How can someone get rid of pinworms if they can’t go to the doctor? There are several home treatments, but there isn’t much scientific evidence around it.
Garlic is a tried-and-true cure for pinworms. We know it kills worms and eggs when they come into contact with it directly in a lab, but that’s not the same as ingesting it, as traveling through the digestive system is a very different environment than in a lab.
Before getting into some methods to get rid of pinworms, lets find out what pinworms are all about.
Pinworm life cycle
The typical life cycle of a pinworm is:
- You ingest the eggs that have come from another person.
- After a couple of weeks, the eggs hatch in your intestine.
- After another month or two they become adults and mate.
- In a few more weeks, the males die and the females crawl out your anus, usually at night, and lay thousands and thousands of microscopic eggs.
- After the worms lay their eggs, most shrivel up and die. Some travel back into the intestine.
- The wiggly worms bother you; you inadvertently scratch yourself while asleep. They’re now under your fingernails.
- The eggs are very tiny, but they are sticky so they get attached to anything they touch, underwear, your sheets. They can even float in the air, and breathe them in, luckily they don’t affect your lungs.
- The worms have to get into the intestine to hatch and grow into adults and start the cycle all over again.
Why Can’t Get I Get Rid of Them?
- There is a lag of a month or two between the time you ingest the eggs and when you start having symptoms (and become contagious).
- The eggs are microscopic, light, and sticky, and can end up just about anywhere.
- The eggs can last outside your body for up to three weeks.
- One dose of the over-the-counter or prescription treatment (mentioned in my other post) kills the adults but not the eggs. You repeat the dose two weeks after the first to kill any worms that have hatched. Usually, that and cleaning is enough.
Pinworm Symptoms
There are a wide number of symptoms that people can feel. An itching anus at night is the most common symptom of pinworms, but also can be:
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Stomach discomfort
- Exhaustion
- Sleepiness
- Sugar Cravings
- Weight loss
After taking any medication, many of these symptoms will be exacerbated due to the “die-off” that comes when the worms start dying.
How to Get Rid of Pinworms in Your House?
Medication
Mebendazole is effective in treating pinworm infections and is usually the first thing that you will be told if you go to a doctor.
Albendazole is another treatment that is commonly perscribed by your doctor. Dosage is often said to just be one dose. While others claim to take such medications after a week to get the eggs.
But if you are at home, or do not have access to a doctor, then you can consider some of the alternative solutions.
Natural Home Remedies to Get Rid of Pinworms
1. Garlic
Garlic can be ingested by itself or added to meals. Consume 3-4 large cloves, first by chopping them up as that releases an enzyme, alliinase, that makes it more potent.
Take one glass four times each day. Everyone in the household should be treated in the same way.
Garlic has antibiotic and antifungal properties used for centuries to treat pinworm infestations.
There are also a wide range of alternative therapies that you can look into to help you rid yourself of your pinworms.
2. Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth
Food Grade Diatomaceous earth is a type of powder that consists of fossilized algae and is mostly made of silica. It is a natural insecticide used against all sorts of pests.
The molecules of the algae are very small making it only harmful to small organisms and are safe to use for humans and animals. The fossilized algae are razor-sharp and when the insects consume the D.E., it shreds up their insides.
3. Black Walnut & Wormwood Complex
Black Walnut & Wormwood Complex is a powerful combination that has been touted as being an anti-parasitic alternative.
There are some new studies that do suggest that Wormwood may be effective for some parasitic infections, but more studies neet to be done to prove its effectiveness.
4. Other Solutions
Other solutions for pinworms include:
- Apple cider vinegar
- pumpkin seeds
- coconut oils
These all have been suggested as being helpful in getting rid of pinworms, but again there is a lack of scientific evidence to support use.
Keeping Clean
You’ll have a far better chance of avoiding reinfection if you keep yourself and your surroundings clean, as well as changing your underwear and sheets regularly.
Remember the life cycle: eggs are caught in the butt and subsequently returned to the mouth. It’s a lot easier than you’d think. If you don’t take any measures, it’s pretty much certain to happen. An egg might take three months to hatch after being eaten.
How to Avoid Getting Pinworms in the First Place?
Avoid close contact with anyone who has pinworms. As they spread easily, it is very likely that if one person in your home has them, everyone will contract them.
- It is not recommended to sleep in the same bed with someone who has pinworms.
- Frequently wash your hands and under your nails with soap and water
- Avoid touching your face
- Make sure everyone that has been in contact with someone infected takes medicine to eliminate them
Pinworm Prevention Tips
- Clip your fingernails short. Clipping can prevent tiny eggs from entering your nails while you sleep.
- To prevent worms from crawling on bedsheets, wear tight-fitting underwear.
- Wash your anus area with soap and water first thing every morning.
- At night, apply petroleum jelly around the anus.
- Open the curtains. The eggs don’t do as well in sunlight.
- Keep your fingers out of your mouth as much as possible.
- Treat everyone in the family at the same time
- Clean your house toys, change the kitty litter, wash the toilet all at the same time
For more DIY
Takeaway
Pinworms can be a very annoying and irritating problem to have. They easily spread and can be hard to get rid of. The good news is that there are many different ways to treat them, both with medication and natural therapies. Prevention is key, so following the tips listed above should help you avoid getting them in the first place.
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References
[1] The treatment of pinworm infection (Enterobiasis): A comparative study of three oxyuricides https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022347654802113
[2] Antimicrobial properties of allicin from garlic. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10594976/
[3] Recipe For Healthy Garlic: Crush Before Cooking. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/02/070220034516.htm
[4] Potential Antifungal Activity of Fresh Garlic Cloves. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/321289060_Potential_Antifungal_Activity_of_Fresh_Garlic_Cloves_Allium_sativum_L_from_Sudan
[5] Diatomaceous Earth – Uses, Side Effects, and More. https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-1531/diatomaceous-earth