Heidi Klum has revealed she is undertaking a 'worm and parasite cleanse', a trend that has gained traction on social media. The model told The Wall Street Journal that she and her husband Tom Kaulitz are following the regimen, believing that 'apparently, we all have parasites and worms'. However, medical experts have cautioned against the practice, calling it medically unfounded and potentially harmful.
Klum described the cleanse as a months-long process involving herbal pills containing clove and papaya seeds, which she claims parasites 'hate'. She admitted she had not been formally diagnosed with a parasitic infection but felt 'really behind' for not having done the cleanse before. The trend has been popularised by influencers like Kim Rogers, known as the 'Worm Queen', who sells a $100 30-day ParaFy Kit via her company RogersHood Apothecary. The kit's website states the products have not been evaluated by the US Food and Drug Administration.
Medical professionals have expressed concern. Dr Leana Wen, former Baltimore health commissioner, explained to CNN that parasites are organisms that live on or inside a host, while parasitic worms specifically infect the gastrointestinal tract through contaminated food, water, or soil. Dr David Purow, a gastroenterologist, told the New York Post that 'not all people have parasites and worms as part of their normal microbiome' and that there are 'no clear, proven benefits to these cleanses'. He noted that the treatments remain unregulated and lack scientific backing.
Infectious disease expert Choukri Ben Mamoun, PhD, described the trend as 'alarming', stating there is 'no credible medical evidence that the average person harbors hidden parasites that require cleansing'. He refuted Klum's assertion that everyone has worms, emphasising the potential harm of such unfounded practices. The doctors urge the public to seek professional medical advice before attempting any cleanse.
