PARASITES
- David Brisson
- Sep 12, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Dec 6, 2025
"Les Parasites – Ces hôtes invisibles qui envahissent notre corps" by Dr. Philippe Humbert, a dermatologist and professor with expertise in integrative medicine, is a recent publication (February 2025) that explores the often-overlooked world of parasites and their impact on human health. The book delves into real patient stories, described with vivid realism, to illustrate the complex and misunderstood interactions between humans and these "invisible hosts." It aims to help readers identify signs of parasitic infestations that cause subtle disruptions and diseases without obvious awareness. Key themes include detecting hidden parasites through symptoms and lab indicators, understanding their role in chronic health issues (particularly gut-skin connections), and strategies for elimination. Humbert combines medical erudition with practical insights, emphasizing how parasites can mimic other conditions, leading to misdiagnoses, and advocates for an integrative approach blending conventional and natural methods to restore health.
Diseases Linked to Parasites
According to Dr. Humbert, parasites can invade various body systems (intestines, blood, skin) and contribute to a wide range of conditions, often by weakening immunity, causing inflammation, or mimicking other illnesses. They affect up to 80% of the population, thriving in unhealthy gut environments and leading to immuno-allergic reactions. Here's a categorized list based on his insights:
- **Intestinal and Digestive Issues**: Chronic diarrhea, dyspepsia (indigestion), intestinal diseases, exudative mucosa (mucus buildup), and gut inflammation from parasites like protozoa (e.g., Blastocystis, Dientamoeba, Giardia) or nematodes (e.g., pinworms, roundworms up to 30 cm long).
- **Skin and Allergic Conditions**: Eczema, urticaria (hives, affecting 5-20% of people), chronic irritation, dry skin, itching (scalp, ears, anus, genitals mimicking fungal infections), ringworm, and scabies (exacerbated by internal parasites).
- **Respiratory and Immune-Related**: Asthma (up to 25% linked to parasites or diet), weakened immunity leading to recurrent viral infections (e.g., herpes, shingles, papillomavirus increasing cancer risk, mononucleosis) or bacterial issues (e.g., Pseudomonas, pneumonias).
- **Urogenital and Gynecological**: Pseudo-cystitis (recurrent UTIs without bacteria), pseudo-mycosis (vaginal itching with mucus but no candidiasis), and other symptoms like bedwetting.
- **Neurological and Behavioral**: Irritability, mood swings, sleep disturbances, restlessness, nocturnal waking, scratching (especially in children), and geophagy (eating dirt).
- **Other Severe or Rare**: Nutritional deficiencies (syndromes carentiels), hydatid cysts or alveolar echinococcosis (from tapeworms or fox feces), malaria (blood parasites), and in immunocompromised individuals (e.g., elderly, lymphoma patients), potentially fatal outcomes.
Parasites can also promote broader chronic debilitation by compromising the gut barrier and triggering IgE antibodies or eosinophil responses.
Prevention Advice
Dr. Humbert stresses proactive hygiene and lifestyle habits to minimize parasite exposure and create an unfavorable environment for them. Key recommendations include:
- **Hygiene Practices**: Wash hands thoroughly, especially before handling infants or after contact with pets (dogs/cats) to avoid toxocariasis. Clean fruits and vegetables by soaking in water with a few drops of bleach for 30 minutes, then rinse; alternatively, use vinegar, baking soda, or hand sanitizer followed by rinsing.
- **Food Safety**: Cook or freeze food to kill eggs and larvae; avoid raw or undercooked meat (e.g., beef tartare, mutton) to prevent tapeworms or hydatid cysts.
- **Routine Deworming**: Perform preventive deworming twice a year, possibly timed with lunar cycles based on traditional observations, using over-the-counter options for low-risk cases.
- **Gut Health Maintenance**: Promote a healthy diet to avoid dysbiosis (imbalanced gut flora) that allows parasites to thrive; this includes managing food allergens, dairy, and gluten to reduce inflammation.
- **General Awareness**: Regular checks for gut parasites, especially in patients with skin issues, and avoiding contaminated soil or water sources.
Medical Care and Treatments
Humbert advocates for professional diagnosis before treatment, as parasites are hard to detect (stool/blood tests often miss them) and self-treatment can be risky. He integrates conventional medicine with natural approaches, focusing on addressing root causes like gut anomalies. Here's an overview:
- **Diagnosis**: Consult a doctor for clinical signs, historical blood tests (e.g., elevated eosinophils, polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia, high IgE levels), and symptoms review. Naturopaths can assist with detailed observations.
- **Conventional Treatments**: Use broad-spectrum antiparasitic drugs like flubendazole (OTC for preventive or mild cases, but extend duration for effectiveness). For specific parasites, targeted medications (e.g., for Giardia or tapeworms). In skin-related cases, combine with dietary management (e.g., reducing dairy/gluten) to minimize corticosteroids for eczema.
- **Natural and Integrative Methods**: Empirical options like cloves or garlic for antiparasitic effects, but monitor for Herxheimer reactions (worsening symptoms from dying parasites, e.g., increased itching or hives). These are not harmless and may interact with medications (e.g., ACE inhibitors). Address underlying gut issues through microbiome support and allergen avoidance.
- **Cautions**: Avoid self-treatment to prevent complications like toxic epidermal necrolysis. For chronic cases, ongoing monitoring is needed, especially in immunocompromised patients.
Overall, Humbert's approach shifts from symptom-focused care to holistic investigation of parasitic causes, particularly for persistent skin and gut problems.
Dr. Phillipe Humbert. Don't forget to check now and old blood check markers: EOSINOPHILE
