Dear readers,

Another week and another issue of the Herbagram. I hope you are all well and enjoying life. With this issue we will talk about parasites and the herb black walnut. It seems like everywhere you turn nowadays you hear about parasites causing things that several years ago would have been thought ridiculous.

Now for the disclaimer…LOL….The information in Herbagram is presented for informational purposes. It is not meant to replace or substitute for proper medical treatment. The editor of Herbagram is not a doctor, but an alternative medicine practitioner and advocate. If by chance, you decide to use this information to treat yourself, please let your doctor know in full what you plan to do. Also, do your homework and learn, for yourself, the proper use of the herbs and alternatives presented herein as well as for any information your doctor or health care provider gives you. Do your research and be informed about everything you put in your body. If it were your child you would, so do it for yourself also.

This can be considered written permission to copy and/or distribute the Herbagram, provided it is not altered in any way.

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CONTENTS

In the past de-worming was common practice. Seasonally parents would brew a foul smelling and tasting tonic and administer it to everyone in the family. Somehow modern man has developed the idea that we are no longer a parasite target.

Parasites, at least in America, have become a "silent " epidemic. American doctors and other medical professionals have had very little training or experience with parasitic diseases. Parasitology (the study of parasites), in medical schools falls into the category of tropical diseases. This being the case, American physicians rarely suspect parasites as a current health problem and are not alert to the clinical manifestations that parasites cause.

Those who believe that we don't have a problem would be wrong. In fact, because of our diets we are even more of a target. Anyone who bites his or her nails, eats pork, runs around in their bare feet, has pets, breathes, or eats packaged foods can contract a parasite infestation. Some other ways of contracting parasites include poorly prepared foods in restaurants, insects such as fleas, ticks, or mites, daycare centers, from others that are infested, fresh water lakes or ponds and other manmade bodies of water, and traveling in foreign countries.

There is a certain stigma about having worms. It means you are dirty or scummy. NOT TRUE! Experts say that up to 80% of all Americans has at least one type of parasite involvement.

Parasites are not always intestinal worms. They can be in any part of the body: The head, thyroid, mucus in the chest area, or even in the uterus. Often they are microscopic.

What exactly is a parasite? A parasite is an organism that lives within, upon, or at the expense of another organism, known as the host, without contributing to the survival of the host.

In the human body most parasites start in the intestine. The intestinal system can be compared to your kitchen's food preparation area and place to eat. It can be thought of as your clean-up and disposal area. If for a long period of time the clean-up area is stacked up with leftovers, and garbage, you are going to attract bugs.

If things are not cleaned up, it's just a matter of time until the bugs invade other parts of the kitchen. Some people's solution is to ingest a chemical to kill the parasites. This is like spraying the disposal area to kill the bugs it may get rid of them, but if you don't clean up the area, others will come.

While some parasites can be found by a conventional stool test if they are a certain few and in the intestinal track, today's random stool examinations used by most physicians usually just makes matters worse and makes the diagnosis of parasites that much more difficult. This test is usually insufficient and often unreliable. Since many parasitic infections are nonspecific and can mimic other recognizable diseases, the condition is often misdiagnosed and the health problems can persist over months and even years before the real culprit is found.

Some health conditions have been linked to parasitical involvement, such as some: seizures, headaches, allergies, attention deficit disorder, sinusitis, lymes (a parasite that was transmitted from a tick into a person), candida, crohn's disease, fibromayalgia, and chronic fatigue. To give you an idea how an infection of parasites can cause symptoms of other diseases or conditions, here are some of the more common symptoms: abdominal cramping, fatigue, insomnia, bloating/gas/fullness in the stomach, digestive problems/heartburn, diarrhea, hyperactivity/ADD, memory problems, allergies, intermittent fever of unknown origin, food and environmental sensitivities, joint/muscle/back pain, depression, restlessness/moving legs, nervousness/irritability, headaches, grinding teeth/bruxism, nausea/deep vomiting, unexplained weight loss or weakness, and skin problems.

Some of the more common parasites apart from head lice include Candida albicans, Giardia lamblia, Entaoeba histolytica, Blastocystic hominis, Dientamoeba fragilis, and Cryptosporidium. Parasites commonly referred to as worms include pinworms, roundworms, tapeworms, whipworms, Trichinia spiralis, Filaria, and Guinea. 

Protozoa are single celled, tiny living things that are considered to be the lowest form of animal life. There are about 30 varieties of protozoa that cause disease in humans.

Amoeba are a microscopic, single celled organism that is found in soil and water. Several species may live in humans including Entamoeba coli (E-coli) and E. histolytica.

Fungi grow as single cell, as in yeast, or as a multicellular filamentous colonies, as in molds and mushrooms. They do not contain chlorophyll, so they are dependent upon a saprophytic or parasitic existence. There are over 100,000 species of fungi, but only about 10 cause disease in humans.

Yeast is a fungus that reproduces asexually. Candida albicans is a kind of disease producing yeast.

Many experts suggest that a biannual parasite cleanse be done. Some of the
natural methods that have been used historically are, garlic, black walnut,
pumpkin seed, and a combination called Special Formula # I . There is also a
10 day Chinese cleanse called Para-Cleanse.
After a cleanse, here are some tips on how to ward off reinfestation.

Eliminate all milk and dairy products from your diet. (the one exception to this would be yogurt with no sugar that contains active cultures of acidophilus)

Make LIVE FOODS a large part of your diet, especially fresh vegetables.

LIMIT or CUT OUT DEAD FOODS like synthetic laced food, processed and packaged foods.

Add Bulk to your diet with foods and herbs like psyllium hulls. This will help carry the dead parasites out of the body as well as help to keep the intestinal tract clean.

Build and tone your intestines with herbs like Cascara Sagrada and combinations Like LBS II. Your intestines are smooth muscles and stay toned with nutrition, fiber and exercise. Walking would be an excellent exercise for toning the intestinal tract.

Flabby, saggy intestines invite parasites. Drink enough of the best water you can get your hands on, especially Reverse Osmosis Water.

Limit meats. If you have a hard time limiting them in your diet, at least make sure you cook them thoroughly. Tapeworms as well as other parasite infestations have increased amount in those who have a fondness for rare steaks, hamburgers or fish.

Spring clean your body periodically with herbs. Any parasites from a microscopic organism to a 15-foot tapeworm can drain you. They take needed nutrients and they excrete toxins.

*Whole leaf Aloe Vera - This herb is excellent for healing damage to tissue caused by parasites.

Colema or enema may be helpful as well. In the A.M. add Probiotic Eleven, Acidophilus, or Bifidophilus to the enema or colema. In the PM add Grapefruit seed extract.

Calcium & Magnesium or Herbal CA - in large amounts.

Sugar, fruit or fruit juices, honey (for at least 2 weeks), gluten (wheat, barley, rye), Limit the use of nightshade vegetables (potatoes, bell peppers, tomatoes, eggplant), dairy (milk), dairy (cheese), pasta (wheat), yeast products, salad dressing (sugar and yeast), peanut butter, snacks consisting of junk food, no fruit (especially acid fruits), no beef, pork, or shellfish.

Stevia or brown rice syrup, rice flour, millet, buckwheat, Quinea, amaranth, teff, red potatoes only (cook at 500 degrees), 1 sliced tomato per day, soy milk, rice dream, almond milk, soya cheese, almond cheese, rice pasta, or spelt, corn bread, corn tortillas, use baking powder for breads, sprouted wheat bread (yeast free), Lemon herb dressing by Cardini or make lemon-oil dressing, almond butter, sesame, cashew, rice chips, rice ice cream, rice cakes, sunflower, sesame, pumpkin seeds, almonds. After 2 weeks the following fruits can be added in to your diet, but only one per day; Apples, Pears, Bananas, and Plums. Coldwater fish - Salmon, tuna, orange roughy, skinless chicken, turkey (fresh sliced only).

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        Source: 
        Health and Healing - Tomorrow's Medicine Today by Julian Whitaker: August 2000 Vol. 10, No. 8

Americans tend to think that parasites are something people only get in "third world" countries. This just isn't so. People can pick up parasites from pork, animal pets, and even fresh produce. In fact, parasites thrive in the waste-clogged and undernourished intestinal systems our modern life-styles promote.

Fortunately, there are herbal combinations that are formulated to help rid the body of parasites. Artemesia Combination with Elecampane is one of these helpful formulas. Many of the herbs it contains have been widely used for centuries to combat the problem of intestinal parasites.

Artemesia: Two types of artemesia are used in this formula - wormwood and mugwort. Both types have been used in traditional medicine for centuries as parasite fighting medicines. They are some of the strongest antiparasitics in the plant kingdom. They also stimulate digestive secretions and improve digestive function. In fact, wormwood received its name as a direct result of its use in destroying worms.

Elecampane is a gentle stimulant and has been widely used for respiratory problems, gastric complaints, and as an antimicrobial. It also contains the highest concentration of the polysaccharide inulin. Inulin combines with the fluids in the digestive tract to soothe inflamed tissues. Inulin also helps to feed the acidophilus (or friendly bacteria) in the colon which help to protect the body against other microorganisms. Research also suggests elecampane has a direct antiparasitic effect.

Spearmint leaf is a soothing herb for the stomach. It is so mild that it is often recommended for children's stomach disorders. Spearmint was once so popular that the pilgrims brought it with them when they crossed the ocean and settled the new world. This herb adds a gentleness to the Artemesia Combination that helps reduce its harsh action on the digestive membranes.

Garlic bulb has important properties as an antibiotic. In World War I, the British used this herb as a topical antibiotic and antifungal where it earned a shining reputation for preventing disease.

Garlic has also been used many times throughout history to rid the body of parasites. This use is particularly evident in the herbal lore of India, where it was regularly recommended for the removal of worms. In addition, garlic is an excellent plant to use in fighting viruses and fungus.

Ginger root is used by traditional herbalists to treat flatulence, colic, and diarrhea. Ginger stimulates digestion and circulation in the abdominal cavity. It also helps settle the stomach.

Clove bud is another herb used for parasite problems. It is especially good for parasites like giardia. Clove also makes a good all-around digestive tonic.

Dosage: Take two tablets with a meal three times a day. Generally speaking it is best to take the formula for two weeks, give the body a one week break and then go for another two weeks.

"Elecampane: Lung and Colon Remedy" in Nature's Field (January/February 1995)
The Garden of Life: An Introduction to the Healing Plants of India by Naveen Patniak (New York, New York: Doubleday, 1993).
A Modern Herbal by Mrs. M. Grieve (New York, New York: Dover Publications Inc., 1971).
The Swiss Natures Doctor's: Secrets of Therapeutic Herbs by Dr. A. Vogel (New Canaan, Connecticutt: Keats Publishing, Inc., 1990).
Weiner's Herbal 1990 Edition: The Guide to Herb Medicine by Michael A. Weiner, M.S., M.A., Ph.D., (Mill Valley, California: Quantum Books, 1990).