Digestive Health 5 Natural Remedies for Intestinal Parasites By Cathy Wong Cathy Wong Facebook Twitter Cathy Wong is a nutritionist and wellness expert. Her work is regularly featured in media such as First For Women, Woman's World, and Natural Health. Learn about our editorial process Updated on February 23, 2022 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Jay N. Yepuri, MD, MS Medically reviewed by Jay N. Yepuri, MD, MS Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Jay Yepuri, MD, MS, is board-certified in gastroenterology. He is a partner with Digestive Health Associates of Texas and a medical director at Texas Health Harris Methodist HEB Hospital. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print If you have intestinal parasites, you may be wondering if a natural remedy could help restore your health. While there isn't a lot of research to support their use, some herbs, seeds, and their extracts may benefit you. This article explores natural remedies that fight parasites. It also discusses some common parasites and what symptoms can look and feel like. Verywell / Nusha Ashjaee Symptoms Symptoms of intestinal parasites include: Bloating Diarrhea Fatigue or weakness Gas Nausea Passing a worm in your stool Stomach pain or tenderness Vomiting Weight loss If you think you might have intestinal parasites, seek medical attention right away. Your healthcare provider may order tests (including stool tests) to identify the parasite. They'll also prescribe treatments and explain how to keep the problem from coming back. After treatment, you may need a fecal test to be sure the parasites are gone. Trying to diagnose yourself may mean you end up with the wrong treatment. It can also mean your condition gets worse instead of better. Call a healthcare professional instead. Causes Intestinal parasites are typically caused by protozoa (single-celled organisms) or helminths (worms and larvae). The most common types of protozoa in the U.S. include Giardia and Cryptosporidium. The most common helminths are pinworms, hookworms, tapeworms, and roundworms. In many cases, they are passed by contact with infected feces. This can happen if food, soil, or water are contaminated. Your risk of having a parasite is higher if you live in or visit an area where parasites are common or where human or animal waste is not treated properly. Childcare and long-term care facilities are places where there's a greater risk of parasites. The risk is also higher if you don't use proper hygiene or your immune system isn't working as well as it should. Pets are a major source of parasites. Many people don't realize they should wash their hands after touching their pets. Pets usually lick their fur to groom themselves. Many times, parasites and their eggs are on the fur. 1:41 Click Play to Learn More About Tapeworm Home Remedies This video has been medically reviewed by Casey Gallagher, MD. Natural Remedies More research needs to be done to confirm that any natural remedies can treat intestinal parasites effectively. Some studies suggest that certain herbs may have compounds that can be turned into plant-based drugs to treat parasites. There is also some evidence that a diet rich in vitamin A and the minerals selenium and zinc may improve your body's natural defense against parasite infection. And there is limited research suggesting that some herbs can help to combat parasites if you're already infected. Note that most of the studies involved animals rather than humans. Here's a look at several key findings from the research: Berberine This compound can be found in herbs such as the European barberry (Berberis vulgaris). Several studies have found that berberine can decrease parasites. In a report in the Iranian Journal of Parasitology in 2014, for example, berberine from barberry helped protect against tapeworm infection. You can also find berberine in herbs like goldenseal and coptis. Papaya Seeds In one 2015 trial, a group of school children in one county in Kenya ate porridge with ground papaya seeds in it for several months. Other groups were given porridge with an anti-parasitic medication added or plain porridge with no treatment. The group that ate papaya seed porridge had 63.9% fewer roundworm eggs in their stool after the test. The group that ate medicated porridge had 78.8% fewer eggs. The students who ate untreated porridge had higher egg counts overall. Pumpkin Seeds Pumpkin seeds are high in amino acids and fatty acids. In particular, they are rich in berberine, cucurbitine, and palmatine. All of these are amino acids known to damage certain parasites. In an animal study published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences in 2016, researchers found that pumpkin seed extracts lowered the number of eggs and adult parasites in mice. It's important to note that the parasite in the study is one that infects mice, not humans. Scientists study this parasite because it acts like parasites that can infect people. Wormwood In a study involving mice, an extract made from the sweet wormwood shrub killed, paralyzed, or damaged adult tapeworms and their eggs. The 2017 study was published in the Journal of Helminthology. Many medications are made from compounds in the sweet wormwood plant. Still, more research is needed before it's clear that the plant itself is a reliable way to treat infections. Diet Natural medicine experts say stomach acid may help to protect you from parasites in food. They recommend that you: Avoid coffee, sugar, alcohol, and refined grains. Include more garlic in your meals. Increase the amount of carrots, sweet potatoes, and squash you eat. These foods are high in beta-carotene, which turns into vitamin A in your body. Vitamin A helps your body resist helminths. Rebuild "good" bacteria in your gut with probiotic-rich foods such as yogurt. Eat foods rich in vitamin C and B vitamins. Avoid raw meat or fish. Some healthcare providers also suggest a gut cleanse or detox. This involves pairing a high-fiber diet with supplements to clear out your intestines. These supplements include psyllium, beetroot, and flaxseeds. Right now, there isn't much evidence to suggest that your diet or detoxes can prevent or treat a parasite infection. Summary Parasite infections can cause nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, and weight loss. In severe cases, they may cause illness or death. If you think you might have a parasite, seek medical help right away. If you're thinking about adding a natural remedy to your treatment plan, be aware that the research supporting their use is thin. The extracts of berberine and wormwood may be useful. Pumpkin seeds and papaya seeds have also reduced parasite numbers in humans. A healthy diet including vitamin A, selenium, zinc, and probiotics may help you build up your immune defenses. A Word From Verywell It can be tempting to try natural remedies to rid your body of parasites and speed up your recovery. Some lab and animal studies do suggest that a few remedies may help. But clinical trials (the kind of research you want to see before trying any treatment) are lacking. Also, little is known about the right dose to take or the possible side effects. If you think you have a parasite, call your healthcare provider. The right diagnosis and treatment may keep the problem from getting worse. Serious health problems can arise from parasite infection. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Gas pain? Stool issues? Sign up for the best tips to take care of your stomach. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 12 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Kiani H, Haghighi A, Rostami A, et al. Prevalence, risk factors, and symptoms associated to intestinal parasite infections among patients with gastrointestinal disorders in Nahavand, Western Iran. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo. 2016;58:42. doi:10.1590/S1678-9946201658042 Hechenbleikner EM, McQuade JA. Parasitic colitis. Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 2015;28(2):79-86. doi:10.1055/s-0035-1547335 Liu M, Panda SK, Luyten W. Plant-based natural products for the discovery and development of novel anthelmintics against nematodes. Biomolecules. 2020;10(3):426. Published 2020 Mar 9. doi:10.3390/biom10030426 Shea-Donohue T, Qin B, Smith A. Parasites, nutrition, immune responses and biology of metabolic tissues. Parasite Immunol. 2017;39(5):10.1111/pim.12422. doi:10.1111/pim.12422 Neag MA, Mocan A, Echeverría J, et al. Berberine: Botanical occurrence, traditional uses, extraction methods, and relevance in cardiovascular, metabolic, hepatic, and renal disorders. Front Pharmacol. 2018;9:557. doi:10.3389/fphar.2018.00557 Kugo M, Keter L, Maiyo A, et al. Fortification of Carica papaya fruit seeds to school meal snacks may aid Africa mass deworming programs: a preliminary survey. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2018;18(1):327. doi:10.1186/s12906-018-2379-2 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. Int J Mol Sci. 2016;17(9):1456. doi:10.3390/ijms17091456 Johnston CJ, Robertson E, Harcus Y, et al. Cultivation of Heligmosomoides polygyrus: An immunomodulatory nematode parasite and its secreted products. J Vis Exp. 2015;(98):e52412. doi:10.3791/52412 Beshay E. Therapeutic efficacy of Artemisia absinthium against Hymenolepis nana: In vitro and in vivo studies in comparison with the anthelmintic praziquantel. Journal of Helminthology, 2018;92(3), 298-308. doi:10.1017/S0022149X17000529 Loo CS, Lam NS, Yu D, Su XZ, Lu F. Artemisinin and its derivatives in treating protozoan infections beyond malaria. Pharmacol Res. 2017;117:192-217. doi:10.1016/j.phrs.2016.11.012 Lepczyńska M, Białkowska J, Dzika E, Piskorz-Ogórek K, Korycińska J. Blastocystis: how do specific diets and human gut microbiota affect its development and pathogenicity? Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2017;36(9):1531-1540. doi:10.1007/s10096-017-2965-0 Reda AA. Probiotics for the control of helminth zoonosis. J Vet Med. 2018;2018:4178986. doi:10.1155/2018/4178986 Additional Reading Mahmoudvand H, Saedi Dezaki E, Sharififar F, Ezatpour B, Jahanbakhsh S, Fasihi Harandi M. Protoscolecidal effect of Berberis vulgaris root extract and its main compound, berberine in cystic echinococcosis. Iran J Parasitol. 2014;9(4):503-10. Rouhani S, Salehi N, Kamalinejad M, Zayeri F. Efficacy of Berberis vulgaris aqueous extract on viability of echinococcus granulosus protoscolices. J Invest Surg. 2013;26(6):347-51. doi.org/10.3109/08941939.2013.818746