Worms in the digestive tract are a very common phenomenon. Although many of us are aware of them, we do not pay much attention to this problem and end up ignoring its symptoms. If at all, some deworming medicine is given to children.

Ayurveda informs us that worms are one of the major causes for many diseases in adults as well. Like a tree affected by termites is gradually eaten up from the inside, worms can affect the entire health of a person. Therefore, every person should understand the importance of regular deworming.

Ayurveda notes the reasons for worm infestation as follows. Some of these are very simple things that we do even without realizing, thereby unknowingly promoting worms.

• Eating again in spite of indigestion. Generally, when earlier ingested food is not digested, one does not have a real appetite. In such a state, when the person gets tempted to eat again, this creates an atmosphere in the digestive system that is suitable for worms.
• Eating sweets in excess, especially processed sweets, and excess sour and fermented foods.
• Eating excess carbohydrates and jaggery.
• Consuming excess liquids like cold aerated drinks or even drinking water when one is not thirsty.
• Not practicing any exercises / Avoiding an exercise regime.
• Sleeping during the day time, especially on a regular basis.
• Eating Virruddha Anna i.e. means combining two food items that are not compatible with each other and therefore very difficult for the body to process.
• Drinking water from plastic bottles, eating frozen foods, stored foods. Unhygienic eating habits, unhygienic personal care and frequent travelling can only add to these conditions.

Ayurveda mentions 3 main types of worms.

Kaphaj Krumi ( Worms due to Kapha imbalance) – These worms have their origin in the stomach and initial part of small intestine but can spread upwards or downwards. They are either flat and long or round and long or of a shape of a sprout or very small in size. Thery cause giddiness, frequent cold, sneezing etc.

Raktaj Krumi (worms originating in blood) – These type if worms are situated in the blood and can lead to various skin problems

Purishaj Krumi (worms originating in stool) – These type of worms are most common., They are situated in large intestine but can travel down till the anus or up till the stomach. They can cause constipation or loose motions, severe weakness, dryness in body, iron deficiency, low digestive fire and severe itching at the anus.

Deworming with Ayurvedic Home Remedies
A herb called Kapila is easily available in the market. It is a kind of dust found naturally on the fruit of Kapila tree and is very effective for deworming. So taking a mixture of half tsp of Kapila powder and half tsp of jaggery before going to bed at night induces 1 or 2 controlled loose motions in the morning and helps worms to be eliminated from the system. This can be done every 2 to 3 weeks. Children below 15 years can be given half the dose.

Vidanga is another common and effective herb used for deworming in many households in India. Half a tsp of Vidanga powder can be mixed with honey and taken in the morning on an empty stomach daily for 7 days, followed by 2 tsp of castor oil before going to bed on the 7th day. This will induce loose motions in a way that worms will be eliminated.

The wonder herb Moringa has a fruit also known as drumstick pods. They are very effective against worms. Make a soup of drumstick pods by boiling the pods and adding rock salt and black pepper to it. This is extremely useful in the elimination of worms. A note of caution is that people who have a Pitta constitution should be careful while using Moringa.

To reduce the recurring tendency for worms, the following daily or regular remedy is excellent. Take a cup of buttermilk after meals. Add 1 pinch of Asafoetida, 1/8th tsp of Ajwain, 1/8th tsp of dill seeds and 1/8th tsp of anis seeds, all in aa powder form. This powder can be prepared once and kept for long term use every day or whenever required.

Vidangarishta is a traditional preparation for deworming which can be even taken by children. To get rid of worms, it is recommended to take Vidangarishta for 4 weeks daily after every 3-4 months. The dose for adults is 2 tsp of the arishta with 2 tsp of water after meals. Half that dose is recommended for children.

Read more about Worms Are a Silent Cause for Many Ailments – Learn How to Get Rid of Worms!

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