Social media influencers are promoting so-called 'parasitic cleanses' as a remedy for symptoms such as constipation, fatigue, poor sleep and brain-fog. These cleanses typically involve pills containing 'natural' ingredients like wormwood, clove, turmeric, thyme and black walnut. However, health experts caution that parasitic infections are uncommon in healthy people living in developed cities, and there is little evidence these cleanses work.
Professor Aaron Jex, who leads an infectious disease research laboratory at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, says he and colleagues have been contacted by people convinced they have undiagnosed parasitic infections. They describe symptoms like bowel discomfort and a feeling of 'worms crawling beneath the skin'. Jex notes that for most healthy people in major cities, parasitic infections are rare, and modern diagnostic methods are well-established, making it unlikely that a significant infection would go undetected.
While some natural compounds, such as artemisinin from wormwood and ivermectin from soil bacteria, have proven anti-parasitic effects, Jex explains that these require purification and concentration to be effective. 'The amount of naturally sourced material needed to represent an effective dose to treat an infection is far beyond what a person could consume,' he says. Other ingredients like garlic and black walnut oil have limited evidence of effect under lab conditions but need further study.
Accredited dietitian Danielle Shine warns that these cleanses can cause side effects including diarrhoea, dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, gastrointestinal irritation and medication interactions. Severe liver injury and acute liver failure have been reported from supplements. She also notes that 'natural detoxifiers' like zeolites, clays, diatomaceous earth and activated charcoal lack clinical evidence for parasite cleansing and may interfere with nutrient absorption.
Influencers often post images of faeces as 'proof' of parasites, but experts say parasites cannot be diagnosed by appearance alone. Prescription anti-parasitic drugs are readily available, well-tested and highly effective with minimal side-effects. Jex and Shine advise anyone with persistent symptoms to consult a medical professional rather than self-treating with unproven cleanses.
