Welcome!
If you’ve been following me for a while you know how impactful parasite cleansing has been towards my physical, mental, and energetic health. I have a whole other post about my own parasite cleansing journey. But here we'll get into more of the nitty gritty of parasite cleansing.
What is parasite cleansing and whyyyy are we talking about this?
Parasites have been around for millions of years. The word parasite has greek roots and means feeding beside. They are creepy little beings for sure. But they are old ancestral creatures who are still around for a reason. They are stealthy and can hide like no other. Parasites aren’t something you hear about in day to day conversation (unless you hang out with me), but they are oh so common.
Parasites are actually really common. We can get parasites from multiple ways such as:
Eating fruits and veggies whether they're washed or not
Meats especially if undercooked
Raw fish or sushi
Letting dogs or animals lick you
Walking barefoot outside
Washing with or drinking tap water
Traveling
In short: They’re everywhere! I mean we deworm our pets. Why not us.
Now... folks can have parasites and not show symptoms of parasitic infections. This is an example of terrain theory which notes why some people get sick and not others with similar exposure. Your body’s immune system, ability to fight off pathogens, and drainage pathways functionality determines if you might experience symptoms of parasitic infection.
What this means is that yes we are constantly coming into contact with parasites (and germs, and viruses and other pathogens) but if your body can fight pathogens and remove them, then you might not be experiencing symptoms.
Unfortunately most of us aren’t working on opening drainage pathways, have heavy toxic loads that we’re living with, and aren’t aware that parasites could be causing lots of common symptoms.
Here’s a list of symptoms that parasites can cause
Bloating, gas, stomach pain and other digestive problems (IBS)
Low libido
Constipation and/or diarrhea
Grinding teeth (especially at night)
Trichotillomania (pulling hair out)
Biting nails, and skin picking
Intense period pain, ovulation pain
Joint and muscle pain
Skin issues, such as eczema, psoriasis, acne, rosacea, hives, dry scalp, dandruff
Sleep issues, insomnia, especially waking up in the early hours of the morning
Fatigue, tiredness, exhaustion and lack of energy, brain fog, anxiety
Headaches, migraines, vertigo
Recurring bacterial vaginosis, rectal itching, genital itching
Mood swings, irritability, feelings of anxiousness, emotional leading up to or on period
Insatiable hunger, sugar cravings, increased appetite and feeling unsatisfied after meals
Symptoms increasing around the full moon
Now if you read through those and are now nervously thinking you have parasites, I’m here to tell you…. You probably do! And there's something you can do!
Because parasites have been around for millions of years, humans have had to deal with them all throughout history. Indigenous cultures around the world have used and are using plantita medicines and earth medicines to deal with these creatures. And in my experience, leaning into ancestral practices is the way to go.
From using bitter herbs and plantitas in cooking, to participating in ceremonies of purging and release, our ancestors knew and KNOW whats up.
In short: parasites have been around since the beginning. And our ancestors who were in relationship with the land were also in touch with practices of cleansing.
So now that we’ve talked a little bit about parasites let's talk about the cleansing of these creatures.
When I first started out on my parasite cleansing journey which you can read more about here, I was really eager to just get these bugs out! And while I still do have some feelings about my body being a host to little creatures, I approach the process of cleansing from a broader lense nowadays.
Before I cleanse, I begin to speak to the parasites and invite them to leave with ease and swiftness. I thank them for teaching me about the process of letting go and for showing me that not everything is meant for me.
Approaching my cleansing time with grounded intention really helps support the process and deepens my experience each time.
For me, parasite cleansing is a sacred ancestral practice.
It’s a reclamation of self. A practice of setting boundaries.
And a practice in releasing.
There are different ways to actually cleanse the parasites out of the body. Of course there are pharmaceutical medications. I used pharmaceutical medication to treat a parasitic infection after traveling abroad and losing 20 pounds in just 4 days. I have also done parasite cleanses with herbal tinctures, capsules, and infusions.
A huge benefit of parasite cleansing with plantita medicine is the connection to the herbs. As I make my infusion the night before, I speak to the plantitas and boiling water and ask them to help me make space in my body and in my life. I ask it to help me release what's no longer serving me.
But before you do any parasite cleanse!
There are a couple things you'll want to think about.
1. Are you actively opening up drainage pathways?
Drainage pathways are the pathways of the body that allow drainage or release. Such as the bowels (and bowel movements), the lymphatic system (and sweating out toxins), and the uterus (and the menstrual cycle). These are just a few examples.
You want to be actively opening up drainage pathways so that the parasites you are killing off while cleansing have a clear way out. Without this crucial step, your body can reabsorb the pathogens and toxins and you might experience herxheimer reactions such as sore muscles, fatigue, headaches, constipation, fever, and more : (
Some ways to open up drainage pathways is sweating at least 2-3 times a week, at least 1 bowel movement a day, dry brushing, tongue scraping, body movement like yoga or dancing or other workouts.
For more info on Drainage Pathways check out this whole course I put together for ya'll. It's jam packed with information and embodiment practices.
2. What binder are you planning to use?
A binder is a term used to describe a supplement that is ingested and that binds up pathogens and toxins. They are super integral into the parasite cleansing process because as we kill off parasites, binding them up ensures their exit vs their reabsorption back into the body.
My favorite binder is mimosa pudica seed. You can learn more about this amazing binder here.
3. What parasite cleanse are you planning to use?
Now you know we got you and offer our own hand blended and organic parasite cleansing herbs. It comes with a pdf guide that walks you through each step of your cleanse. To learn more about click below.
However you are cleansing, I'm sending you lots of love and releasing energy. You got this!