Don't let poor health get you down. Persistent problems may have a cause that has been overlooked, such as negative beliefs.
Don't let poor health get you down. Persistent problems may have a cause that has been overlooked, such as negative beliefs.
Protozoal parasites are single cell animals which live in humans and cause disease.
It is generally assumed that protozoa are picked up during travel outside Europe and have little relevance in the UK. Protozoa are common in developed countries, however, and their prevalence in the UK is believed to be about 10%.
The main protozoal parasites encountered in the West are Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba hystolytica, and Blastocystis hominus. Others occasionally seen in the UK include: Cryptosporidium parvum, Entamoeba hartmanni, Dientamoeba fragilis, Entamaoeba coli, Lodamoeba (Entamoeba) buetschlii, Endolimax (Entamoeba) nana.
Giardia lamblia attaches to the wall of the small intestine and may also be found in the gall bladder. It rarely shows in stool samples. Guardia interferes with the absorbtion of fats, sugar and vitamins, and causes a variety of symptoms such as diarrhoea, constipation, IBS, abdominal cramps, weight loss, nausea, flatulence and food intolerances.
Entamoeba histolytica usually inhabits the large bowel, sometimes invading the mucous membrane leading to ulceration. Occasionally it is found in the liver, lungs and brain, where abscesses may develop. Possible symptoms include: diarrhoea, constipation, cramping, flatulence, food allergies, and autoimmune disease, notably polyarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Blastocystis hominus also inhabits the large intestine. Possible symptoms include: constipation, diarrhoea, flatulence, fatigue, insomnia, dizziness, and weight loss. It has also been linked to rheumatoid arthritis.
As protozoal parasites give off a number of unpleasant toxins both during inhabitation and particularly during eradication, I usually recommend beginning treatment with a supplement to support the liver and to facilitate the removal of these toxins. By this method, when the toxin levels are sufficiently low, (usually after 1-2 months) supplements to eradicate the protozoa can be gradually added and "die-off" symptoms are unlikely to occur.