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Treatments for Intestinal Worms

Infections from parasitic intestinal worms cause a variety of digestive health problems including bloating, constipation and diarrhea. They can even cause asthma, fatigue, a lowered immune system, nervousness and skin rashes. More than 100 different types of parasitic worms can live in humans and can enter the body through food, water, nose or skin. The most common causes of intestinal worm infection are contaminated food, poor hygiene, contact with contaminated water and skin contact with infected soil.

  1. Medications

    • Many prescription medications can treat intestinal worms, but no one medication will take care of all varieties. Be sure to consult with your doctor to find the most appropriate for your case, and to ensure that the medication will prevent a reinfection.

    Home Remedies

    • Many home solutions have also proven to be quite effective in treating intestinal worms. Garlic is one of the oldest of these remedies. For those who cannot ingest garlic, place a couple of cloves of garlic in your shoes, and your feet will crush and absorb the garlic through your bloodstream. Other remedies include ingesting freshly ground coconut, grated carrots, papaya seeds, pumpkin seeds and pomegranate bark. There are effective herbal remedies, as well, including using the herbs wormwood, calamus and belleric myroblan.

    Diet Remedies

    • A diet change should be the first step in treatment with intestinal worms. For the first five to seven days, patients should consume nothing but fresh fruit and vegetable juice. After at least five days, patients can add vegetables, milk and wholemeal bread to the diet. All fatty foods such as butter, cream, oil and meat should be strictly avoided until the infection is clear.

    Other Treatment

    • A warm-water enema is another effective treatment. During a diet treatment, especially during the fruit-only stage, patients should clean with such an enema every day.

    Prevention

    • The best prevention against intestinal worms is a healthy immune system and good hygiene. There are additional ways to reduce the risk, as well. Wash all fruits and vegetables and cut out pieces with nicks in them. Washing in ozonated water--a mixture of hydrogen peroxide or bleach with water--will kill all parasites. Of course, be sure to rinse off the ozonated water before consumption.

      Cook all meat, including fish, thoroughly. Never eat raw or poorly cooked meat. Before cooking, inspect the meat for worms. Drink only purified water, which can include water filtered at home and bottled water. Wash your hands before eating, after going to the bathroom, after changing diapers and after handling animals. Do not swim in pools, rivers, lakes or ponds if you have cuts or open sores. Avoid swallowing water while swimming. Keep all pets healthy, and keep them outside if they are under treatment for worms.

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