PARA 90 Digestive problems comprise the number one health problem in North America. These concerns, encompassing everything from hemorrhoids to colon cancer, result in moretime lost—at work, school, and play—than any other health problem. They also appear to be occurring with much more frequency—while many of them were almost unheard of in our grandparents’ times, they are cropping up more and more and at an earlier and earlier age. A digestive concern we should all be aware of is the increasing prevalence of parasites. We need to understand the effect parasites may have on the digestive system and what we can do to maintain a parasite-free system. Parasite frequency Although North Americans often consider parasites something to only worry about when traveling, this is not true. In 1976, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention carried out a nationwide survey that showed that one in every six people selected at random had one or more parasites. It is quite possible that we are hosting a dinner party for many types of parasites. An Internet homepage, Parasites of Vertebrates, by the Department of Nematology, University of California at Davis, states that 900 million people worldwide and some 4 to 15 percent of the population in the southeastern United States are infected with hookworm. Some one billion people (one-sixth of the world’s population) are infected with roundworm, and 500 million people worldwide are infected with pinworm. In the United States, estimates of those infected with pinworm range from 10 to 35 percent of the population. Globally, the picture is alarming. Climate and sanitary conditions breed parasites worldwide especially in developing countries where clean water sources and sanitation services are scarce or nonexistent. Parasites enter your body in one of four ways: through food and water intake; through a transmitting agent, such as a mosquito; through sexual contact; and through the nose and skin. They are also carried by household pets and livestock, and spread through daycare centers and international travel. What are parasites? Parasites are organisms that grow, feed, and are sheltered on or in other living organisms, known as “hosts,” without contributing anything to the survival of the host. According to Murray (1998), there are two broad groups of parasites, protozoa (one-celled organisms) and helminths (worms). Parasites can be transmitted from animal to animal, animal to man, and in some cases, man to animal (FSIS 2001). Some parasites are larger than bacteria and viruses but they are usually so small that you cannot see them without a microscope. Others, such as worms, can grow quite large and can be seen with the eye. Several parasites have emerged as significant causal factors in foodborne and waterborne diseases, including Giardia duodenalis, Toxoplasma gondii, Cryptosporidium parvum, Trichinella spiralis, Taenia saginata (beef tapeworm), and Taenia solium (pork tapeworm). Parasites live within the organs and tissues of the body and are often harmful. Any number of them can infect your gastrointestinal tract. Eventually, they are excreted in the feces; however, they are one of the major causes of diarrhea and as such may be seen as the greatest single cause worldwide of illness and death (Murray 1998). How do I know if I have parasites? According to Skye Weintraub, a naturopathic physician and author of The Parasite Menace (1999), a parasitic infection could be manifested by any number of signs. These include constipation, diarrhea, gas and bloating, irritable bowel syndrome, joint and muscle aches and pains, anemia, allergies, skin conditions, nervousness, sleep disturbances, teeth grinding, and chronic fatigue. Many health practitioners believe that parasites may also be responsible for a number of other health problems. Weintraub says, “Many parasites go undetected because they are not producing serious symptoms. It is easy to attribute feeling ill to other causes because parasitic infections look like lots of other conditions. I have seen other health problems disappear once the body has become parasite-free.” How can parasites hurt you? Parasites can damage the host’s body in a number of ways. They can cause nutrient malabsorption by eating the nutrients we ingest. produce toxic substances. depress immune system function while activating immune system response. destroy cells faster than cells can be regenerated. irritate body tissue. invade body tissue, including the skin and intestinal lining. put pressure on body organs. cause tissue and organ deterioration. Treatment If you suspect you have parasites, a health practitioner can arrange a number of tests. These include stool tests, blood tests, tissue swabs, and others. However, these tests are often inconclusive as parasites can reside in tissues and organs and in the blood and will not be found in fecal samples. Often, only parasite eggs will be passed in the stool. Treatment options include: Conventional medications. Drugs are unique to the parasite and can have side effects. With severe and prolonged diarrhea, replacement fluids may also be necessary. Herbs. Many herbs, including those in AIM Para 90®, have helpful properties. For example, garlic is useful against amoeba and hookworm, and pumpkin seed is useful against tapeworm. Sweet Annie, black walnut, and the male fern root were used in traditional medicine as far back as the early 1800s. Natural therapies. The digestive enzymes in AIM PrepZymes® will help ensure that foods are more completely digested, helping to eliminate potential problems due to toxins. The fiber and herbs in AIM Herbal Fiberblend® will help cleanse the colon. Probiotics, such as in AIM FloraFood™, will recolonize the helpful bacteria in the intestines and create a hostile environment for parasites. Colonics also help cleanse the colon. Dietary changes. Avoid eating uncooked foods or foods from doubtful sources. Even undercooked meat, fish, and poultry can present problems. When camping, do not drink stream water. Pet care. Ensure regular deworming and maintain good hygiene when handling your pet. Prevention The magnitude of parasites makes prevention of them essential. There are a number of things you can do to avoid picking up parasites: Wash your hands with soap and water before handling food and after going to the bathroom, handling pets, and changing diapers. Wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating them and cook meat thoroughly. Do not walk barefoot, especially on warm moist soils. Keep your fingernails short and clean. Institute the dietary changes recommended above. Have regular parasite checkups, especially if you travel frequently. Maintain a regular AIM Para 90® regime. Use AIM PrepZymes®, AIM Herbal Fiberblend®, and AIM FloraFood® regularly to ensure digestive health. AIM Para 90® AIM Para 90® is an herbal cleansing dietary supplement. It combines a number of herbs with cleansing properties plus bromelain, a digestive enzyme. How to use AIM Para 90® It is recommended that you use AIM Para 90® every 3 months for cleansing. Take 1 to 3 capsules 3 times per day for 30 days. Can be taken with or without meals. Do not use AIM Para 90® if you are pregnant or nursing. If you have digestive concerns or have had a colostomy, consider consulting a healthcare practitioner. Close tightly after opening and store in a cool, dry, dark place (70-75°F; 20.1-23.8 °C). Do not refrigerate. Q & A How do I know whether AIM Para 90® is working? Will I experience any side effects or detoxification symptoms? Most people look for parasites in their stools, and many do see them. Not everyone does, however. Positive signs are a “pokey” feeling in the abdomen or an “itchy” or “crawly” sensation on the skin. You should remember that in the process of cleansing, there may be some discomfort; parasites are not easily dislodged. Some users’ skin has broken out, and others feel nausea or somewhat tired. You may also notice increased bowel movements, looser stools, and more frequent urination. If I have been taking AIM Herbal Fiberblend®, do I need AIM Para 90®? AIM Herbal Fiberblend® does have a cleansing effect, but it will not work against as wide a range of parasites as effectively as AIM Para 90®. If you have been taking AIM Herbal Fiberblend®, you probably have fewer problems with parasites. What else can I do to help the cleaning? Many people recommend having colonics and using a probiotic such as AIM FloraFood™ to recolonize the intestinal tract after using AIM Para 90®. Others take AIM Para 90® in conjunction with AIM Herbal Fiberblend®. Digestive enzymes such as AIM PrepZymes™ are also beneficial. Is there anyone who should not use AIM Para 90®? Pregnant or nursing women should not use AIM Para 90®. Very frail elderly people, children, and people with digestive concerns or who have had a colostomy should consult a health practitioner. Bromelain is in AIM Para 90®. What is it? Bromelain is a digestive enzyme that will aid the digestive process. Herbs in AIM Para 90® Following are some of the classifications of the herbs in AIM Para 90®: American Wormseed Chenopodium ambrosioides vermifuge, anthelmintic Black Walnut Hulls Juglans nigra vermicide, antiseptic, antiparasitic Boldo Leaves Peumus boldus alterative, antiseptic, vermifuge Butternut Bark Juglans cineraria alterative, laxative, anthelmintic Clove Caryophyllus aromaticus carminative, antiseptic Cramp Bark Viburnum opulus antispasmodic, astringent Garlic Allium sativum antibiotic, alterative, antiseptic, vermifuge, anthelmintic Grapefruit Seed Citrus paradise antibiotic, antiparasitic Kamala Mallotus philipinensis taeniafuge Male Fern Root Dryopteris filix mas vermifuge, anthelmintic, alterative Neem Azadirachta indica alterative, anthelmintic Peppermint Mentha piperita carminative, antiseptic, antispasmodic Pumpkin Seed Cucurbi vermifuge, anthelmintic, taeniafuge Sweet Annie Artemisia annua vermifuge, alterative, anthelmintic Thyme Thymus vulgaris carminative, antiseptic White Oak Bark Quercus alba antiseptic, anthelmintic Herb classifications Herbs can be classified a number of ways. The classifications are generally based on how the herbs affect the body. Following are a number of herb classifications. Alterative: Alters (purifies) the blood. Anthelmintic: Destroys or causes the expulsion of parasites. There are two types: vermicides and vermifuges. Antibiotic: Inhibits the growth of or destroys bacteria or other organisms. Antiparasitic: Destroys or inhibits parasites. Antiseptic: Prevents or inhibits the growth of bacteria. Antispasmodic: Used for muscular spasms, convulsions, and cramps. Astringent: Increases tone and firmness of tissue; lessens mucus discharge. Carminative: Stimulates expulsion of gas from the gastrointestinal tract. Laxative: Promotes bowel action. Taeniafuge: Expels tapeworms. Vermicide: Destroys worms without necessarily expelling them from the bowel. Vermifuge: Expels worms from bowels. References U.S. Food and Safety Inspection Service. Parasites and Foodborne Diseases. White Paper. Department of Agriculture. Washington, D.C. May 2001. Murray, M.T. Encyclopedia of Nutritional Supplements. 2nd ed. Rocklin, CA: Prima Publishing, 1996. ucdnema.ucdavis.edu/imagemap/nemmap/ent156html/ vertcom (Parasites of Vertebrates, Department of Nematology, University of California at Davis) Weintraub, Skye, N.D. The Parasite Menace. Pleasant Grove, UT: Woodland Publishing, Inc., 1999. Suggested Reading Parasites Bueno, Hermann. Uninvited Guests. New Canaan, CT: Keats Publishing, Inc., 1996. Gittleman, Ann Louise. Guess What Came to Dinner? Garden City Park, NY: Avery Publishing Group, Inc., 1993. vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~mow/intro.html (FDA: The Bad Bug Book) www.mic.ki.se/Diseases/c3.html (Karolinska Institute: Parasitic Diseases) Herbs Castleman, Michael. The Healing Herbs. Emmaus, PA: Rodale Press, 1991. Grieve, M., and C.F. Leyel, ed. A Modern Herbal. New York, NY : Barnes & Noble, 1931, 1973, 1996. Santillo, Humbart, N.D. Natural Healing with Herbs. 10th ed. Prescott, AZ: The Hohm Press, 1993. Ask About The Parasite Menace audio Benefits & Features Benefits Helps maintain digestive health Intestinal cleanser Antiparasitic Features More than five years of safe and beneficial use by AIM Members 606 mg of herbs per capsule Combines 16 cleansing herbs Formula approved by herbalists 90-count capsules AIM Para 90® is a Digestive Health product. The complete Digestive Health line consists of AIM Herbal Fiberblend®, AIM PrepZymes®, AIM FloraFood™, and AIM Para 90®. Use these products to help yourself maintain your digestive health.