This might as well be a part of ‘My Passion for Nutrition’ series…
Remember the “Horse Paste” Hysteria? Time to Talk Honestly About Parasites and Ivermectin
Back in the chaotic 2020s, when the world felt like it was spinning out of control, one of the strangest battles was the all-out demonization of ivermectin. Labeled everything from “horse paste” to dangerous misinformation, it became a cultural exclamation point. But it is time to step back from the noise: Ivermectin is a legitimate, Nobel Prize-winning antiparasitic medication with a proven track record in human medicine. And yes—there is a broader conversation worth having about whether most of us could benefit from thinking more seriously about parasites in our modern lives.
Discovered from soil bacteria in Japan and developed into a powerful tool against parasites, ivermectin has transformed global health. It paralyzes and kills certain worms and parasites by disrupting their nerve and muscle functions. It earned its discoverers the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for its impact on river blindness (onchocerciasis) and lymphatic filariasis—diseases that blinded and debilitated millions.
It is incredibly inexpensive to manufacture—estimates put production costs as low as two pennies (I guess you should round up to a full nickel now!) per dose in bulk. Generic versions sell affordably (often under $50–$100 for a treatment course in the US with discounts), which means it does not line Big Pharma’s pockets like patented drugs. Through donation programs, billions of doses have been distributed for free in endemic regions. This accessibility is part of what makes it such a public health success story.
Here is where things get uncomfortable but real. Many of us in developed countries like the US do not wash our hands as thoroughly as we should. Fresh produce (especially organic!) is not always perfectly cleaned. Pets track in dirt, fleas, or other critters. International travel, imported foods, and close contact with others can introduce risks. Thus,intestinal parasites like Giardia, pinworms (Enterobius vermicularis), or others are not unheard of—even in “clean” societies.
I am not here to advocate staring into your toilet bowl (I am a lady, after all).But cleanses can rid us of all the environmental toxins that infiltrate our daily lives.
Ivermectin remains a wonder drug for what it was designed to do. The 2020s taught us many lessons about questioning narratives, but also about respecting evidence-based medicine (even if it does not bring in the big bucks!). Routine cleansing for everyone may be necessary, even for most in sanitary environments. Disease invades those in developed countries. Parasites can also make us ladies act like “lunatics” during full moons (The word “lunatic” comes from Latin luna (moon), reflecting ancient beliefs that the full moon drove people—especially women—mad)…Greater awareness and targeted use of something like Ivermectin is absolutely worth discussing without the {political} drama.
Kat’s Musings 