Parasites are sneaky little troublemakers that can infect people and animals in all sorts of ways—from simple gut worms to serious diseases like malaria. Drugs like Mebendazole (the human form of Fenbendazole which is typically used for treating animals) and Ivermectin are really good at knocking out certain types of parasites, but they’re far from being a one-size-fits-all fix that some “experts” have touted them to be.
In order to understand their benefits and limitations, we have to first identify the numerous types of parasites that can adversely affect the human body. These parasites fall into a few broader categories.
Types of Parasites That Commonly Inhabit the Human Body
- Nematodes (Pinworms, Roundworms, Hookworms, Whipworms)
- Cestodes (Tapeworms)
- Trematodes (Flukes)
- Protozoa (Single-cell parasites)
- Sporozoa (Single-cell parasites that reproduce via spores)
Within each of these categories there are many subspecies, each with their own unique properties. Within the sporozoa classification alone, there are over 65,000 identified species.
The various types of parasites react differently to popular protocols. No single medicine or herb can effectively eradicate all of the different types of parasites that might infect us. So addressing parasites needs a more sophisticated approach.
Can testing help identify the type of parasite?
Testing is hard due to the fact that parasites are good at hiding. Some parasites can travel in the blood (like malaria or babesia), so a blood test may detect them.
However, for parasites that dwell in the gut, a stool test is used to look for signs of parasites or eggs in a stool sample. Problems arise because in order for parasites to appear in the stool, they have to be weak enough to release their hold on the body and exit at the perfect time to get into the stool sample. When they begin to die, they also release an enzyme that begins to break down their body and by the time the reach the “exit” they are often undetectable.
You would also have to get them into the stool sample. If you’ve ever done a stool test, you know that you only collect about a teaspoon of stool for the sample. The chances that the parasite will be in that small sample is slim.
The stool test also looks for eggs. In order to detect the eggs, the parasites have to be in that stage of reproduction. If they aren’t currently laying and reproducing, the signs can be missed altogether.
Also, the parasites must be in the digestive tract to have a chance of showing up on stool tests. What about the parasites that like to live in the lungs, the liver, or the brain? The larger percentage of parasites that fall into the protozoa and sporozoa categories can go almost anywhere in the body due to their minuscule size. These are almost impossible to detect with simple stool testing.
I myself had numerous parasite tests and was told I showed no signs of parasites, however, when I finally began a truly effective parasite cleanse I passed a whole lotta parasites! This told me what many practitioners are discovering—the tests don’t work well. You can’t trust them.
I find that if parasites are suspected in a client, it is beneficial to do the Full Moon Parasite Cleanse. Studies show that 80% of adults in the United States are infected with parasites, so the odds are in our favor that embarking on a cleanse can provide relief and benefits for most people.
What parasitics are most effective?
Once a person realizes they need to do a parasite cleanse, the next question I usually get is “What products do you recommend?”
Many people who come to me to work on detox and drainage are already very aware of the problems parasites can cause and many have already done some parasite cleansing. Two popular anti-parasite medications that are touted by “experts” are Ivermectin and Mebendazole.
Many holistic health practitioners like myself have worked with clients/patients who have used Ivermectin and Mebendazole (or Fenbendazole) but were still suffering extensively from parasitic infections. This fact led me to do more research and what I discovered led me to move away from these protocols to more effective and comprehensive treatments.
Let’s break down why these popular treatments have their limits.
Mebendazole:
Mebendazole is basically the human-friendly version of “Fenben” (Fenbendazole). Doctors prescribe it a lot for common parasites that infect the gut.
It works well against these parasites which fall mostly into the nematode category:
• Pinworms (those itchy ones kids often get)
• Whipworms
• Roundworms
• Hookworms
It can also help with a few others, like worms that cause eye or tissue issues, but it’s not always the top choice.
Where it falls short:
• It mostly stays in your gut and doesn’t travel well to other parts of the body
• It’s not great for stronger worm infections (Ivermectin often works better there)
• It does almost nothing against flukes (like liver or blood flukes)
• It has zero effect on tiny single-celled parasites called protozoa and sporozoa, especially the ones that cause malaria or toxoplasmosis
Ivermectin:
Ivermectin has gained a lot of popularity in the last five years, and I find most people have heard of it. However, I feel that this drug has been given a little more credit than it is actually due by some influential online personalities.
Ivermectin is great for some worms and external parasitic bugs like lice, but it’s not the broad spectrum parasitic that many people think it is. Let’s break down its capabilities and limitations.
It’s really effective against:
• Strongyloides (a stubborn gut worm)
• River blindness larvae (though not the adult worms)
• Most hookworms and roundworms
• Scabies mites and head lice
But here’s where it struggles:
• It doesn’t touch tapeworms or flukes at all
• It has little to no effect on single-celled parasites like malaria germs, Toxoplasma, or Cryptosporidium
• It only kills baby worms in many cases, so you often need repeat doses
• Some parasites are starting to fight back against it, especially in animals (and we’re seeing hints of this in people too)
• It’s hit-or-miss on certain worms like whipworms or hookworms if you only give one dose
Addressing The Tiny Protozoan Parasites
Both Ivermectin and Mebendazole (and its cousin Fenbendazole) basically ignore the group of single-celled parasites called sporozoans. These need a totally different approach. About 70% of parasites fall into the protozoa and sporozoa categories, so that’s a lot of parasites being missed by these drugs.
Bottom line: Mebendazole and Ivermectin are super helpful for certain worms and skin parasites, but they’re not miracle cures for everything. And if you are only parasite cleansing with these two drugs, you are primarily addressing nematodes. You are not really touching cestodes, trematodes, protozoa or sporozoa types of parasites. That’s four of the five categories of parasites that could be infecting your body and causing you health struggles!
Beware Dangerous Ingredients
If after reading this you do wish to continue using Ivermectin and Mebendazole (or Fenbendzole), please be aware that some forms of these medications have been known to contain a chemical called Polysorbate 80. This substance can be harmful to humans in that it is able to punch holes in the blood-brain barrier, leaving your brain more vulnerable to heavy metals, molds and parasites. When sourcing your medications, be sure to check and double check that the types you are buying do NOT contain Polysorbate 80.
Three elements of a safe and effective parasite cleanse
When parasite cleansing, one factor that should be taken into consideration is that taking parasitics alone can lead to some unpleasant detox reactions in people with heavy parasite populations. In addition, medications alone can be ineffective due to the fact that parasites can create a thick biofilm barrier around their bodies to protect themselves like a shield. Similarly, they can hide behind biofilm buildup along your gut lining, avoiding your attempts to purge them.
With all that in mind, there are three elements in my process that I like to see in a parasite cleanse.
- A Biofilm buster – to break up the protective layer of biofilm produced by parasites that serves to protect them from anti-parasite protocols as well as removing biofilm in the gut that they hide behind like a shield
- Broad spectrum herbs that address all forms of parasites
- Systemic binders to mop up the toxins released by the parasites as they die off to limit Herxheimer reactions
I’ve researched many products and found the ones that I feel are the very best available on the market. They make the process as effective, easy, and painless as possible. I’ve put together a parasite cleansing course with all the info you need to conduct an awesome parasite cleanse.
My Full Moon Parasite Cleanse Course teaches you how to:
- conduct an effective parasite cleanse with herbs that kill a broad range of parasites
- reach parasites in all parts of your body, not just the gut
- strip away parasite defenses so they can’t hide from the cleanse
- limit unpleasant detox reactions
The Full Moon Parasite Cleanse covers everything you need to know to effectively eradicate your parasite population, and how and when to do maintenance cleanses to ensure they never build up in your body again.