I happened to run across my old Merck Manual 17th edition 1999. As I was perusing through I ran across viruses, and the first sentence in describing a virus was "Viruses are the smallest of parasites;..." Admittedly, I paused. I thought, ok, I realize viruses are intracellular and very small, but I didn't realize they were parasites. This led me down a rabbit hole because I then further investigated toxoplasmosis, toxoplasma gondii, and the like (as I was diagnosed with it years ago while pregnant). I was never given anti-parasitic medication, in fact I was offered only an experimental drug trying to get FDA approval from France (I don't remember the name of it now, though I assume it was similar to maybe what we have now for pharmaceutical treatment). Merck literature states that a very large percentage of people likely have toxoplasma gondii, but it causes no harm and just lays dormant. However, it effects the frontol lobe of the brain and lungs, so herein comes further diagnoses of people with anxiety, depression, ADHD, and other psychological disorders, I feel it is safe to at least explore perhaps WHY someone may have any of these diagnoses. Understanding that it may not change the herbal formula we may choose, wouldn't it be adventitious to know if someone has a parasite seeing as treatment may vary? We have learned many herbs to calm above conditions, so now I am curious...we've learned of some antiparasitic herbs as well. Since literature states once toxoplasma gondii is contracted, it will never leave as the cysts remain dormant in the body, could any of the anti-parasitic herbs be taken to treat this parasite? Could some herbs be used perhaps interchangeably then for some viruses and parasites as well? What if the root cause of some of these conditions ARE parasites, and we are unaware...would treatment ever really CURE the conditions without treating the parasites? Since viruses are 'the smallest of parasites', that would mean we all have contracted parasites in various ways over time (RSV, coronavirus, influenza, ect). It is my understanding that once parasites are contracted they never go away on their own without proper treatment of anti-parasitics. However, we don't give those for viruses. Final thought, this makes perfect sense to me now, how some people took Ivermectin successfully for their confirmed COVID. While we understand SARS Cov-2 to be viral, I never understood how Ivermectin seemed to work. If this is the case, it makes perfect sense. And I am befuddled, how did I miss this all these 30 years in medicine? What's worse, I have spoken to close colleague friends of mine who missed this as well. (I don't know if this makes me feel better or worse, truthfully.) I would really love some of your insight. Respectfully, Jen F.

I would like to add something else I have read. T. gondii also attacks the lymph especially in the neck. According to the Merck manual "Some viruses have oncogenic properties. Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (a retrovirus) is associated with human leukemia and lymphoma." Aren't human T-cells cancer fighting cells? So, a parasite is antagonizing cancer fighting cells, correct? In 2004, after returning home from the war, a colleague noticed lumps in my neck. I was later diagnosed with lymphoma via PET scan, needle biopsies, etc. However, post lumpectomy, they said it was not lymphoma, and further sent me to infectious disease, where no one ever gave me an answer to what 'it' was. According to Merck manual signs and symptoms of T. gondii "...usually asymptomatic but may cause mild cervical or axillary lyphadenopathy." "The syndrome may persist for weeks or months but is almost always self limited." What does this actually mean? Further, again I ask, wouldn't it make sense then to further investigate anti-parasitic herbal treatment in this (and likely other) cases that mimic perhaps another disease? Clarifying, I now understand we do not treat disease we treat the whole person and look at patterns. Coincidentally, as a timeline, I got pregnant 6 years later, where I was led to believe I had "an old exposure and a new exposure" when in fact, according to what I am reading, it was merely a re-enaction of a latent intracellular parasite putting my unborn child at potential risk, requiring me to ingest experimental pharmaceutical medication for 8 remaining months of my pregnancy. So, I look at this wondering about taking a closer look at anti-parasitic herbs with a new perspective. I do apologize if the format of my question jumps around. It is not uncommon for my mind to be blown since this class has begun. And this is one of those moments that I really felt merited to put in 'ask the professor'. Thank you.

I happened to run across my old Merck Manual 17th edition 1999. As I was perusing through I ran across viruses, and the first sentence in describing a virus was “Viruses are the smallest of parasites;…” Admittedly, I paused. I thought, ok, I realize viruses are intracellular and very small, but I didn’t realize they were parasites. This depends on your definition of parasite, many medical authorities would not say that viruses are parasites, in fact most make this differentiation. Why is a virus not a parasite? Bacteria and viruses can live outside of the human body (such as on a countertop) sometimes for many hours or days. But parasites need a living host to survive. Bacteria and parasites can often be killed with antibiotics. But these medicines can't kill viruses Merck literature states that a very large percentage of people likely have toxoplasma gondii, but it causes no harm and just lays dormant. Actually the majority of the population does not have Toxoplasma gondii (the estimate is about 40 million Americans, so approximately 12 % of the population), but cat owners are much more likely to have it. Even so, in most people it is dormant and not an issue unless they are pregnant or immune-compremised Understanding that it may not change the herbal formula we may choose, wouldn’t it be adventitious to know if someone has a parasite seeing as treatment may vary? I think most cases of depression, anxiety or ADHD, have nothing to do with Toxoplasma gondii (which by the way is not a virus, but a single cell organism) Could some herbs be used perhaps interchangeably then for some viruses and parasites as well? No, most anti-parasite herbs are not anti-viral Since viruses are ‘the smallest of parasites They are not the same as amoebic helminthic or protozoal parasites However, we don’t give those for viruses. It is not necessary, as viruses, are not the same as what we usually refer to as parasites While we understand SARS Cov-2 to be viral, I never understood how Ivermectin seemed to work. If this is the case, it makes perfect sense. There are dozens of human clinical trials and Ivermectin failed in every one to effectively treat COVID. The fact that some people took it and felt better is not proof, it could have been placebo, the infection may have run its course and they where already starting to get better, perhaps some off them had real parasites that the ivermectin treated and thus helped them to recover. And I am befuddled, how did I miss this all these 30 years in medicine? You didn’t, viruses while technically a small obligate intracellular parasite are not related to or similar to what we usually call a parasite - protozoa, helminths and ectoparasites.