Some of the most useful home remedies for hookworms include the use of garlic, diatomaceous earth, thyme, wormwood, coconut, papaya, carom seeds, pumpkin seeds, carrots, and turmeric, as well as behavioral remedies that include wearing shoes and de-worming your pets.
Home Remedies for Hookworms
Home remedies for hookworms include:
Garlic
It seems like home remedies are never complete without this powerful herb making the list. Allicin, the active ingredient in garlic, has been shown to have numerous antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-parasitic qualities. Adding garlic to your meals, or more concentrated garlic powder, can quickly help treat hookworms, roundworms and tapeworms, as well as any other parasites in the body. Unlike many other home remedies for hookworms, garlic should be easily accessible in most places around the world. [1]
Wormwood
As the name implies, wormwood has been used for hundreds of years as an herbal remedy for animals and humans that are infected with parasitic worms. Consuming regular doses of the herb, or in the form of an extract, can quickly starve the worms and cause them to die, when they will then be passed out of the body with normal excretion. [2]
Coconut
Coconut fruit and oil is used for hundreds of different natural remedies, and its natural anti-parasitic qualities make coconut perfect for treating hookworms. Either the fruit or the juice can be used for this purpose, and given how delicious and accessible coconut is, this might be one of the better home remedies for the infection. [3]
Hookworms are intestinal, blood-feeding, parasitic roundworms that cause types of infection known as helminthiases. Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Cloves
Cloves are not only delicious, but also packed with powerful antibacterial and anti-parasitic compounds. Chewing on this flavorful herb can rapidly help eliminate these potentially dangerous worms that are sapping the nutrients from your diet! [4]
Papaya
Papaya fruits are rich in a variety of unique compounds, particularly in their unripe form. Papain is a particular enzyme that not only helps to kill parasitic worms, but also promotes their expulsion from the body, making this a very effective and rapid solution to this global problem. [5]
Carom Seeds
Thymol is found in very high concentrations within carom seeds, and is known to increase the health and strength of the intestinal system, making it very difficult for parasitic worms or infections to spread. Regularly consuming carom seeds for roughly two weeks is an effective means of treatment. [6]
Pumpkin Seeds
By making the intestinal system incompatible for hookworms, one of the important components of pumpkin seeds, cucurbitacin is a key remedy for this infection. The levels of cucurbitacin in pumpkin seeds is considerable, and prevents parasitic worms from attaching to intestinal walls. [7]
Carrots
These vegetables are rich in beta carotene, which breaks down into vitamin A. This powerful antioxidant substance is known to destroy parasitic eggs before they can hatch, helping to slow the spread of the infection to more serious levels. [8]
Turmeric
This popular herb is great for hookworm treatment for two reasons – it treats both the symptom and the core problem. The natural anti-parasitic nature of turmeric helps to kill the worms in your system, while also soothing the gastrointestinal system, reducing bloating, cramping, and inflammation. [9]
Diatomaceous Earth
Ensuring that your animals and pets aren’t infected by hookworms is an important way to prevent the infection spreading to other members of your household. The microscopic algae found in food-grade diatomaceous earth is very effective at eliminating parasitic growth, so adding some to regular pet food can keep them healthy (and you out of harm’s way!). [10]
Thyme
Thyme is an effective home remedy for many afflictions, and the powerful active ingredients in thyme (including thymol) have proven anti-parasitic properties. The herb is also safe to eat for animals and is widely available in many parts of the world. [11]
Wearing Shoes
If you step on the eggs or larva of hookworms, particularly when walking barefoot in tropical and subtropical regions, they can invade your body and gradually make their way to the intestines to feed and grow. Always wear shoes when walking in areas known for hookworm, and avoid ever walking barefoot if you have open sores or particularly sensitive skin. [12]
Deworming Pets
De-worming your pets is the best way to ensure you don’t spread hookworms through your household. There are regular deworming medications that pets can take, and regular check-ups for their digestive health are recommended. If you eliminate one of the prime sources of hookworms, then your chances of becoming infected will drop significantly! [13]
Sanitation
Improper sanitation of water and food sources is the main cause of hookworm infection outbreaks in tropical and subtropical parts of the world. Properly washing food, processing and filtering water, and only buying food from trusted sources are a few ways to increase sanitation in your personal life and fend off a hookworm infection. [14]
