Best Anti-Parasitic Supplements for Giardia Lambia
During my time struggling with autoimmune disease and other chronic illnesses, I battled multiple types of parasites. For this reason, I wanted to create an article on the best natural anti-parasitics for Giardia Lambia. Since this is the most common parasite of all, I thought it would be of great value to those healing from gut issues.
In this article, I will cover the best natural anti-parasitic supplements for Giardia, summarize their mechanisms of action, and answer common questions about using natural anti-parasitics for chronic giardia infections. Scroll down to get started!
Best Anti-Parasitic Supplements for Giardia Lambia
Raw Colostrum
Colostrum contains immunoglobulins like IGA, which prevent Giardia from attaching to the intestinal lining. It also contains IGG/IGM, which neutralize and remove Giardia from the intestinal tract. In addition, raw colostrum contains lactoferrin, which binds to iron in the gut, starving out the parasite of this essential nutrient.
Colostrum contains antimicrobial peptides that damage the cellular integrity of Giardia. It also repairs the intestinal lining, which is critical when you have a chronic parasitic infection. If that wasn’t enough, colostrum dramatically reduces inflammation and populates the gut with healthy bacteria, like lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. As you can see, colostrum can be extremely helpful if you can access it.
Bee Propolis
Propolis has been shown to disrupt the metabolic pathways and damage the cell membranes of Giardia, causing them to leak essential nutrients and eventually die. In addition, bee propolis causes a release of ROS which damages the DNA and cell structure of Giardia, preventing it from replicating. Also, propolis has been shown to interrupt the lifecycle of Giardia by impairing its ability to produce protective cysts. This makes it more easily discovered and removed by the immune system.
Bee propolis also has immune-modulating benefits, which are extremely helpful. The last thing you want is an overactive immune response when you are trying to remove a parasite. Propolis also has broad antimicrobial properties, encourages gut lining repair, and reduces inflammation. All of these things are essential for creating an unfriendly environment for Giardia
Olive Leaf Extract
Olive leaf extract contains oleuropein, which has been shown to disrupt the cell membrane of giardia, inhibiting its growth and replication. Also, olive leaves contain hydroxytyrosol, one of the strongest antioxidants known to man. This allows it to quench free radicals that could trigger inflammation, creating an environment that is friendly for giardia.
In addition, olive leaf extract increases the growth of beneficial bacteria, which compete with parasites like Giardia. It has also been shown to prevent the parasite’s attachment to the intestinal lining. In my experience, this is one of the safest antimicrobials because it has a lower chance of aggravating the immune system.
Garlic Extract
Garlic contains allicin, which damages the cell membrane of Giardia and interferes with its metabolism. Also, garlic has been shown to inhibit the formation of cysts, the dormant and infectious stage of Giardia. In addition, garlic has strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which help to reduce the stress of having a chronic Giardia infection. I like garlic if used in a rotation, but it can create a sensitivity if used too frequently. For this reason, it is not one of my favorites, but it has potential if used correctly.
Berberine
Berberine has been shown to inhibit the enzymes and metabolic pathways of Giardia. It also has been shown to prevent the formation of cysts and attachment to the intestinal lining. Both of these are critical to Giardia’s lifecycle. Berberine has also been shown to inhibit the NF-kb pathway, which causes a significant reduction in inflammation. It can also boost the growth of beneficial bacteria which compete with Giardia. This is one of my favorite anti-giardia supplements, but like the rest, you have to be careful. In addition, your success with berberine will depend greatly on your brand. Do your research, and choose wisely.
Ginger
Ginger can counteract giardia in several different ways. First, it has been shown to damage cell membranes, prevent attachment to the intestinal lining, and inhibit the growth and reproduction of Giardia. It also increases the production of digestive enzymes, which ensures the parasite has no access to undigested food. This is absolutely critical when battling parasites.
Ginger also has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that combat the damage caused by Giardia. Lastly, ginger promotes gut health, the growth of good bacteria, and the repair of the intestinal lining. Overall, ginger is one of my favorite options for Giardia because it is relatively soft on the body and helps with the digestive system in various ways.
Neem Extract
Neem extract is one of the stronger anti-parasitics for Giardia. It has been shown to damage the giardia cell membrane, impair reproduction, interfere with the formation of cysts, prevent attachment to the intestinal lining, and more. In addition, it also has significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential, which can neutralize some of the problems that Giardia creates. Lastly, it has a broad spectrum antimicrobial activity, which can eliminate other pathogens that encourage the growth of Giardia. Neem extract can provide benefits, but you must be careful because of its strength. I would not take it every day and would counterbalance it with prebiotics.
Artemisinin
Artemisinin is one of my favorite supplements for Giardia. It generates reactive oxygen species which causes cellular damage to Giardia. Most importantly, it impairs protein synthesis, which is essential for the survival of Giardia. On top of that, it has significant anti-inflammatory properties, which inhibit the NF-kb pathway and slow the production of IL-6 and TNF-alpha. This suppression of inflammation is critical when battling Giardia. Lastly, artemisinin has been shown to promote healing and repair of the gut lining, which essential to overcoming Giardia.
Curcumin
Curcumin has been shown to interfere with the metabolic processes of Giardia and cause damage to the cell membrane. It also has significant anti-inflammatory potential, which is helpful when battling chronic Giardia. In addition, it also helps to strengthen the gut barrier, modulate the immune system, and reduce the effective free radicals. Curcumin does have significant potential, but you cannot take it daily because it interferes with the cytochrome 450 enzyme. Nonetheless, it can be a helpful addition when trying to overcome Giardia.
Oregano Oil
Oregano oil contains carvacrol and thymol, two extremely powerful phenolic compounds with great potential against parasites. Carvacrol has been shown to damage the cellular membrane of Giardia, causing a leakage of contents and eventually cellular death. Thymol has been shown to interfere with Giardia’s metabolic processes, which causes issues with replication and survival. In addition, oregano extract has been shown to prevent giardia from attaching to the intestinal lining. Though this all sounds impressive, oregano oil does come with its risks.
If you are using oregano oil, you must rotate it. You cannot use it on a daily basis, or eventually, you are likely to develop a sensitivity to it. In addition, it can wipe out your bifidobacterium, which is critical to keeping your immune system calm. I love the strength of oregano oil, but it also has plenty of risks. I’ve seen it backfire on several occasions with clients and experienced the same thing myself.
FAQ- Using Natural Supplements for Giardia
Is giardia lambia a rare parasite to be infected with?
Giardia is not a rare parasite to be infected with. In fact, over 200 million people are infected annually, and up to 7% of the population in developing countries is thought to have Giardia. In underdeveloped nations, it could be as high as 20 to 30%. The problem is, these parasites are often very hard to pick up on tests. This is why they are often underdiagnosed, and are the hidden cause of many chronic gut issues.
For example, many people with treatment resistant SIBO are often infected by giardia, but unable to isolate it on the tests. Don’t think just because you are in the United States that you are immune to parasites. Trust me, I had a protozoan known as dientamoeba fragilis. It is possible to get parasite infections no matter where you live.
What dietary changes are important when battling giardia lambia?
If you are battling giardia, there are a few dietary changes that are essential to make. First, you must reduce the amount of fat you are consuming. Recent studies have shown this is critical because giardia thrives on fatty foods and animal products. Ideally, you want to transition to a diet focused on eating large amounts of fiber and complex carbohydrates. The last thing you want to do is eat processed food, simple sugars, and animal products multiple times per day. If you do, you are unlikely to beat chronic giardia, no matter how many supplements you take.
Should I use prebiotics with natural anti-parasitic supplements?
Many of the supplements that are effective against Giardia can also potentially compromise the good bacteria in your gut. For this reason, it is critical to supplement with prebiotics like acacia, arabinogalactan, colostrum, and apple pectin. This will help you to clear the toxins that are being released when you kill the parasites. In addition, it will feed the good bacteria so that you don’t compromise your bacterial balance when taking anti-parasitics.
What is the dosing strategy for natural anti-parasitic supplements for giardia?
It is best to start with moderate doses of each supplement and rotate them. You do not want to take the same supplement day after day. The reason is, your body can create a sensitivity eventually to these supplements. I have seen it on countless occasions with people. In addition, you must try to eliminate these parasites in phases. It will not be accomplished all at once. Ideally, I would complete a 10 to 15-day cleanse and then take at least a week off. Then repeat over and over if you are noticing benefits.
Which natural anti-parasitics are best to start with when battling giardia?
I would personally start off by trying to stabilize the gut bacteria and calm down the immune system. This would be best achieved with raw colostrum and bee propolis. From there, I would use berberine, garlic and olive leaf extract. Keep in mind, you don’t want to take any of the supplements every day. Ideally, you want to rotate them so you don’t develop an immune sensitivity.
For example, you can take garlic, olive leaf extract, and propolis one day and colostrum, neem, ginger, and prebiotics the next day. You could follow this protocol for a maximum of two weeks, and then you would need to take a break from everything for at least a week. To be successful with parasites, you must operate in phases. Depending on the situation, eliminating chronic Giardia may take several phases or more.
What if I am reacting to all of these supplements you mentioned?
All supplements I listed are immune modulators, so there should be no reason for you to react to them. If you do, this could be a sign of a mycotoxin sensitivity. The only time I’ve seen people respond to these supplements is when they are living in a house with mycotoxins. If this is happening, you should stop with your anti-parasitic program and focus on your environmental triggers. If you don’t, you will never overcome Giardia.
Conclusion – Beating Giardia Requires Multi-faceted Strategy
Overcoming parasitic confections is NOT simply about taking anti-parasitic supplements. To beat a chronic parasitic infection, you must make significant changes to your diet and stress level. Also, you must keep the immune system calm and maintain bacterial balance during the process. Last but not least, you must eliminate the parasites in phases. If you don’t adopt all of these concepts, it will be a long road home. Trust me, I battled a protozoa for over a decade before healing myself.
In my experience, these supporting factors are the difference between success and failure. If you embrace them, you are likely to succeed. In contrast, if you rely just on supplements, you may have a lifelong battle on your hands.
If you have any questions about parasites, get in touch. I’m willing to help and blessed to have the opportunity.
Happy healing everyone!
Matt Nedin
Certified Holistic Nutritionist
EndSickness- Founder
Phone: (734) 846-8619
Email: endsickness@gmail.com
WhatsApp: +17348468619
