Along with medications, natural remedies might help ease the discomfort that your child may be going through due to worm infection in the body. These may not necessarily cure the child of worms, but they can aid the treatment and prevent infections. However, it should be noted that there aren’t any scientific studies to prove the effectiveness of all these remedies, as most of them are based on anecdotal evidence, and may or may not be effective.
1. Garlic: Laboratory and animal studies showed that 400mg of garlic 2-3 times a day could kill parasites; however, the effect on humans is not known. As garlic may increase the risk of bleeding, consult with your child’s doctor before using this remedy (1).
2. Papaya: This fruit is said to have anthelmintic and anti-amoebic activities. In a study conducted on 60 asymptomatic Nigerian children with stool evidence of intestinal parasites, it was found that a mixture of air-dried papaya seeds and honey resulted in a 71.4% and 100% stool clearance for various parasites (2).
3. Carom seeds: Locally known as ajwain, the fruits of this plant possess anthelmintic property. The seeds contain a brown colored oil which has thymol as one of its main components. This thymol is said to have antimicrobial properties. The plant may also help in expulsion of the worms from the gut (3).
It is believed that giving your child dried carom seeds to chew (mix it with a pinch of salt or jaggery if they cannot chew them raw) could help in expelling the worms. If the child is not willing to chew (seeds have a bitter taste), then 0you can powder the seeds and mix in water for them to drink or mix with jaggery to make tiny balls that they can easily swallow.
4. Pumpkin seeds: A community study in China revealed that pumpkin seeds were indicated to be safe and effective in treating human tapeworm infections. It was also found that a mixture of pumpkin and areca nut extract was quicker to show action than pumpkin seeds alone (4).
5. Bitter gourd: The extracts of various parts of this plant, such as leaf, fruit, and seeds, are found to have anthelmintic activity. It is believed that giving your child bitter gourd juice can help in deworming (5).
6. Neem: According to a study conducted on children above three and six years of age, a mixture of neem flower powder was found effective in deworming (6).Also, anecdotal evidence states that administering children, neem fruit or flower extract can act as a precautionary measure to prevent worm infections.
7. Turmeric: According to the traditional Indian medical system, turmeric could be helpful in deworming (7).It is believed that mixing turmeric powder in your child’s milk can help in expelling the worms.
8. Coconut: It is believed that coconut kernels and tender coconut water might help in the expulsion of intestinal worms (8). Giving a tablespoon of grated coconut for breakfast might help in deworming.
References
1. Roundworms; Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
2. Okeniyi JA, Ogunlesi TA, Oyelami OA, Adeyemi LA; Effectiveness of dried Carica papaya seeds against human intestinal parasitosis: a pilot study: NCBI
3. Ranjan Bairwa, R. S. Sodha, and B. S. Rajawat; Trachyspermum ammi; NCBI
4. Li T, et al.; Usefulness of pumpkin seeds combined with areca nut extract in community-based treatment of human taeniasis in northwest Sichuan Province, China.; NCBI
5. Sutthaya Poolperm and Wannee Jiraungkoorskul; An Update Review on the Anthelmintic Activity of Bitter Gourd, Momordica charantia; NCBI
6. K. Indumathi; Effectiveness of neem flower powder for worm infestation in pre-school children in selected villages at Cheyyur Taluk; Dr. MGR Medical University
7. Sahdeo Prasad and Bharat B. Aggarwal; Turmeric, the Golden Spice; NCBI
8. Manisha DebMandal, and Shyamapada Mandal; Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.: Arecaceae): In health promotion and disease prevention; Research Gate
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