Intestinal Worms

Intestinal Worms are parasites in the gastrointestinal tract, primarily on the intestinal wall, that affect people and other organisms. These worms are common stomach ailments that are widely prevalent during the rainy seasons in the tropical and subtropical areas of the world. But apart from the adults, the children are more infested with these intestinal worms. The most common of these parasites are roundworms, pinworms, threadworms, hookworms, tapeworms and giardia.

Parasites are classified into two categories: Helminths and Protozoa. The Helminths are multi cellular parasites. Helminths, once they are adults, cannot multiply inside the human body. Roundworms, tapeworms and pin worms are some examples of helminths parasites. Protozoa are single cell parasites that inhabit human bodies. Protozoa can multiply rapidly causing serious problems.

The real cause of intestinal worms is wrong feeding. The eggs of these parasites are introduced into the human system through the medium of food or water, especially undercooked meat can breed in the intestines only if they find there a suitable medium for their propagation. This medium is an intestinal tract clogged with morbid matter and systemic refuses due to wrong feeding habits. The causes of the different types of worms are as follows:


•Roundworms may result from dirty fingers and food.
•Hookworms enter the human body through the skin from infected water.
•The tapeworms are transmitted into the body through undercooked flesh foods or foods contaminated by dogs.

The usual symptoms of intestinal worms are diarrhoea, foul breath, dark circles under the eyes and constant desire for food restlessness at night with bad dreams, anaemia and headache. However, the symptoms caused by particular intestinal worm group are as follows;

• Round Worms: These may give rise to inflammation of the intestine and lungs, nausea, vomiting, loss of weight, fever, nervousness and irritability.

• Pin Worms: These may bring on intense itching in the area around the rectum.

• Thread Worms: These may cause periodic bouts of diarrhoea, alternating with constipation, loss of weight, cough and fever.

• Hook Worms: These may give rise to anaemia and nutritional disorders.

• Giardia: The presence of giardia may result in pain in the calves and weakness in the legs.

Many alternative treatment methods are followed for the treatment of intestinal worms. The treatment methods like Ayurveda, Homoeopathy, Naturopathy or nature care, etc. are regularly used for treatment of intestinal worms. All these methods have been proved to be effective in treating the worms. Almost all the medical methods use herbs and natural ingredients for preparing medicines to cure intestinal worms.

The traditional Indian medication, Ayurveda, is known for effectively treating the intestinal worms. Ayurvedic medicine provides an effective means of treating intestinal infection. Ayurvedic treatment of intestinal worms is done by using various medicinal herbs like Ajwain, Bael, Karpoora, Palasha, Sabja, Vidanga, etc. The herbs like barberry, goldenseal, oregon grape, tea tree oil, anise, wormwood, wormseed, pumpkin seeds, curled mint, black walnuts, etc. are used for treatment of intestinal worms. The other herbs used in curing intestinal worms are anise, cloves, gentian, neem, olive leaf, oregano, propolis, thyme, etc. The herbs help in soothing the problems caused due to intestinal worms and also try to eliminate the worms from the body. Generally, the Ayurvedic preparations like Khadi Arishta, Vidanga Arishta, Deva Darya Arishta, Danga Asava; Loha Bhasma, Vanga Bhasma, Chandra Sooradi Kashaya; Vidanagadi Choorna; Bimbi Ghritam, Vidanagadi Ghritam; Krimi Vikarprakadha; Rasa Karpoora, Vidanga Lauha, Kurmi Mudgarasa, Kurmikutara Rasa; Krimi Shodhini, Kankana Gutika, etc. are used for treatment of intestinal worms.

In Homoeopathy also, the treatment of intestinal worms is done using various herbs and natural ingredients. The patient`s constitutional type like his physical, emotional and intellectual stability, etc. is taken into account during Homoeopathic treatment. All these factors are thoroughly assessed before determining the appropriate remedy. The most frequently used remedies in Homoeopathy for treating intestinal worms include Cina, Cuprum oxidatum nigrum, Indigo, Teucrium, Podophyllum, Spigelia, Sabadilla, Stanum, etc.

Naturopathy or nature care is another effective way for the treatment of intestinal worms. Diet forms an important part in treating intestinal worms through nature care. Eating an exclusive diet of fresh fruits for five to seven days helps in treating intestinal worms. Adopting a well-balanced light diet that consists of fruits, vegetables, milk and whole meal bread may also help fighting against worms. One should avoid taking fatty foods like butter, cream, oil, refined foods and all kinds of meats. It is advised to continue this diet till the parasites are completely eliminated. However, the all-fruit diet may be repeated at regular intervals in some cases depending on the progress of the patient. Sometimes, patients are advised to start short fasts on raw fruit and vegetable juices. The duration of this fast may be longer in case of tapeworms.

Some specific dietary regulations are also recommended at times for treating intestinal worms. The dietary recommendations are made for supporting the intestinal parasite cleansing process. It is advised to avoid coffee, refined sugar, alcohol and refined foods temporarily. Eating anti-parasitic foods and raw garlic is also suggested during treatment of intestinal worms. Eating a diet rich in pineapple may help clear certain parasites like tapeworms. The other food items advised to consume during treatment of intestinal worms include the carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, turmeric, cloves, etc.

There are many home remedies used for the treatment of intestinal worms as well. Coconut is an ancient remedy and is considered the most effective home remedy for worms. It can expel all types of intestinal worms found in human beings. Fresh garlic and its oil are also used as home remedy for treatment of intestinal worms. This is an ancient method of medication and garlic has worm-killing properties and a powerful penetrative force. Carrot can help in eliminating threadworms in children. Papaya seeds are also effective in expelling roundworms. The bark, root and stems of the pomegranate tree are also well known for their anthelmintic properties and can destroy parasitic worms, especially the tapeworms. The other methods used for treating intestinal worms include acupuncture and massage.

In treatment of intestinal worms, the alternative medicine methods are mainly used as supportive therapies to the conventional medical treatments. All the above mentioned therapies are already proved as effective for treating the worms and they have no side effects as well.

Natural remedy for intestinal worms should start on with diet. Intestinal worms are parasites in the gastrointestinal tract, primarily on the intestinal wall, that affect people and other organisms. There are different types of intestinal worms that affect people, but the most harmful are roundworm, pinworm, whipworm and tapeworm.

Parasites enter the human body through contaminated food or water, transmitting agents like mosquitoes, sexual contact and even via nose and skin. Other common causes include poor hygiene, exposure to areas known to have parasites, weak immune system and eating raw and undercooked meat.

Diet Therapy for Intestinal Worms : The patient should be kept on an exclusive diet of fresh fruits for 5 to 7 days. Subsequently he may take on a well balanced light diet consisting mainly of fruits, vegetables, milk and whole meal bread. The diet should keep out fatty foods such as butter, cream and oil, refined foods and all flesh foods. This dietary should be continued till the parasites are totally eliminated.

In some cases, depending on the improvement being made, the all fruit diet may have to be repeated at regular intervals. In persistent cases the patient should resort to short fasts on raw fruit and vegetable juices. This fast has to be of a comparatively long duration in case of tapeworms. At the time of the all fruit diet or fasting period, the bowels should be cleansed on a daily basis with the tepid water enema.

Home Remedies for Intestinal Worms : There are numerous home remedies found advantageous in the treatment of intestinal worms, some of them are as follows:

1. The use of coconut is most successful. It is an ancient therapy for expelling all kinds of intestinal worms. A tablespoon of the freshly ground coconut should be taken at breakfast followed by a dose of castor oil after 3 hours. The procedure may be repeated till the treatment is complete.
2. Garlic has been used for expelling intestinal worms from ancient times. Both fresh garlic and its oil are effective. An ancient technique of its medication was to place a couple of cloves of fresh garlic in its shoe. As the person walks, it is crushed and the garlic oil is absorbed by the skin and carried by blood into the intestines as it possesses the powerful penetrative force. This method is worth a trial by those who do not like the taste of garlic and cannot eat it.
3. The carrot is valuable in the elimination of threadworms from children as it is offensive to all parasites. A small cup of grated carrot taken every morning, with no other food added to the meal, can clear these worms rapidly.
4. The digestive enzyme in the milk juice of the unripe papaya is a potent anthelmintic for destroying roundworms.
5. Papaya seeds are very useful medicine for expelling roundworms.
6. The bark, both of the root and the stems of pomegranate tree, is well known for its anthelmintic properties of destroying parasitic worms.
7. The seeds of the ripe pumpkin are useful in intestinal worms, in particular tapeworms. A mixture, prepared from the seeds after they are peeled and crushed, will kill parasites and help in expelling the tapeworm.
8. It will be essential to fast for a day and empty the intestines by taking the juice of boiled dry prunes. The next day, 3 or 4 tumblers of this pumpkin seed infusion should be taken.
9. Leaves of bamboo are very beneficial in destroying intestinal worms especially, threadworms. A decoction should be made using the leaves and consumed regularly for better results.
10. Turmeric is an excellent home remedy for intestinal worms. Dry powder or juice of turmeric mixed in buttermilk or water is highly beneficial for intestinal problem, especially chronic diarrhoea.