Natural Parasite Cleanse

The Internet and late-night infomercials are redolent with false medical cures for nonexistent "parasite" infections. One of the more popular methods of getting consumers to part ways with their hard-earned money is the pervasive presentation of natural parasite cleanse scams designed to sell you products that you don't need -- and that cannot possibly cure a real parasite infection.

Parasite Cleanse: The Claims

Natural parasite cleanse marketers prey upon your lack of medical knowledge by convincing you that you have a disease that you don't actually have. Because there are so many Internet sites hawking natural parasite cleanse "cures," it all boils down to which marketer's website appeals to you the most. One such website claims that "people may have parasites in their body that they may not even know about." However, if you read through these websites carefully, you will find a U.S. Food & Drug Administration disclaimer. In other words, the product is a scam. The ultimate goal is to get you to buy the "four-star" products "reviewed" by the websites -- that's what the website is selling.

Because many natural parasite cleanse websites have a professional appearance, it's difficult for consumers to learn the truth about the true symptoms of parasitic infections, such as flatworms and tapeworms, as well as how they are medically cured. While it is true that parasites can be spread by consuming contaminated food, from a family pet or through sexual contact, what is not true is that they can be effectively treated by eating common foodstuffs, such as pomegranate juice, pumpkin seeds, cloves, walnut hulls, or herbs. A parasite infection can only be confirmed by laboratory testing of your blood, stool or other tissue samples, and can only be resolved with a drug or medical process that receives approval from the FDA.

Parasite Cleanse: The Facts

If you're not familiar with the concept of affiliate marketing, acquaint yourself with this term. Affiliate marketers select "campaigns" (products) that they decide to promote on their individual websites to lure in consumers. Unfortunately, some of the most successful affiliate marketing campaigns involve selling a product such as natural parasite cleansing kits and products, in addition to "detox" and "cleanse" products and kits. These consist of a combination of vitamins and supplements that you can buy at any natural food store. But unawares, consumers are drawn in by the notion of fast weight loss, detoxifying their body of mythical mercury, or in this case, nonexistent parasites.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, parasitic infections that involve tapeworms and roundworms are far more common in underdeveloped countries than they are in the United States. However, If you had parasites, you'd know it. For example, trichomonas is one of the most common sexually-transmitted parasitic infections passed on between humans; its side-effects include obvious discharge from the genitals, as well as itching and inflammation. Giardia is another common cause of parasitic infection in humans and causes severe diarrhea. However, these parasites resolve only with prescription medical treatment -- not by eating a handful of vitamins.

Consumer Protection Against Parasite Cleanse Scams

The use of "puffery" (hyperbole) granted to affiliate marketers and all companies that sell products that enables them to compete with each other is addressed by Section 12(a) of the Federal Trade Commission Act, 15 U.S.C. 52(a), which "prohibits the dissemination of any false advertisement in or affecting commerce for the purpose of inducing, or which is likely to induce, the purchase of food, drugs, devices or cosmetics." The FTC, which successfully filed a complaint against the Airborne cold-prevention pills hawked by Oprah Winfrey, is taking action against parasite cleansing product marketers, one by one. The FTC filed suit against Dr. Clark Research Association, operated by David P. Amrein, a resident of Switzerland to prevent sale of the corporations "New 21 Day Program for Advanced Cancers," also known as the "Complete Herbal Parasite Program." Unfortunately, the popularity of these parasite cleanse products (which use common walnut hulls, cloves and wormwood) drew the attention of affiliate marketers as early as 1999 and continue to be sold on other sites under names other than "Dr. Clark."

When it comes to protecting yourself against parasite cleanse scams, the FTC advises that you seek information from legitimate sites, such as MedlinePlus, HealthFinder.gov and the Mayo Clinic. If you're curious about the validity of a product, see what is said about is on Quackwatch.com, a website operated by a consortium of health care providers to dispel online scams. Although it goes without saying, don't buy "cures" over the Internet -- talk to your doctor if you suspect that you have a parasite infection. If you've been scammed by a natural parasite cleanse site, report it to the FTC using the Resource link below.

Taking these simple precautions can help you avoid the real parasites: Internet marketers who con you out of your money to cure a nonexistent ailment.