Giardia lamblia
Giardia
Symptoms reported
- •Diarrhea
- •Intestinal pain
- •Abdominal distress
Life cycle
This parasite replicates rapidly in the intestine through binary fission, often leading to heavy colonization within days of initial ingestion.
Transmission
Fecal-oral route, frequently via contaminated well water and streams.
Conventional medical treatment
Metronidazole 250mg 3x/day for 5-7 days or Tinidazole 2g single dose.
For information only. Discuss with a licensed healthcare provider before starting any pharmaceutical.
Treatment Options — Natural First, Pharmaceutical When Needed
Natural First
- •Berberine
- •Artemisia
- •Pumpkin seed
- •Activated charcoal (binder)
- •Hydration + electrolytes
- •Rest + bone broth nutrition
Pharmaceutical (if natural-first insufficient)
- •Metronidazole 250mg 3x/day for 5-7 days or Tinidazole 2g single dose.
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)
Also referenced (not currently in our database):
Each herb above carries a tradition. See the 2,000-year lineage of Western herbal medicine →
“Infections with Giardia lamblia are common throughout the world and are perhaps the most frequently identified intestinal parasite.”
— Parasites Clinical Book (textbook)
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.