3,500+ Patients Helped

Parasites: More Common Than You Think

You've been bloated, exhausted, and handed a new diagnosis every year. IBS, IBD, Leaky gut. But the underlying infection was never found.

Parasitic infections are far more common than most clinicians acknowledge — and standard stool testing isn't designed to find them. Here, we test for what's actually present and build a targeted protocol around your results.
“I spent two years being told my gut symptoms were IBS. Indigo found a parasitic infection on the first round of proper testing. Treating it changed everything.”
- Danielle M., Washington, D.C.

As featured in

Does This Sound Like You?

Bloated after every meal. Fatigue that never fully lifts. Gut symptoms that cycle through every diagnosis without ever resolving.
Parasitic infection refers to the presence of pathogenic organisms — including protozoa, helminths, and other intestinal pathogens — that colonize the digestive tract and trigger systemic immune, inflammatory, and nutritional disruption.
Common symptoms of parasitic infection include:
Bloating
Gas
Diarrhea
Loose stools
Constipation
Abdominal cramping
Chronic fatigue
Brain fog
Skin rashes & hives
Food sensitivities
Nutritional deficiencies
Anxiety & mood shifts
Teeth grinding
Rectal itching

A Complete Picture of Your Parasitic Burden

At Indigo, we identify exactly what is present, what it has disrupted, and what it takes to clear it.

We Evaluate:

  • Advanced functional stool testing that goes far beyond standard O&P panels
  • DNA-based pathogen identification
  • Assessment of gut microbiome disruption
  • Intestinal permeability and inflammatory markers
  • Immune dysregulation patterns
  • Nutritional depletions and malabsorption
  • Co-infection assessment
  • Hormonal and adrenal impact
How It Works

Your Path to Gut & Immune Recovery

01

Advanced Testing & Root-Cause Identification

We use functional and specialty testing that goes far beyond what standard labs offer:

  • Advanced functional stool analysis
  • Protozoa identification
  • Intestinal worm assessment
  • Gut microbiome disruption and dysbiosis markers
  • Intestinal permeability and inflammatory markers
  • Nutritional deficiencies linked to parasitic malabsorption
  • Co-infection screening

We identify what is present — so treatment is targeted, not generic.

02

Targeted Eradication & Gut Repair Protocol

Your treatment plan is built around your specific findings:

  • Clinician-directed botanical and pharmaceutical antiparasitic support
  • Biofilm disruption support to improve treatment efficacy
  • Gut-lining repair and intestinal permeability restoration
  • Microbiome rebalancing
  • Anti-inflammatory support
  • Nutritional repletion for deficiencies caused by parasitic burden
  • Dietary guidance to support eradication and gut healing

Every protocol is individualized — because different organisms require different treatment strategies.

03

Ongoing Monitoring & Clearance Confirmation

Eradication must be confirmed — we do not assume treatment success without evidence:

  • Repeat functional stool testing to confirm parasite clearance
  • Assessment of microbiome recovery and gut lining repair
  • Inflammatory and immune marker follow-up
  • Nutritional status reassessment post-treatment
  • Symptom-response tracking and protocol adjustment
  • Additional treatment rounds if clearance is incomplete

We confirm what has cleared — and address what remains.

04

Long-Term Gut Resilience & Prevention

A fully restored gut is your best defense against future parasitic infection and reinfection:

  • Microbiome diversity restoration and maintenance
  • Gut-lining integrity and mucosal immune support
  • Immune system regulation and resilience building
  • Nutritional optimization to maintain gut defenses
  • Dietary and lifestyle strategies to reduce reinfection risk
  • Environmental and hygiene guidance tailored to your exposure history
  • Periodic reassessment for patients with ongoing risk factors

The goal is a resilient gut — not just a cleared infection.

Built for Patients Like You

Indigo Health Clinic was founded with one purpose: to give patients the kind of care we wish we had when we were searching for answers.

Our practice is built on compassion, curiosity, and the belief that healing happens when you’re truly seen, heard, and supported. Our integrative team looks beyond symptoms to understand the full picture — your history, lifestyle, environment, labs, and unique physiology.

At Indigo, you’ll find:

  • A multidisciplinary care team trained in integrative, functional, and conventional medicine.
  • Advanced diagnostics and specialty testing to locate root causes often missed by standard care.
  • Medical-grade IV therapy & targeted protocols tailored to your needs (immune support, detox, nutrient restoration, energy, gut health, etc.).
  • Long-term, relationship-based care - we don’t just prescribe; we guide, monitor, and adjust as your healing unfolds.

The Indigo Promise

Why Choose Indigo for Parasite Care?

The Standard Approach

  • Standard O&P stool testing that misses most parasites
  • Single-treatment approach without confirmation testing
  • No gut repair or microbiome restoration after treatment
  • Symptoms often relabeled as IBS or anxiety
  • No assessment of nutritional depletions from parasitic burden
  • No co-infection screening
  • No follow-up to confirm eradication

The Indigo Approach

  • Advanced DNA-based stool testing for comprehensive detection
  • Targeted eradication matched to your specific organisms
  • Biofilm disruption support
  • Gut repair, microbiome restoration, and immune support
  • Nutritional repletion for deficiencies caused by parasitic burden
  • Full co-infection screening alongside parasitic assessment
  • Repeat testing to confirm clearance before closing care
Book My Free Discovery Call
3,500+ Patients Helped

Real People. Real Healing

K. E.
"Indigo Integrative Health is a GEM! I am already feeling better than I have in years. I am beyond grateful and couldn't recommend Indigo enough."
Kelly S.
"I was close to giving up to having a 'normal' life after multiple separate but related health issues, and never getting a comprehensive review of my entire body through traditional medicine. I have only been in the care of Indigo for a few months, but am now looking forward to my future potential as a healthy human! If you’re on the fence, reach out."
Paula R.
"This place is amazing. I no longer struggle with IBS symptoms. I have been so impressed with the level of attention and care received here. It's truly incredible. SO highly recommended."

Is Indigo Right for You?

If you’ve been searching for real answers — and are ready for a care approach that actually identifies what is driving your symptoms — you’re in the right place.

Our parasite testing and treatment care is built for patients who want precision, thoroughness, and a true root-cause path to gut and immune healing. We can help if you:

  • Have been told your stool tests are normal — but continue to suffer from chronic gut symptoms that haven’t resolved.
  • Carry an IBS diagnosis — but have never had advanced functional stool testing or parasitic infection properly ruled out.
  • Have a history of international travel or known exposure — and have never been comprehensively screened for parasitic infection.
  • Struggle with unexplained skin issues, rashes, or hives — that may be driven by immune dysregulation from an underlying parasitic burden.
  • Have chronic fatigue, brain fog, or nutritional deficiencies — that haven’t responded to standard interventions and may have an infectious root cause.
  • Had a parasitic infection treated in the past — but never had your gut repaired or clearance confirmed, and still don’t feel well.
  • Want a thorough, data-driven approach — one that identifies what is actually present and builds treatment around your specific findings.
Parasitic infections are among the most underdiagnosed drivers of chronic gut dysfunction I encounter in practice. The standard stool test misses the overwhelming majority of clinically significant organisms. When we test properly, the findings are often revelatory for patients who have spent years being told nothing is wrong. Identifying and treating the actual infection — and repairing the gut disruption it caused — is frequently the turning point that changes everything.

— S. Sharkar, Clinician & Founder, Indigo Integrative Health Clinic

Commonly Asked Questions

Your Questions Answered

If you suspect a parasitic infection — or have been told your tests are normal but still feel unwell — we’ve answered the most common questions below.

  • How common are parasitic infections, and could I really have one without knowing it?

    More common than most people and most clinicians realize. Parasitic infections are acquired through contaminated food and water, raw or undercooked fish and sushi, international travel, animal contact, soil exposure, and something as ordinary as touching a contaminated surface. Many infections produce subtle or nonspecific symptoms that are misattributed to IBS, stress, or other conditions for years — because the right test was never run.

  • Why does standard stool testing miss so many parasitic infections?

    Standard ova and parasite (O&P) stool testing relies on direct microscopic examination, a method with well-documented limitations in sensitivity, particularly for protozoan infections and organisms that shed intermittently. Advanced functional stool testing uses DNA-based detection that identifies a broader range of clinically relevant organisms.

  • What parasites do you test for at Indigo?

    At Indigo, we use advanced functional stool testing that combines PCR-based DNA detection and microscopic examination to assess a comprehensive range of organisms — including Giardia, Blastocystis spp., Cryptosporidium, Dientamoeba fragilis, Entamoeba histolytica, and Cyclospora — alongside bacterial co-pathogens and microbiome analysis.

  • How is parasitic infection treated at Indigo?

    Treatment is targeted to your specific identified organisms. Depending on your findings, your care may include clinician-directed botanical antimicrobials, pharmaceutical antiparasitic agents where indicated, biofilm disruption support, gut-lining repair, microbiome restoration, nutritional repletion, and dietary guidance. Treatment is followed by repeat testing to confirm eradication.

  • What is biofilm, and why does it matter for parasite treatment?

    Many parasites protect themselves by forming biofilms — structured communities encased in a protective matrix that significantly reduces the efficacy of antiparasitic treatment. Incorporating biofilm disruption support can meaningfully improve eradication outcomes, particularly in cases of treatment-resistant or recurrent infection.

  • Can a parasitic infection cause symptoms beyond the gut?

    Yes, significantly. Parasitic infections drive systemic immune dysregulation, nutritional depletion, hormonal disruption, nervous system effects, and skin manifestations. Fatigue, brain fog, anxiety, mood shifts, skin rashes, food sensitivities, and hormonal imbalances are all documented systemic effects of chronic parasitic burden.

  • Do you accept insurance?

    Indigo is a cash-pay practice. This allows us to spend the time your case actually requires — without insurance constraints dictating your care. Many patients find the investment worthwhile given the depth of evaluation and the results they’ve been unable to achieve elsewhere.

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DISCLAIMER
The information on this page is intended for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Indigo Integrative Health Clinic provides personalized, data-informed care; individual results vary based on health history, condition severity, and personal factors. Functional medicine services are intended to complement — not replace — care from your primary healthcare provider or specialist. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health protocol.