Although North Americans often consider parasites something you only worry about when traveling, this is not true. As long ago as 1976, a nationwide survey in the United States by the Centers for Disease Control revealed that one in every six people selected at random had one or more parasites. It is quite possible that we are hosting a dinner party for some 130 types of parasites.

The Department of Nematology, University of California-Davis, states that 900 million people worldwide are infected with hookworm, and some 4 percent to 15 percent of the population in the Southeastern United States. Some one billion people (? of the world?s population) are infected with roundworm, and 500 million people worldwide are infected with pinworm. In the United States, estimates of those infected with pinworm range from 10 percent to 35 percent of the population.

How did this happen? Climate and sanitary conditions breed parasites, of course, and then they are spread throughout the world. International travel spreads them, as well as the return of armed services personnel from overseas. Within a country, parasites find a home in contaminated municipal and rural water supplies and in household pets, not to mention in farm animals. Finally, the increase of daycare centers has proven to be a transmission place.

What are parasites?

The word parasites comes from the Greek para, meaning ?beside,? and sitos, meaning ?food.? This means ?an animal or plant that lives on or in another organism from which it obtains nutrients.? Parasites are larger than bacteria and viruses but usually so small that you cannot see them without a microscope. Four major groups of parasites include Protozoa (amoebas, giardia), Nematode (round, pin, and hookworms), Cestode (tapeworms), and Trematode (flukes). Bacteria can also be parasitic.

Parasites enter your body in one of four ways: through food and water intake; through a transmitting agent, such as a mosquito; through sexual conduct; and via the nose and skin. The parasites are often harmful. Any number of them can infect your gastrointestinal tract. Most parasites produce similar symptoms.

How do I know if I have parasites?

According to Ann Louise Gittleman, a certified nutritionist who has worked with parasite patients, a parasite infection can be manifested by any number of signs. These include constipation, diarrhea, gas and bloating, irritable bowel syndrome, joint and muscle aches and pains, anemia, allergies, skin conditions, nervousness, sleep disturbances, teeth grinding, and chronic fatigue.

Many health practitioners believe that not only do parasites result in symptoms such as those listed above, but that they also may be responsible for a number of other health problems. Gittleman says ?I have observed that many unexplained health conditions often disappeared when parasites were eliminated from the body. These conditions included environmental illness, skin problems, digestive problems, excessive fatigue, hypoglycemia, arthritic-like aches and pains, long-standing obesity, and even depression.?

How can parasites hurt you?

Parasites can damage the host?s body in a number of ways. They can:

• Destroy cells faster than cells can be regenerated.
• Produce toxic substances.
• Irritate body tissue.
• Invade body tissue, including the skin and intestinal lining.
• Put pressure on body organs.
• Depress immune system function while activating immune system response.
• Cause nutrient malabsorption.

Treatment

If you suspect you have parasites, a health practitioner can arrange a number of tests. These include stool tests, blood tests, tissue swabs, and more. These tests can often be inconclusive. Many parasites that reside in tissue or in the blood will not be found in fecal samples. Nor can pinworms be seen in stools. Parasites that adhere to the gastrointestinal tract lining are very hard to find.

If you have parasites, there are a number of things you can do. Prescription drugs are available, and they do work, but, like so many prescription drugs, they also can have many side effects. There are also natural methods of ridding the body of parasites. These generally include cleansing the intestinal tract, modifying the diet, using a substance that kills the parasites, recolonizing the intestinal bacteria, and taking preventive measures.

Prevention

There are a number of things you can do to avoid picking up parasites:

• Wash your hands before eating.
• Wash all fruits and vegetables before eating them.
• Wash your hands with soap and water after going to the bathroom, changing diapers, or handling pets.
• Keep your fingernails short and clean.
• Do not walk barefoot.
• Have regular parasite checkups (especially if you travel frequently).

^AIMPara 90?

^AIMPara 90? is an herbal cleansing dietary supplement. It combines a number of herbs with cleansing properties plus bromelain, a digestive enzyme.

How to use ^AIMPara 90?

It is recommended that you use Para 90? 2-4 times per year for cleansing.

• Take 1 capsule 3 times per day for 30 days. Can be taken with or without meals.
• 3 capsules per day for 30 days is 90 capsules or one bottle of Para 90

You may increase your serving up to 9 capsules per day if you or a health practitioner believes it is necessary.

• Do not use ^AIMPara 90? if you are pregnant or lactating.
• If you have ulcers, colitis, or have had a colostomy, consult a health practitioner.
• Children over 3 can use ^AIMPara 90? under the supervision of a health practitioner. To find the serving, divide the child?s weight by the average adult weight. In North America, this is generally figured to be 150 lb (68 kg). The resulting fraction is the fraction of the adult serving size you give to the child.

For example, for a 50 lb (22.7 kg) child, divide 50 by 150 (68 kg) to get 0.3 lb (0.3 kg), or 1/3. Use this fraction of an adult serving.

• Shelf life is 3 years, unopened. Store in a cool, dry place (70? - 75? F; 20.1? - 23.8? C). Do not refrigerate.

Q & A

How do I know whether Para 90 is working? Will I experience any side effects or detoxification symptoms? Most people look for parasites in their stools, and many do see them. Not everyone does, however. Positive signs are a ?pokey? feeling in the abdomen or an ?itchy? or ?crawly? sensation on the skin. You should remember that in the process of cleansing, there may be some discomfort; parasites are not easily dislodged. Some users? skin has broken out, and others feel nausea or somewhat tired. You may also notice increased bowel movements, looser stools, and more frequent urination.

If I have been taking Herbal Fiberblend, do I need ^AIMPara 90?? Herbal Fiberblend does have a cleansing effect, but it will not work against as wide a range of parasites as ^AIMPara 90?. If you have been taking ^AIMHerbal Fiberblend?, you probably have less of a problem with parasites.

What else can I do to help the cleaning? Many people recommend taking colonics, and using a probiotic to recolonize the intestinal tract after using ^AIMPara 90?. Others take ^AIMPara 90? in conjunction with Herbal Fiberblend. Digestive enzymes are also beneficial.

Is there anyone who should not use ^AIMPara 90?? Pregnant or lactating women should not use ^AIMPara 90?. Very frail elderly people, children under 3 or frail children, and people with colon problems should consult a health practitioner.

Bromelain is in ^AIMPara 90?. What is it? Bromelain is a digestive enzyme that will aid the digestive process.

Herb classifications

Herbs can be classified a number of ways. The classifications are generally based on how the herbs affect the body. Following are a number of herb classifications.

Alterative: Alters (purifies) the blood.

Anthelmintic: Destroys intestinal worms and parasites. There are two types: vermicides and vermifuges.

Antibiotic: Inhibits growth of bacteria.

Antiparasitic: Destroys parasites.

Antiseptic: Prevents growth of bacteria.

Antispasmodic: Used for muscular spasms, convulsions, and cramps.

Astringent: Increases tone and firmness of tissue; lessens mucus discharge.

Carminative: Stimulates expulsion of gas from gastrointestinal tract.

Laxative: Promotes bowel action.

Taeniafuge: Expels tapeworms.

Vermicide: Destroys worms without necessarily expelling them from the bowel.

Vermifuge: Expels worms from bowels.

Herbs in Para 90

Following are some of the classifications of the herbs in ^AIMPara 90?.

American Wormseed Chenopodium ambrosioides vermifuge, anthelmintic

Black Walnut Hulls Juglans nigra vermicide, antiseptic, antiparasitic

Boldo Leaves Peumus boldus alterative, antiseptic, vermifuge

Bromelain Bromeliaceae, digestive enzyme

Butternut Bark Juglans cineraria alterative, laxative, anthelmintic

Clove Caryophyllus aromaticus carminative, antiseptic

Cramp Bark Viburnum opulus antispasmodic, astringent

Garlic Allium sativum antibiotic, alterative, antiseptic, vermifuge, anthelmintic

Grapefruit Seed Citrus paradisi antibiotic, antiparasitic

Neem Azadirachta indica alterative, anthelmintic

Peppermint Mentha piperita carminative, antiseptic, antispasmodic

Pumpkin Seed Cucurbita pepo vermifuge, anthelmintic, taeniafuge

Sweet Annie Artemisia annua vermifuge, alterative, anthelmintic

Thyme Thymus vulgaris carminative, antiseptic

White Oak Bark Quercus alba antiseptic, anthelmintic

Suggested Reading

Castleman, Michael. The Healing Herbs. Emmaus, PA: Rodale Press. 1991.

Gittleman, Ann Louise. Guess What Came to Dinner. Garden City Park, NY: Avery Publishing Group, Inc. 1993.

Grieve, M., and C.F. Leyel, ed. A Modern Herbal. New York, NY: Barnes & Noble. 1931, 1973, 1996.

Santillo, Humbart, N.D. Natural Healing with Herbs. Prescott, AZ: The Hohm Press. 1984. (10th edition 1993)

http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~mow/intro.html (FDA: The Bad Bug Book)

http://www.mic.ki.se/Diseases/c3.html (Karolinska Institute: Parasitic Diseases)

http://128.120.71.116/imagemap/nemmap/ENT156HTML/vertcom (Parasites of Vertebrates)

Bueno, Hermann. Uninvited Guests. New Canaan, CT: Keats Publishing, Inc. 1996.

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CANDIDA YEAST INFORMATION