Blastocystis hominis
Blastocystis
Symptoms reported
- •Diarrhea
- •Nausea
- •Abdominal cramps
- •Flatulence
- •Anal itching
Life cycle
Resides in the gastrointestinal tract in various forms including vacuolar, granular, amoeboid, and cystic forms.
Transmission
Fecal-oral route through contaminated food or water.
Conventional medical treatment
Metronidazole is found to be effective.
For information only. Discuss with a licensed healthcare provider before starting any pharmaceutical.
Treatment Options — Natural First, Pharmaceutical When Needed
Natural First
- •Oregano oil
- •Berberine
- •Black Walnut Hull
- •Activated charcoal (binder)
- •Hydration + electrolytes
- •Rest + bone broth nutrition
Pharmaceutical (if natural-first insufficient)
- •Metronidazole is found to be effective.
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 →
“Common symptoms associated with the infection are diarrhea, nausea, abdominal cramps, flatulence, exce ssive gas and anal itching”
— 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.