Deworming — The natural route!
- Ally and Gabriel Mitoc
- May 13, 2023
- 7 min read
Firstly, I have written point blank what we tried and what worked. I understand someone reading this may be after a solution immediately and wants to avoid sifting through an entire blog hearing me yap on. But, for those that have a moment, you may continue reading where I share a more in-depth personal account of how we cleared our son of worms. Alternatively, watch my youtube video here. (I'll upload the link this week once I've finished it.)
Medical Disclaimer: Please consult your doctor or natural health practitioner, as I have no idea your child's severity or symptoms. This blog is a purely personal experience, all learned from reading natural health practitioner and Mumsy blogs, parents who tried and succeeded like me. Nevertheless, my personal experience can be of use/inspiration.
The reality: Sol had worms on and off for a few months. Yes, a few months! They were gone... and then they came back, meaning I hadn't mopped the floors thoroughly enough! I struggled with doubt and uncertainty, but ultimately, our efforts prevailed. Also to note, our son wasn't particularly bothered asides from occasional itching and on/off appetite. Appetite can be affected, which was my primary concern for his growing body. Still, our relaxed pediatrician had no issues with us trying the natural route, which fostered confidence in myself and Gabriel.
We tried two natural medicine brands, but we are still determining if it was the medicine or an ongoing focus on a whole foods diet with plenty of herbal teas and other measures that did the trick. Read below for the point-blank protocol.
DEWORMING PROTOCOLS
Apply raw garlic bum paste every evening to the anus and the surrounding area: olive oil, coconut oil, and raw garlic blitzed into a topical salve.
Clean bed sheets every few days (3-4)
Clean the entire bedroom, living areas, and all toys with HOT water and suds.
Mop floors regularly especially post bedsheet change.
Do not shake bedsheets or pillows where you have been, as worm eggs will fly everywhere (even though you can't see them!) Remove the covers, transfer them to the washing machine, and then proceed to clean floors and surfaces with hot water.
If a child's bottom is itchy, ensure they don't touch their fingers to the bottom, as eggs can transfer under nails, so when the child is eating, they will ingest the eggs, and the cycle of hatching in the intestines begins again.
Wipe the anus and bottom with warm water every morning (to clean any eggs that may have been placed there overnight.)
Keep nails short and a nail brush handy to wash hands and nails properly.
Keep the child in knickers or nappies as much as possible during this period to avoid eggs spreading or finger-to-skin touching.
DEWORMING ANTIPARASITIC DIET
What medicinal herbs and foods to include:
Tea blends/herbs:
Cloves
Black walnut leaf (although we only had access to green!)
Wormwood (caution for children)
Licorice
Aniseed
Food:
Coconut oil
Papaya seeds
Pumpkin seeds
Raw carrots
Raw beetroot
DIET RECOMMENDATIONS
No added sugar and minimal natural sugars (like fruit and dairy. You can try coconut yogurt instead.)
Lots of fiber: vegetables and whole grains. Avoid refined grains 100%! (For example, no white bread, white pasta. Opt for sourdough rye bread or chickpea pasta.)
Lots of water to complement the fiber as you need water to flush the fiber through your bowels. The fiber collects (worms) and unnecessary debris along the way.
Natural food supplements and probiotics we used:
Australian brand: Foraged For You (real foods supplement, not synthetic). This blend supported Sol's gut health. See link:
The European brand is a probiotic from Biogena, my favorite supplement company, linked below. Junior Omni Lactis 6. We added it to yogurt or smoothies daily. See link:
NATURAL MEDICINES WE TRIED.
For Ally and Gabriel (adults), Plant Extrakt / natural sanatoria tale / Giardinophyt. Ingredients: extract de propolis, extracted vegetable de thymus vulgaris (Zimbra), semințe de Anethum graveolens (marar), chrysanthemum vulgare (vertice), eugenia cariophyllata (cursor), continue glycerine. contine alcool etilic de cereale. În English: thyme, dill, cloves, chrysanthemum flower, hearth, glycerin, grain ethyl alcohol. https://www.plantextrakt.ro/
First for Sol, we tried - Brand = Fares 1929. Name of the medicine = Sirop Vermicen with honey and propolis. Ingredients = - Honey - min. 63%, Aqueous extracts of boldo leaves (Boldo folium), walnut leaves (Juglandis folium), large grass root (Inulae radix), coriander fruit (Coriander fructus), anise fruit (Anisi fructus) - min. 35%, in variable proportion, Antioxidant: vitamin C 1%, Hydroglyceric extract of propolis 0.45%, Preservative: potassium sorbate https://fares.ro/produs/vermicin-antiparazitar-d73/
Next, we tried: Brand = Bio Vitality Name of medicine = Nikvorm syrup "anti-parasite" — Ingredients: cherbula terminal, butea monosperma, Emelia tribes, Mallotus Philippines. These are all species of plant that you can google. It also contains purified water and caramelized sugar syrup, which is why we didn't choose it as our first option. https://biovitality.ro/produs/nikvorm/
Now we don't know if it was the combination of both medicines over time that helped, or whether the second medicine did, or as we said, the other additional things we did, too. I like the idea of everything complimenting each other and no "magic" trick — so let's say it all helped.
Now for my extended personal experience:
We almost caved three times and gave Sol the "quick fix" solution. We weren't sure if we were putting him in unnecessary discomfort. Still, we always recalibrated to the fact that if we can support his immune system naturally to combat/expel infections and parasites naturally, then surely, that's better for him. That said, Sol didn't seem to be in significant discomfort, itching, but not excessively. We helped him during these moments.
Our whole family took an allopathic (western) deworming treatment, but we kept Sol natural. Initially, we tried the natural route (medicine listed above), but when Sol's symptoms continued, I had moments of unsureness, and we even ended up at the chemist twice to buy Sol the Western medicine, but when Gabriel asked for the side effects, we bailed and stayed natural. However, we bought a round of allopathic (western) medicine for Gabriel, Marcela, and me. We thought that this would essentially help Sol; the quicker we could be clear of possible worms too. They recommend that everyone in the immediate family unit undergo treatment, as it's likely that one or some of you have contracted a parasite too. It may have been okay if we had all stayed natural, but making sure Sol was healthy outweighed my internal desire to remain as free of synthetic medicines as possible.
I'll also mention that although keeping the child’s “parts” covered up with knickers or nappies helps from the spreading of the parasite, we still gave our boy lots of nappy-free time, as we know it's important for children to have aerated regions and especially good for boys to fiddle and stretch their bits (ha) ~ however if I removed his nappy, I would wash his anus and bottom with warm soapy water before letting him "free."
Are you wondering where parasites come from?
Most parasites come from consuming water or food that has been contaminated. We live on muddy land, with lots of water pots lying around for animals, so it's very likely that's how our boy got worms.
"For food and survival, worms reside in the human intestine, producing thousands of eggs daily. Consumption of vegetables grown in contaminated soil and drinking or washing hands with polluted water or playing in the ground where soil carries these worms and pets with infections are some potential sources for your child to get these worms."
While following a parasite cleanse, it's important to follow a balanced diet high in nutrients and low in refined sugars and processed foods. As mentioned above, fiber is essential, keeping your bowel movements regular while you cleanse. Pooing is your body's natural way of detoxing! So, yes, your bowel movements must be regular.
Intestinal worms can severely affect children’s nutrition and growth, which stressed me out a little, but not as much as the side effects of allopathic medicine! A nutrient-rich diet is also important for strengthening everyone’s immune systems as the parasites are flushed out of the body. Natural practitioners claim that this, combined with a healthy dose of probiotics, will help protect your body against another infestation.
Examples of whole food probiotics are fermented foods such as sauerkraut, miso, kombucha, coconut kefir, tempeh, pickles, sourdough bread, garlic, Jerusalem artichokes, edible seaweed, and olives.
Some natural practitioners go a step further and recommend a grain-free, sugar-free diet. Others recommend limiting fruit intake to reduce dietary sugars further.
Garlic, honey, pumpkin seeds, and papaya seeds are all touted as antiparasitic foods to include in your diet. Amongst all of the ‘recommendations’, you’ve got to be realistic, though. For example, I gave Sol honey and date paste to encourage him to eat my pumpkin seed energy balls. He also ate dairy yogurt, not coconut.
The recommended foods are pretty random to the general public, so I have included recipe ideas below of how to incorporate them, as I did because a toddler or child isn't going to want to munch on raw garlic!
RECIPE IDEAS
Raw apple, beetroot, and carrot salad (grated!)
Bliss balls (runny tahini or almond butter, ground pumpkin seeds, cacao, honey, and a dose of Foraged For You)
Turkey mince stew with papaya seeds (Sautéed garlic, onions, carrots, celery, ground turmeric, tomato paste, and turkey mince. Add 1/4 cup of papaya seeds at the end!)
We fed Sol a tablespoon of coconut oil daily, and he licked it off. You can also add some melted coconut oil to the bliss balls.
You can make carrot and beetroot fritters; although not raw, it'll still help to some degree.
Sol never had raw garlic, but I added it to all main meals.
I couldn't access the other whole food probiotic ingredients listed above but have fun with them! Sol snacked on yogurt with added probiotic powder, as well as he enjoyed plain sauerkraut and pickles. He snacked on de-pipped olives too. Tempeh (fermented soybeans) is also deliciously pan-fried as a snack.
Lastly, I will reference an accredited holistic nutritionist named Sheridan Joy Austin, who created the blend I use, Foraged For You.
Sheridan recommends a few other herbs, which you can find spoken about on her Instagram. She also recommends parasitic treatment over the full moon as this is when they're most active, although we found the opposite true (itching on the new moon.)
https://www.sheridanjoy.com/
Sheridan's natural deworming tips as per Instagram:
Herbs: there are many combinations and doses, black walnut, clove, and wormwood (brand PPC herbs) among licorice and aniseed provided 2-3x daily in
Coconut water.
Food: a beautiful, real food diet with a little less sugar, including natural sugars.
Probiotics: brewed coconut water kefir and saccharomyces boulardii
Diatomaceous earth: mixed in water, preferably 1-2 hours away from food.
That's all from me, guys. I hope my boy doesn't mind a public blog post about this, but, to make ya feel better, Sol, your mum had them when she was a kid too! It's totally normal, common, and treatable.
This journey felt long, but I am glad we battled through and trusted in nature a little more… it’s choices like these that help regain our trust and deepen our (lost) connection to the natural world.
See below for extra resources and an interesting article about why worms may not be as bad as we think!
Please leave comments, tips, tricks, or questions, below! I'd love to hear about your experiences.
Ally
Resources
10 Effective Home Remedies For Worm Infections In Toddlers
Deworming from an Ayurvedic perspective.
https://blog.iyurved.com/why-deworming-is-necessary-for-your-child/#:~:text=Garlic%3A%20Garlic%20has%20some%20very%20effective%20antiseptic%20and,help%20to%20prevent%20oxidation%20caused%20by%20parasite%20toxins.
An alternative article about why worms may not be as bad as we think.
Alternative and Natural Medicine Hospital
https://www.stlukes-stl.com/health-content/medicine/33/000097.htm#:~:text=Eat%20more%20raw%20garlic%2C%20pumpkin,help%20flush%20out%20your%20system.
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