I’m holistic. I will never try to sell you a “parasite cleanse.” Here’s why.

Parasites are real.

“Parasite cleanses” as a wellness trend? That’s a different conversation.

I’ve been on the holistic side of this industry since 2005. I’ve taken the courses. I’ve sat through the trainings. I’ve watched the trends come and go. And I’ve seen exactly how fear gets packaged into a protocol and sold to smart people who just want to feel better.

And yes, I’ve donated to the wellness industry, too. Multiple times. So I’m not judging you. I’m just not going to sell you something that doesn’t make sense. As Maya Angelou said, “When you know better, you do better.”

Here’s the pattern:

Take symptoms that could come from a hundred different things (bloating, fatigue, brain fog, acne, cravings).

Attach a scary label.

Sell a one-size-fits-all “cleanse.”

That’s marketing.

“Parasites” are a diagnosis (not vibes)

In real clinical practice, parasites get considered when there’s a real reason to suspect them.

Think: travel, contaminated water, undercooked meat or fish, known outbreaks, certain work or childcare exposure, that kind of thing. And the symptoms usually have a specific flavor, too. Persistent diarrhea is the classic one.

If you don’t know what organism you’re dealing with, you don’t actually know what you’re treating. And if you don’t know what you’re treating… what exactly are you doing?

Treatment is parasite-specific (and that’s above my pay grade)

Different parasites require different treatments. Some need prescription medication. Some require repeat dosing.

Some require household steps so you don’t get reinfected.

And this is exactly why I won’t “recommend a parasite cleanse.”

This is out of my scope. Full stop.

If someone actually has a parasite, that’s not a “take these herbs and see what happens” situation. That’s a diagnosis-and-treatment situation. And it needs the right clinician, the right testing, and the right protocol for the specific organism.

Because the responsible sequence is boring, but it works: identify it, treat it specifically, prevent reinfection.

“Cleanse everybody” isn’t a strategy. It’s a content pipeline.

Most people in the U.S. don’t need a parasite cleanse “just because”

Globally, parasites are common in places where clean water and sanitation are limited. In the U.S., true infections usually track with specific exposures, not “everyone has them.”

If you’re living your normal life, not traveling, not drinking questionable water, not dealing with a clear risk factor, you don’t need to assume parasites as your default explanation for vague symptoms.

A lot of “cleanse symptoms” are just side effects

Many of these protocols are a pile of herbs that can irritate your GI tract.

Then you feel crampy, gassy, nauseous, your stool changes, and suddenly the story becomes: “die-off.”

Maybe.Or maybe your gut is annoyed and you’re calling it a win.

Holistic doesn’t mean reckless

I’m holistic because I look at the whole system: digestion, sleep, stress load, food quality, consistency, training, hydration, and the stuff you’re doing every day that your body has to manage.

Sometimes holistic also means: go get medical testing when it’s warranted.

And when it comes to parasites, even the CDC notes that stool testing may require three or more samples collected on separate days, because detection isn’t always consistent. (That’s one reason I’m not interested in guesswork.)

So here’s my stance, very clearly:

If you have a real parasite risk…

I’m pro-testing. I’m pro-treatment. I’m pro “right tool for the job,” with the right clinician.

If you have vague symptoms with no risk factors…

I’m not going to sell you fear.

We start with what’s within your power immediately:

• meal timing (are you eating late at night and then wondering why your digestion feels off?)

• sleep (or the lack of it)

• stress load (and whether you’re eating while your nervous system is in a full-body sprint)

• hydration and electrolytes

• balanced meals that actually keep your blood sugar stable

• fiber (too low, too high, or the wrong kinds for your gut)

• caffeine and “healthy” foods that don’t actually agree with you

• constipation that’s been normalized for way too long

Because a lot of what gets labeled “parasites” online is really your body waving a flag about your day-to-day patterns.

And I get why parasite content does well. It’s a clean storyline. It gives you a villain. It makes it feel like the problem is something happening to you, not something you can influence.

I’m not saying blame yourself. I’m saying give yourself a reality check. Most of the time, there are simpler, more likely explanations sitting right in front of us. And those are the ones that actually move the needle when you address them.

What I will sell you instead: clarity and consistency

Here's a decision path that makes sense.

If you’re worried about parasites, here are the questions that actually matter:

• Any recent travel? Untreated water? Known outbreaks? Undercooked meat/fish? Daycare exposure?

• Is it persistent diarrhea? Unexplained weight loss? Fever? Blood in stool? Dehydration?

• Are labs showing anemia or eosinophilia?

If yes, you’re in a medical evaluation lane.

If no, we stop chasing zebras and tighten your daily inputs until your body behaves like a well-run system again.

Holistic doesn’t mean gullible. You deserve better than a cleanse.

PS: Yes, a couple infections happen more than people realize (pinworm in kids is a big one, and toxoplasmosis exposure is fairly common). Still not cleanse territory. Still not a DIY guessing game.