[at-l] So-hole-man (long)

[atted@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (ted anderson)]

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Just got back from the doc and am pleased to report that his finger up my
bung hole did not feel good.  Never know when ya might switch, especially
being around the HotDog.=0D
=0D
For the Giardia:    Flagyl, 500mg, tid x 7 days=0D
For Lyme:            Doxycycline, 100mg, bid x 10 days=0D
=0D
I'm more tempted to buy this:=0D
=0D
Virgin Coconut Oil for Parasites=0D
There are two general groups of parasites. One consists of worms such as
tape worms and roundworms. The second category is the protozoa, one-celled
organisms. Parasites infect the intestines of both humans and animals and
can cause a great deal of intestinal distress. We often associate parasites
with Third World countries and poor sanitation, but parasites are a problem
everywhere, even in North America. In countries where sanitation is a
priority people mistakenly assume that no problem exists and they don't nee=
d
to worry. Parasites are everywhere, waiting for the opportunity to latch
onto an unsuspecting host. Backpackers have long been aware of the danger o=
f
drinking water from streams and lakes. Open water even in the backcounty is
often contaminated with parasites waiting for a host.=0D
Bert Thomas, a 45-year-old geologist, was a wilderness enthusiast. He loved
hiking, rock climbing and mountain biking and was an excellent athlete. In
the spring of 1994 he took his three children and went backpacking in the
Wyoming wilderness. Always mindful about the dangers of drinking surface
water, even in a seemingly pristine wilderness, he made sure to boil or
filter every drop of water they drank.=0D
On his return home he began to experience bouts with diarrhea and became
increasingly fatigued. He lost all energy and stopped participating in the
outdoor sports that had become a regular part of his life. He began to lose
weight, suffer from dizzy spells, and became short of breath. Doctors were
unable to find a cause for his problems. Because the illness began soon
after his return home from Wyoming, a stool sample was tested for parasites=
.
The tests came back negative. Over the next six months in an attempt to fin=
d
the cause of his illness he was treated for ulcers, had blood tests,
abdominal scans, and X rays. Symptoms became worse. He began having
blackouts and heart palpitations and was hospitalized. Monitoring his heart
revealed a serious abnormality called arrhythmia. It was assumed this was
the cause of his dizzy spells and blackouts. He was given medication to
control the arrhythmia but after a while stopped taking it because of the
side effects. Despite the negative tests from the stool specimen, his docto=
r
gave him medication to treat giardia because there was little else they
could do.=0D
He felt dramatic relief of the diarrhea and regained much of his former
energy. As Bert found out, a common problem with tests for parasites is tha=
t
they are often wrong. A negative reading doesn't necessarily mean there are
no parasites present.=0D
His heart palpitations and dizziness continued and seemed to become
aggravated when he attempted to exercise. He went to another doctor, an
expert in intestinal disease, who recognized the symptoms immediately as
giardiasis. Another stool test was performed to make sure that the giardia
has been eradicated. It was.=0D
While the parasites may have been removed, the damage done by them wasn't.
Intestinal permeability tests showed Bert was having trouble absorbing
nutrients and was suffering from a mineral deficiency. He was given a
multiple vitamin and mineral supplement. Within a month Bert reported a 90
percent reduction in heart palpitations and dizziness and was able to resum=
e
his favorite sports. It took nine months on high doses of supplements for
his body to recover completely from the damage caused by the giardia
infection.=0D
It was assumed that Bert became infected with giardia while he was in the
wilderness, but that may not be so. Tap water can also be a source of
contamination. The water treatment process doesn't remove all contaminants
and parasites. Single-celled organisms such as cryptosporidium and giardia
are particularly troublesome because they can often slip through water
purification treatment unharmed. Since these organisms are protected by a
tough outer coat, the chlorine added to municipal water supplies to kill
germs has little effect on them. Because of their small size, very fine
filters are needed to trap them, and complete elimination of these parasite=
s
from tap water isn't possible. Drinking-water regulations are designed to
reduce, but not necessarily eliminate, parasite contamination; so even wate=
r
systems that meet government standards may not be free of parasites. Water
supplies must be constantly monitored to detect levels above acceptable
limits, even then there exists the potential for giardia infection. The mos=
t
susceptible are those who have a weak immune system incapable of mounting a=
n
effective defense against the organism. This is seen mostly in the very
young and the elderly and those affected with other immune-suppressing
illnesses such as AIDS.=0D
Giardia and cryptosporidium normally live in the digestive tracts of many
mammals. Public water supplies can become infected with these organisms whe=
n
they are contaminated by sewage or animal waste. Although you may not hear
about it, outbreaks occur all the time, usually in smaller cities and
occasionally in large metropolitan areas. In 1998 the three million
residents of Sydney, Australia were advised by the Health Department to boi=
l
all their tap water because high concentrations of giardia and
cryptosporidium were detected in the city's water supply. In this instance
most people were spared from infection because they were warned in time.=0D
Unsafe water is an embarrassment to the water department of any city and
sometimes officials are unwilling to admit that a problem exists until it's
too late. This is apparently what happened in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1993.
A breakdown in water sanitation permitted cryptosporidium to contaminate th=
e
city's drinking water for a week. As a result, a hundred people died and 40=
0
000 suffered stomach cramps, diarrhea, and fever that are characterized by
the parasite. Recent outbreaks have occurred in several cities in Californi=
a
 Colorado, Montana, New York, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts to name just =
a
few.=0D
Cryptosporidium is believed to be in 65 to 97 percent of the nation's
surface waters (rivers, lakes, and streams), according to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). About half of our tap water comes fro=
m
treated surface water. Giardia is a much bigger problem. It is commonly
found in the pretreated water system used by some 40 million Americans and
has caused epidemics in several small cities.=0D
Giardiasis ranks among the top 20 infectious diseases that cause the
greatest morbidity in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. It is the most commo=
n
parasite diagnosed in North America. The CDC estimates that two million
Americans contract giardiasis every year.1=0D
Giardia can live in a variety of water sources: streams, ponds, puddles, ta=
p
water, and swimming pools. Infection is spread by contact with an infected
source. You don't have to drink contaminated water to become infected.
Giardiasis can spread by sexual contact, poor personal hygiene,
hand-to-mouth contact, and from food handlers who don't wash their hands
thoroughly. If hands are exposed to contaminated water, animals, people, or
feces (e.g., litter boxes, diapers) it could spread to you. Shoes can come
in contact with animal droppings and bring it inside the home. Veterinary
studies have shown that up to 13 percent of dogs are infected. Any pet can
become a source of infection for humans although they may not show signs of
infection.=0D
Infection can come from the most unsuspected sources. One family
get-together proved this point. A few days after a party 25 people who
attended reported gastrointestinal distress. They were all found to be
infected with giardia. On investigation, suspicion fell on the fruit salad.
It was discovered that the salad became infected by the food preparer who
hadn't properly washed her hands. She had a diapered child and a pet rabbit
at home both of which tested positive to giardia.=0D
A study at Johns Hopkins Medical School a few years ago showed antibodies
against giardia in 20 percent of randomly chosen blood samples from patient=
s
in the hospital. This means that at least 20 percent of these patients had
been infected with giardia at some time in their lives and had mounted an
immune response against the parasite.=0D
Giardia is rampant in day-care centers. A study in 1983 showed 46 percent o=
f
those who were infected were associated with day-care centers or had contac=
t
with diaper-age children. It is estimated that 20 to 30 percent of workers
in day-care centers harbor giardia.2 In a study done in Denver, Colorado
with 236 children attending day-care centers, it was found that 38 (16%)
were infected.3=0D
Symptoms of infection are similar to those of the flu and often misdiagnose=
d
 We don't usually think of parasites when be feel "under the weather." I
wonder how many times when the "flu" goes around that the real cause is
parasites in the water supply? Symptoms vary. In acute cases symptoms are
usually most severe and can include any of the following listed in order of
prevalence:=0D
diarrhea=0D
malaise (a sense of ill being)=0D
weakness=0D
abdominal cramps=0D
weight loss=0D
greasy, foul-smelling stools=0D
nauseaheadaches=0D
anorexia=0D
abdominal bloating=0D
flatulence=0D
constipation=0D
vomiting=0D
fever=0D
=0D
Infection can persist for weeks or months if left untreated. Some people
undergo a more chronic phase that can last for many months. Chronic cases
are characterized by loose stools and increased abdominal gassiness with
cramping, depression, fatigue and weight loss. Some people may have some
symptoms and not others while some may not have any symptoms at all.=0D
Giardiasis can be mistaken for a number of other conditions including the
flu, irritable bowel syndrome, allergies, and chronic fatigue syndrome. Man=
y
people are diagnosed and treated for these other conditions without finding
relief.=0D
Even if giardia is diagnosed and treated, it can damage the intestinal
lining causing chronic health problems that persist for years after the
parasite is gone. Food allergies, including lactose (milk) intolerance can
develop. Damaged intestinal tissues become leaky. This is often referred to
as leaky gut syndrome. Toxins, bacteria, and incompletely digested foods ar=
e
able to pass through the intestinal wall into the bloodstream, initiating a=
n
immune response. Sinus congestion, aches and pains, headaches, swelling, an=
d
inflammation=97all typical symptoms of allergies=97are the result.=0D
Loss of intestinal integrity can lead to gastrointestinal discomfort known
as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Dr. Leo Galland, an expert in
oastrointestinal disease, demonstrated that out of a group of 200 patients
with chronic diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, and bloating, half of
them were infected with giardia. Most of these patients had been told they
had irritable bowel syndrome. He notes that parasitic infection is a common
event among patients with chronic gastrointestinal symptoms and many people
are given a diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome without a thorough
evaluation.=0D
Another consequence of poor intestinal integrity is fatigue resulting from
malabsorption of important nutrients. If the condition persists it can lead
to chronic fatigue syndrome. A giardia infection can be so draining on the
immune system that it causes fatigue. Again the cause is often misdiag-nose=
d
 A giardia epidemic in Placerville, California, for example, was
mysteriously followed by an epidemic of chronic fatigue syndrome. In 1991 D=
r
 Galland and colleagues published a study of 96 patients with chronic
fatigue and demonstrated active giardia infection in 46 percent. In another
study of 218 patients whose chief complaint was chronic fatigue, Dr. Gallan=
d
found that 61 patients were infected with giardia.4  His conclusion is that
giardia may be an important cause of chronic fatigue syndrome.=0D
Coconut oil may provide an effective defense against many troublesome
parasites including giardia. Like bacteria and fungi, giardia can't stand u=
p
against MCFA found in coconut oil. Research has confirmed the effectiveness
of MCFA in destroying giardia and possibly other protozoa.5,6,7 By using
coconut oil and other coconut products every day, you may be able to destro=
y
giardia before it can establish a toehold. In so doing you also eliminate
the possibility of developing food allergies, chronic fatigue, and other
related symptoms. If you're currently troubled with these conditions,
coconut oil used liberally with meals may provide a source of relief.
Because MCFA are quickly absorbed by the tissues and converted into energy
it seems logical that those suffering from chronic fatigue would gain a
great deal of benefit. Foods prepared with coconut oil, or even fresh
coconut make a great energy booster.=0D
Another possible use for coconut is for the removal of intestinal worms. In
India it has been used to get rid of tapeworms. In one study it was reporte=
d
that treatment with dried coconut, followed by magnesium sulfate (a
laxative), caused ninety percent parasite expulsion after twelve hours.8
The authors of some pet books apparently have had success with coconut and
recommend feeding animals ground coconut as a means to expel intestinal
parasites. In India coconut oil is rubbed into the scalp as a treatment to
remove head lice.=0D
Tapeworms, lice, giardia, Candida, bacteria, viruses, and germs of all sort=
s
can be eliminated or at least held in check with coconut oil. For infection=
s
and intestinal complaints it seems like coconut oil is one of the best
natural medicines you can use.=0D
Purchase Virgin Coconut Oil=0D
References=0D
1. Crook, W., 1985. The Yeast Connection. Professional Books=0D
2. Anonymous, 1998. Summertime blues: It's giardia season Journal of
Environmental Health, Jul/Aug, Vol 61, p 51=0D
3. Galland, L. 1999. Colonies within: allergies from intestinal parasites.
Total Health Vol 21, Issue 2, p. 24=0D
4. Novotny, T.E., et al. 1990. Prevalence of Giardia lamblia and risk
factors for infection among children attending day-care...Public Health
Reports 105:4=0D
5. Galland, L. and Leem, M. 1990. Giardia lamblia infection as a cause of
chronic fatigue. Journal of Nutritional Medicine 1:27=0D
6. Hemell, O., et al. 1986. Killing of Giardia lamblia by human milk
lipases: an effect mediated by lipolysis of milk lipids. Journal of
Infectious Diseases 153:715=0D
7. Reiner, D.S., et al. 1986. Human milk kills Giardia lamblia by generatin=
g
toxic lipolytic products. Journal of Infectious Diseases 154:825=0D
8. Crouch, A. A., et al. 1991. Effect of human milk and infant milk formula=
e
on adherence of Giardia intestinalis. Transactions of the Royal Society of
Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 85:617=0D
Adapted from the book "The Healing Miracles of Coconut Oil" by Bruce Fife, =
ND.
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