Although home remedies for pinworms exist, they’re anecdotal and aren’t a proven treatment. OTC pyrantel pamoate or doctor-prescribed medications are effective treatments, though home remedies may offer some symptom relief.
Pinworm infection (Enterobius vermicularis) is the most common intestinal parasitic worm infection in the United States.
It often occurs in school-aged children and can cause significant discomfort and disruption to daily life.
If you or a loved one has a pinworm infection, everyone in your household should be treated, as it is highly contagious.
Although remedies to treat pinworms exist, they aren’t a recommended first-line treatment. Scientific evidence does not support the use of these home remedies. Only anecdotal evidence exists.
Though these remedies are typically safe for most people, it’s best to speak with your doctor first, and do not use them in place of proper treatment and diagnosis. However, you may be able to try home remedies as a complementary treatment.
If you have allergies, take care when trying home remedies. If you’re concerned about a potential reaction, you can test the remedy on a small patch of skin before applying it to the affected area.
Here are three home remedies that people may use if they have pinworm.
Raw garlic
Some people believe garlic can help kill pinworm eggs and prevent female pinworms from laying more eggs. Though the evidence does not support this, garlic may have other health benefits, boosting your overall health while you have this infection.
You can ingest it in small doses or apply it topically like a salve. If you wish to ingest the garlic, dice up a clove and mix it into pasta or sprinkle it on bread. You can also eat the garlic on its own.
To create a salve, chop up a few cloves of garlic and grind them into a paste. Mix the garlic paste with a small amount of petroleum jelly or other base oil. Dip a clean cotton swab into the mixture and apply the salve to your anus.
Do not use garlic topically if you have sensitive skin, a burning sensation in the area, broken skin, hemorrhoids, or inflammation.
Coconut oil
Coconut oil may have antibacterial and antiviral properties.
Some people claim that these properties can also help clear a pinworm infection.
The treatment involves:
- Swallowing a teaspoon of pure coconut oil each morning.
- Rubbing a small amount of coconut oil into the affected area before you go to bed
It’s generally safe for most people to use coconut oil in this way, but make sure to keep your intake moderate, as oil is high in fat.
Raw carrots
Some people eat a cup of raw, shredded carrots twice daily in the hope that it will help push the worms through their intestines.
Carrots are rich in fiber, so this may help improve digestion and promote bowel movement. Despite little scientific evidence for this claim, carrots are a nutritional vegetable that can help boost your overall health.
If you think that you or a loved one may have a pinworm infection, it’s important to get treatment as soon as you can. Pinworms are contagious, and delaying treatment can put those around you at risk.
If you do choose to try a home remedy, speak with your doctor, as you may be able to try it alongside other medications.
Always consult your doctor if:
- your symptoms persist
- you experience stomach cramps
- blood is present in your urine or stool
A healthcare professional can determine exactly what’s causing your symptoms and whether the infection is still present.
If you believe you no longer have the infection, you should still follow up with your doctor to confirm this.
Pyrantel pamoate is in most over-the-counter (OTC) treatments for pinworms. Prescription-strength medications are also available.
Your doctor may prescribe a two-dose treatment of mebendazole or albendazole to help you clear the infection. The second dose of medication is typically given
You’ll also need to make adjustments to your personal hygiene and home care. Follow these tips:
- Wash your hands regularly.
- Keep your fingernails short, and refrain from biting your nails.
- Wear tight underwear.
- Wash your underwear in hot water each day.
- Change your sleepwear regularly.
- Mop or vacuum the floors in all living spaces.
- Wash all linens and bedding in hot water.
Frequent handwashing with soap and warm water is the best way to prevent reinfection. You should always wash your hands:
- after using the bathroom
- after changing a diaper
- before eating
- before touching your mouth
You may also consider keeping your nails short. Pinworm eggs can become trapped under your nails. You can later ingest them if your hands haven’t been washed properly. Keeping your nails short may help prevent this.
While home remedies are not proven to clear pinworm, you might want to try them to help ease your symptoms or support other treatment.
People sometimes try garlic, coconut oil, and carrots to help clear a pinworm infection. Though scientific evidence does not show effectiveness in clearing an infection, these remedies could help ease the discomfort you experience.
Always speak with your doctor if you think you have symptoms of a pinworm infection.