According to "The Medical Advisor," the most common parasites that infest humans are pinworms, roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms. There are also smaller parasites such as flukes, protozoa, amoebae, and fungi. Pinworms tend to live in people's lower intestinal tracts and lungs. To deposit eggs, the female worm leaves the anal area at night. This causes an irritating itch that, when scratched, transfers the eggs to the host's fingers and to whatever those fingers touch -- throughout an entire household. The eggs are so tiny; they even float through the air! If inadvertently inhaled or ingested, the eggs hatch in the intestines and start a new cycle in a new host.

The roundworm that causes ascariasis enters the body in unwashed or contaminated raw food. It may also be picked up from soil. If you're wondering how they got into the soil -- its usually because a pet or animal deposited infested feces into the soil. And be sure to wash the salad mixes that come in plastic bags. These have often been found to be contaminated by cow manure when the salad mix is prepared near a pasture.

Hookworms and threadworms enter the body in contaminated drinking water or through bare feet (yes, they pass right through the skin into the soles of the feet)! Then the larvae migrate to the small intestine, where they may live for several years, taking nutrients from the intestinal walls. And while they live in the small intestine, they lay more and more eggs. What happens to these eggs (also called ovum)? Some of the eggs are passed in the feces (and whatever those feces touch becomes contaminated). The rest of the eggs either hatch right there in the intestines to become mature worms that lay their own eggs or incubate to hatch at a future date. Research has shown that ovum can incubate 10 years or more before hatching!

You can contract the roundworm that causes trichinosis by eating raw or undercooked pork or game - which may contain living worm larvae encased in cysts. After your digestive juices dissolve the cysts, the larvae circulate through the blood and lymphatic system before digging into muscle tissue and forming a cyst with new larvae.

Tapeworms also enter the body in raw or undercooked beef, fish, or pork. In some cases, children swallow tapeworm-infested fleas or lice that live on small animals or household pets. And flukes are so tiny that they can pass through skin if you swim in a lake containing the small snails which harbor them.

Then there are the even smaller kinds - the protozoa, amoebae, fungi - that exist in water and food. If you have ever been to Mexico and suffered from Montezuma's Revenge you know exactly what I'm talking about!

http://www.therealessentials.com/parasites.html

Parasites the silent invasion, what you should know about parasite infestation.
What is a parasites?

Symptoms of parasite infestation

Testing for parasites

What do parasites do to us

How do we get parasites

What can you do about parasites

How many parasites can live in the human body?

Known parasite herbs

Get to know your parasite enemies

Related parasite Links

PARASITE: A living organism, which receives nourishment and shelter from another organism where it thrives.

HOST: An organism which harbours the parasite = US!
and parasites are definitely one type of visitor that's not welcomed to the body.

The term parasite relates to ‘any living thing that lives on or in another living organism’. Many parasites interfere with bodily functions, cause irritation; some destroy the host’s tissues and release toxins into the bloodstream.

There are 2 types of parasites. There are large ones referred to as worms and small ones that require a microscope to see.

Diseases caused by worms - round and flat worms.
The large worms while in an immature form can travel through your blood stream and infect any organ, gland or part of the body. Depending on the type of worm, they can grow anywhere from several inches up to many feet in length. They can lay thousand up to millions of eggs each day. The eggs stick to the walls of our intestines and can be microscopic in size. These large worms are called HEMINTHINS or INTESTINAL NEMATODES. The fish tape worm is the largest of the human tapeworms and can reach up to 33 feet in length or more! Beef and pork also have tapeworms.

Protozoal diseases - various amoebic infections (single celled, microscopic protozoa)
The small ones travel through your blood stream like bacteria or virus. They reproduce by dividing themselves much like bacteria do.
They to can invade any cell in the body. These small ones are called PROTOZOA.

There are also various classes of parasites depending on whether they live outside on the surface of the body or live inside the body of the host; either in the body's tissues, body's cavities, digestive tract or other organs, Worms of various kinds can enter the body through several avenues and if conditions are favourable for their development they may multiply. If this colony is not kept in check by the body's own defences, the infestation soon becomes a burden on the body and health is downgraded.

Intestinal parasites are most often due to insufficient or negligent hygiene, poorly washed foods or polluted water. All of these undesirable invaders take nutrients from the body and excrete hazardous wastes, which are destructive to the body, irritating and injuring. For example, allergies, arthritis, asthma or even nerve disorders can often be directly linked to parasite infections. Mild parasite infections can be completely asymptomatic, which does not make them less hazardous. It could be that a mild vague feeling (not feeling 100%), digestive Problems, colic, irritable, fatigue, off colour and generalised or localised pruritus (itchiness) are experienced. Heavy infestations can cause Symptoms of abdominal pain and diarrhoea. Very heavy infestations can cause blood loss, anaemia, weight loss, appendicitis and even death! Some therapists speculate that the moon lays an intricate part in the nematode (worm) cycle. If a person is very nervous at the full moon, they may have worms and or parasites, because worms get rampant during a full moon!

The aim is to avoid becoming infected and strengthening the body to resist infestation. Worms l-o-v-e sugar, acid conditions and constipation. So therefore, a diet high in fibre and alkalising food is the best prevention and cure for infestations.

Symptoms of Parasites:

The word parasite comes from Greek meaning "one who eats off the table of another." Parasites eat and live off the food we consume, even our health supplements. They leave us the scraps. They often make us feel that we are not getting the nutrition from our food or that SOMETHING IS MISSING.

INABILITY TO GAIN OR LOSE WEIGHT

CHRONIC CANDIDA

YEAST INFECTIONS

CHRONIC SINUS OR EAR INFECTIONS

URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS

ITCHY EARS OR NOSE

ANAL ITCHING, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT

DIGESTIVE PROBLEMS

GAS AND BLOATING

DIARRHEA

MUCUSY STOOLS

HEMORRHOIDS

CONSTIPATION

IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME

GRINDING TEETH WHILE SLEEPING

HEART PAIN

NUMB HANDS

PAIN IN THE NAVEL

PAIN IN THE BACK,THIGHS OR SHOULDERS

ARTHRITIC PAINS

BURNING IN THE STOMACH

BED WETTING

DROOLING WHILE SLEEPING

ANY MENSTRUAL COMPLAINT

CYSTS AND FIBROIDS

EATING MORE AND STILL BEING HUNGRY

ALL SKIN PROBLEMS

FORGETFULNESS

DEPRESSION

CHRONIC FATIGUE

CHRONIC VIRAL SYNDROMES

PROSTATE PROBLEMS AND SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION IN MEN

WATER RETENTION (mostly from tapeworms)

CRAWLING FEELING UNDER THE SKIN

FLOATERS

LIVER/GALLBLADDER TROUBLE

And the list goes on and on. We must now be realistic. If 85% to 95% of the population, healthy or sick, has parasites, any illness can be suspected as having as its cause, parasites!

It is now being considered that perhaps 50% of all cancer, diabetes, asthma, arthritis and heart disease comes from parasites!

Testing for Parasites

It has been determined that the average hospital or lab is only able to catch 20% of the actual cases. Over 1000 species of parasites can live in your body and there are tests available only for 40 to 50 types. This means that your doctor, should he decide to test you, can only hope to find 5% of the parasites that can be tested for at a accuracy rate of 20% We are automatically missing 80% and have only a 20% chance of finding the remaining 5% that we can test for.

This ends up being a 1% accuracy. This is why we can have such an epidemic and it is going unnoticed.

What do Parasites do to us?

Parasites eat and eliminate wastes every day. They not only eat our food, BUT MANY OF THEM EAT HUMAN TISSUES. They also can eat the protein coating on your nerves.

Endo limax nana is a parasite that has been found to eat the calcium off our bones causing forms of arthritis. Entamoeba Histolytica can get into the liver, the lungs and the brain.

Immature forms of a worm called ROUND WORM, ALSO KNOWN AS ASCARIS, CAN GET INTO OUR LUNGS AND MAY CAUSE ASTHMA.

Many cases of chronic anemia can be from a parasite called HOOKWORM, also known as NECATOR AMERICANUS meaning AMERICAN MURDER. This parasite attaches itself to the lining of or intestines and bites into our blood vessels. It is capable of drinking an enormous amount of blood everyday. Hemoglobin levels as low as 15% of normal have been found in people with chronic hookworm disease.

Experts now feel that even seizures may be caused by parasites or even worms that can get into our brains!

Recently in her book, THE CURE FOR ALL DISEASES, Dr. Hulga Clark speculates that Diabetes can be caused by a worm called a FLUKE which can get into the pancreas and cause it to malfunction. Many researchers, including myself, have seen this to be true! The TV show "60 Minutes" highlighted a story of many children who had bloated bellies and had died of unknown causes. It was found upon autopsy that these children had died of DOG HEART TAPE WORMS. Tape worms that these children had picked up from dogs and had infected their bodies.

It is now being considered that heart disease and heart attacks may be higher in dog owners as these owners have had their hearts infected by these worms. This condition has been confirmed by autopsy.

Another type of roundworm is called whip worms. They inject a digestive fluid into our colon which turns the tissue of our colons into a liquid which the worm then sucks up. Pinworms have recently been found in the uterus, vulva and the fallopian tubes of some of my female patients. This is because when the worm travels to lay its eggs, it can get lost on its way back to the colon. In other words, it travels out of the colon, out of the anus into the vaginal area and gets lost on its way back. It's no wonder women can get rid of their vaginal infects. Worms can be crawling out of the anus carrying bacteria and candida right into the reproductive areas.

And to make matters worse they do this at night while your asleep.

Sound unbelievable? Do you get rectal itching that is worse at night or that ever wakes you up at night? Well guess who's coming to dinner!

Parasites release toxic wastes. These wastes are actually their feces and urine. Parasite urine is practically pure ammonia. Parasite wastes stress the kidneys, liver and immune system.

How do we get parasites?

The primary way is from our food and water. Over 50% of our food and water is infected. And organic food because it is grown with animal manure may be worse than commercial food.

In her book, THE CURE FOR HIV AND AIDS, Dr. Hulda Clark points out that much of the food we eat, the personal care items we use like shampoo, hand lotions and commercial cleaning solutions are high in solvents. The two most common solvents are BENZENE and PROPYL ALCOHOL. These solvents cause the microscopic eggs from parasites to hatch quickly in our bodies. Many years ago, before we were exposed to these chemicals, the parasite eggs would pass through our bodies leaving us safe. The eggs of parasites are microscopic and are the real danger. They can be passed sexually, through shaking hands, walking barefoot, eating or drinking from someone else's glass, bottle, can, fork etc., swimming in polluted lakes, rivers or streams, even by going to the beach.

Recent surveys have found that livestock inspectors might be missing as many as 1/2 of the parasite infected animals that go to slaughter.

Dr. Brooks claims that "eggs are readily transported through the air and it is not uncommon to find them in every room in the house.....complications are much common in women then men."

We get parasites from our pets. Anyone who is sick or has a health problem should try to remember when it started and when they got their pet. You may find it was around the same time.

Every time that your pet licks their anus they are putting thousands of parasite eggs are their tongues. When they go and lick you those eggs are going right onto YOU! The link between a sick child and a new puppy is seldom realized.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Make sure that you wash your hands several times a day and especially after going to the rest room or if around animals. Never let your pets sleep in your bed or lick you on the mouth. Always wash yourself after a pet licks you.

Cook your meat and fish until it has no visible pink and is getting dry. I'm sorry, but that's the way it is. Do not leave food out over night. The longer food sits out, the quicker the incubation period for parasites can begin. Always wash or peel raw fruits and vegetables. RAW FRUITS AND VEGETABLES CAN BE BIGGER SOURCE OF PARASITES THAN MEAT!!. Wash everything in foodgrade Hydrogen peroxide to avoid contamination.

Do not allow yourself to remain constipated. If your bowels do not move at least 2-3 times a day read up on CONSTIPATION REMEDIES diagnosis, causes, relief and treatments. The longer your feces stays in your digestive tract the greater a chance you have for parasites to grow.

THE LOST PRACTICE OF DE-WORMING

Prior to the 1930's it was very common that people would take castor oil, mineral oil or some type of herbal mixture to clear themselves of parasites. Each ethnic had their own way of doing this. This was done every six months, once a year or with the change in seasons.

In this way, people kept themselves clear of parasites. Medical doctors in the 1800's would commonly supervise the de-worming of their patients every 6 months, or once a year. Could this be where the traditional 6 month or annual check-up comes from?

In Europe, the medical community still recommends that you de-worm yourself, your animals and pets every six months.

If you are healthy, your body is handling the damage and poisons produced by these parasites and they are not producing disease your body. However, they may begin to produce disease at any time, depending on your life style, diet, and level of stress.

Hulda Clark says: "Getting rid of all parasites would be absolutely impossible using clinical medicines that can kill only one or two parasites each. Such medicines also tend to make you quite ill. Imagine taking 10 such drugs to kill a dozen of your parasites! Good news, perhaps, for the drug makers but not for you.
Yet three herbs can rid you of over 100 types of parasites! And without so much as a headache! Without nausea! Without any interference with any drug that you are already on! Does this sound too fantastic? Just too good to be true? They are natures gift to us. The herbs are:

Black Walnut Hulls (from the black walnut tree)
Wormwood (from the Artemisia shrub)
Common Cloves (from the clove tree)
These three herbs must be used together. Black walnut hull and wormwood kill adults and developmental stages of at least 100 parasites. Cloves kill the eggs. Only if you use them together will you rid yourself of parasites. If you kill only the adults, the tiny stages and eggs will soon grow into new adults. If you kill only the eggs, the million stages already loose in your body will soon grow into adults and make more eggs. They must be used together as a single treatment."

See Parasite cleanse for the recipes

How many parasites can be in the human body?

Helminths (worms) species reported from human hosts by Taxonomic Group:

Acanthocephala 7 species

Nematoda 138 species

Nematomorpha 24 species

Platyhelminthes 173 species

Digenea 113 species

Eucestoda 57 species

Turbellaria 3 species

TOTAL 342 species

Source: Journal of Parasitology 85:379-403 Dr. D.W.T. Crompton (Crompton, D.W.T. [1999] How much human helminthiasis is there in the world?)

Get to know your parasite enemies:

Ascaris Lumbricoides, large roundworm of humans, is the most common nematode parasite of humans, infecting an estimated 1.47 billion individuals. Pathology can result from pneumonia caused by the worm's migration through the lungs, blocking of the gastrointestinal track or the bile or pancreatic duct. Ascaris Lumbricoides is physically indistinguishable from Ascaris suum.

It is estimated that pinworms infect more than 400,000,000 people throughout the world (10% of humans), and in many areas of the world (e.g., North America and Europe) it is the most common nematode parasite of humans. On a world-wide basis, however, Ascaris lumbricoides ranks #1 infecting more than 1,000,000,000 people (25% of humans).

The Tapeworm genus Hymenolepis contains in excess of 400 species (according to some authorities), virtually all of which are found in higher vertebrates. The life cycles for most species are unknown, but it's likely that they all involve insects as the intermediate host (with a cysticercoid as the metacestode stage).

There are many species of hookworms that infect mammals. The most important, at least from the human standpoint, are the human hookworms, Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus, which infect an estimated 800,000,000 persons, and the dog and cat hookworms, A. caninum and A. braziliense, respectively. Hookworms average about 10 mm in length and live in the small intestine of the host. The males and females mate, and the female produces eggs that are passed in the feces. Depending on the species, female hookworms can produce 10,000-25,000 eggs per day. About two days after passage the hookworm egg hatches, and the juvenile worm (or larva) develops into an infective stage in about five days. The next host is infected when an infective larva penetrates the host's skin. The juvenile worm migrates through the host's body and finally ends up in the host's small intestine where it grows to sexual maturity. The presence of hookworms can be demonstrated by finding the characteristic eggs in the feces; the eggs can not, however, be differentiated to species (view diagram of the life cycle).
The mouthparts of hookworms are modified into cutting plates. Attachment of hookworms to the host's small intestine causes hemorrhages, and the hookworms feed on the host's blood. Hookworm disease can have devastating effects on humans, particularly children, due to the loss of excessive amounts of blood.
Juveniles (larvae) of the dog and cat hookworms can infect humans, but the juvenile worms will not mature into adult worms. Rather, the juveniles remain in the skin where they continue to migrate for weeks (or even months in some instances). This results in a condition known as "cutaneous" or "dermal larval migrans" or "creeping eruption." Hence the importance of not allowing dogs and cats to defecate indiscriminately.

Strongyloides stercoralis is an unusual "parasite" in that it has both free-living and parasitic life cycles. In the parasitic life cycle, female worms are found in the superficial tissues of the human small intestine; there are apparently no parasitic males. The female worms produce larvae parthenogenically (without fertilization), and the larvae are passed in the host's feces. The presence of nematode larvae in a fecal sample is characteristic of strongylodiasis. Once passed in the feces, some of the larvae develop into "free-living" larvae, while others develop into "parasitic" larvae. The "free-living" larvae will complete their development in the soil and mature into free-living males and females. The free-living males and females mate, produce more larvae, and (as above) some of these larvae will develop into "free-living" larvae, while other will develop into "parasitic larvae." As one might imagine, this free-living life cycle constitutes an important reservoir for human infections.
The "parasitic" larvae infect the human host by penetrating the skin (like the hookworms). The larvae migrate to the lungs, via the circulatory system, penetrate the alveoli into the small bronchioles, and they are "coughed up" and swallowed. Once they return to the small intestine, the larvae mature into parasitic females.
S. stercoralis also infects humans via a mechanism called "autoinfection." Under some circumstances, such as chronic constipation, larvae produced by the parasitic females will remain in the intestinal tract long enough to develop into infective stages. Such larvae will penetrate the tissues of the intestinal tract and develop as if they had penetrated the skin. Autoinfection can also occur when larvae remain on and penetrate the perianal skin. Autoinfection often leads to very high worm burdens in humans.
Since the parasitic females live in the superficial tissues of the small intestine, and can be present in high numbers, they can cause significant pathology.

There are approximately 60 species of whipworms that infect mammals. Only two are considered here, the human whipworm, Trichuris trichiura, and the canine whipworm, T. vulpis. These two species have a high degree of host specificity, but canine whipworms have been recovered from humans on rare occasions.
Whipworms get their name from the characteristic shape of the adults. The adults live in the host's large intestine with their anterior ends embedded in the cells that line the intestine; each female can produce in excess of 10,000 eggs each day, and the worms can live several years. The eggs are passed in the host's feces, and they become infective in about three weeks. When an infective egg is eaten by the appropriate host it hatches in the small intestine, and the juvenile worm migrates to the large intestine where it reaches sexual maturity.
Most infections of whipworms are probably asymptomatic. However, because the worms live a long time and a person can be reinfected constantly, heavy worm burdens can develop. Symptoms of whipworm infection can include diarrhea, dysentery, and anemia. Heavy infections in children can cause mental and physical retardation. Diagnosis depends on the demonstration of eggs, which have a characteristic appearance, in the feces.

Fasciola hepatica the common name of this parasite, the "sheep liver fluke," is somewhat misleading since this parasite is found in animals other than sheep (including cattle and humans), and the parasite resides in the bile ducts inside the liver rather than the liver itself. This species is a common parasite of sheep and cattle and, therefore, relatively easy to obtain.
The adult parasites reside in the intrahepatic bile ducts, produce eggs, and the eggs are passed in the host's feces. After passing through the first intermediate host (a snail), cercariae encyst on vegetation. The definitive host is infected when it eats the contaminated vegetation. The metacercaria excysts in the definitive host's small intestine, and the immature worm penetrates the small intestine and migrates through the abdominal cavity to the host's liver. The juvenile worm penetrates and migrates through the host's liver and finally ends up in the bile ducts. The migration of the worms through the host's liver, and the presence of the worms in the bile ducts, are responsible for the pathology associated with fascioliasis.
Fasciola hepatica is found in parts of the United States (view distribution), as well as in Great Britian, Ireland, Europe, the Middle East, the Far East, Africa, and Australia. Fascioliasis in sheep and cattle results in animals that show low productivity (low weight gain, low milk production, etc.).

Written with excerpts from parasite article by Michael Biamonte, C.C.N.