Hey, hypochondriac! So you saw a girl on TikTok saying that the reason you’re tired all the time is because there’s a 20 inch worm living in your intestines and immediately scoured google for answers on how to get rid of it, eh? Well you’re not alone; there’s been a huge spike in people searching for parasite cleanses on the internet over the past few months, and plenty of people trying to capitalise on this newfound interest by promising their supplements can cure every ailment. But is there any science to any of this? Do you really need to detox your body of parasites? Do you have worms? Let’s take a deep dive into the world of being very brave, even though our tummies hurt.

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Q: How can you tell LJ wrote a blog?

A: When there’s a needless definition section ofc!

So what even is a parasite?

Parasite

Def. A parasite is an organism that lives on or in a host organism and gets its food from or at the expense of its host.

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Are you bloated? Cramping? Gaining weight? Do you feel discontent with life? Are you a child that has autism or a speech delay? Several popular "health" creators say these and more can be solved with parasite cleanses.

Supporters of the cleanse believe parasites can only be removed with multiple monthly detoxes, and conveniently, you can purchase them directly from the link in their bios. People who regularly use parasite detoxes and cleanses are also most likely wasting their money on ineffective detoxes. To make matters worse, there’s not only a lack of evidence to back these remedies up, but the parasite cleanse rise in popularity, and false claims to cure disabilities in children, make them potentially fatal.

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We’ve all seen those TikToks selling parasite detox supplements or diet plans, claiming that these detox-quick-fixes have healed every single ailment from acne to autism. Homeopaths love recommending these cleanses to everyone who’s ever felt a bit iffy, and back up the claim that you’ve definitely got a worm in you by referencing Naturopathic Physicians. Note that Naturopathic Physicians aren’t actually doctors as you and I think of them--they receive a fraction of the training that medical doctors do, and they don’t go to medical school. These NP’s tell you that bodies have a “low vibrational field” are more susceptible to these common parasites, and need to buy patented cleansing essential oils and supplements to keep themselves functioning.

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Some people claim to feel better after taking these supplements, but after some extensive research I’ve come to the conclusion that’s probably down to the natural digestive aids that these things are full of; ginger, turmeric, fibre supplements, and of course, bleach. Yes, real life hydrogen peroxide. I mean if that won’t cure autism then I honestly don’t know what will! These natural remedies will aid your digestion for as long as you’re taking them, actually they’ll give you the shits but you’ll think that’s your digestion speeding up. And then as soon as you stop taking them, you’ll be on the pain train to constipation city central. Obviously, I’m not a medical professional, but neither are the people who are formulating and selling this shit, so pick your poison: logic or...actual poison.

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So how do you do a parasite cleanse? You don't. There isn’t any science. In fact, scientists around the world have almost unanimously put out statements warning about the dangers of these cleanses, especially for very young children. #parasitecleanse has close to 300 million views on TikTok, with top videos receiving hundreds of thousands of likes and, in a concerning turn of events, hundreds of comments from parents saying they’ve given young children a parasite cleanse. I’m sorry, but in what world would it ever be okay to buy medicine from a lip-syncing app and giving it to an infant? If you’ve done that, you’re stupid. Worry less about the worms in your stomach and more about the worms in your brain. Even with constant debunking by medical professionals, popular parasite cleanses have been framed as a larger battle in the democratisation of healthcare, which appeals to the #redpilled masses.

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These parasite cleanses are taking advantage of people who can’t afford to shell out on medical services in the US, piggybacking the anti-big-pharma sentiment across the pond to the UK. ‍Thomas Moore, an infectious-disease specialist and clinical professor at the University of Kansas, explains:

“Parasite cleanses are the latest incarnation of a pseudoscientific health trend that sells the idea that there are toxins in your body that need to be purged. In fact, what they’re really doing is preying upon the gullible.”

Rather than purge your bowels of a nonexistent parasite, Moore says the most important thing to do to maintain a healthy gut flora is to eat a varied diet that’s rich in vegetables, specifically leafy green vegetables. If you want to do something extra, consider taking a probiotic that contains lots of different bacteria and other anaerobes, which may be helpful for gut health. Oh man, wouldn’t it be great if there was a full article about gut health? There is. It’s here. Enjoy.

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Actual parasites

Parasites are real. But according to Dr. Rabia De Latour (assistant Professor of Medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine), Tiktok parasite cleanses misrepresent how real parasites present. She explains:

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“Parasitic infections definitely occur in the US and UK, but the people suffering from parasitic infections tend to have symptoms that warrant workup, diagnosis, and in most cases, treatment".

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In fact, Dr. Latour adds that it’s extremely unlikely that every person has dozens or hundreds of parasites in their stomach at any given time.

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“Routine empiric parasitic cleanses in someone without symptoms are not based on any evidence. Most parasitic infections are spread from contaminated food or water, and risk can increase with international travel to endemic regions, so if you are concerned about this, you should seek help from a medical professional for potential treatment.“

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So, like, not a TikToker.

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