Parasite cleanses are growing in popularity. But are they safe?

Social media can be a good thing when it comes to connecting with loved ones, learning new skills, or becoming engaged in social change. But misinformation commonly spreads across social media sites like TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and X (formerly Twitter).

Such places are also where many health trends usually get their start, even if those health trends are unproven or not backed by science. These include the controversial fruitarianism diet, the rise of magnesium as a popular supplement, and the surge in green powders.

An even more popular - yet still unproven - fad that has recently proliferated across social media is that of taking a parasite cleanse. 

One of the reasons parasite cleanses are popular is because they purportedly solve a problem that millions of people in the world actually have: getting a parasite or developing a parasite infection.

What are parasites?

Parasites are organisms that live on or within the skin, hair, tissue, blood, or intestines of a host. "In Greek, the word 'parasite' roughly translates to 'uninvited dinner guest,'" says Dr. Thomas Moore, an infectious disease expert and clinical professor at the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita. It's a fitting description considering that parasites obtain their food from the host they live on or within - usually at the expense of the host's health and well-being, per UCLA Health. 

Parasites can be found externally on one's skin or hair such as in cases of lice, mites, or ticks. But when people talk about a parasite cleanse, they are usually referring to cleansing intestinal parasites, explains Jen Messer, a nutrition consultant and registered dietitian at Jen Messer Nutrition. "These include protozoan parasites such as giardia, cryptosporidium and malaria, and helminth parasites like pinworms, hookworms, flatworms, roundworms or tapeworms," she says. 

What causes parasites?

People get parasites by eating or drinking something that has become contaminated with a parasite - often as a result of a water or food source coming into contact with fecal material or from people eating undercooked or raw meat. This is why parasites are more common in countries with limited access to clean water sources. However, "in developed countries like the United States, intestinal parasites occur rarely and are usually associated with dietary indiscretions," says Moore.

Some other behaviors are also more commonly associated with parasitic infections. "These include coming in contact with human or animal waste, using human waste as fertilizer, improper handling of contaminated water sources, poor hygiene practices, and coming into contact with infected animals," says Josh Redd, NMD, the founder of RedRiver Health and Wellness and author of "The Truth About Low Thyroid." 

Common symptoms of having a parasite include bloating or gas, abdominal pain, diarrhea, itching or unexplained weight loss - though a medical diagnosis involving blood or stool lab tests is necessary to know for sure if any such symptoms are related to a parasite or something else.

If parasites are discovered through such testing, drug therapies specific to the type of parasite or infection are usually prescribed. "Antiparasitic medications work on a cellular level by hindering parasitic growth, protein synthesis, and DNA replication," says Redd. 

What is a parasite cleanse? 

Parasite cleanses are often recommended in place of proven, Food & Drug Administration-approved drugs. "A parasite cleanse is an alternative approach claiming to rid the body of parasites through herbs, specific diets, enemas, and other practices, usually over several weeks," says Messer.

Such cleanses frequently call for a restricted diet, intent on "starving and depriving" a parasite, says Messer; and also taking certain supplements or herbal ingredients purported to kill the parasite within the body. 

Do parasite cleanses work? 

Though it's certainly possible that some ingredients associated with parasite cleanses could affect certain parasites - for instance, "botanicals like wormwood extract, olive leaf extract, garlic extract, black walnut extract, and barberry extract have been shown to have antiparasitic effects," says Redd - each type of parasite should instead be targeted with specific drugs in order to be killed off. 

It's also crucial that parasites be discovered and diagnosed in the first place as numerous health conditions and illnesses can mimic symptoms similar to having a parasite. 

What's more, very few, if any, parasite cleanses "contain actual antiparasitic medicine," says Moore.

Michael Schmidt, PhD, a microbiologist and immunologist at the MUSC Medical University of South Carolina, says these "magic herbs and supplements associated with parasite cleanses span the gamut" of ingredients and uses, "and are not regulated by the FDA the same way food and drugs are, so it's challenging to know the dose or the safety of the material you are consuming." 

Moore worries that the lack of regulation of many of the ingredients in parasite cleanses also means "the purveyors can make almost any claim they want."

Messer agrees, saying there is "no credible, scientific evidence that parasite cleanses or herbal remedies can effectively treat or eliminate parasitic infections." She says that if you suspect that you have a parasitic infection, it's best to seek medical advice from a licensed healthcare provider and to follow their recommendations.