Parasites and Other Alien Invaders
Parasites and digestive system infections are common causes of diarrhea and general intestinal upset. The World Health Organization lists 46 infectious agents that lurk in drinking water around the world, but a certain form of the normally friendly bacterium E. coli (called pathogenic) is responsible for at least half of the complaints. In most cases, this particular type of E. coli causes cramps, diarrhea, nausea, fever and vomiting that last no more than a few days. For young children, the elderly, and those weakened by disease, however, pathogenic E. coli infestations can be deadly. Other unwanted invaders include shigella, salmonella, amoebas and protozoa, including giardia. This last protozoan, which once was a danger primarily for foreign travelers and backpackers, is increasingly becoming a problem even for those who do not stray far from home. Experts estimate that 5 percent of North Americans carry this persistent intestinal parasite. Symptoms of giardia infestation include diarrhea, intestinal cramps, sulfurous belching and sometimes fatigue, decreased appetite, weight loss and difficulty in digesting of fats.
It's up to your stomach acid to kill these invading microbes, so if you have recurring problems, you may have low stomach acid levels. For ways to raise those levels, see "Indigestion" in chapter 36. There are also herbs that can help get rid of infestations in your digestive tract and herbs to prevent them from establishing residence in the first place. The beauty of these herbs is that, unlike the drugs used to fight intestinal infestations, they interfere very little with your natural intestinal flora. Before you lunge into a self-treatment program, however, it is important to know exactly what you have and how serious it is. Some holistic practitioners blame most digestive complaints on parasites, but I suspect that other problems often cause the symptoms. You should see a doctor to identify the illness and its severity.
Generally speaking, eating garlic and yogurt, and even drinking beer or wine can help ward off invaders—a good thing to remember when you are traveling in foreign countries. Even if your doctor cannot figure out exactly what you have, plenty of studies show that garlic serves as a general cure and overall preventive measure against all sorts of intestinal invaders.
Goldenseal and Oregon grape root fight digestive tract infections, thanks to the berberine they contain. Tablets of pure berberine hydrochloride are sold in Mexico and much of the Orient to destroy parasites. When three Indian pediatricians gave berberine to 40 children infected with giardia, in less than one week about two-thirds of the children showed no traces of the parasite. Other studies from around the world support berberine's ability to fight pathogenic E. coli, shigella and salmonella, as well as several flu viruses, cholera and intestinal parasites such as giardia and other amoebas. South Americans rely heavily on lemon verbena to kill bacterial infections, including pathogenic E. coli. Hops and nasturtium flowers are also used.
Grapefruit seed extract is also good for fighting the symptoms of various bowel diseases, including constipation, intestinal gas, bloating and abdominal discomfort. In a study conducted in the early 1990s, this same extract was also found extremely useful in treating pathogenic E. coli, candida and geotrichum infestations. This remedy is available as a liquid or as capsules; follow the directions on the package.
Traveling almost always increases your chances of infestations and other digestive problems. I've had a few unpleasant experiences traveling in Mexico—I once spent several days in a sagging bed watching a bare lightbulb swing on the ceiling. Montezuma was taking his revenge on my bowels, and the sickness would not end. Once in a while, a matronly woman would peek in, mumbling, "pobre señorita."
I have found quassia wood to be one of the best all-around remedies for intestinal infestations. This tree grows in the West Indies and South America, where cups are carved from the wood. I first learned of it when I read how these cups are filled with water and the wood's properties are extracted in a few hours. This drink serves as a remedy for malaria, fever and parasites—these maladies often go hand in hand in the subtropics. Be sure to take it in small amounts, because even a slightly large dose—say, a couple of cups of tea or a couple of dropperfuls of the tinctures—will probably upset your stomach. However, it is so bitter that I have never known anyone to get that much down.
To make quassia more palatable, I borrowed a trick from the Eclectic physicians of the late nineteenth century and added yerba santa, which improved quassia's taste and action. This herb grows wild in the Sierra Nevada foothills where I live, and I pick it every summer. Yerba santa got its name, which means "saintly herb" in Spanish, because it traditionally has been used to treat a number of different disorders. I also add peppermint to this quassia mixture. While neither yerba santa nor peppermint alone is used to treat parasites, both improve general digestion. The mixture I've suggested below still tastes unpleasant, so I suggest you take it as a tincture.
Traveler's Companion
l ounce each tinctures of quassia bark and goldenseal (or Oregon grape) root
½ ounce each tinctures of yerba santa leaves and peppermint leaves
Combine tinctures. Even with yerba santa and peppermint, this tincture is rather bitter, so you will have to drink it quickly. Take ½ dropperful about 20 minutes before each meal. If you get sick anyway, double the dose and take 3 times a day.
