Are Parasites Driving Your Autoimmune Or Gut Issues? with Dr. George Papanicolaou

Are Parasites Driving Your Autoimmune Or Gut Issues? | This episode is sponsored by Thrive Market and Rupa Health

You may be surprised to learn that having a parasite, in and of itself, is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, our gut microbiome is made up of more than 500 different species of microbes, including various types of bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses. Some of them help us, but others are harmful. Parasitic infection can result in an individual experiencing a range of symptoms from digestive issues to muscle ache, joint pain, skin rashes, and more; it can also signal issues with a weakened immune system. In this episode, Dr. Hyman sits down with Dr. George Papanicolaou to discuss how parasites can influence our overall health, and why they sometimes trigger autoimmune disease, gut imbalance, and much more.

George Papanicolaou is a graduate of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and is Board Certified in Family Medicine from Abington Memorial Hospital. He is also an Institute for Functional Medicine Practitioner. Upon graduation from his residency he joined the Indian Health Service. He worked on the Navajo reservation for 4 years at the Chinle Comprehensive Medical Facility where he served as the Outpatient Department Coordinator. In 2000, he founded Cornerstone Family Practice in Rowley, MA. He practiced with a philosophy centered on personal relationships and treating the whole person, not just not the disease. He called that philosophy “Whole Life Wellness”. Over time as the healthcare system made it harder for patients to receive this kind of personal care Dr. Papanicolaou decided a change was needed. He began training in Functional Medicine through the Institute of Functional Medicine. In 2015, he established Cornerstone Personal Health – a practice dedicated entirely to Functional Medicine. Dr. Papanicolaou joined The UltraWellness Center in 2017.

This episode is sponsored by Thrive Market and Rupa Health.

Thrive Market is offering all Doctor's Farmacy listeners an extra 25% off your first purchase and a free gift when you sign up for Thrive Market. Just head over to thrivemarket.com/Hyman. 

Rupa Health is a place for Functional Medicine practitioners to access more than 2,000 specialty lab tests from over 20 labs like DUTCH, Vibrant America, Genova, Great Plains, and more. You can check out a free live demo with a Q&A or create an account at RupaHealth.com. 

In this conversation, Dr. Hyman and Dr. Papanicolaou discuss:

The connection between the immune system and parasitic infection

The most common parasites and how you get them

Patient cases they have treated

When parasites can be helpful

Common symptoms of having a parasite

Testing and diagnosing for parasites

Treating parasites with herbs and pharmaceuticals 

The possible role of over-sanitization and parasitic infection, autoimmune issues, and other chronic health issues

Using parasitic worm therapy (i.e. helminth therapy) to treat autoimmune issues, asthma, allergies, and more

Additional Resources:

Missing Microbes: How the Overuse of Antibiotics Is Fueling Our Modern Plagues

https://www.amazon.com/Missing-Microbes-Overuse-Antibiotics-Fueling/dp/0805098100

An Epidemic of Absence: A New Way of Understanding Allergies and Autoimmune Diseases

https://www.amazon.com/Epidemic-Absence-Understanding-Allergies-Autoimmune/dp/1439199388

Fixing The Root Cause of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

https://drhyman.com/blog/2020/08/10/podcast-hc22/

The Power Of Food To Heal Everything From Autoimmune Disease To Traumatic Brain Injury

https://drhyman.com/blog/2019/12/18/podcast-ep85/