Unseen Invaders: Understanding and Eliminating Physical and Spiritual Parasites
Something Has to Change: Episode 32
Meggan Stephens
8/7/20247 min read
Physical Parasites
A physical parasite is a tiny organism that lives on or in a host organism and gets its food from or at the expense of its host. They can be contracted through various means: contaminated food, water, soil, and pets. Their presence in our bodies can lead to subtle yet impactful symptoms, ranging from digestive issues to major fatigue. If you're not someone who is consistently cleansing yourself of these invaders, it's likely that you have parasites. It's alarming, isn't it? But knowledge is power, and once you know then you can become enlightened and empowered on what to do about it.
Identification
How can we identify parasites in our body? There are multiple identifiers and warning signs that can indicate parasitic activity. These include: digestive issues, fatigue and weakness, unexplained weight loss, skin problems, and mood and behavioral changes. Specific indicators that you may have intestinal parasites include bloating, gas, irregular or chronic bowel movements, constipation, and cramps. Persistent tiredness, restlessness, disturbed sleep patterns, and lack of energy are also symptoms. Parasitic activity has also been known to cause anxiety, depression, chronic pain, itchy skin, eczema, poor memory, and headaches. If you're experiencing any of these symptoms on a consistent basis, it's important to look into a parasite cleanse in order to improve your quality of life. We can often blame these symptoms, especially behavioral ones, on other people or our environment when in reality, an underlying parasite issue is the real culprit.
Common Ways of Contracting Physical Parasites
Parasites are contracted in numerous ways. Contaminated food and water comes in at the top of the list. Improperly filtered water and unwashed produce can cause these unseen invaders to enter our bodies simply through what we consume. Uncooked or undercooked meat such as pork, beef, and fish is often parasitic as well. In fact, pork has been identified as having double the amount of parasites as beef. It's important to thoroughly cook your meat products as well as carefully consider the source and raising of your meat products to ensure lower risks of parasitic infection.
Parasites can also be contracted through environmental factors, poor hygiene, traveling, insect bites, and person-to-person contact. Though being "grounded" with the earth, a.k.a walking barefoot, has multiple benefits to the body such as reducing pain, inflammation, and stress, it can also make you more susceptible to contracting parasites. This is especially true if you have pets such as dogs, cats, or chickens that roam and use your yard as their restroom. Not washing your hands after gardening, tending to your animals, or using the restroom can also increase the likelihood of contracting parasites in yourself, but also spreading parasites to others whom you share physical contact. Traveling and spending time in areas or countries known to have poor hygiene and contaminated food and water is also grounds for contracting parasites.
Holistic Ways to Rid Physical Parasites
Now that you're aware of what parasites are, how they're contracted, and the warning signs of parasite infection, we can discuss some holistic approaches to rid them from your body. You can start with diet, supplements, exercise, and stress management. Adding garlic, pumpkin seeds, papaya seeds, probiotics, wormwood, black walnut hull, cloves, neem, and oregano oil can help fight against active parasites. Though the combination of these foods and herbal supplements may not rid them from your body completely, they can help to reduce the amount of parasites and support your body's immune system in defending against them and the harmful effects they cause to your health. Maintaining physical activity and managing stress can increase the body's immune system which in turn offers you a more effective defense against the affects of parasitic infection.
Another approach to flushing both toxins from dead parasites and live parasites from your system includes hydration and detoxification. Drinking plenty of water and consuming detox teas that contain herbs such as dandelion root, burdock root, and milk thistle can flush the system and reduce the impact of parasitic toxins and support the liver, which is the main organ for filtering and detoxing every substance, toxin, and nutrient in the body. Good hygiene is critical as well so be sure to wash your hands often, especially after using the restroom and before you eat. Be mindful to not share towels, wash rags, or any personal hygiene items with others as this can increase the risk of person-to-person contraction.
There are also multiple parasite cleanses available to you at your local grocery and convenience stores. However, when deciding what cleanse to take, it's important to consult with your physician and make sure that cleanse is right for you. Be mindful to check the ingredients and opt for cleanses with natural, non-toxic components. Dr. David Jockers has a full moon parasite cleanse available on his website for those interested in starting their cleanse journey. Cleansing should be an ongoing process, not a one and done task, ensuring your bowels move correctly (1-2 times a day) before beginning a cleanse.
Spiritual Parasites
In the latter part of the episode, Stephen moves on to discuss spiritual parasites. Just as our bodies can be invaded by physical parasites, our spirits can be affected by negative entities or influences that drain us emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Spiritual parasites can be equated to demons in the sense that these invaders are looking to steal your joy and mental clarity, kill your self-esteem and relationships, and ultimately destroy your life.
Biblical Insights
The Bible offers many insights into both physical and spiritual parasites. Exodus 23:25 NIV says, "Worship the Lord your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you..." Deuteronomy 7:15 NIV similarly states, "The Lord will keep you free from every disease. He will not inflict on you the horrible diseases you knew in Egypt, but he will inflict them on all who hate you." The way in which we are worshipping God is directly related to wether or not certain diseases will consume us. To worship God fully with mind, body, soul, and strength is essential. 1 Peter 5:8 says, "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." This relates to parasites in the sense that both physical and spiritual invaders can quite literally control your mind causing you to not be sober and clear-headed. Spiritually, parasites can impair our mental clarity and emotional stability.
Signs of Spiritual Parasites
Persistent negative thoughts and emotions such as fear, anger, resentment, and hopelessness are a major sign that you may be dealing with spiritual parasites. These emotions drain your energy and cloud your judgement which can then lead to feeling drained or depleted despite adequate sleep and nutrition. This looks like emotional, mental, and spiritual exhaustion. Feeling stuck or as if you're taking one step forward and several steps back is equated to a lack of spiritual growth. This also is a spiritual parasite along with sudden changes in mood or behavior, and a lack of interest in activities that once drove and inspired you. Perhaps you've began to do things you did not used to do, things that are leading you astray from your beliefs and values. Each of these signs are intertwined in a way that ultimately leads to isolation, withdrawal, and disconnection from positive relationships and communities, leaving you feeling hopeless and lonely. These signs and symptoms all but prove that spiritual parasites are in fact the enemy, the thief referenced in John 10:10, that comes to steal, kill, and destroy you from the inside out.
Strategies to Deal With Spiritual Parasites
You can combat spiritual parasites through seeking guidance from spiritual advisors. These advisors are people who have been placed in your life, set up by God Himself, to offer you wisdom, counsel, and encouragement. You can also go to God directly, engaging in cleansing and protective spiritual practices such as prayer and fasting. In Matthew 17:21, Jesus expresses that some demons, a.k.a spiritual parasites, do not go out but by prayer and fasting. There is an abundance of information surfacing around the importance and physical benefits of fasting. However, fasting for spiritual benefits is just as necessary as it allows you to connect with God on a deeper level and truly lean in to Him for a type of healing and cleansing that comes from His hand alone. Reconnecting with your spiritual community is another way to deal with these spiritual invaders. Stay connected with those who nourish your spiritual well-being and support your journey to optimal physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health.
Something Has to Change
The "something" that has to change is within. We often look for things that must change outside of ourselves when the real issue is within, both physically and spiritually. We must begin to recognize physical and spiritual parasites as thieves robbing us of our joy and nutrition. Recognizing and addressing these invaders is critical to maintaining our overall health and well-being. If left unchecked, parasites will undoubtedly control you, significantly impacting and depleting your mind, body, and spirit of all things that hold nutritional value. Take back the control of your life, your health, and your overall well-being by making decisions that support your health goals, and seizing every opportunity to surround yourself with a community that uplifts, inspires, and positively impacts your life. Doing so will inevitably guide you into a happier, healthier, and stronger state of mind and body.
Major Takeaway: Do not become too busy to maintain your physical and mental health.
Episode 32 of Something Has to Change dives deep into the hidden threats that can wreak havoc on our physical and spiritual well-being. Titled, "Unseen Invaders: Parasites," this episode explores the hidden world of parasites. These little microscopic organisms infiltrate our bodies in various ways seeking to control our thoughts, behaviors, emotions, and even our practices causing a range of health issues from digestive problems to chronic fatigue.
Parasites aren't just physical invaders; they can also be spiritual entities that drain us emotionally and mentally. By recognizing the signs of both physical and spiritual parasites and learning effective ways to cleanse them, we can reclaim our health and vitality. The host of Contemporary Speaks, Stephen, dedicates this episode to uncovering how to protect yourself from these unseen invaders and maintain holistic wellness.
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