Parasites - Supplements

Food and water: sources of life—but also possible sources of parasites. Rid yourself of these intestinal pests and the infections they cause. According to research or other evidence, the following self-care steps may be helpful.

Stay hydrated
When diarrhea strikes, replace lost fluids and replenish electrolytes by drinking sports drinks or other rehydration solutions
Make prevention a priority
When traveling to areas where parasitic infections are common, don’t drink the tap water and avoid uncooked foods, foods prepared by street vendors, ice, and fruits that cannot be peeled
Try a natural treatment
Talk to a professional about treating parasitic infections with natural antimicrobials, such as propolis, and berberine-containing herbs, including barberry, Oregon grape, goldenseal, and goldthread (Coptis chinensis)

Also indexed as:

parasitic illnesses

About this treatment

What Are "Star" Ratings?

a7_3star Reliable and relatively consistent scientific data showing a substantial health benefit.

a7_2star Contradictory, insufficient, or preliminary studies suggesting a health benefit or minimal health benefit.

a7_1star For an herb, supported by traditional use but minimal or no scientific evidence. For a supplement, little scientific support.

Our proprietary “Star-Rating” system was developed to help you easily understand the amount of scientific support behind each supplement in relation to a specific health condition. While there is no way to predict whether a vitamin, mineral, or herb will successfully treat or prevent associated health conditions, our unique ratings tell you how well these supplements are understood by the medical community, and whether studies have found them to be effective for other people.

For over a decade, our team has combed through thousands of research articles published in reputable journals. To help you make educated decisions, and to better understand controversial or confusing supplements, our medical experts have digested the science into these three easy-to-follow ratings. We hope this provides you with a helpful resource to make informed decisions towards your health and well-being.

Supplement	Amount	Why
Berberine	Consult a qualified healthcare practitioner	Berberine is derived from several plants, including barberry, Oregon grape, goldenseal, and goldthread. Studies have shown that berberine kills amoebae and can be used successfully to treat giardia infections.
Berberine Consult a qualified healthcare practitioner Berberine is derived from several plants, including barberry, Oregon grape, goldenseal, and goldthread (Coptis chinensis). Preliminary trials have shown that berberine can be used successfully to treat giardia infections.¹ ^{, 2} In addition, test tube studies show that berberine kills amoebae, although it is not known whether this effect occurs in humans.³ The amount required is approximately 200 mg three times per day for an adult—a level high enough to potentially cause side effects. Therefore, berberine should not be used without consulting a healthcare provider.

Supplement	Amount	Why
Ipecac	Consult a qualified healthcare practitioner	Emetine and other alkaloids in ipecac kill several types of parasites, including amoeba, pinworms, and tapeworms.
Ipecac Consult a qualified healthcare practitioner Emetine and other alkaloids in ipecac kill several types of parasites, including amoeba, pinworms, and tapeworms.⁴ ^{, 5} Generally the amounts of ipecac needed to produce these effects in people are high and can lead to severe side effects. Emetine or its somewhat safer form, dihydroemetine, are reserved for rare cases of people infected with amoebae who are not cured by using anti-amoeba drugs.⁶ Because of the danger involved, ipecac and emetine should never be used without first consulting a physician. What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

Supplement	Amount	Why
Papaya Seed	Single administration of 4 grams	Seeds of the papaya fruit have been used in folk medicine to treat intestinal parasites. In one trial, supplementation eradicated intestinal parasites in 71 to 100% of children.
Papaya Seed Single administration of 4 grams Seeds of the papaya fruit (Carica papaya) have been used in folk medicine to treat intestinal parasites. In a preliminary trial conducted in Nigeria, treatment with papaya seeds eradicated intestinal parasites in 71 to 100% of children, depending on the parasite being treated. Parasites that were successfully eradicated were A. lumbricoides, E. histolytica, N. americanus, S. stercoralis, T. trichiura, G. lamblia, and T. saginata. Treatment consisted of a single administration of 20 ml of an elixir containing 4 grams of air-dried and blended papaya seeds.⁷

Supplement	Amount	Why
Propolis	Consult a qualified healthcare practitioner	Propolis, a resinous substance collected by bees from trees, has antimicrobial properties that may help protect against parasitic infections in the gastrointestinal tract.
Propolis Consult a qualified healthcare practitioner Propolis is a resinous substance collected by bees from the leaf buds and bark of trees, especially poplar and conifer trees. The antimicrobial properties of propolis may help protect against parasitic infections in the gastrointestinal tract. One preliminary trial of propolis extract for children and adults with giardiasis showed a 52% rate of successful parasite elimination in children and a 60% elimination rate in adults (amount not stated).⁸ These results are not as impressive as those achieved with conventional drugs for giardiasis, though, so propolis should not be used as the sole therapy for parasites without first consulting a physician about available medical treatment. What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

Supplement	Amount	Why
Anise	Refer to label instructions	Anise may have modest antiparasitic actions and has been recommended by some practitioners as a treatment for mild intestinal parasite infections.
Anise Anise may have modest antiparasitic actions and has been recommended by some practitioners as a treatment for mild intestinal parasite infections.⁹ What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

Supplement	Amount	Why
Barberry	Refer to label instructions	Berberine is derived from several plants, including barberry. Studies have shown that berberine kills amoebae and can be used successfully to treat giardia infections.
Barberry Berberine is derived from several plants, including barberry, Oregon grape, goldenseal, and goldthread (Coptis chinensis). Preliminary trials have shown that berberine can be used successfully to treat giardia infections.¹⁰ ^{, 11} In addition, test tube studies show that berberine kills amoebae, although it is not known whether this effect occurs in humans.¹² The amount required is approximately 200 mg three times per day for an adult—a level high enough to potentially cause side effects. Therefore, berberine should not be used without consulting a healthcare provider. What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

Supplement	Amount	Why
Black Walnut	Refer to label instructions	Black walnut has been traditionally used for treatment of parasites. Numerous studies have suggested the herb can be helpful for some parasitic infections.
Black Walnut Several other herbs are traditionally used for treatment of parasites, including male fern (Dryopteris filix mas) root, tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) leaf, wormwood, sweet Annie, black walnut (Juglans nigra) fruit, and cloves (Syzygium aromaticum). Numerous case reports and preliminary studies from the late 1800s and early 1900s have suggested some of these herbs can be helpful for some parasitic infections.¹³

Supplement	Amount	Why
Chaparral	Refer to label instructions	Chaparral has been historically used in some cultures as a way to detoxify and eliminate parasites.
Chaparral In some cultures, it was customary to bathe in chaparral once per year to eliminate skin parasites and to detoxify; however, there is no modern research demonstrating the effectiveness of this use of chaparral. What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

Supplement	Amount	Why
Cloves	Refer to label instructions	Cloves have been traditionally used for treatment of parasites. Numerous studies have suggested the herb can be helpful for some parasitic infections.
Cloves Several other herbs are traditionally used for treatment of parasites, including male fern (Dryopteris filix mas) root, tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) leaf, wormwood, sweet Annie, black walnut (Juglans nigra) fruit, and cloves (Syzygium aromaticum). Numerous case reports and preliminary studies from the late 1800s and early 1900s have suggested some of these herbs can be helpful for some parasitic infections.¹⁴

Supplement	Amount	Why
Curled Mint	Refer to label instructions	Curled mint leaf has been shown to help relieve the symptoms of giardia and amoeba infections, as well as to eliminate these parasites in many cases.
Curled Mint Curled mint (Mentha crispa) leaf, a close relative of peppermint, has been shown in a preliminary trial to help relieve the symptoms of giardia and amoeba infections in children and adults, as well as to eliminate these parasites in many cases.¹⁵ This study used a tincture of curled mint in the amount of 2 ml three times per day for five days, or 1 ml three times per day for five days for children. Given their close relationship, peppermint could probably be substituted for curled mint when curled mint is unavailable.

Supplement	Amount	Why
Garlic	Refer to label instructions	Garlic has been shown to kill parasites, including amoeba and hookworm, in test tubes and in animals. Other studies support the use of garlic to treat roundworm, pinworm, and hookworm.
Garlic Garlic has been demonstrated to kill parasites, including amoeba¹⁶ and hookworm,¹⁷ in test tubes and in animals. Older studies in humans support the use of garlic to treat roundworm, pinworm, and hookworm.¹⁸ However, due to a lack of clinical trials, the amount of garlic needed to treat intestinal parasites in humans is not known. What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

Supplement	Amount	Why
Goldenseal	Refer to label instructions	Berberine is derived from several plants, including goldenseal. Studies have shown that berberine kills amoebae and can be used successfully to treat giardia infections.
Goldenseal Berberine is derived from several plants, including barberry, Oregon grape, goldenseal, and goldthread (Coptis chinensis). Preliminary trials have shown that berberine can be used successfully to treat giardia infections.¹⁹ ^{, 20} In addition, test tube studies show that berberine kills amoebae, although it is not known whether this effect occurs in humans.²¹ The amount required is approximately 200 mg three times per day for an adult—a level high enough to potentially cause side effects. Therefore, berberine should not be used without consulting a healthcare provider. What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

Supplement	Amount	Why
Goldthread	Refer to label instructions	Berberine is derived from several plants, including goldthread. Studies have shown that berberine kills amoebae and can be used successfully to treat giardia infections.
Goldthread Berberine is derived from several plants, including barberry, Oregon grape, goldenseal, and goldthread (Coptis chinensis). Preliminary trials have shown that berberine can be used successfully to treat giardia infections.²² ^{, 23} In addition, test tube studies show that berberine kills amoebae, although it is not known whether this effect occurs in humans.²⁴ The amount required is approximately 200 mg three times per day for an adult—a level high enough to potentially cause side effects. Therefore, berberine should not be used without consulting a healthcare provider.

Supplement	Amount	Why
Male Fern	Refer to label instructions	Male fern has been traditionally used for treatment of parasites. Numerous studies have suggested the herb can be helpful for some parasitic infections.
Male Fern Several other herbs are traditionally used for treatment of parasites, including male fern (Dryopteris filix mas) root, tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) leaf, wormwood, sweet Annie, black walnut (Juglans nigra) fruit, and cloves (Syzygium aromaticum). Numerous case reports and preliminary studies from the late 1800s and early 1900s have suggested some of these herbs can be helpful for some parasitic infections.²⁵

Supplement	Amount	Why
Oregon Grape	Refer to label instructions	Berberine is derived from several plants, including Oregon grape. Studies have shown that berberine kills amoebae and can be used successfully to treat giardia infections.
Oregon Grape Berberine is derived from several plants, including barberry, Oregon grape, goldenseal, and goldthread (Coptis chinensis). Preliminary trials have shown that berberine can be used successfully to treat giardia infections.²⁶ ^{, 27} In addition, test tube studies show that berberine kills amoebae, although it is not known whether this effect occurs in humans.²⁸ The amount required is approximately 200 mg three times per day for an adult—a level high enough to potentially cause side effects. Therefore, berberine should not be used without consulting a healthcare provider. What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

Supplement	Amount	Why
Pumpkin Seeds	Refer to label instructions	Pumpkin seeds have purported effects against tapeworms. Given their safety, they are often recommended as an addition to other, more reliable therapies.
Pumpkin Seeds Pumpkin seeds (Cucurbita pepo) have purported effects against tapeworms. Given their safety, they are often recommended as an addition to other, more reliable therapies. In Germany, 200–400 grams are commonly ground and taken with milk and honey, followed by castor oil two hours later.²⁹ Tapeworms can cause severe illness and should be treated only with medical supervision. In China, pumpkin seeds have been shown to effectively treat acute schistosomiasis, a severe parasitic disease occurring primarily in Asia and Africa that is transmitted by snails.³⁰ The assistance of a physician is required to help diagnose and treat any suspected intestinal parasite infection.

Supplement	Amount	Why
Sweet Annie	Refer to label instructions	Sweet Annie has been traditionally used for treatment of parasites. Numerous studies have suggested the herb can be helpful for some parasitic infections.
Sweet Annie Several other herbs are traditionally used for treatment of parasites, including male fern (Dryopteris filix mas) root, tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) leaf, wormwood, sweet Annie, black walnut (Juglans nigra) fruit, and cloves (Syzygium aromaticum). Numerous case reports and preliminary studies from the late 1800s and early 1900s have suggested some of these herbs can be helpful for some parasitic infections.³¹ What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

Supplement	Amount	Why
Tansy	Refer to label instructions	Tansy has been traditionally used for treatment of parasites. Numerous studies have suggested the herb can be helpful for some parasitic infections.
Tansy Several other herbs are traditionally used for treatment of parasites, including male fern (Dryopteris filix mas) root, tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) leaf, wormwood, sweet Annie, black walnut (Juglans nigra) fruit, and cloves (Syzygium aromaticum). Numerous case reports and preliminary studies from the late 1800s and early 1900s have suggested some of these herbs can be helpful for some parasitic infections.³²

Supplement	Amount	Why
Wormseed	Refer to label instructions	Wormseed is a traditional remedy for infections with worms.
Wormseed Wormseed (Chenopodium ambrosioides) is a traditional remedy for infections with worms. However, a study in Mexico found that the powdered herb was not effective at eradicating hookworm, roundworm, or whipworm.³³

Supplement	Amount	Why
Wormwood	Refer to label instructions	Wormwood has been traditionally used for treatment of parasites. Numerous studies have suggested the herb can be helpful for some parasitic infections.
Wormwood Several other herbs are traditionally used for treatment of parasites, including male fern (Dryopteris filix mas) root, tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) leaf, wormwood, sweet Annie, black walnut (Juglans nigra) fruit, and cloves (Syzygium aromaticum). Numerous case reports and preliminary studies from the late 1800s and early 1900s have suggested some of these herbs can be helpful for some parasitic infections.³⁴ What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

References

Last Review: 05-11-2011

Learn more about Aisle7, the company.

The information presented in Aisle7 is for informational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. Self-treatment is not recommended for life-threatening conditions that require medical treatment under a doctor's care. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over the counter medication is also available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires June 2011.

© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.

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