By Andrew Gaeddert
In this issue, we continue our discussion of herbal treatment of parasites by presenting the following two cases.
Jose, 32, is a minister who had worked as a missionary for several years in the Amazon. While there he contracted malaria among other parasites. Due to the severity of his symptoms which included high fever, vomiting, abdominal pain, delirium, muscle and joint pain, and partial paralysis, he was treated with chloroquine and other antiparasitic medications in Brazil.
After his return to the U.S., he continued to experience diarrhea, abdominal pain, and debilitating joint pain. In addition, he suffered numbness, severe fatigue, depression, and night sweats for which he sometimes needed to change the bed sheets twice a night. Medical doctors specializing in tropical medicine also prescribed chloroquine in addition to pyrimethamine and several rounds of antibiotics, which resulted in a partial reduction of the symptoms. When Jose came to our clinic, he had stopped all pharmaceutical medications for about a month except for ibuprofen. He indicated that the medications were not really helping his condition, which is not unusual in stubborn cases such as his. (It should be noted that anti-malarial and antiparasitic pharmaceuticals should not be used long-term due to their toxicity.) Traditional Chinese diagnosis found that his pulse was weak and his tongue was pale with a thick white coating. In addition to acupuncture treatment twice weekly and daily self-moxa, we recommended that he take Artestatin (2 capsules TID) and Source Qi (3 capsules TID).
After two weeks, the diarrhea and night sweats were somewhat improved, however, his pulse and tongue were unchanged. We then suggested that the dosages of Artestatin and Source Qi be increased (3 capsules TID and 4 capsules TID, respectively). He continued with the twice weekly acupuncture and daily self-moxa sessions. One month following his initial visit, Jose’s more outstanding symptoms were now limited to joint pain, fatigue, and depression, with great reduction in the night sweats and diarrhea. Although his pulse remained unchanged, his tongue coating was less thick. We recommended that he increase his consumption of omega-3 oils by eating more fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, and sardine in order to help reduce inflammation and joint pain. At this time, we had him reduce his dosages of Artestatin and Source Qi (3 capsules TID of each formula), and start Mobility 3 (3 capsules TID). In addition, we suggested that he drink powdered ginger tea for its warming and pain-relieving properties. To also help relieve joint pain, we recommended that he apply the linament, Posumon Oil topically, twice daily.
Jose followed this regimen for another month. Most of the symptoms were much improved, with occasional recurrences. At this point, his pulse took on a wiry quality. This may have been due to any or a combination of the following: his increasing frustration with his illness; the weather being less humid; through herbal treatment, the toxins moving from the interior to the exterior. He continued to take Artestatin and Mobility 3, and we added Ecliptex (3 capsules TID). Source Qi was discontinued because the diarrhea was greatly improved. At the end of the next month, Jose indicated that he felt significantly better, but that he still had joint pain, headache, fatigue, and shoulder and neck tension, with occasional recurrences of incapacitating diarrhea and/or fatigue. At this time, the Artestatin and Ecliptex dosages were reduced each to 2 capsules TID, and the dosage of Mobility 3 increased (5 capsules TID). We also had Jose start eating one or more cloves of fresh garlic per day for its antiparasitic effect.
Five months into herbal therapy, all of Jose’s symptoms were much improved. However, the joint pain and numbness still prevented him from working more than part time. When the weather was colder and more humid, his joint pain usually worsened. Over the following months, his pulse became more normal and his tongue less pale with the coating more normal. We finally eliminated Artestatin after five months’ herbal therapy and substituted Backbone (3 capsules TID). Ecliptex (2 capsules TID), the ginger tea and Posumon (topically BID), were maintained as were the daily clove of raw garlic, and fish whenever possible.
During the time that we saw Jose, he had consulted numerous rheuma-tologists and neurologists who rendered various diagnoses ranging from Reiter’s syndrome to post-herpetic neuralgia. Pharmaceutical medications that were prescribed included muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatory agents, and even acyclovir. All were useful to some extent in relieving symptoms. Eventually, through the process of elimination, Jose found that he responded best to ibuprofen and Flexeril.
DISCUSSION
As is typical with many individuals suffering parasitic infections, Jose’s symptomatology was rather complex. Resolution of such cases should therefore be through a multiprong effort. In Jose’s case, conventional medications were critical during the life-threatening stage of his condition, and in addressing residual pain and muscle discomfort. The traditional therapies of herbs and acupuncture/moxa were highly beneficial in detoxifying and rebuilding his system. The additional factors of diet modification and light exercise were crucial to helping restore Jose’s health. Also, because treatment of his case was drawn out, requiring several months of therapy, we continually encouraged Jose to exercise patience and give the traditional therapies time to work. Finally, for Jose, prayer was extremely beneficial in helping him maintain spiritual and mental strength.
In terms of the herbal formulas, we recommended Artestatin for its antiparasitic and detoxifying effects. Source Qi helped stop diarrhea and tonify the Qi; once the diarrhea was controlled, this formula was discontinued. Posumon Oil has warming and penetrating properties, and was thus recommended for the muscle and joint pain. In time, Ecliptex was added to help detoxify the liver from the pharmaceutical medications, and from the toxins released by the parasites. Later Backbone was introduced to tonify the Kidneys and promote Blood circulation. It should be noted that Backbone would not have been appropriate initially because Jose had weakness of the Spleen (and Kidneys) which would have made it difficult for him to digest Kidney tonics. Therefore, Source Qi was also instrumental in helping tonify the Spleen. Because symptoms of Wind, Dampness, and Cold were quite prominent, Mobility 3 was used to address these harmful factors. Finally, raw garlic was suggested for its antiparasitic property; garlic that is prepared or cooked loses this effect.
Emily, a nurse, was diagnosed biomedically with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Her main symptoms were intestinal cramping, heartburn, alternating diarrhea and constipation. She had a history of camping and traveling to Mexico. Tests revealed the presence of Blastocystis hominis, a type of parasite. She was treated with the antiparasitic medication Humatin (paromomycin sulfate) which reduced her symptoms by about half. When she presented at our clinic, her main symptom was cramping. Traditional Chinese diagnosis found that her pulse was wiry and her tongue was reddish purple with a thick yellow coating. I recommended Isatis Cooling (3 capsules QID) and Quiet Digestion (1 capsule with each meal) to improve digestion of food. After three weeks, the cramping was reduced by about half despite the fact that Emily only took 3 capsules BID instead of QID of Isatis Cooling (she said that she “forgot” what the recommended dosage was). Her pulse was unchanged, but her tongue coating was less yellow and less thick. I re-instructed her to take the correct amount of Isatis Cooling and suggested the Digestive Clearing Meal Plan (from my book Healing Digestive Disorders), an elimination diet to help identify foods that are troublesome to the digestive system. However, she was skeptical and was not willing to make dietary changes. She later cancelled her next appointment.
DISCUSSION
Many persons diagnosed with IBS, actually suffer from undiagnosed parasitic infection(s) as was the case with Emily. Therefore, it is essential that patients undergo tests for parasitosis. This is even more important for individuals who have traveled in developing countries, or have drunk water from streams while hiking or camping. Furthermore, a proportion of IBS sufferers are affected by other compounding factors such as stress, lack of exercise, and poor diet. Such individuals should be encouraged to take up a daily stress reduction and exercise program, and to go on an elimination diet that I call digestive clearing, and to keep a food diary to identify problem foods. While in this case, Emily did not follow through with a stress reduction and exercise program (she said she had taken a few walks but had not developed a stress reduction program) nor did she take the therapeutic dosage of herbs, she did experience some improvement from the herbs. Had she adhered to the recommended regimen, I am confident she would have overcome her IBS.
Andrew Gaeddert is author of Healing Digestive Disorders, and Chinese Herbs in the Western Clinic.