Balantidium coli
Ciliated intestinal parasite
Symptoms reported
- •Mucous or bloody diarrhea
- •Nausea
- •Vomiting
- •Abdominal pain
- •Tenesmus
Life cycle
Cysts are ingested and excyst in the small intestine; trophozoites then reside and multiply in the large intestine through binary fission and conjugation.
Transmission
Ingestion of food and water contaminated with cysts, primarily through pig-to-human contact.
Conventional medical treatment
Tetracycline 500 mg four times a day for 10 days; alternatively, Metronidazole 750 mg three times a day for 5–7 days.
For information only. Discuss with a licensed healthcare provider before starting any pharmaceutical.
Treatment Options — Natural First, Pharmaceutical When Needed
Natural First
- •Black Walnut Hull
- •Wormwood
- •Garlic
- •Clove
- •Activated charcoal (binder)
- •Hydration + electrolytes
- •Rest + bone broth nutrition
Pharmaceutical (if natural-first insufficient)
- •Tetracycline 500 mg four times a day for 10 days; alternatively, Metronidazole 750 mg three times a day for 5–7 days.
When to escalate to pharmaceutical
Pharmaceutical first if: > 14 days of diarrhea, dehydration, weight loss > 5%, immunocompromised host, hepatic abscess (Entamoeba), CNS involvement, or pregnancy.
Traditional herbal alternatives
In stock at our apothecary
In our database (educational reference)
Each herb above carries a tradition. See the 2,000-year lineage of Western herbal medicine →
“Trophozoites invade the gut sub mucosa and form multiple tiny super fi cial ulcers with necrotic base and undermined edge... Patients have frequent diarrhea with profuse mucus and blood.”
— Essentials of Medical Parasitology
This page is for educational purposes only. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Consult a licensed healthcare provider before acting on anything you read here.