08/27/2026
🪱 PARASITES: THEY’RE NOT ALL THE SAME AND NEITHER IS THE WAY THEY AFFECT THE BODY
When people hear the word parasite, they often picture a worm living in the intestines. But “parasite” actually describes a broad group of organisms that live in or on a host and obtain resources from that host.
Some are microscopic. Some are worms. Some remain primarily in the intestinal tract, while others can affect different tissues or organs depending on the species and stage of infection.
And this is exactly why I don’t believe parasite wellness should automatically mean grabbing a random “parasite cleanse” and taking it for a week.
🌿 ROUNDWORMS
Roundworms are nematodes, and there are multiple species capable of infecting humans.
Depending on the species, exposure can occur through contaminated soil, food, water or other routes. Some remain primarily intestinal, while others have life-cycle stages that migrate through tissues before returning to the digestive tract.
Heavy infections with certain intestinal worms can interfere with digestion and nutritional status.
🌿 TAPEWORMS
Tapeworms are segmented flatworms with very different life cycles depending on the species.
Certain infections are acquired through undercooked infected meat or fish, while others can involve ingestion of parasite eggs through f***l contamination.
Adult intestinal tapeworms absorb nutrients through their outer surface rather than having their own digestive system.
An important distinction: depending on the tapeworm species, swallowing eggs can cause a very different—and potentially much more serious—condition than simply having an adult tapeworm in the intestine.
🌿 HOOKWORMS
Hookworms attach to the lining of the small intestine and feed on blood.
That matters because chronic or heavier infections can contribute to blood loss and iron-deficiency anemia, potentially resulting in fatigue and weakness.
One common route of infection is surprisingly simple: larvae in contaminated soil can pe*****te exposed skin.
🌿 PROTOZOA
Not every parasite is a worm.
Protozoa are microscopic single-celled organisms. Examples of intestinal protozoan parasites include Giardia and Entamoeba histolytica.
Depending on the organism, infection may cause diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, gas, nausea and problems absorbing nutrients.
Because you cannot see these organisms with the naked eye, appropriate testing can be especially important when a protozoal infection is suspected.
🌿 LIVER FLUKES
Flukes are flatworms, and certain species can infect the liver and bile ducts.
Depending on the species and geography, infection can occur through contaminated aquatic plants or raw/undercooked freshwater fish.
Some liver-fluke infections can persist for years and cause inflammation or damage within the biliary system, which is one reason suspected liver-fluke infection deserves proper medical evaluation rather than guessing based on symptoms alone.
🌿 PINWORMS
Pinworms are extremely common, particularly among children, although adults can absolutely become infected.
The classic symptom is intense itching around the a**s at night because female worms migrate out to lay eggs around the surrounding skin.
The eggs can then spread easily through hands, bedding, clothing and household surfaces—which is why reinfection within families can happen.
🌱 THE ROOTED BODY METHOD
This is where I believe we have to look beyond “What kills parasites?”
We also need to understand the person.
How is digestion functioning?
Are bowel movements regular?
How is nutritional status?
What exposures are realistic?
What medications, herbs or supplements are already being used?
And most importantly—what organism are we actually dealing with, if there is an infection?
Different parasites have different life cycles, vulnerabilities and treatments. Symptoms alone cannot reliably tell us which parasite is present, and many digestive symptoms have completely unrelated causes.
Herbal traditions have a fascinating history of using plants such as black walnut, wormwood, clove, garlic and berberine-containing herbs in digestive and parasite-focused preparations. I’ll be diving into these individually in future posts—including what we actually know about them, traditional uses, safety considerations and where the evidence is still limited.
Because whole-body wellness isn’t about attacking the body.
It’s about understanding the terrain, supporting normal function, identifying what may be disrupting it, and choosing the right tools for the individual.
🌿 The Rooted Body
Whole-Body Wellness from the Root Up.
