The Biogenic Feedback Loop Between Parasites and MCAS

This post discusses the biogenic feedback loop between parasites and MCAS.

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I put off writing this post for over six months because it is such a big topic, and frankly, I didn’t want to go there. But when I recently was diagnosed again with parasites, I realized it was time to face the issue head-on.

My parasite journey

I started treating parasites over a decade ago when I learned I had Lyme Disease and co-infections. Parasites frequently accompany Lyme disease.

I took herbal supplements for six years and did liver cleansing, ozone insufflation, low-dose immunotherapy, enemas, and homeopathic remedies for parasites. I fasted. I used frequency-specific microcurrent. I did Sacred healing. I even took antiparasitic pharmaceuticals. In 2018 after spending thousands of dollars on parasite protocols, only to be reinfected, I turned to Cranio-Biotic treatment, and successfully managed my parasites for several years.

But at some point around 2021, I decided I was done treating parasites. I didn’t want to think about them. I wanted to believe that they were gone for good after spending so much time and money treating parasites. I wanted them out of my life, and so I turned to denial. And shortly after that, my serious mast cell activation downward spiral began.

This year I saw a powerful intuitive healer to address my persistent mast cell symptoms of insomnia and neuropathy. And to my utter dismay, she diagnosed liver toxicity and parasites as my primary underlying issues. What?! I had worked on parasites and my liver for so long, how could this be possible?

But once the news sunk in it made sense. As soon as I stopped treating (managing) my parasites they got the upper hand again and my MCAS spiraled out of control. This was a hard reality to digest. But when I pieced together the timing of when I stopped addressing parasites, and how that coincided with my big MCAS flare, the connection was undeniable.

This month I started a new gentle liver cleanse to get at the underlying cause of parasites. Parasites love a toxic environment where they can gain a foothold, and my liver was in somewhat bad shape. Over the last three years, my liver labs had been erratic, and occasionally my levels would spike into the danger zone. As I discuss below, the underlying reasons for having human parasites are myriad, including toxic exposures.

So, this month has been all about sending love to my liver and re-addressing parasites. I realized that I need to look at treating parasites as not a one-and-done affair, but it needs to be an ongoing concern. I realized I needed to figure out a better way to manage parasites so that I wouldn’t feel crazy.

I’ve found that the key is to focus on managing parasites, rather than on eradicating them. As you will read below, when you have MCAS or other chronic illnesses like I do you are in a biogenic feedback loop creating the conditions for parasites to thrive. And so in this post, I provide my go-to parasite remedies, which include liver cleansing.

What is MCAS?

Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) is a chronic condition that affects all organ systems. MCAS is serious and disabling and people with MCAS often experience significant and debilitating symptoms daily, including anaphylaxis, which can be fatal.

MCAS is often found in combination with other chronic conditions such as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS).

Frequently healthcare providers do not know about MCAS, and the tests for MCAS are problematic because they are not uniformly reliable. MCAS can be difficult to manage. Treatments include blocking mast cell mediators with anti-histamines and mast cell stabilizers, as well as avoiding triggers.

Check out this post on how to manage MCAS.

Why parasites?

Parasites are found all over the world in all populations, not just in undeveloped areas. Parasites are endemic and they can be caused by:

• Contaminated water
• Animals, including pets
• Human-to-human contact
• Factory farmed meats
• Undercooked or raw meat
• Fresh foods
• Travel

Symptoms of parasite infection

• Gut Issues, including food sensitivities, IBS, abdominal pain, constipation/diarrhea, and unexplained nausea
• Insomnia
• Grinding teeth while sleeping (bruxism)
• Anal itching
• Acne, psoriasis, and skin inflammation
• Sugar cravings and increased hunger
• Fatigue, flu-like symptoms
• Muscle and joint pain
• Heart palpitations and chest pain
• Iron-deficiency anemia
• Brain fog
• Anxiety and depression
• Unexplained weight gain and difficulty losing weight
• Worsening symptoms during the full moon

The biogenic feedback loop between MCAS and parasites

“Pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites can contribute to mast cell activation syndrome. The mast cell reaction is an immune response in an attempt to protect the human from the pathogen.” – source

If you look at the symptoms of parasite infection above, you might notice there is a lot of overlap with MCAS symptoms. This makes it difficult to determine whether your symptoms are being caused by MCAS or parasites.

But in any case, by their very nature, the symptoms of parasite infection cause mast cell activation. When you experience mast cell activation the body acts as if it is under a threat to its survival. This causes more mast cell activation. A parasite infection sets up this biogenic cycle that is self-perpetuating. And as long as the parasites are present in the system you will experience more mast cell activation.

Types of parasites

Protozoa: Protozoa are microscopic, one-celled organisms that can be free-living or parasitic in nature. They can multiply in humans, which contributes to their survival and also permits widespread infections to develop from just a single organism. Transmission of protozoa typically occurs from contaminated food or water, or person-to-person contact. – source

The most common protozoa are giardia and cryptosporidium. Unfortunately, it is challenging to guard ourselves against protozoan parasites that exist in our environments because they produce cysts and biofilms. A biofilm is a resistant wall that encloses and shelters the protozoan parasite making it able to survive changes in temperature, lack of water, extreme acids, and killing agents. This means that once a protozoan parasite cyst/biofilm develops, it can linger for a long time and wait for the perfect chance to open and wreak havoc on the body.

Helminths: Helminths are “large, multicellular organisms that are generally visible to the naked eye in their adult stages.” Three main groups of helminths infect humans: flatworms – these include trematodes (flukes), and cestodes (tapeworms), acanthocephalans (spiny-headed worms), pinworms, hookworms, and nematodes (roundworms). The adult forms of these worms can stay in the gastrointestinal tract, blood, lymphatic system, and tissues. And, the larvae can cause disease through their infection of certain body tissues. A common example of helminth infection is roundworms (known as Ascaris lumbricoides). According to the CDC, approximately 14.3% of the human population is infected with roundworms. – source

Helminths can be transmitted from contaminated water or soil, poor sanitation, and human-to-human contact. Helminths are typically visible to the naked eye but are difficult to detect. They can attach to any organ, tissue, or muscle in the body, and can create debilitating symptoms that leave you feeling extremely ill. Hookworm infection can lead to anemia, lack of vitamin/mineral absorption, GI tract issues, and fatigue.

Pinworms are another type of helminth infection. Pinworm infections are easily contracted from contaminated food, water, and human contact through bathtubs, toilets, and bed sheets. Perianal itching is the most common symptom, but other symptoms include GI tract issues, behavioral changes, insomnia, vaginal irritation/UTIs, hyperactivity, and even epilepsy. – source 

According to the CDC, “the most common clinical manifestation of a pinworm infection is an itchy anal region. When the infection is heavy, there can be a secondary bacterial infection due to the irritation and scratching of the anal area. Often the patient will complain of teeth grinding, and insomnia due to disturbed sleep, or even abdominal pain or appendicitis. Infection of the female genital tract has been well reported.”

Ectoparasites: The CDC describes Ectoparasites as “blood-sucking arthropods such as mosquitoes” because they are dependent on a blood meal from a human host for their survival. This includes ticks, fleas, lice, and mites that attach or burrow into the skin. Instead of living within the host, ectoparasites feed on the surface of the host. Deer ticks can pass on dangerous infections such as babesia, bartonella, rickettsia, ehrlichia, and mycoplasma.

Why do modern people have parasites?

You might think that parasites are only an issue in undeveloped parts of the world. But this is a great synopsis of why modern people contract parasite infections.

Our ancestors frequently purged themselves by inducing vomiting and diarrhea, eating specific herbs and foods to kill microbes, and cleansing during the full moon. They knew that humans, like animals, have parasites.

The difference between our ancestors and modern humans is that:

• Our ancestors lived connected to nature. They woke up when the sun rose and fell asleep when the sun set. This kept their hormones balanced due to the natural exposure to light and it provided adequate vitamin D3, keeping their immune systems healthier.
• Our ancestors were not exposed to EMFs which are ubiquitous in our modern world. EMFs encourage mold and parasites to multiply exponentially. Radiation dramatically lowers our immune responses, making us more susceptible to parasitic infections.
• Our ancestors did not take pharmaceutical medications, which while helpful, can create superbugs. According to the Mayo Clinic, “drug resistance … [encourages] germs such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi [to] adapt to the drugs that are designed to kill them.” Drug resistance can cause gastritis, set the stage for autoimmune diseases, and be the gateway for parasites to invade the body.
• Our ancestors did not have factory-farm and toxic pesticides that actively deplete soil quality. Our modern soil is depleted and toxic.
• Our ancestors did not ingest processed foods and toxic chemicals which can cause hormonal imbalances, gastrointestinal issues, and autoimmune diseases. This compromises the immune system and makes us more susceptible to stealth infections.
• Our ancestors did not experience pollution and extreme environmental toxins. Pollutants can invade the body through air, foods, beverages, and personal care products, creating heavy metal toxicities and mold – both of which encourage parasites.

How to manage parasites when you have MCAS

Managing parasites begins with ensuring your body is free of toxicity. Some parasites help sequester toxins like heavy metals in the body, and so they are paradoxically helpful.

There are many ways to treat parasites, including herbal protocols, pharmaceuticals, homeopathic remedies, Lyme Stop, and frequency. In my experience, it takes multiple treatment modalities to address parasites in the many forms they can take and to get behind biofilms.

Some of my favorite treatments include a combination of:

• Liver cleansing goes hand in hand with managing parasites to mitigate the conditions that make parasite infection more likely. My 7-Day Liver Cleanse Protocol is a great way to gently cleanse the liver while keeping your “bucket” (see below for the Bucket Theory) at a healthy level with MCAS.
• Herbal protocols – like Energetix Core Para-V Blend. Some herbal protocols can be hard on your liver, so you carefully adhere to the instructions for periodically taking the prescribed time off of treatment so your liver can rest.
• Homeopathic remedies – like Energetix Para-Chord can address the underlying causes of attracting parasites into your body in the first place while gently treating the infection. In my experience homeopathy alone does not successfully eradicate parasites. I discuss homeopathy for MCAS and chronic illness in this post.
• LymeStop treatment – or CranioBiotic Treatment (CBT) addresses the energetic pattern in your body causing parasite infection. I’ve seen Dr. Ben Erlandson in LaCrosse, WI for CBT.
• Frequency – like FSM, or Healy, is a fabulous therapy for addressing parasites. Healy is an individualized specific microcurrent device (ISM) that runs beneficial electrical currents directed by an app on your phone. Healy can be used to magnify your intention and to get the most out of your life. Check out this post for more about Healy. And this post provides some tips and tricks for Healy. You can run Healy and FSM programs specifically targeting parasite infections. I recommend this provider who designed a custom Healy parasite program for me.
• Fasting on the lunar cycle – sometimes called the “full moon challenge.” You can fast at strategic times of the month to take advantage of the natural life cycle of parasites. Typically I try to fast a little longer (I do intermittent fasting most days) on the days surrounding the full moon.
• And you can sign up for a session with me to fine-tune your parasite cleansing regimen!

Finally, I haven’t tried it, but I’ve heard that “Helminthic therapy can be helpful to those with mast cell activation disorder (MCAD) or mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) but it needs to be very carefully managed.” – source

Managing versus treating parasites

I have to admit that at times I have had a pathological fear of and hatred for parasites. For over five years I was afraid of going near the woods because my family had sustained such terrible illnesses from ticks. But avoiding nature was not healthy; we need a connection to nature to be whole.

Similarly, I felt ashamed knowing that I had parasites inside my body under this misguided mindset that only “dirty” people contracted parasites. It was freeing to learn that parasites are so prevalent and to release that shame.

I also felt hatred toward the parasites, and I directed hatred toward body parts that had parasites, which wasn’t good for my mental or physical health either.

As I’ve discussed above, modern humans are very susceptible to parasites, and you can be born with parasites. It can be crazy to be constantly trying to eliminate something impossible to eradicate. And many expensive parasite-killing brands profit off the money you spend in the pursuit of total parasite eradication.

I’ve found that a more sane and doable approach is to focus on managing parasites rather than trying to eliminate them. Our ancestors worked with the rhythms of nature to control parasite infections, fasting, purging, and taking herbs, and that approach works for me. I do an annual spring parasite cleanse with a rotation of four pharmaceuticals, and for the rest of the year, I use herbals one week out of every month.

The bucket theory

The bucket theory offers a helpful analogy for understanding symptom reactions with MCAS.

Think of your body as an empty bucket that you want to keep from overflowing. Different foods and activities fill your histamine bucket at different speeds but they combine to form the total level of histamine in your body (how full your bucket is). A fuller bucket means you have more histamine symptoms. When you manage triggers, reduce exposure to known triggers, and take medications and supplements to reduce histamine, you can manage the level of your bucket.

Know your typical symptom progression

Knowing your symptom progression in a symptom flare is the key to developing your own rescue plan. In this post, I discuss how to determine your own symptom progression. Once you know what typically happens in your symptom progression you can design a rescue plan to address those symptoms.

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Check out this powerful frequency device

Healy is an individualized specific microcurrent device (ISM) that runs beneficial electrical currents directed by an app on your phone. Healy can be used to magnify your intention and to get the most out of your life. Check out this post for more about Healy. And this post provides some tips and tricks for Healy.

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Disclaimer

The preceding material does not constitute medical advice. This information is for information purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, cure or treatment. Always seek advice from your medical doctor.