We know that intestinal worms are parasites in our gastrointestinal tract, which are primarily on the intestinal wall. They are affecting people and other organisms. There are different types of intestinal worms which are affecting people, but the most harmful are tapeworm, whipworm, pinworm, and roundworm.
These parasites enter in our bodies through contaminated water or food, sexual contact, transmitting agents like mosquitoes, and even skin and noise. Also, there are other common causes of intestinal worms, such as eating raw and undercooked meat, weak immune systems, exposure to areas known to have parasites, and poor hygiene. Mostly, people who live in subtropical and tropical regions suffer from intestinal worms [1]. But this condition can affect children and adults all over the world.
Depending on the type of intestinal worm, a person can experience different symptoms such as nutritional disorders, pain in the legs, nausea, fever, frequent headaches, weight loss, weakness, anemia, itching around the rectum, restless sleep, constant feeling of hunger, bad breath, diarrhea, dysentery, gas, and stomach pain.
There are many prescription and over–the–counter medicines for intestinal worms, which you may have to take in a period of a few days or for several weeks which, depends on the infestation. Also, there are many simple home remedies that you can take along with medications to rid of intestinal worms. Talk to your doctor before you start using some home remedies.
8 Home remedies for intestinal worms
Contents
Pomegranate tree bark
The leaves, stems, roots, and bark of the pomegranate tree have anthelmintic properties, and this is a reason why pomegranate is considered an effective home remedy for intestinal worms [2]. Pomegranate tree bark has alkaloid punitive that is highly toxic to intestinal worms, especially tapeworms.
In one cup of water, you should add a 2-inch of pomegranate tree bark. Boil it until half the amount of water evaporates. You should allow this mixture to cool, and then you should drink it 3 times per day, at intervals of a couple of hours. Then, you should eat a purgative fruit like avocado or banana to facilitate a bowel movement.
You should follow this home remedy for a period of a few days. When you are using this home remedy for children, then you should reduce the dosage of the decoction to 1/3. When you eat pomegranate fruit, or you drink pomegranate juice, then this can help to prevent heart attacks or intestinal worms.
Carom seeds
You can use carom seeds as your natural treatment for intestinal worms. Carom seeds have thymol content which has the ability to inhibit the growth of undesired parasites in the intestine [3].
According to Ayurveda, these seeds and jaggery should be used together for the natural treatment of intestinal worms. You should eat a small piece or about one tablespoon of jaggery in the morning on an empty stomach. You should wait for 15 – 20 minutes. Then, you should eat ¼ to ½ teaspoon of crushed carom seeds along with one glass of water. You should do this natural treatment once per day for a period of 2 weeks for complete treatment of intestinal worms.
Pumpkin seeds
There are some medical centers that have said that pumpkin seeds can be used as a natural treatment to rid of intestinal worms. Pumpkin seeds have a compound known as cucurbitacin, which has anti-parasitic properties that can analyze the parasites. This, in turn, can help to prevent them from holding on to the intestine wall, and they are soon eliminated from the body.
You need two tablespoons of crushed and peeled pumpkin seeds to 3 cups of boiling water. You should let it steep for thirty minutes. Allow it to cool, and then you should drink it. You should try to fast for a day, and you should drink the juice of boiled dry prunes because this can help you to cleanse your intestines before you take pumpkin seed infusion.
You should mix one tablespoon of roasted and crushed pumpkin seeds with an equal amount of honey. You should eat this home remedy every morning on an empty stomach for a period of one week. Then, you can include laxative food like a kiwi or banana in your breakfast. [4]
Unripe papaya
This natural cure has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for many health issues in which intestinal worms are also included [5]. The latex from unripe papaya is rich in the enzyme papain, which possesses anthelmintic properties which can effectively destroy intestinal worms.
Also, papaya seeds have a substance which is called caricin that can help to expel intestinal worms. You should mix one tablespoon of honey and one tablespoon of fresh raw papaya juice with 3 or 4 tablespoons of hot water. You should drink it in the morning on an empty stomach.
After 2 hours, follow it with a glass of warm milk with 2 tablespoons of castor oil mixed in it. You should follow this home remedy for 2 – 3 days. When you use this home remedy for your children, then you should reduce the dosage to half. Also, you can grind papaya seeds into powder form. You should mix 2 teaspoons of this powder with one cup of warm milk or water. You should drink it in the morning.
This should be the first thing in the morning that you should drink. Drink it on an empty stomach for a period of 3 days. Also, you can make a smoothie by grinding papaya seeds taken from average-sized papaya, and you should add it to one tablespoon of coconut oil, one cup of coconut milk, and chunks of papaya fruit (which is turning green to yellow), and you should blend them again.
Also, you should mix one tablespoon of honey and blend them again until smooth. You should drink this home remedy in the morning for at least one week.
Garlic
This is a very popular anti-parasitic food that can help you to deal with any type of intestinal worms. Raw garlic has sulfur-containing amino acids, which in nature are anti-parasitic. Also, garlic has antiseptic, antifungal, and antibacterial properties, which can help to kill microbes in your body.
You should eat 3 cloves of raw garlic on an empty stomach every day for a period of one week. This is one of the simplest home remedies which can help you to rid of all types of intestinal worms. Also, you can boil 2 crushed garlic cloves in ½ cup of milk, and you should drink it on an empty stomach. You should do this home remedy in a period of one week.
Coconut
This is one of the most effective home remedies for expelling all types of intestinal worms. Coconut acts as a very strong anti-parasitic agent. Both the oil and fruit can be used for the natural treatment of intestinal worms.
You should eat one tablespoon of crushed coconut with your breakfast. After 3 hours, you should drink one glass of warm milk with 2 tablespoons of castor oil mixed in it. You should repeat this home treatment every day until the infestation disappears. Castor oil is not recommended for people who suffer from gastrointestinal disease and for children below 5 years of age. Also, you can eat 4 – 6 tablespoons of extra virgin coconut oil on a daily basis.
This oil has medium–chain triglycerides, which can help to expel parasites from your body, and also they can boost your immune system to fight against them. [6]
Carrots
Carrots have beta–carotene, which is a precursor for Vitamin A, and it can destroy the eggs of intestinal worms. Also, it has zinc and Vitamin C, which support the immune system [7]. When we have a strong immune system, then it can fight off parasites quickly.
You should grate 2 carrots. You should eat them on an empty stomach before you eat or drink something. You should avoid eating anything else during the morning. You should do this natural treatment on a daily basis for a period of one week because it can help you to rid of the intestinal worms.
Indian lilac
Also, it is known as neem. This is a very effective natural method for removing all types of intestinal worms. It has anti-parasitic properties, which can kill parasites. Also, they can remove the toxins that they leave behind as they die.
Fry one tablespoon of dry neem flowers in one teaspoon of clarified butter or ghee. You should eat them with plain boiled rice two times per day for a period of 4 days. Also, you can drink a glass of warm milk or water mixed with one teaspoon of dried neem leaf powder and take it 2 times per day for a period of one week.
Women who are breastfeeding or pregnant should not consume Indian lilac. [8]
References
[1] Haque R. Human intestinal parasites. Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition. 2007;25(4):387-91.
[2] Zarfeshany A, Asgary S, Javanmard SH. Potent health effects of pomegranate. Advanced Biomedical Research. 2014;3:100.
[3] Boskabady MH, Alinateh S, Alavinezhad A. Carum copticum L.: A herbal medicine with various pharmacological effects. BioMed Research International. 2014;2014:569087.
[4] Grzybek M, Kukula-Koch W, Strachecka A, et al. Evaluation of anthelmintic activity and composition of pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) seed extracts—in vitro and in vivo studies. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2016;17(9):1456.
[5] Okeniyi JA, Ogunlesi TA, Oyelami OA, Adeyemi LA. Effectiveness of dried Carica papaya seeds against human intestinal parasitosis: a pilot study. Journal of Medicinal Food. 2007;10(1):194-6.
[6] Lima EBC, Sousa CNS, Meneses LN, et al. Cocos nucifera (L.) (Arecaceae): A phytochemical and pharmacological review. Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research. 2015;48(11):953-64.
[7] Sharma KD, Karki S, Thakur NS, Attri S. Chemical composition, functional properties and processing of carrot—a review. Journal of Food Science and Technology. 2012;49(1):22-32.
[8] Jamra N, Das G, Singh P, Haque M. Anthelmintic efficacy of crude neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf powder against bovine strongylosis. Journal of Parasitic Diseases. 2015;39(4):786-88.
