Are we crazy? Well, yes, by the way, we are quite crazy for performing a family parasite detox. You might ask, why would we even think about a parasite detox? Our primary driving force in this family is CB. We got the results back from the comprehensive stool analysis and it was noted that Dientamoeba fragilis (d. fragilis) was found in CB’s stool and high fecal fat and protein products were identified which signaled fat absorption issues. This info combined with the fact that CB’s impulsive and compulsive behavior had ramped up tremendously and he had persistent shiners under his eyes, prompted me to consider that a detox might help his system perform better. Also, parasites can spread easily so we thought if one family member has one, then it is likely other family members have it. We decided on Humaworm as the detox of choice based off the reviews, the fact there are doses for all ages, and the ingredients for the children’s version were acceptable.
Well, a detox isn’t much fun. I know this is so hard to believe :). The detox is for 30 days. For the most part, Olem and I are fine. It is annoying that we have to take 2 pills 30 minutes before we eat or 2 hours after we eat and we are supposed to take them every 8-12 hours. We mostly abide by these rules. It is sometimes 14 hours between pills due to meal timing and sleep. During the first few days, the detox produced quite a bit of gas for the entire family. It tapered off a bit by the 4th-5th day. Our eyes have been off-and-on bloodshot. Stool formation for the family has been impacted. The pills can easily give you heartburn/indigestion so you have to ensure to drink enough water when you take the pills and to keep water handy nearby. I thought I had strained my back one afternoon from lifting HB too high. The pain went away and resumed 2 days later. I realized that it was actually my left kidney hurting. I drank extra water and the pain went away. This Humaworm stuff is definitely interesting.
CB’s bladder control has decreased. We started the detox 2.5 weeks ago, and CB has had 4 accidents. These have occurred during the day, naptime, and at night. I have heard that this isn’t uncommon and that the kidney detox may be the culprit. I know I haven’t been great at getting CB to drink enough water lately. He doesn’t drink much to begin with so it is a challenge to get him to drink more than his usual 24-36 ounces of water a day.
For the kids, the Humaworm is provided in a powder. We ultimately settled on the following formula for getting the kids to take the herbs and not protest each time. We put the 1/8 teaspoon in a small spoon encircled by honey and provide a diluted juice as an immediate chaser. Since my kids do not get juice much, they look forward to that component and tolerate the herbs. They complained about its spiciness for the first 1.5 weeks or so. Honestly, there is no way to hide the taste of the herbs. When I figured that out, things got easier. I just try to mask some of the taste but regardless I know the herbs will remain “spicy”. The boys’ herb schedule is to take it before breakfast and before dinner. We didn’t worry about the 30 minutes prior part b/c honestly it was just too hard with their schedules and snacking. We decided to minimize the stress around it and just ensure they get their herbs 2x a day. When we could work in the 30 minutes prior or 2 hours after eating factor in, we would.
For HB, we actually stopped the detox after 16 days. His stools seemed highly impacted as well as the persistent cough that developed. I know this isn’t uncommon, but since he is 2 (about to be 3 in a few months), I just felt concerned. Plus, we don’t know for sure he has the parasite problem. I basically was checking on him every night to make sure he was still breathing. The cough was heard within the lungs, and I just didn’t want to chance anything. He stopped the Humaworm about 2 days ago and his stools are more formed and his cough has greatly improved.
CB, Olem, and I will stay the course and complete the 30 day detox. We also plan to supplement with LiverLife during the last few days of the detox and for several weeks following the termination of the detox. For CB, we may actually incorporate the LiferLife sooner as his body may need more help right now. One thing to note is that Humaworm does not recommend taking probiotics during the detox; however, our holistic/functional med practitioner recommended keeping probiotics in the schedule. CB takes his at night right before bed.
The positive is that this isn’t like a juice cleanse where you have to completely modify your diet. We are able to eat whatever we normally eat. If you ever decide to do a parasite cleanse/detox and use Humaworm, just remember to stay hydrated.