremendously reduced with a coffee enema. Coffee enema is great …

Read More »
Toxic Mold on Wall

Mold Toxicity Symptoms & Treatment

Most people have some experience with mold, but what does toxic mold look like? The black gunk in a window frame, the moldy smell in a damp basement, or the fuzz on food left in the fridge for too long.
Not all molds are inherently harmful. Some strains of mold …

Read More »
a woman smiling

Bioidentical Hormones: What Women Need to Know

We are hormonal beings. Hormones are powerful and connected to every part of your body in a beautiful, delicate balance. They control many of the body’s essential functions including your mood, energy level, survival instinct, libido, anxiety, and sleep.

Read More »
Artistic Brain, lady touching her head

Limbic Retraining for Chronic Illness

What is the limbic system and how does the limbic system function? The limbic system is the part of the brain involved in our behavioral and emotional response. Often referred to as our animal brain, the limbic system is dramatically affected by illness. It responds to illness like a smoke alarm responds to smoke or fire. It activates and stays activated until …

Read More »
Image of a a healthy gut

How to Heal Your Gut using Functional Medicine

A staggering 60 to 70 million Americans suffer from gut dysfunction. Many people with gut dysfunction don’t seek medical help, preferring to deal with symptoms of bloating, gas, heartburn, diarrhea, constipation, and nausea on their own. Others simply wait for the symptoms to pass without considering what these signs might reveal about their health. Gut dysfunction includes many common gut disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), dysbiosis, parasites, small intestinal bacterial…

Read More »
causes of thyroid graph

What Causes Thyroid Problems?

According to recent estimates, about 10 million Americans suffer from an underactive thyroid. This condition, called hypothyroidism, causes several tell-tale symptoms, including fatigue, brain fog, hair loss, constipation, low mood, and temperature intolerance. What causes low thyroid? These symptoms are related to inadequate or imbalanced thyroid hormones, including high reverse T3.

Read More »

August Summer Heat Hydration Special

The heat is ON and it’s a great time to revitalize, hydrate and boost your immune system to get the most out of the last few weeks of summer before school starts. Medical grade nutritional IV’s have been found by many to help get your energy and vitality back after COVID.

Read More »

The leaves are back, the kids are out of school, it smells like flowers, summer in Colorado is here!

Boulder Holistic has an exciting announcement! Our Registered Nurse extraordinaire, Ame, is back! She will be in clinic 2-4 days per week including some Saturdays and we are offering Nutritional IV’s, blood draws, PRP (more info to come), urine and throat checks, ionic foot baths, etc. on those days. Please call the office at 303-390-1245 or email us at info@boulderholistic.com to schedule.

Read More »

Mask-acne… it’s a thing

Masks are now the new hot accessories but wearing a mask for hours a day can block the pores of your skin and put you at risk of developing acne. As healthcare providers, we know the best way to treat acne is to prevent it before it happens.

So, since mask wearing is not likely to go away for a while, it seems important to figure out how to best protect our faces and stop the pimples that masks can cause.

Read More »

Reversing Insulin Resistance

Insulin resistance is a hot topic in the health and functional medicine world. Our fast passed, high stress and inactive lifestyles put many people at risk for this undesirable condition. Luckily, insulin resistance is not only preventable, but may be reversible by making healthy diet and lifestyle changes now!

Read More »

The Latest COVID-19 Updates from Boulder Holistic

On Friday November 20th 2020, Boulder and Denver counties entered the “new red” COVID restriction levels. So what does that mean for us at Boulder Holistic?

Due to the current risk of COVID-19 infection, we are trying to do our part in slowing the spread of the coronavirus by limiting the number of face-to-face appointments per state order. We are booking appointments with our doctors via telemedicine through zoom or over the phone over the next few weeks in order to best comply with the new restrictions.

Read More »

Using Your Supplements Wisely: How to Best Protect and Heal from COVID-19

As fall turns to winter, the number of coronavirus cases in our state and the country continues to grow. Thankfully, over the past months doctors and researchers have learned more about the virus and how to best approach prevention and treatment.

Functional medicine thrives when it comes to understanding root causes of illness and how to support proper immune function. The research has shown that a step-wise approach to the coronavirus may be the best medicine.

Read More »

Fall and COVID-19

Autumn is my favorite season…it must be the Midwesterner in me. I absolutely love watching the leaves change, feeling the crispness in the air and diving headfirst into my fuzzy sweaters.

As the nights get colder, my family and I are enjoying our back yard, social distanced dinner gatherings seated near our propane fire pit, wrapped in cozy blankets. One thing quarantine has gifted me is a deep appreciation for the connections I share with close friends and family.

Read More »

Heal The Vagus Nerve and Improve Your Health

Heal The Vagus Nerve and Improve Your Health

Optimum Vagus nerve function or vagal tone is a hot topic in current research, especially as it relates to the treatment and management of chronic illness.

As practitioners, we are just now beginning to understand how important supporting this nerve is to maintaining health.

So what exactly is the Vagus nerve?

Read More »

Melatonin: Why this sleep-inducing hormone is a surprise hero in COVID-19

Many of us are familiar with the use of melatonin for better sleep, but did you know that melatonin might also be helpful in managing some of the symptoms of a COVID-19 infection?

Over the past few months, we have learned more and more about this new virus. Much of what we know about those individuals who become very sick from COVID-19 is the devastating effects this virus has on the lungs and respiratory system. Many of those who become hospitalized with coronavirus end up there because the inflammation in the lungs is so great that they are no longer able to get enough oxygen on their own.

Read More »

We Are Here For You!

Boulder Holistic is dedicated to providing the best possible service to you and your family during this crucial time. We are excited to announce that we will be re-opening for IV therapy and blood draws on Wednesday and Friday through the month of June.

Read More »

Allergies in the time of COVID-19

There’s bad news and there is good news this allergy season.

Many of the symptoms of seasonal allergies can be mistaken for signs and symptoms of other upper respiratory infections including COVID-19. Many symptoms include runny nose, stuffy nose, red eyes, scratchy throat, cough, tight chest and sneezing.

Read More »

Up The Nose

COVID Prevention AND great for allergy season too!
One great way to help prevent the seeding of a virus into upper respiratory tract is by sinus rinsing. Sinus rinse and prevent viral infection, improve allergies and neurodetoxification!

Read More »

What the Heck is EMF?

What Exactly is EMF? Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) are a form of non-ionizing radiation (their frequency is somewhere between microwaves and radio waves). This radiation is

Read More »

Tired of feeling so tired?

Spent. Haggard. Beat. There’s no end to the words we can use to describe being tired, especially in today’s hyperspeed cyber world. My personal favorite?

Read More »