Ipecac Kills Worms

[Guest guest]

An article I found on the GNC site on worms.

**************

Parasites

Also indexed as: Giardia, Pinworms, Worms

Introduction

Checklist

Symptoms

Conventional treatment

Dietary changes

Supplements

Herbs

References

Parasites are organisms larger than yeast or bacteria that can cause

infection, usually in the intestines. The most common parasites to

infect humans in the United States and Canada are giardia (Giardia

lamblia), Entamoeba histolytica, cryptosporidium (Cryptosporidium

spp.), roundworm (Ascaris lumbricoides), hookworm (Ancylostoma

duodenale and Necator americanus), pinworm (Enterobius vermicularis),

and tapeworm (Taenia spp.). Infection with parasites can be life-

threatening in people with severe impairment of immune function.

People should consult a physician if they suspect a parasitic

infection.

Checklist for Parasites

Rating Nutritional Supplements Herbs

Berberine

Ipecac

Propolis Anise

Barberry

Black walnut

Chaparral

Cloves

Curled mint

Garlic

Goldenseal

Goldthread

Male fern

Oregon grape

Pumpkin seeds

Sweet Annie

Tansy

Wormseed

Wormwood

Reliable and relatively consistent scientific data showing a

substantial health benefit.

Contradictory, insufficient, or preliminary studies suggesting a

health benefit or minimal health benefit.

An herb is primarily supported by traditional use, or the herb or

supplement has little scientific support and/or minimal health

benefit.

What are the symptoms of parasites? Parasite infections can lead to a

variety of symptoms, including gas, bloating, diarrhea, weight loss,

abdominal cramping and pain, constipation, nausea, vomiting, loss of

appetite, fever, rash, cough, itching anus, and bloody or foul-

smelling stools.

Conventional treatment options: Doctors prescribe medication (e.g.,

diloxanide, furazolidine, iodoquinol, mebendazole, metronidazole, and

praziquantel) based on the type of parasite. Supportive care with the

replacement of fluids and electrolytes (sometimes with the use of

oral rehydration solutions, such as Pedialyte®, Ceralyte®, or

Infalyte®) is often recommended. Severe diarrhea may require

hospitalization for urgent fluid and electrolyte replacement,

especially in children and the elderly. Medicines to stop diarrhea,

such as loperamide (Imodium®), bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto Bismol®),

attapulgite (Kaopectate®), diphenoxylate (Lomotil®, Lonox®,

Motofen®), and opiates (codeine, paregoric), may be prescribed in

some cases.

Dietary changes that may be helpful: When traveling in developing

countries, people should avoid drinking tap water and eating uncooked

foods, foods prepared by street vendors, ice, and fruits that cannot

be peeled. All of these are potential sources of parasitic infection.

People should not drink untreated stream water while camping, as it

is frequently almost invariably contaminated with giardia, even in

the United States. Undercooked fish, meat and poultry can also

contain parasites.

Nutritional supplements that may be helpful: 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).1 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.

Are there any side effects or interactions? Refer to the individual

supplement for information about any side effects or interactions.

Herbs that may be helpful: 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.2 3 In addition, test tube

studies show that berberine kills amoebae, although it is not known

whether this effect occurs in humans.4 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.

Emetine and other alkaloids in ipecac kill several types of

parasites, including amoeba, pinworms, and tapeworms.5 6 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.7

Because of the danger involved, ipecac and emetine should never be

used without first consulting a physician.

Garlic has been demonstrated to kill parasites, including amoeba8 and

hookworm,9 in test tubes and in animals. Older studies in humans

support the use of garlic to treat roundworm, pinworm, and

hookworm.10 However, due to a lack of clinical trials, the amount of

garlic needed to treat intestinal parasites in humans is not known.

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.11

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.12 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.13 The assistance of a physician is required to

help diagnose and treat any suspected intestinal parasite infection.

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

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.

Anise may have modest antiparasitic actions and has been recommended

by some practitioners as a treatment for mild intestinal parasite

infections.15

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.16 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.

Caution: Any herb potent enough to kill parasites could potentially

harm the person taking it. Although some of these herbs have

antiparasitic actions in test tubes,17 none has been adequately

tested in modern trials for efficacy or safety in humans. Safe and

proper use requires the skills of an experienced practitioner.

Are there any side effects or interactions? Refer to the individual

herb for information about any side effects or interactions.

References:

1. Miyares C, Hollands I, Castaneda C, et al. Clinical trial with a

preparation based on propolis " propolisina " in human giardiasis. Acta

Gastroenterol Latinoam 1988;18:195–201.

2. Gupte S. Use of berberine in treatment of giardiasis. Am J Dis

Child 1975;129:866.

3. Choudhry VP, Sabir M, Bhide VN. Berberine in giardiasis. Indian

Pediatr 1972;9:143–6.

4. Kaneda Y, Torii M, Tanaka T, Aikawa M. In vitro effects of

berberine sulphate on the growth and structure of Entamoeba

histolytica, Giardia lamblia and Trichomonas vaginalis. Ann Trop Med

Parasitol 1991;85:417–25.

5. Oelkers HA. Studies on anthelmintics. Arzneimittelforschung

1962;121:810–2.

6. CW, on JD. Natural products and the development of

selective antiprotozoal drugs. Phytother Res 1990;4:127–39 [review].

7. Schmeller T, Wink M. Utilization of alkaloids in modern medicine.

In: M, Wink M, eds. Alkaloids—Biochemistry, Ecology and

Medicinal Applications. New York: Plenum Press, 1998, 435–59 [review].

8. Mirelman D, Monheit D, Varon S. Inhibition of growth of Entamoeba

histolytica by allicin, the active principle of garlic extract

(Allium sativum). J Infect Dis 1987;156:243–4.

9. Bastidas CJ. Effect of ingested garlic on Necator americanus and

Ancylostoma caninum. Am J Trop Med Hyg 1969;13:920–3.

10. Koch HP, Lawson LD, eds. Garlic: The Science and Therapeutic

Application of Allium sativum L. and Related Species. Baltimore:

& Wilkins, 1996, 173–4.

11. Kliks MM. Studies on the traditional herbal anthelmintic

Chenopodium ambrosioides L.: Ethnopharmacological evaluation and

clinical field trials. Soc Sci Med 1985;21:879–86.

12. Weiss RF. Herbal Medicine. Beaconsfield, UK: Beaconsfield

Publishers Ltd., 1985, 119–20.

13. Chou HC, Ming H. Pumpkin seed (Cucurbita moschata) in the

treatment of acute schistosomiasis. Chin Med J 1960;80:115–20.

14. Chopra RN, Chandler AC. Anthelmintics and Their Uses in Medical

and Veterinary Practice. Baltimore: & Wilkins Co, 1928.

15. Weiss RF. Herbal Medicine. Gothenberg, Sweden: Ab Arcanum and

Beaconsfield: Beaconsfield Publishers Ltd., 1985, 203–4.

16. de Santana CF, de Almeida ER, Dos Santos ER, Souza IA. Action of

Mentha crispa hydroethanolic extract in patients bearing intestinal

protozoan. Fitoterapia 1992;63:409–10.

17. Mendiola J, Bosa M, N, et al. Extracts of Artemisia

abrotanum and Artemisia absinthium inhibit growth of Naegleria

fowleri in vitro. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 1991;85:78–9.

[Guest guest]

Out of curiosity, out of all the herbs listed in that article why did

you single out Ipecac as the one to use as your subject title?

( " " Generally the amounts of ipecac needed to produce these effects in

people are high and can lead to severe side effects. " " )

Thanks,

Vache

( i know, i know curiosity killed the cat:-P )

[Guest guest]

Vache, LOL! It was the only thing that hasn't been listed on this

board yet. Also I tried most herbs on that list.

I haven't tried Ipecac.

However, I looked up Ipecac as use for worms and it says that you

must take a large amount and it is dangerous. You should do this

with a doctor. Toxic.

Glad you asked, LIz D

> Out of curiosity, out of all the herbs listed in that article why

did

> you single out Ipecac as the one to use as your subject title?

>

> ( " " Generally the amounts of ipecac needed to produce these effects

in

> people are high and can lead to severe side effects. " " )

>

>

> Thanks,

> Vache

> ( i know, i know curiosity killed the cat:-P )