By Stephanie Ray, ND, BCN, + Chinese Herbalist

What Is an Unwanted Organism?

When I talk about unwanted organisms, I am talking about organisms that can take up residence in the digestive tract and live off the environment we provide them.

As they grow, lay eggs, and multiply, you may begin to notice changes in mood, digestion, sleep, appetite, or how you feel overall.

Since these organisms thrive on sugar and carbohydrates, their presence can also lead to intense cravings for sweets. Unfortunately, giving in to those cravings can continue feeding the unwanted guests inside.

Many people believe unwanted organisms are rare and found only in poor, underdeveloped countries. However, approximately 85% of the world's population has a broad spectrum of unwanted organisms living inside them.

We are not immune, no matter where we live.

Common Symptoms When Unwanted Organisms Are Present

Unwanted organisms primarily affect the gut and digestive tract, but the signs can show up throughout the body. Here are some of the most common signs.

1. Dark Moods

Have you noticed a change in your mood that you cannot quite explain?

Someone may suddenly seem more irritable, emotional, low, or simply not like themselves, especially when this is happening along with digestive symptoms, sugar cravings, or restless sleep.

Uncharacteristic mood changes are one of the signs I have seen with unwanted organisms.

2. Itchy Rectum

An itchy rectal area is one of the classic signs associated with certain unwanted organisms.

Because some organisms lay eggs around the rectal area, itching can become especially noticeable at night.

If persistent itching is happening along with several other symptoms on this list, unwanted organisms are something to consider.

3. Easily Fatigued

Feeling tired all the time can have many causes, but unwanted organisms can compete with the body for nutrients.

If digestion is already compromised, the body may also have a harder time breaking down and absorbing the nutrients it needs from food.

When fatigue shows up along with digestive symptoms, cravings, or other signs on this list, it becomes part of the larger picture.

4. Gas After Eating

Gas and bloating after eating can be a sign that something is not right in the digestive tract.

When unwanted organisms become too prevalent, they can disrupt the normal balance in the gut. You may notice more gas, bloating, discomfort, or changes in bowel movements.

5. Craving Sweets or Carbohydrates

Strong sugar and carbohydrate cravings are another pattern I see frequently.

Unwanted organisms thrive on sugar and carbohydrates, so it can become a frustrating cycle: you crave sweets, you eat sweets, and then you crave more.

Once you begin an unwanted-organism cleanse, these cravings often start to settle down as the habitat begins to change.

6. Bad Breath

Bad breath is not always just about what is happening in your mouth.

When bad breath shows up together with digestive symptoms, strong sugar cravings, or other signs of imbalance, the gut may also be part of the picture.

7. Eating Too Much or Having No Appetite

Unwanted organisms can affect appetite in different ways.

Some people may feel hungry shortly after eating or seem as if they can never get enough food. Others may have very little appetite or suddenly find that food does not sound appealing.

A noticeable change from a person's normal appetite is another sign to pay attention to.

8. Angry Outbursts or Aggression

This is one of the more surprising signs, and one I have seen many times.

A child who is normally fairly even-tempered may suddenly become angry, aggressive, explosive, or extremely irritable. Adults can experience this too.

When this kind of uncharacteristic behavior shows up along with digestive symptoms, sugar cravings, restless sleep, or other signs on this list, unwanted organisms may be part of the picture.

Behavior is also one of the first areas parents often notice improving when we begin addressing the unwanted-organism imbalance.

9. Trouble Sleeping

Trouble falling asleep, waking throughout the night, restless sleep, itching, teeth grinding, or tossing and turning can all be part of the pattern.

Digestive discomfort and irritation can make it harder for the body to settle into normal sleep.

10. Grinding Teeth or Jaw Pain

Do you wake up with a sore jaw? Does your child grind their teeth while sleeping?

Teeth grinding is another sign I hear about frequently, particularly in children.

On its own, teeth grinding does not tell us the cause. But when it occurs along with nighttime restlessness, digestive symptoms, rectal itching, or other signs on this list, it becomes another clue.

11. Hard, Distended Stomach

A stomach that repeatedly feels hard, swollen, or unusually distended is another sign to pay attention to.

With children especially, parents will sometimes describe a very round or firm belly even though the rest of the child's body is lean.

This is another symptom that becomes more meaningful when several other signs are present.

12. Gut Imbalances

When unwanted organisms become too prevalent, they can disrupt the normal balance of the gut.

That can show up as:

• Gas

• Bloating

• Irregular bowel movements

• Food sensitivities

• Changes in appetite

• Abdominal discomfort

• Changes in stool

We want to support the organisms that belong there while making the habitat less favorable to the ones we do not want.

13. Dark Circles Under the Eyes

I often see dark circles under the eyes in children when there is digestive stress and unwanted-organism imbalance.

It is another outward sign that can point us back toward what is happening internally, especially when other symptoms are present.

14. Nutrient Deficiencies

Unwanted organisms can compete with the body for nutrients.

If digestion is compromised too, the body can have a harder time getting and absorbing what it needs from food.

Over time, this can affect energy, mood, immune function, skin, hair, growth, and overall nutritional status.

This is one reason nourishment matters when we are cleansing.

Make Your Body Inhospitable to Unwanted Organisms

The goal is not to create fear around unwanted organisms. It is to create an internal habitat where unwanted organisms do not want to be.

Think of your body like a garden.

What you feed it matters. How well you nourish it matters. How well you digest your food matters. And how effectively you remove waste matters.

Support the terrain, and the terrain becomes less hospitable to unwanted guests.

This is why digestion, liver function, gut balance, hydration, nourishment, and regular bowel movements all matter.

If we are asking the body to clear something, it has to be able to move it out.

What You May Notice Around Days 7–10

Around days 7–10 of an active unwanted-organism cleanse, you may notice those cravings suddenly flare up again and become much stronger, including cravings for sugar, carbohydrates, or fried foods.

This can happen because you are winning the destruction of their habitat and giving your body the oxygen-rich herbal support it needs. The foods they have you crave help create an acidic, oxygen-deprived habitat where unwanted organisms can thrive, so this is the time to stay consistent with the cleanse and not give in to those cravings.

If you do give in, adults can take 2 droppers full of Artemisia & Clove® or one of the other BIORAY unwanted-organism formulas either before or immediately after the offending food or drink. This helps bring hydrochloric acid back up—the good, natural acid in the gut that helps kill microorganisms we do not want—while also helping with the cravings and continuing the unwanted-organism cleanse.

Blends for Unwanted Organism Cleansing

Both children and adults can have unwanted-organism imbalances and the corresponding symptoms. That is why I have formulated different blends for children, teens, and adults.

NDF Happy® for Children

If your child is 12 months or older and you are seeing several of the signs above, NDF Happy® is formulated to gently support unwanted-organism cleansing with botanicals and BIORAY's proprietary NDF® Chlorella.

Life is Peachy® for Teens

For teens, I recommend Life is Peachy®.

It combines botanicals for unwanted-organism cleansing with flower essences that support mood during the teen years.

Microbe Slayer® for Adults

Adults can use Microbe Slayer® for unwanted-organism cleansing along with liver and adrenal support.

Artemisia & Clove®

For stronger support, Artemisia & Clove® is part of our Clinical Line and provides full-strength botanical support for unwanted-organism cleansing.

Intake should always be appropriate for age, weight, constitution, and sensitivity.

If you know you are sensitive to dietary supplements, begin more slowly.

Practice Healthy Habits

Cleansing is only part of the picture. How we eat, wash our hands, and support digestion matters too.

Wash Your Hands the Right Way

1. Wet your hands with clean, running water and apply soap.

2. Rub your hands together and lather them well. Be sure to include the backs of your hands and between your fingers.

3. With one hand, take your index finger and clean around each cuticle and underneath each nail bed on the opposite hand. This is important because the area around the cuticles and underneath the nails is often missed with simplified handwashing.

4. Continue rubbing your hands for at least 20 seconds. For children, humming the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice is an easy way to measure the time.

5. Rinse your hands well under running water.

6. Dry your hands with a clean towel or air dry them. If you are in a public bathroom, use the drying towel to grip the door handle before disposing of it.

Chew Thoroughly

Chew each bite 25–35 times, ideally until the food is almost liquid.

Digestion starts in the mouth, and chewing food thoroughly helps the rest of the digestive process.

Frequently Asked Questions About Unwanted Organisms

Why Do We Use the Term “Unwanted Organisms”?

You may be searching for parasite support, parasite symptoms, or a parasite cleanse and wondering why BIORAY® uses the term “unwanted organisms.”

There is a reason.

The FDA considers certain references to parasites in dietary supplement claims to imply the treatment of disease. Because of that, BIORAY® uses the term “unwanted organisms” in our product and educational language.

I want to be transparent about that distinction.

When we use the term “unwanted organisms,” we are describing the terminology BIORAY® uses for regulatory compliance. We are not suggesting that our formulas diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent parasitic infection or any other disease.

If you are concerned that you or your child may have a parasitic infection, please consult a qualified healthcare practitioner.

What Is a Natural Cleanse?

A natural cleanse is meant to support the body's own ability to process and eliminate what it does not need.

The liver, kidneys, digestive tract, and bowels already do this work every day.

Hydration, nutrient-dense food, regular bowel movements, sleep, and movement all support these normal processes.

A cleanse should work with the body, not replace those foundations.

How Can I Make My Body Less Hospitable to Unwanted Organisms?

Reduce excess sugar and highly processed foods, eat whole, nutrient-dense foods with fiber, stay hydrated, keep the bowels moving regularly, chew your food well, support digestion and liver function, and practice thorough handwashing.

These basics help support a healthier habitat while the body is cleansing.

Can Children Have Unwanted Organisms?

Yes. Children can have unwanted-organism imbalances too.

Parents often notice extreme mood swings, irritability, digestive problems, trouble sleeping, teeth grinding, rectal itching, sugar cravings, a distended belly, or dark circles under the eyes.

Those signs do not automatically mean unwanted organisms are the cause. They are clues, and several of them appearing together can point toward a larger pattern involving digestion, appetite, sleep, mood, and bowel function.

Good handwashing, especially before eating and after using the bathroom, is also one of the simplest habits we can teach children.

Do These Symptoms Mean I Have Unwanted Organisms?

Not necessarily.

Symptoms are clues, not a diagnosis.

Fatigue, irritability, bloating, sleep problems, sugar cravings, appetite changes, and the other signs in this article can have many different causes.

When several of these signs are showing up together, unwanted organisms may be one piece of the puzzle.