About gall stones

Parasites and Virgin Coconut Oil - Research References
By Bruce Fife, N.D.
“… parasites are a problem everywhere, …” Coconut oil may offer
protection …
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 need to worry. Parasites are everywhere, waiting
for the opportunity to latch onto an unsuspecting host. Backpackers have
long been aware of the danger of drinking water from streams and lakes.
Open water even in the backcountry is often contaminated with parasites

waiting for a host.
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.
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 find 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 doctor gave him medication
to treat giardia because there was little else they could do.
He felt dramatic relief of the diarrhoea and regained much of his former
energy. As Bert found out, a common problem with tests for parasites is
that they are often wrong. A negative reading doesn’t necessarily mean
there are no parasites present.
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 had been eradicated. It was.
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 resume 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.
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 treatments 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 parasites from tap water isn’t
possible. Drinking-water regulations are designed to reduce, but not
necessarily eliminate, parasite contamination; so even water 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
most susceptible are those who have a weak immune system incapable of
mounting an 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.
Giardia and cryptosporidium normally live in the digestive tracts of
many mammals. Public water supplies can become infected with these
organisms when 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 boil 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.
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 the city’s drinking water for a week. As a result, a hundred
people died and 400,000 suffered stomach cramps, diarrhea, and fever
that are characterized by the parasite. Recent outbreaks have occurred
in several cities in California, Colorado, Montana, New York,
Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts to name just a few.
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 from treated surface water. Giardia is a much bigger problem. It
is commonly found in the pre-treated water system used by some 40
million Americans and has caused epidemics in several small cities.
Giardiasis ranks among the top 20 infectious diseases that cause the
greatest morbidity in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. It is the most
common parasite diagnosed in North America. The CDC estimates that two
million Americans contract giardiasis every year.1
Giardia can live in a variety of water sources: streams, ponds, puddles,
tap 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 faeces (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.
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.
A study at Johns Hopkins Medical School a few years ago showed
antibodies against giardia in 20 percent of randomly chosen blood
samples from patients 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.
Giardia is rampant in day-care centers. A study in 1983 showed 46
percent of those who were infected were associated with day-care centers
or had contact with diaper-age children. It is estimated that 20 to 30
percent of workers in day-care centers harbour 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
Symptoms of infection are similar to those of the flu and often
misdiagnosed. 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:
§ Diarrohoea Headaches
§ Malaise (a sense of ill being) Anorexia
§ Weakness Abdominal Bloating
§ Abdominal Cramps Flatulence
§ Weight Loss Constipation
§ Greasy, foul-smelling stools Vomiting
§ Nausea Fever
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 gasiness
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.
Giardiasis can be mistaken for a number of other conditions including
the flu, irritable bowel syndrome, allergies, and chronic fatigue
syndrome. Many people are diagnosed and treated for these other
conditions without finding relief.
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 are able to pass through the intestinal wall into the
bloodstream, initiating an immune response. Sinus congestion, aches and
pains, headaches, swelling, and inflammation–all typical symptoms of
allergies–are the result.
Loss of intestinal integrity can lead to gastrointestinal discomfort
known as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Dr. Leo Galland, an expert in
gastrointestinal 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.
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 misdiagnosed. A giardia epidemic in Placerville, California, for
example, was mysteriously followed by an epidemic of chronic fatigue
syndrome. In 1991 Dr. 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. Galland found that 61 patients were infected
with giardia.4 His conclusion is that giardia may be an important cause
of chronic fatigue syndrome.
Coconut oil may provide an effective defense against many troublesome
parasites including giardia. Like bacteria and fungi, giardia can’t
stand up 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 destroy 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.
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
reported 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.
Tapeworms, lice, giardia, candida, bacteria, viruses, and germs of all
sorts can be eliminated or at least held in check with coconut oil. For
infections and intestinal complaints it seems like coconut oil is one of
the best natural medicines you can use.
References
1. Crook, W., 1985. The Yeast Connection. Professional Books
2. Anonymous, 1998. Summertime blues: It’s giardia season Journal of
Environmental Health, Jul/Aug, Vol 61, p 51
3. Galland, L. 1999. Colonies within: allergies from intestinal
parasites. Total Health Vol 21, Issue 2, p. 24
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
5. Galland, L. and Leem, M. 1990. Giardia lamblia infection as a cause
of chronic fatigue. Journal of Nutritional Medicine 1:27
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
7. Reiner, D.S., et al. 1986. Human milk kills Giardia lamblia by
generating toxic lipolytic products. Journal of Infectious Diseases 154:825
8. Crouch, A. A., et al. 1991. Effect of human milk and infant milk
formulae on adherence of Giardia intestinalis. Transactions of the Royal
Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 85:617