Top 16 Effective and Fast Acting Home Remedies for Pinworms

3. Grapefruit Seed Extract

Grapefruit Seed extract can be found in either pill or liquid form in a variety of health food shops worldwide. If you decide to take the grapefruit seed extract pills, you will need to take one pill, three times per day for the course of one week. Alternatively, if you have the liquid form of grapefruit seed extract you will need to place 10 drops into a glass of eight ounces of water. This will also need to be done three times each day for the course of one week. You should see improvement in the condition within the week.

4. Wormwood

Wormwood naturally contains Santonin, isothujone and thujone as its active ingredients. The benefit to containing these three potent ingredients is the antiseptic properties will kill any worms present within the intestinal tract. Wormwood works by damaging the parasites membranes, therefore killing them.

Simply add a few drops to a cup of hot water and drink. It is best consumed on an empty stomach. This remedy is recommended for children who are infected with pinworms as it is quite effective in stopping them altogether. You can give this drink to the infected individual once every two hours for at least five days in order to see fast results.

Wormwood is effective in killing adult pinworms, larvae, and pinworm eggs making this a popular home remedy.

5. Coconut

Fresh coconut is often used in India and Southeast Asia to stop pinworm infections. At breakfast, take one tablespoon of fresh coconut flesh followed by a teaspoon full of castor oil two to three hours later. Follow this regime daily until the pinworms are no longer in the system. Using the combination of the two ingredients will flush the pinworms from the body within one week, depending on the severity of the pinworm infection.

6. Carrots or Cabbages

Carrots and cabbages both contain natural sulfur compounds which help to completely remove pinworms from the body. Grate a medium sized fresh carrot to consume before and after sleep for two to three days. If you find that your child is a picky eater, try mixing the carrots with honey for a better taste. Similarly you can grate half a cup of fresh cabbage and follow the same treatment regime. The raw carrot or cabbage will also aid to push the pinworms from the intestines.

For best results, use organic carrots or cabbages.

7. White Willow Bark

Although white willow bark can be difficult to find in some areas, if you manage to get your hands on some, it is a highly recommended home remedy for pinworms. This natural remedy is full of salicylic acid, the same ingredient found in aspirins, and is a potent agent for fighting off pinworms. To use this treatment add a teaspoon of white willow bark to tea or warm water and drink twice per day throughout the infestation.

8. Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin seeds are widely used for treating pinworms due to the ease, availability, and strength in fighting pinworms. Gather raw pumpkin seeds and combine with two cups of water in a pot. Heat this mixture on the stove with low heat for two hours. You can simmer slightly, but do not allow the seeds to boil. After the two hours, remove the pumpkin seeds from the heat for cooling.

Once the seeds and water have cooled, filter the mix and remove any layers of oil. For one hour, take one tablespoonful of the filtered water, every 15 minutes. Wait for two hours and take a laxative. Wait for two more hours and eat a bowl of warm oatmeal. The amount of pumpkin seeds to heat depends on weight. Children between 2 to 3 years old should use about 45 grams of pumpkin seeds, while adults may take up to 300 grams of pumpkin seeds. It is ideal to continue this treatment for three to five days.

9. Dietary Changes

This is one of the simplest ways to help remove pinworms from the body. Taking away foods that pinworms feed off of will ensure that your intestines are not a friendly place for them to live. You should see to adjust your diet by adding more fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as high fiber foods such as bran, whole wheat, or raisins. Consuming more high fiber foods will help to add bulk to the stool and flush the pinworms out from your system. You should also ensure to eat plenty of probiotics such as yogurt or curd as they will help to build the growth of good bacteria in the intestines. The growth and strong presence of the good bacteria will allow the intestines to become a hostile environment for the pinworms and this will help to get rid of them.

It is also important to lower the ph levels in the body, as this will help to kill the pinworms as well. Drinking at least on eight ounce glass of lemon water daily will to help lower the body’s ph levels.

Parasites, especially pinworms, feed off of sugars. It is best to remove the following food items from your diet until the pinworms are gone, especially in cases of children.

• Carbohydrates

• Refined Sugars

• Sodas

• Candy

10. Clove and Flaxseeds

Combining clove with flaxseeds is an easy, yet wonderful home remedy for pinworms. The natural properties found in clove and flaxseeds work together to combat pinworms. You will be able to find whole cloves and flaxseeds in supermarkets or health food stores. To prepare this treatment method take one clove and crush together with flaxseeds. The ratio should be one whole clove to ten flaxseeds. Once combined, add to food for consumption. It can be well mixed into savory foods or even smoothies. If you need to use this home remedy for a child, try to use honey or add into a fruit smoothie to help improve the taste. You should do this once per day, for three days on, followed by three days off. Continue this treatment schedule until you have relief from the pinworm infestation. Most people who use this remedy find that they will have to do at least two rounds of the treatment schedule to fully see results. Once again, this varies on the severity of the pinworm infestation.

11. Yellow Squash Seeds

Yellow squash seeds have many of the same properties as pumpkin seeds, such as the fact that they contain sulfur, making them another popular and easy choice in fighting off pinworms. The preparation is quite similar, however with the yellow squash seeds you will actually need to boil the water. Combine 50 grams of crushed and smashed yellow squash seeds with two cups of water and boil for 15 minutes. You will then filter the water after it cools to remove the seeds and any debris. You should drink a small glass of the filtered liquid (no more than eight ounces) between meals throughout or at least three times throughout the day for best results. It is ideal to continue drinking this mixture until the pinworms are no longer in your system.

12. Onions

Onions are a powerful agent in treating pinworms naturally. Onions contain sulfur naturally and this active ingredient is useful for fighting the pinworm infestation. In order to make this treatment simply take one to two medium sized onions, (white, brown, or red onion varieties work best), and peel, then slice. Take the slices of onion and add to a pitcher of warm water. Let this pitcher soak covered overnight or for at least twelve hours. After the soak, you will need to strain the liquid with cheesecloth or strainer. To use this treatment, drink a small glass (about eight ounces) of the liquid three times a day for at least two days. This is not the best tasting home remedy however it is highly effective in eliminating pinworms of all life stages and does so within two to four days depending on the severity of the infestation.

13. Bitter Gourd

Bitter gourd can be found in several supermarkets and is known for its treatment in diabetes as well as pinworms. Take two bitter gourds and extract the juice from both of them. Drink small amounts of the bitter gourd extract three to four times per day for at least one week. At the end of the week you will begin to notice relief from symptoms and signs of the pinworms will start to disappear. You may repeat this treatment for another week, depending on how serious the pinworm infestation is.

Bitter gourd is quite bitter and if you are not a fan of the strong taste or you are using this remedy for a child, it will be best to combine with another liquid such as juice or add honey to the extract to combat the bitter flavor.

14. Apple Cider Vinegar

Consuming apple cider vinegar is a helpful and safe method for eliminating pinworms over time. Apple Cider vinegar will not kill the worms in your intestine right away, yet with continued regular use you will soon be able to flush the pinworms from your system entirely. Take an eight ounce glass of water and add two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar into it. Drink this mixture twice every day to lower the ph level in your intestine. This will make it difficult for the worms to thrive and force them to die a natural death. If you do not like the taste, combine with honey or add to a juice to disguise the taste. This is an ideal solution if you have children.

Apple cider vinegar can be combined with a number of other home remedy treatments to allow for a faster recovery time.

15. Food-grade Diatomaceous Earth

Food-grade Diatomaceous Earth is a great way to treat pinworms naturally, just be sure to purchase food grade diatomaceous Earth when you are out shopping for it as there are varieties of diatomaceous Earth that are used in aquariums and can be toxic to humans if consumed. The food-grade diatomaceous Earth is a sedimentary, chalky rock that is made from fossilized small algae, called diatoms. Consumption of food-grade diatomaceous Earth can dehydrate pinworms and kill them slowly. Food-grade diatomaceous Earth is ideal for killing pinworm larvae and as well as adult pinworms.

The dosage of food-grade diatomaceous Earth that should be used is 1 tablespoon daily for adults and 1 teaspoon daily for the children. The food-grade diatomaceous Earth can be added to smoothies, applesauce, and even water. It does not dissolve so make sure you stir it up very well. It is also important to try not to inhale the food-grade Diatomaceous Earth, as it can damage your lungs in large quantities. If you are using this home remedy to treat children, it is best to combine the food-grade diatomaceous Earth with soft foods such as applesauce as previously mentioned. Stir thoroughly to disguise the taste as well as prevent the chance that your child could inhale the food-grade diatomaceous Earth.

You should continue taking the appropriate dose of food-grade Diatomaceous Earth until there is no longer any sign of pinworms. You can add it to your daily diet even after you are no longer suffering from pinworms as it offers a wide variety of health benefits and preventative methods for a wide range of illnesses, including pinworms.

16. Prevention

Once you have been diagnosed and throughout the infection, you will need to prevent further infestation and the spread of pinworms. There are several ideal methods to follow for preventing pinworms from coming back or getting them altogether. It is especially important to follow prevention methods if you have children and to be diligent about doing these methods.

Prevention methods for pinworms include:

• Washing your hands and nail beds thoroughly after using the toilet and after touching the genital region.

• Cleanse the anal region with mild, antiseptic soap and warm water. Make sure to rinse thoroughly.

• Avoid scratching throughout the infection.

• Avoid biting your fingernails.

• Keep your fingernails trimmed short and clean

• Wash all bedding, pajamas, and underwear in hot water and dry in the dryer on the hottest setting.

• Change your bed linens often

• Be sure your child wears clean underwear daily

• Do not share towels with anyone else and use a fresh towel daily

• Vacuum play areas and frequented carpeted areas often

• Do not allow other children or family members into the bedroom of the infected individual until the pinworms are completely gone.

• Do not sleep on contaminated linens

• Wear close fitting, clean underwear

• Avoid touching your face

• Clean the toilet after each time your child uses it

• Inform any daycares, teachers, or playgroups that your child has contracted pinworms. They may or may not have contracted them from these environments but it is socially responsible to inform these places of your child’s condition to prevent other children from possibly catching pinworms. Pinworms are more common than head lice and the stigma attached to having pinworms does not mean you are dirty or unclean as anyone of any age can catch pinworms.

Despite using these methods, it is still possible for pinworms to spread as they are very contagious and easily spread to a wide variety of surfaces. It is not uncommon for pinworms to reoccur after the initial infection as they are highly contagious and can live on a variety of surfaces for several weeks.

Contracting pinworms is not as uncommon as you would think and with the assistance of using home remedies for pinworms you will be cured of these parasites in no time. Make sure you follow through with a variety of treatment methods and find the ones that work best for you or for your child. It is important to not miss any dosages as this can allow the pinworms to come back or not be fully affected by the home remedy treatments.

Take extra care to inform other family members or individuals who interact with your child on a regular basis. Informing these people can help to prevent them from catching pinworms and will also help to ensure your child’s condition is contained.

Remember to be diligent in cleaning routines. This is one of the most important steps in killing eggs and stopping the further spread of pinworms. In addition to following strict cleaning routines throughout the infection, it is ideal to follow a more healthy diet. If your child is the one who has contracted pinworms, you will need to monitor their diet closely to ensure they are not sneaking high sugar foods or carbohydrates or are being given these foods from individuals unaware of the change in diet. 

Overall pinworms are something that several families and individuals go through. Do not feel ashamed of this condition and seek to get yourself or your child back to normal as soon as possible. As long as you follow strict cleaning routines and prevention methods, you will narrow your chances of pinworms spreading or reoccurring. It is recommended to combine a few of the home remedies for fast and effective results.