Are you planning a summer cottage getaway? For many this is a yearly tradition, and if you love the cottage life and outdoors as much as I do, you just can’t wait to be sipping your morning coffee on the dock, and watching your kids jumping into the serene lake water ahead.
Cottaging comes with so many great benefits. Between the gorgeous views and fresh air, quality time with friends and family because of the limited wifi, and the simplicity of it all, our inner self really needs the time to just unwind and take a deep breath. Ahhh
With all of that said, there’s often a down side to the cottage life. And for many that is gut issues…meaning diarrhea, constipation, stomach pains, gassiness, and more. Why is that?
There are certain organisms like parasites found in lake water, Cryptosporidium for example. If accidentally swallowed, as in most cases when going swimming in lakes, you can become easily infected with this parasite. Now, many people may be infected with this parasite but not express any symptoms (but it’s still there), while other can experience brutal GI issues like diarrhea and cramping. What’s interesting is that many parasite infections may not show symptoms for up to 12 days after infection, so by that time you may already be home from your vacation and wondering what’s going on.
See, with many parasites like cryptosporidium, an infection can be very contagious. The infected person can infect others when symptoms begin and for several weeks after the symptoms disappear. Infected persons who do not have symptoms can also still infect others, so spreading this around the family, continuously, can be very easy.
The medical ‘treatment’ for these symptoms is to essentially stay hydrated, the parasite is often left untreated. I don’t know about you, but that’s the last thing I want lingering around my intestines.
What to do about it?
There are different types of parasite cleanses on the market, positioned as natural ways to detox the system. Usually their formulas contain herbs and supplements. A number of the herbals used include:
- Garlic (Allium sativum)
- Barberry (Berberis vulgaris)
- Oregon grape (Berberis aquifolium)
- Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis)
- Black walnut (Juglans nigra)
- Wormwood (Artemisia annua)
Unfortunately, many of these herbals that treat parasites can be quite toxic, especially during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and can also interfere with medications, so please speak with your doctor before using them.
Something else to consider is your detoxification status and general gut heath. These are important factors when determining how your body as a whole will be able to tolerate a cleanse. Supportive supplements like activated charcoal, probiotics, zinc and L-glutamine are all important when it comes to helping the body rebalance when this type of infection is present.
All in all, go and enjoy your cottage getaways, relax, have fun, spend the quality time with your families and friends…but when you get back home, give me a call, we’ve got some gut health to work on!
Dr. Danielle O’Connor ND
Natural Care Clinic
905-631-0880
info@naturalcareclinic.ca
