A whole lot! Come on! Think about it! The full moon has always been blamed for when “all the crazies” are out? Crazies take in a handful of meanings like animals, humans, and yes, parasites.
The full moon’s effect on neurotransmitters is not scientifically established, but it has been associated with shifts in mood, sleep patterns, and behavior in anecdotal and traditional perspectives. What is your experience? Here’s a breakdown of what’s often discussed:
1. Sleep and Melatonin:
Studies suggest that the full moon might disrupt sleep, potentially lowering melatonin levels due to increased light exposure at night. Melatonin is a key regulator of circadian rhythm and indirectly impacts neurotransmitters like serotonin.
2. Serotonin Levels:
While not proven, it’s speculated that changes in light exposure during the full moon could influence serotonin, which regulates mood, emotions, and even digestion. This might explain heightened emotions or energy reported by some people during a full moon.
3. Dopamine and Excitability:
Anecdotal evidence suggests that some individuals feel more energized or restless during a full moon, which could indicate an effect on dopamine pathways. However, this remains speculative without solid scientific backing.
4. Cultural and Psychological Influence:
The belief that the full moon impacts mood and behavior might create a placebo-like effect, amplifying emotional responses and stress. This psychological factor could indirectly influence neurotransmitter activity.
While these connections are interesting, they’re not firmly rooted in science. More research would be needed to clarify any measurable impacts of lunar phases on brain chemistry.
However, the full moon is often linked to increased gut activity and heightened activity of parasites, though scientific evidence for this connection is limited. Here’s a summary of the commonly discussed ideas:
1. Increased Serotonin in the Gut
• The gut produces about 90% of the body’s serotonin, which is influenced by the nervous system and circadian rhythms. Some theories suggest that the full moon, due to its potential effects on serotonin regulation, could make the gut environment more active.
• Higher serotonin levels might stimulate intestinal motility, which could also affect parasites, as they thrive in an active gut.
2. Parasite Activity During the Full Moon
• Anecdotal and traditional health perspectives propose that parasites become more active during the full moon due to changes in the body’s hormonal or immune responses.
• It’s believed that the full moon affects melatonin (which has anti-parasitic properties), possibly lowering its levels and making the immune system less effective at controlling parasites.
3. Behavioral Changes in Parasites
• Some parasites might have their own biological rhythms influenced by the host’s body or environmental changes (e.g., light exposure). The full moon could hypothetically enhance their reproductive or feeding activity, contributing to symptoms like bloating, digestive discomfort, or cravings.
4. Increased Susceptibility to Symptoms
• Many practitioners report that their clients experience intensified gut-related symptoms, such as gas, bloating, or food cravings, around the full moon. While this could be linked to parasite activity, it might also be a result of the psychological or physiological changes people experience during this time.
5. Full Moon Protocols for Parasite Cleansing
• Some health practitioners recommend timing parasite cleanses with the full moon, believing that it maximizes the effectiveness of treatments due to increased parasite activity.
Scientific Perspective
While these claims are intriguing, there is no strong scientific evidence to confirm that the full moon directly affects gut activity or parasites. However, the connection between circadian rhythms, light exposure, and gut health is well-documented, which may provide indirect links worth exploring further.
Functional health practitioners often recommend timing parasite cleanses around the full moon due to anecdotal evidence and traditional health practices suggesting that parasites may be more active during this time. Here’s why they focus on the full moon:
1. Parasite Activity and Circadian Rhythms
• Practitioners believe that during the full moon, there is a shift in the host’s circadian rhythms, particularly melatonin and serotonin levels:
• Melatonin: Levels may decrease, reducing its anti-parasitic properties.
• Serotonin: Levels may increase, potentially stimulating parasite activity, as serotonin is linked to gut motility and serves as a feeding trigger for some parasites.
2. Enhanced Gut Motility
• The full moon is thought to increase gut motility, creating an environment that encourages parasites to come out of their dormant states and become more active or reproduce, making them more susceptible to cleansing protocols.
3. Symptoms That Align with Full Moons
• Practitioners and clients often report an increase in symptoms like bloating, cravings, irritability, or sleep disturbances around the full moon, which they attribute to heightened parasite activity.
4. Targeted Cleansing
• Many functional health practitioners recommend starting or intensifying parasite cleansing protocols 3 days before, during, and up to 3 days after the full moon to align with this perceived activity spike.
• Common full moon protocols include:
• Herbal Remedies: Wormwood, black walnut hull, cloves, and other anti-parasitic herbs.
• Gut Support: Supplements to support digestion and elimination, like digestive enzymes and binders (e.g., activated charcoal, bentonite clay).
• Immune Modulation: Nutrients to strengthen the immune system, such as zinc, vitamin C, or adaptogens.
I like to recommend Cellcore Biosciences products for parasites cleansing. And like most things, its not a one and done! Let’s put it in prospective, how often do you deworm your dog or cat, or maybe you are a rancher, what about your herds? So why do you think that you are any different? You love on your furry pets, am I correct? I thought so!
5. Energetic and Emotional Perspectives
• Some practitioners integrate the emotional or spiritual significance of the full moon into their cleansing protocols, seeing it as a time for release and detoxification of both physical and emotional burdens. I ALWAYS recommend adding colon hygiene (colonics) before, during and after, depending on the length of the cleanse. Colon hygiene is a fabulous way to release “physical poop” and “emotional poop” like stresses, trauma, resentments, etc. which no longer serves us.
What the Science Says
While functional practitioners often share compelling client experiences and case studies, direct scientific evidence linking parasite activity to lunar cycles is limited. However, the focus on circadian rhythms, serotonin, and gut activity aligns with known physiological processes.
When recommending a protocol for clients, highlighting the alignment with gut and immune system rhythms can make it relatable while emphasizing the importance of consistent cleansing practices, whether or not it’s tied to the moon.