Gut Parasites
UFOs OF THE INTESTINES
Interstinal parasites are much closer to home than we think.
Antony Haynes reviews evidence which highlights the prevalence
of previously unidentified faecal organisms (UFOs) and their
significance to health. Parasitic infestations are now so
widespread thay they affect about 150 million people in
the US and at least 40% of the world’s population.
Dr. Hermann Bueno, one of the world’s most experienced
parasitologists, believes that parasites are the missing
diagnosis in the genesis of many chronic health problems.
Signs of parasitic infection in adults include:
• abdominal pain
• abdominal bloating
• aches and pains
• anaemia
• arthritis
• autoimmune disease
• chronic fatigue
• colitis
• constipation
• diarrhoea
• fever
• flatulence
• food allergy
• gastritis
• headaches
• inflammatory bowel disease
• immune system problems
• irritable bowel syndrome
• malabsorption
• skin conditions and itching
• sleep disturbances
• rectal bleeding
• vomiting
While over 130 different parasites have been found in Americans,
the following are the most common:
- Blastocystis hominis, which can be asymptomatic, but
can cause irritable bowel, chronic fatigue, arthritis
and rheumatism.
- Dientamoeba fragilis, which can also be asymptomatic,
or cause diarrhoea, tenderness and melaena.
- Entamoeba coli, often asymptomatic, but can cause systemic
illness and auto-immune reactions.
- Giardia lamblia, which adhere to the upper part of the
small intestine, preventing digestion and assimilation
and causing a range of symptoms.
- Endolimax nana, the smallest of the intestinal amoebas,
and suspected of being the cause of rheumatoid arthritis
and collagen-related diseases.
Most NHS laboratories do not use techniques which could
help to identify parasites, and some organisms are thought
to be harmless. It can take an average of 16 investigations
to diagnose the presence of Giardia.
The major sources of infection are tap water, badly cooked
or stored food, human and pet faeces, and holidays abroad.
The best laboratories for detecting UFOs are:
- Parascope Laboratory, Tel: 01133 292 4657.
- Diagnos-Techs Labs., Tel: 0121 458 3407.
- Health Interlink (agents for Great Smokies Diagnostic
Lab.), Tel: 01582 794 094.
OPTIMUM NUTRITION 1998, 11; 1; 22-7
THE HERB REPORT – OREGANO
Kathi Keville reviews Origanum vulgare,, of which there
are many species and sub-species. Research has shown that
oregano is one of the most antibacterial and antifungal
herbs. Carvacrol is about 1.5 times and thymol about 20
times more powerful than phenol. In one study oregano essential
oil inhibited growth of all food-born bacteria and fungi
and proved a strong antioxidant, largely due to rosmarinic
and hydroxycinnamic acids. Oregano was one of four spices
out of 43 that killed 30 species of bacteria, including
those responsible for Salmonella food poisoning. It inhibits
Candida, E. coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. It is more
active against fungi and moulds than 11 other herbs. It
was found to be more effective than Flagyl in the treatment
of Giardia, reducing it by 90%. It is also effective against
head lice.
AMER. HERB ASSOC. NEWSLETTER, 1999, Vol. 15, No.
4.
PROBIOTICS AND THE TREATMENT OF DISEASE
Although it has been known for years that a wide range
of illnesses can be alleviated by supplementation with probiotics,
there has been little progress in recent times in advancing
this area of knowledge. However, there is now fresh enthusiasm
for research.
Beneficial bacteria break assist the digestion by breaking
down fibre and resistant starches, produce short chain fatty
acids and lactic acid, and manufacture vitamins such as
vitamin K and some B vitamins. They increase macrophage
activity and assist the immune system by producing antibacterial
compounds. They prevent pathogenic bacteria from flourishing,
improve elimination, and help to clear the body of toxins.
This article describes a number of ways in which probiotics
can help to treat disease.
- Lactobacillus acidophilus has been found to alleviate
migraines.
- Enterococcus faecium has been used successfully in
the treatment of liver cirrhosis.
- Bifidobacterium bifidus helps produce vitamins B1,
B6 and B12 and folic acid, and converts lactose into a
digestible form of lactic acid which stimulates peristalsis.
Bottle-fed babies are much lower in Bifidobacteria than
breast-fed babies.
- By re-balancing the flora of the digestive tract, probiotics
help to recycle oestrogen around the body. Oestrogen circulation
is important in the prevention of hormonal cancers and
the prevention of osteoporosis.
- Probiotics keep Candida in check to prevent thrush.
Lactobacillus acidophilus produces hydrogen peroxide which
directly kills Candida.
Probiotics could be useful in the prevention and treatment
of infantile acute diarrhoea, pseudo-membranous colitis,
and hospital-acquired and antibiotic-associated diarrhoea.
There is some evidence that lactic acid bacteria may play
a role in the prevention of colon cancer – by enhancing
the host immune response, binding and degrading potential
carcinogens, and altering the metabolic activities of intestinal
microflora.
BR. NATUROPATHIC J. 1999, 16 (4) 77-80
