While medical experts emphasize that a professional diagnosis and prescription medication are the most effective ways to treat parasites, several natural drinks and home remedies are traditionally used to help flush the digestive system and inhibit worm growth.
Home remedies that can help relieve the discomfort of intestinal worms and may help get rid of worms include:
While natural remedies like raw garlic, pumpkin seeds, and high-fiber foods may support gut health, they are not proven to cure parasitic infections. If you suspect you have a worm infection, the safest and most effective course of action is to consult a healthcare provider for a clinical diagnosis and prescription treatment.
Signs that it is time to deworm
Frequent abdominal pain, especially around the navel, along with loose or hard stools. A noticeable loss of appetite, skipping meals, weight loss, persistent fatigue, and paleness. Children have difficulty achieving deep sleep, frequent night crying, and a large and firm abdomen.
The only way to definitively know if you have a parasitic infection is through specific medical testing, such as stool tests, blood work, or imaging, ordered by your doctor.
In the United States, humans do not routinely take deworming medication unless a specific infection is diagnosed. However, for those living in or traveling to tropical and subtropical areas with high rates of soil-transmitted parasites, taking dewormers every 6 months (twice a year) is standard practice.
Prescription antiparasitic medications are the most effective way to kill parasites in humans. The specific drug used depends on the type of parasite—such as worms or protozoa. Because treatment is highly specific, consulting a healthcare provider for a diagnosis is the safest approach.
You can buy a medicine called mebendazole for threadworms from pharmacies. This is usually a chewable tablet or liquid you swallow. Treat everyone over 2 years old in your household, even if they do not have symptoms.
Symptoms of other worm infections
Pineapple. Pineapple contains an enzyme called bromelain, which has been studied for its potential antiparasitic properties. Eating fresh pineapple or drinking pineapple juice may help support digestive health.
The "best" human dewormer depends entirely on the type of parasite causing the infection. There is no single universal medication, as different worms require targeted treatments.
When you have an intestinal parasite, you most commonly crave sugar, carbohydrates, and junk food. Parasites consume your body's nutrients and can alter your gut signaling to trick you into feeding them their preferred fuel sources.
10 Warning Signs of Parasitic Infections
Having stomach or intestinal worms (parasites) can feel very uncomfortable and mimic other digestive issues, though mild infections may cause no symptoms at all. The physical sensations vary by the type of worm, but commonly include unexplained bloating, abdominal pain or cramping, nausea, fatigue, and intense anal itching.
Parasites most commonly enter the food supply through raw or undercooked meats, unwashed produce, and contaminated water. The following foods present the highest risk of harboring parasites:
While there is limited scientific evidence that natural remedies alone can cure an active, severe worm infection, specific dietary adjustments and rigorous hygiene can help make your gut environment inhospitable to parasites and support your body's natural ability to flush them out.
Pinworm poop does not look unusual, and the stool itself does not contain the worms. Instead, you might rarely spot the adult pinworms, which look like small, moving white threads or pieces of dental floss (about 14one-fourth14 to 12one-half12 inch long) on the surface of the stool or in your underwear.
Coconut oil has antibacterial and antiviral properties that can help eliminate pinworm infections. This method involves two steps: swallowing a spoonful of pure coconut oil each morning and applying a small amount to the affected area before bedtime.
When it comes to sheer lethality and global devastation, the worst parasite a human can contract is the Plasmodium parasite, which causes malaria. Transmitted by the Anopheles mosquito, it destroys red blood cells and claims hundreds of thousands of lives every year, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.
To help get rid of intestinal parasites naturally, consider drinking pineapple juice, coconut water, or water mixed with apple cider vinegar. Other effective, natural options include clove tea, ginger tea, or water blended with pumpkin seeds, all of which are traditionally used to eliminate worms and parasites.
The only way to definitively know if you have a parasitic infection is through specific medical testing, such as stool tests, blood work, or imaging, ordered by your doctor.
The United States does not have routine human deworming programs because intestinal parasites are incredibly rare in the country. Preventive deworming is reserved for regions lacking basic sanitation. Because of the risks of medication side effects, doctors only treat individuals for worms if they are actively showing symptoms.
Some are caught from food. You can get infected by: touching objects or surfaces with worm eggs on them – if someone with worms does not wash their hands. touching soil or swallowing water or food with worm eggs in it – mainly a risk in parts of the world without modern toilets or sewage systems.
PetArmor 7 Way De-Wormer (Pyrantel Pamoate and Praziquantel) for Puppies and Small Dogs treats and controls seven species of worms: two tapeworms (Dipylidium caninum and Taenia pisiformis), two roundworms (Toxocara canis and Toxascaris leonina) and three hookworms (Ancylostoma caninum, Ancylostoma braziliense and ...
A stomach (intestinal) parasite often feels like an unpredictable or severe case of "stomach flu" or persistent food poisoning. Because parasites disrupt the digestive tract, they trigger your immune system and deprive you of nutrients, resulting in a distinct set of symptoms.