What's bugging your gut, part 2: Dientamoeba fragilis

Dientamoeba fragilis is a single-cell parasite that infects our lower gastrointestinal tract. It is usually the cause of "Travellers' diarrhoea", chronic abdominal pain, chronic fatigue and failure to thrive in children.

It is known to spread via contaminated water and is connected with poor sanitation, however it is becoming more prevalent in industrialised countries in children. D.fragilis is also closely associated with pinworm, where it is thought that the trophozoite is found in the eggs of the pinworm.


The main symptoms one would experience if infected with this parasite are abdominal pain and diarrhoea (which can can come and go for about two weeks). In children, symptoms can be more severe. Other known symptoms include:

• Weight loss
• Fatigue
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fever
• Urticaria (skin rash)
• Pruritis (itchiness)
• Biliary infection

Diagnosis involves three fixed stool samples, as it is not uncommon for a single test to show no infection, yet subsequent stool samples show increasing amounts of the parasite.

Because the symptoms of infection resemble those of IBS, many medical doctors will dismiss the notion of infection and some have been known to refuse to perform stool testing. In a 2002 Australian study, a large number of patients who were thought to have IBS actually were infected with D. fragilis.

Inflammation, hives, arthritis, low iron, leaky gut have all been associated in the scientific literature with D.fragilis or B.hominis.

It is known that restricting high carbohydrate foods (ie, grains) from our diet helps, as it this parasite - alongside B. hominis - thrive from the carbohydrate chains found in these foods.

Like B.hominis, the answer is to clear the gut of the parasite, using a similar herbal mix which pierces through the mucosal capsule surrounding the capsule and then flushing it out of the intestines. The gut then needs to be repaired using good quality pre- and pro-biotics. Even the herbal remedies for clearing this can cause problems if not prescribed in correct dosages, so it is best to consult a qualified, registered herbalist with experieince treating these and other types of intestinal parasites.

Do you have the gall to keep your gallbladder?

It is becoming increasingly more frequent that people are having their gallbladders surgically removed. This is usually due to the advise of a medical practitioner (usually a surgeon) who recommends it as a first course of treatment in cases of gallstones (cholelithiasis) and with “sluggish” gallbladders, or gallbladder inflammation (cholecystitis). Most people in this situation are told that it is perfectly alright for this to happen, and most are under the impression that the gallbladder has no real necessary function in the human body.

This could not be further from the truth. What's more, the procedure of removing the gallbladder would be considered a last resort, when all other methods have failed.

The gallbladder indeed has a very important function as part of the digestive system. Its role is to store a substance called Bile, and to secrete it into the small intestine during digestion. Bile is an alkaline substance, bitter-tasting and greeny-yellow, containing acidic bile salts, cholesterol, bilirubin, electrolytes, and water. Its main role is in the emulsification and absorption of dietary fats. The storage of bile in the gallbladder occurs between meals, removing the water and electrolytes, and storing it in concentrated form, to then be released about 30 minutes after a meal. When dietary fats are present in the duodenum (the upper part of the small intestine), hormonal signals are sent to the gallbladder to begin secretion.

If the gallbladder is removed, it becomes near-impossible to digest any form of dietary fats, requiring one to be on either a no-fat diet, or very small amounts eaten regularly. Dietary fats are required for the operation of the endocrine system (hormones); they provide the pre-cursors to many of the sex-hormones in the form of cholesterol; and they are also important for the absorption and metabolism of important fat-soluble vitamins and minerals. The gallbladder is necessary for dietary fats to be absorbed by the body, so that the endocrine system can perform its role in healing the body when necessary.

In symptomatic cases of gallstones, there is considerable localised abdominal pain and jaundice. Other signs and symptoms of gallstones could include heartburn, flatulence, epigastric discomfort, and intolerances to fatty foods and cabbage. An inflamed gallbladder is usually caused by the lodging of a gallstone in the cystic duct. The pain is similar but will present with specific findings of test results.

In Chinese Medicine, the gallbladder is also said to have a psycho-emotional role, allowing us to be courageous, and having the courage to express our innermost desires in the external world. This is recognised by many other cultures also, with the common expression “having the gall” to do/say something with a degree of audacity. Confucian medical scholars likened the gallbladder to the social role of the judge, whose job it is to make decisions and carry out the (legal) decisions of the State. Thus indecisiveness is said to indicate a weakness of the gallbladder, whilst to have 'da dan' (a large gallbladder) indicates that someone is courageous and decisive.

So how can Chinese Medicine help with gallbladder disorders? Using acupuncture, herbal medicine, and dietary therapy, practitioners are able to dissolve and clear gallstones. Often gallstones are asymptomatic, so if there appears to be some issues with digestion (especially involving foods with considerable levels of dietary fats), it is often useful to do a “gallbladder flush”, which helps clear the ducts that carry bile, and dissolve and clear any stones that are yet to be big enough to cause pain or complete blockage. There are very effective herbal formulas which dissolve the stones, and then flush them out. Apple cider vinegar and artichokes are known to be useful for this, as are lemons, limes, turmeric, parsnips, radishes, mung beans, rye, endives, linseed oil, chamomile tea, and seaweed.

It is a better idea such non-invasive and less-radical procedures to clear the gallbladder of stones and inflammation before heading down the route of surgical removal. The gallbladder has an important function in digestion, and it is probably worth the effort to keep it.

Mercury and its effects on the Body.

It can be confusing to decide what to do about eating fish and shellfish. Fish and shellfish are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which is the building block for hormones, including sex hormones. It is important to have Omega 3 in the diet because if your sex hormones become deplete then symptoms like low sex drive, infertility, low mood and energy levels just to name a few, may occur. Omega 3 is also a precursor in making a strain of hormone known as prostaglandin type 3, which reduces inflammatory cursors and thus overall pain in the body. Inflammatory cursors are elevated in arthritic conditions and other painful conditions like long standing period pain and migraines.
Fish is a good source of quality protein and low in saturated fat. Eating fish can contribute to a healthy heart, and is also important in the brain growth and development in children.
Unfortunately, along with the protein and fatty acids, many types of fish and shellfish contain methylmercury. Mercury is a toxic metal with significant effects on the thyroid.  While large doses of mercury can induce hyperthyroidism, smaller amounts can induce hypothyroidism by interfering with both the production of thyroxin (T4) and the conversion of T4 to T3. Mercury disturbs the metabolism of copper and zinc which are two minerals critical to thyroid function.  Gray hair can be an indication of mercury accumulation, more so in females than males.
Mercury causes disruptions to the immune system functioning and promotes the production of IgG and IgE autoantibodies which also are involved in autoimmune thyroid disease and inflammatory conditions.
Mercury has a very long half-life in the body and has been found in cancerous tissues.
It also has a negative impact on the brain and nervous system, specifically affecting memory, attention span, cognitive thinking skills, language development and visual and fine motor skills especially in children. This is seen particularly in babies who were exposed to methylmercury in the womb through their mother's eating of fish and shellfish during pregnancy.
Methylmercury can build up in your body. This means that even if you aren't pregnant now, methylmercury buildup from overconsumption of fish could still be present if you become pregnant up to a year later. For this reason, any woman who plans to become pregnant in the future should try to follow the same recommendations as those who are pregnant or nursing.



LEAST MERCURY
Select Freely from this list   
Anchovies***
Butterfish
Catfish
Clam
Crab (Domestic)
Crawfish/Crayfish
Croaker (Atlantic)
Flounder*
Haddock (Atlantic)*
Hake
Herring
Mackerel (N. Atlantic, Chub)
Mullet
Oyster
Perch (Ocean)     Plaice
Pollock
Salmon (Canned & Fresh)**
Sardine***
Scallop*
Shrimp*
Sole (Pacific)
Squid (Calamari)
Tilapia
Trout (Freshwater)
Whitefish
Whiting   

MODERATE MERCURY
eat six servings or less per month
Bass (Striped, Black)
Carp
Cod (Alaskan)*
Croaker (White Pacific)
Halibut (Atlantic)*
Halibut (Pacific)
Jacksmelt
(Silverside)
Lobster
Mahi Mahi
Monkfish*   
Perch (Freshwater)
Sablefish
Skate*
Snapper*
Tuna (Canned
chunk light)
Tuna (Skipjack)*
Sea Trout


HIGH MERCURY
Eat three servings or less per month   
Avoid eating:
Bluefish
Grouper*
Mackerel (Spanish, Gulf)
Sea Bass (Chilean)*
Tuna (Canned Albacore)
Tuna (Yellowfin)*   

HIGHEST MERCURY
Avoid Eating
Mackerel (King)
Marlin*
Orange Roughy*
Shark*
Swordfish*
Tilefish*
Tuna
(Bigeye, Ahi)*

Least mercury: Less than 0.09 parts per million, Moderate mercury: From 0.09 to 0.29 parts per million, High mercury: From 0.3 to 0.49 parts per million, Highest mercury: More than .5 parts per million (not suitable for human consumption)
* These fish are endangered due to overfishing   ** Farmed salmon contains higher levels of PCBs (in  the fat portion)
*** Fish are high in purines – not recommended for gout sufferers


Where has the fish been farmed?
Look or ask where the fish has been farmed or what part of the worlds ocean has the fish has been pulled from. Buying fish from Australia and New Zealand is always safer than parts of Asia and South America where Mercury levels in the water are higher.

Amalgam Fillings and Mercury
There is ample evidence that mercury leaches from dental amalgam fillings and contributes to thyroid disease and anemia.  If you have any amalgam fillings in your teeth the mercury is known to leak into the body after many years.  It is advisable to pull out amalgam fillings at least a year before you fall pregnant. If you have many fillings then you should pull them out one at a time, as it has been found that pulling the filling out also releases Mercury. So as to not overload the body with mercury toxicity during the removal, do not get them removed all at once.

Vaccines
Perhaps the negative effects we see from vaccines are at least partially the result of toxic metals. The association of autism with vaccinations may be related to mercury toxicity. Please think about how many vaccines you administer to your child at one time, as there are studies showing sudden autistic behavior after a large vaccination course administered in close succession.

Contact Lens Solution
Thimerosal is the mercury-containing preservative that was used in contact lens solutions. Hopefully there are no more of these solutions on the market but if you use contact lens solutions check the label.

How do I clear Mercury from my Body?
Milk and quite likely estrogen cause an increase in the absorption of mercury., so removing dairy or reducing dairy consumption may help. Also, doing a hormonal test to see if your estrogen levels are in a good range and not elevated is also advisable. Elevated estrogen levels, also known as estrogen dominance is quite common these days with so many xeno-estrogens in our foods, food containers, and with the use of hormonal contraceptives.
Selenium is the key mineral which protects the body from mercury toxicity.  One study showed that cilantro (Chinese parsley) helps remove mercury from the body and protects the body from pre-cancerous lesions. Also, Zeolites can remove heavy metal toxicity from the body if taken consistently for a few months.