8 Home Remedies To Treat Tapeworms

Many people think tapeworms only affect animals, specifically pigs and cows. Whilst the infection is most common in these animals it can also affect human. Although, it’s estimated that there are fewer than 1,00 tapeworm cases in humans each year. While rare, tapeworms do happen but home remedies for tapeworms can help.

Tapeworms are flat, parasitic worms that can live and grow in your gut. You can get a tapeworm infection from eating undercooked or raw meat from an animal which had the condition.

The infection can also affect cats and dogs, although they rarely pass on the infection to humans. Your cat or dog is most likely to pick up the infection by eating a contaminated flea.

# Papaya Seeds

Papaya seeds can be used to infuse tea and can then be drunk to improve digestion and so help fight a tapeworm infection. Drinking a cup of papaya tea each day for two weeks should help to clear up the infection.

# Pumpkin

Pumpkin is one of the most common home remedies for tapeworms as it can be used in a variety of ways. Their seeds make a tasty snack and work as an anthelmintic, meaning they help to expel the parasite from your gut. It’s also thought that eating more pumpkin could also help flush the parasite out as well as removing any eggs or larvae to prevent more worms from developing.

# Pineapple

Pineapple is a tropical fruit which is often considered to have benefits as a home remedy for tapeworms. This is because pineapple can be used as a diuretic and contains enzymes which can break down and destroy tapeworms. Eating a portion of raw pineapple each day for three days should help to expel the tapeworm from your gut.

# Butternut

Butternut sometimes referred to as white walnut, has often been used in traditional home remedies for tapeworm. The nut produces an oil which kills tapeworms, while the bark of the butternut tree is also beneficial. This is because it contains antiparasitic compounds and has laxative properties, helping your body to kill and flush out the tapeworm.

# Garlic

Raw garlic and the oils it produces contain allicin which has antiseptic properties. This makes garlic a great home remedy for tapeworms. Try simply chewing on three cloves of garlic each morning. Remember to brush your teeth thoroughly afterward or gargle with mouthwash to remove the smell!

Alternatively, you could also boil some crushed garlic in a saucepan of milk, allow it to cool and drink it. Continue with either of these methods for up to a week and your tapeworms should pass.

# Cloves

Studies have shown that cloves have anthelmintic properties which makes them highly effective at combating tapeworms. In fact, some studies suggest that they may be even more potent against the infection than garlic.

To use cloves in a home remedy for tapeworm, crush a few cloves to create a powder and add a heaped teaspoon of that powder to some hot water. Let it brew for about ten minutes before allowing it to cool so that you can drink it. This will help kill any tapeworms or eggs currently in your gut.

# Buy Good Quality Meat

Well-established brands and meat suppliers are more likely to have a robust quality check in place. These checks will usually incorporate best practices designed to minimize the risk of contamination by tapeworm or their larvae.

# Cook Meat Thoroughly

Beef, pork, and fish are the most common sources of tapeworm infection in humans, but any meat could carry a potential infection so it’s important to cook all meat well. Make sure you always cook meat at the recommended temperature for the advised time.

Fish should become opaque in color while meat should be cooked until the juices run clear. Ideally, it should no longer be pink either if it’s cooked all the way through. You can use a thermometer to check that the meat is fully cooked at its thickest point.

You should also take care to prevent cross-contamination when handling food by keeping cooked, ready-to-eat meat separate from the raw meat. Make sure the two are not mixed at any time.