How to Remove Internal Parasites

Parasites often spread through contaminated water or food.

Weight loss, fatigue and gastrointestinal discomforts are a few of the common symptoms of a parasitic infection. Humans are vulnerable to many types of internal parasites, including pinworms, roundworms and giardia. Your doctor will run diagnostic tests to figure out exactly which type of parasite has made itself at home in your body, so that he can prescribe the correct medication. The drug dosages and length of your treatment will vary, depending on the medication and infection. Follow all of your doctor's instructions. Consider using home remedies in addition to medications to help expel the parasites.

Things You'll Need

• Mebendazole
• Albendazole
• Pyrantel pamoate
• Tinidazole
• Metronidazole
• Nitazoxanide
• Paromomycin
• Ivermectin
• Pain reliever
• Corticosteroid
• Fiber supplement
• Papaya seeds
• Pumpkin seeds
• Carrots
• Garlic
• Papain supplement

Instructions

Medications

1. Take a dose of mebendazole, albendazole and pyrantel pamoate at the same time to treat a pinworm infection. Repeat the dose two weeks later to prevent a reinfection. If others in your household suffer from the same infection, everyone should take the doses at the same time.

2. Take a medication such as tinidazole or metronidazole to treat a giardia infection. If you take tinidazole, you will only require one dose. Infected children may take nitazoxanide more readily, because it is available as a liquid instead of a pill. Women who are pregnant are more likely to take paromomycin to lower the risk of birth defects.

3. Treat a roundworm infection with mebendazole, ivermectin, albdendazole or pyrantel. There are several different types of roundworm infections, such as trichinosis, hookworm, whipworm and loiasis. The exact medicine you should take depends on your specific diagnosis. Doctors commonly prescribe albdenazole for trichinosis and mebendazole for hookworm or whipworm infections.

4. Take a secondary medication, in addition to the drug that treats the infection, if your doctor recommends it. Some patients with trichinosis experience muscle pain or allergic reactions as the larvae enter the muscles and release chemicals. Pain relievers treat muscle pain, while corticosteroids alleviate allergic reactions.

Home Remedies

1. Modify your diet to encourage the internal parasites to leave your body. Avoid consuming sugars, with the exception of honey. Cut out simple carbohydrates from your diet, such as refined flour products, fruits and dairy products. This creates an environment in your body that is less hospitable to parasites.

2. Boost the fiber content of your meals to help expel parasites or take a fiber supplement.

3. Eat foods that may help clear up the parasitic infection, such as papaya seeds, pumpkin seeds, carrots and raw garlic.

4. Take a papain supplement, which is a digestive enzyme. It may help remove parasites from your digestive tract. Take the supplement once daily 30 minutes after or prior to eating a meal.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are on a special diet for medical reasons, such as diabetes talk to your doctor before changing your diet.

• Dietary changes and supplements should never take the place of medications to treat a parasitic infection.

References

• The University of Maryland Medical Center; Intestinal Parasites; Steven D. Ehrlich, NMD; March 2010
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Parasites - Enterobiasis (Also Known as Pinworm Infection)
• Mayo Clinic: Giardia Infection (Giardiasis) - Treatment and Drugs
• The University of Maryland Medical Center; Roundworms; Steven D. Ehrlich; Sept. 2010
• Mayo Clinic: Trichinosis - Treatments and Drugs

Resources

• Des Moines Area Community College; Human Parasites; Barbara Krumhardt, Ph.D.