The parasite cleanse is everywhere on social media right now. One TikTok video calls it the ‘Ultimate Gut Health Journey,’ while the hashtag #parasitedetox will link you to all the info you need to know about flushing your own system. Usually, via herbal supplements marketed as the solution.
Part of the reason it’s become so popular online is that the symptoms people attribute to parasites—like bloating, tiredness, stomach discomfort, changes in appetite, or skin problems—are incredibly common. There’s only one little problem: Experts think the entire trend is bogus. Here’s what you should know.
Should I try a parasite cleanse?
Unless you are a Victorian child traipsing the streets for food, or an Alaskan wildman living off improperly cooked bear meat, you probably don’t have a parasite in your gut. At least, Dr. Rupa Parmar, a general practitioner and the medical director of Midland Health, thinks you’re likely in the clear. “For most people in countries with good sanitation, intestinal parasites aren’t something they need to worry about,” she says.
She adds that the idea of a parasite cleanse relies on causing alarm or panic that can manipulate you into buying a health product. “Any person or company saying you need a ‘cleanse,’ be it parasite cleanse, liver cleanse, or gut cleanse, is likely unqualified and just trying to sell you something that isn’t backed by science,” says Jordan Haworth, a gastrointestinal physiologist at the Functional Gut Clinic.
Worse (possibly) than being infested with parasites are the photos of people posting their ‘evacuations’ online. And no, those brown stringy things you’re seeing in these photos aren’t parasitic worms, but (according to Haworth), bits of intestinal lining called mucoid plaques. If any trend makes you literally shit out your intestines, it’s probably not good for you.
Is there a difference between parasite and gut cleanses?
From juice cleanses to fasting detoxes, the idea that we can flush ourselves of harmful substances is a cornerstone of the modern wellness industry. Some of it has legs (fasting has some legit benefits). Much of it does not. While a gut cleanse is about ‘resetting’ the digestive system, parasitic cleansing is about going scorched earth on any unwanted guests in your gut. But when it comes to parasites, the trend overlooks that some of them might actually be beneficial.
A 2024 study in the journal Cell scoured 56,000 people across 32 countries and found that Blastocystis (a parasite) was linked with several signs of better heart and metabolic health, including lower blood pressure, blood fats, and markers linked to blood sugar control, and inflammation.
And, yucky thought it might seem, long before food hygiene was a thing, some researchers believe that humans evolved to handle worms. “People infected with worms are less likely to develop conditions like asthma and pollen allergies,” says Haworth. “Although please don’t go eating raw pork to try and cure your hay fever.”
What does the evidence say about parasitic cleanses?
Unfortunately there is currently limited research actually testing these specific, individual products. That doesn’t mean that cleanses are risk-free. “Herbal supplements can interact with medication, some ingredients can be harmful at higher doses, and restrictive diets can leave people short on the nutrients they need,” says Dr. Parmar. “Plus, even if something is marketed as natural, that does not automatically make it safe or useful.”
There also isn’t a single study to show that parasitic cleanses actually work. Often, these cleanses are a combination of herbs including clove, wormwood, and black walnut. On paper, these are potent, but mixed together, they may not have the desired impact. “In test tubes, these herbs may kill parasites, but that’s not the same as your 20-foot intestinal tract,” says Haworth. Not only that, but, she adds that “the supplement industry is not regulated so you don’t know the true amount of each herb in there.”
