How To Get Rid Of Pinworms & Threadworms Naturally

Pinworms or threadworms in our family fill us with horror and shame.

But don't panic!!

It is not hard to get rid of pinworms and threadworms overnight naturally without medication.

And in this post I'll share how to:

1. Get rid of pinworms overnight
2. Kill pinworms & threadworms without medication
3. Use natural pinworm remedies
4. PLUS more natural treatments
5. And stopping repeat infections.

I will also cover background on:

• What pinworms & threadworms are
• What causes pinworms
• Key symptoms of worms in kids.

I've been there with pinworms & got the t-shirt so truly hope it helps.

MEDICAL DISCLAIMER

Please note this post does not give qualified medical advice.

What Are Pinworms?

Pinworms are tiny white worms that live and breed in human intestines.

They are endemic to humans so most kids will get worms sometime. It is NOT a big parent fail if they do!

Are Pinworms The Same As Threadworms?

You may have heard of pinworms and threadworms and be confused.

They are the same thing. It's just that the CDC calls them pinworms whilst the NHS calls them threadworms.

Are Tapeworms The Same As Pinworms & Threadworms?

Tapeworms are not the same thing and cause big health problems.

Symptoms include nausea, diarrhea, stomach pain and fatigue but they are uncommon in the US & UK.

Seek medical advice for symptoms.

What Are Pinworms & Threadworms Caused By?

We are often told poor hygiene causes pinworms & threadworms.

Cue blind parenting panic!!!

But they are endemic in kids and easily pass from hands to mouths.

Great hand washing helps but even the cleanest kids in the cleanest homes can get pinworms!!

The solution is NOT crazy cleaning but breaking the pinworm lifecycle.

Pinworms Lifecycle

The pinworm lifecycle is very simple:

• Worm eggs get on a kid's hand
• Then pass to their mouth
• Then via stomach to the intestine
• Where in 2 weeks they hatch!!

• Hatched worms wriggle out of the child's anus at night
• To lay eggs around rim before crawling back to the intestine.
• The eggs make the anus itch
• So kids scratch to stop itching
• And gets worm eggs on their hands
• And it all starts again ...

It IS horrid but it is easy to break naturally to get rid of pinworms & threadworms without medication.

Especially if we act fast on the first sight of pinworm symptoms.

What Are Symptoms Of Worms In Children?

The tell tale symptom of worms in kids is: an itchy bottom at night.

The witching hours are 11pm-2am.

If your kids wake then with an itchy bum you can assume it is pinworms.

Do NOT faff at dead of night with torches, sticky tape & foil as some far from helpful pinworm tips suggest!!

Spotting pinworm symptoms can be tricky however if your kids are:

• Tiny and can't tell you they itch
• Heavy sleepers who don't wake.

In which case the first symptoms of worms may be your child's behaviour.

Symptoms Of Pinworms In Children's Behaviour

Common signs of pinworms are:

1. Fatigue during day from poor sleep
2. Renewed bedwetting from dry kids
3. Resistance to bedtime from kids who have had a good routine.

You can ask older kids about itching and keep a vague eye out for white wigglies passed when kids poo.

But even if you are not sure, you can use these tips to get rid of worms overnight without medication as they will have no side effects.

How To Get Rid Of Pinworms & Threadworms Overnight

These simple steps break the nightly egg laying cycle of pinworms.

Get all the family following on first symptoms to kill worms without medication & stop them circulating.

Bedtime Routine

Follow this routine every evening :

• Gently apply oil to child's bottom :
  • Coconut oil
  • Baby oil
  • Vaseline
  • Or any very gentle moisturiser.
• Rub lightly so layer remains on skin to both prevent eggs being laid & worms re-entering anus
• Wear underpants under pyjamas.

Morning Routine

This morning routine is critical as it is the time eggs are most likely to get on hands & into mouth :

• Wash child's hands when wake up
• Rinse child's bottom very well with lots of running water under shower or tap to rinse any eggs away
• Dry bottom with face cloth or small towel and pop in laundry
• Put on clean underpants (obvs!!).

You may find switching from nightly bath to morning shower easier.

If Child Wakes Itching

If your child wakes itching :

• Take to bathroom and rinse bottom well under running water
• Dry with face cloth
• Apply oil to bottom as above
• Put on clean underpants
• And go back to bed.
• Keep calm & quiet with lights dim so easy to go back to sleep.
• Do NOT get in a panic and :
  • Strip all bedding
  • Play hunt the worms etc!!

If Child Has Other Symptoms

If your child doesn't wake but has other symptoms do follow the bedtime & morning routines.

If you've seen a worm - often passed with faeces - consider waking your child to wash. And get older kids & adults to rinse bottoms before bed.

Washing in the morning breaks the egg cycle but washing at night can kill worms themselves without medication or other remedies.

However, if you are not reading this on first symptoms you will need the home remedies and natural treatments I will cover next.

How To Kill Pinworms Without Medication

Medical Treatments

Doctors can prescribe anthelmintic drugs as medical treatment for pinworms and threadworms.

They will kill off worms and eggs.

But some doctors have concerns over prescription of the drugs is causing drug resistant worms and that reinfection is common.

This may be because medication harms the good gut bacteria that help defend us against worms.

So it really helps to have natural treatments to hand that truly work.

Treating Worms Naturally

To get rid of worms naturally without medication we need remedies that:

1. Paralyse worms so they can't wriggle out to lay eggs
2. Prevent worms laying eggs
3. Kill existing eggs
4. Kill worms
5. Expel worms from our gut.

Luckily a whole bunch of common kitchen ingredients cover all 5:

• Pumpkin Seeds
• Coconut Oil
• Grated Carrot
• Pineapple
• Garlic
• Oregano
• Apple Cider Vinegar
• Ginger
• Onions
• Papaya
• Flaxseed
• Cloves

So act fast using whichever of these natural remedies you have.

Natural Remedies For Pinworms & Threadworms

Pumpkin Seeds

A snack of pumpkin seeds can naturally freeze worms so they can't lay eggs. This is my go to pinworm remedy at first signs of itching.

Coconut Oil

This is my other go to remedy. A quick teaspoon expels worms from our gut. Also good as per bedtime routine around anus to stop worms laying eggs & re-entering body.

Grated Carrot

A little daily helping of grated carrot helps our gut expel worms. (It also expels used hormones & relieves period & perimenopause issues!!)

Garlic

Garlic kills eggs and stops worms laying eggs. You can mix diced garlic with coconut oil & apply round anus to treat pinworms naturally. If you baulk at this eat a garlic rich diet.

Pineapple

Contains bromelain a natural antihistamine which kills worms naturally. (Also great for sinus congestion, sore throats & cystitis).

Apple Cider Vinegar

What can't ACV do? It helps with back pain and heartburn and stops ingested eggs hatching. Add to salad dressings or take in water.

Oregano

A traditional home remedy for pinworms. A simple oregano tea with honey can expel worms. A natural antibiotic it's also great for colds, blackheads & athlete's foot!!

Ginger

Another traditional home remedy for pinworms and threadworms. Ginger helps kill off pinworms - and the h pylori bacteria behind gastritis - before they get into our intestines.

Onions

Sulphur rich onions help get rid of pinworms and other parasites from out intestines. So fried onions or onion soup are natural remedies for pinworms & threadworms.

Papaya

Papaya contains the enzyme papain which can kill pinworms naturally. A low acid, magnesium rich fruit it also helps with acid reflux and bloating.

Flaxseed

Cleans out our gut to expel worms & other nasties whilst nourishing good gut bacteria. Add a spoonful to porridge and other baking.

Cloves

Cloves can kill pinworms naturally but most kids hate the flavour. Try making a gingerbread latte with just milk, ginger, cinnamon, ground cloves & a little cocoa powder.

Optimal Impact For Pinworm Home Remedies

To ensure these home remedies for pinworms have optimal impact :

1. Act fast, go with what you've got
2. Combine a good bunch as they treat pinworms in different ways
3. Build into your family diet for ongoing protection as little kids love gifting worms to each other!

The remedies are all great pantry staples for good gut health but PLEASE don't rush out to clutter your kitchen with stuff you won't eat!!

These natural remedies can get rid of pinworms and threadworms fast. But if your family is still itching other natural treatments can up the ante.

Other Natural Treatments For Pin & Threadworms

I believe strongly in simple remedies based on kitchen ingredients.

Good food is often the best medicine.

But if the pinworm remedies above aren't helping, you could try these other natural pinworm treatments from specialist health stores.

Traditional Treatments

Please remember natural treatments can be toxic if not taken with care following the supplier's instructions. Only buy from reputable suppliers. In the UK I always buy from Baldwins.

Papaya Seeds

Research suggests dried papaya seeds can get rid of worms. Soak them in boiled water for tea.

Diatomaceous Earth

I do use DE to get rid of ants plus slugs & snails naturally but am a wimp about trying it on us!! Some swear by it. To give it a try read this on how to use diatomaceous earth as a parasite cleanse for humans.

White Willow Bark

You can buy white willow bark - a traditional natural treatment for pinworms - as bark or powder and use it to make tea but I am not sure you will get kids to drink it!

Wormwood

The clue is in the name; wormwood is an age old natural treatment to get rid of worms. It must be used with care as is toxic in high doses.

If your family keeps getting pinworms over and over some other simple lifestyle changes may help.

Why Does My Child Keep Getting Worms?

It is super distressing for kids to get worms over and over again.

Inevitably we feel guilty. But repeated infections are common.

Luckily simple lifestyle swaps help:

• Slash Sugar
• Relieve Constipation
• Wear Underpants In Bed
• Regular Linen & Towel Laundry
• Wash Hands Well At School
• Wash Bottoms In Morning
• Gut Healthy Goodies
• Pineapple & Papaya Smoothie
• Grated Carrot Bake Treats
• Flax & Pumpkin Seed Bars

Slash Sugar

We all know sugar causes diabetes but it also contributes to pinworms.

Our gut is great at fighting foes but sugar induced inflammation weakens its natural defences.

So slash sugar as far as you can.

It has helped me heal everything from psoriasis to back pain!!

Relieve Constipation

Nice regular bowels expel worms.

Use these simple DIY constipation remedies to keep kids moving!!

Wear Underpants In Bed

Close fitting cotton underpants keep worm eggs off pyjamas & sheets.

Underwear is washed after worn anyway so it is no extra laundry.

Linen & Towel Laundry Routine

Do NOT boil wash all your sheets and towels at first sight of a worm!

But stick to a laundry routine.

Changing sheets religiously once a fortnight beats a few frantic weekly washes before we forget for a month.

Wash Hands Well At School

Home hygiene is hopeless if kids are swapping worm eggs at school!!

Nag your kids. Nag their teachers. Nag whoever needs nagging to ensure kids wash their hands well.

Wash Bottoms In Morning

We covered this in how to get rid of pinworms overnight. But it is worth keeping up as a daily habit.

However often kids bring pinworms home from school, you are on them.

Gut Healthy Goodies

Gut healthy goodies help our gut fight worms. Most kids will eat:

• Natural unsweetened yoghurt
• Creme fraiche
• Garlic
• Berries of all sorts
• Apples
• Grated carrot
• Chick peas
• Bone broth in sauces

We can also work natural pinworm remedies into recipes kids love.

Pineapple & Papaya Smoothie

This quick smoothie is super rich in natural worm treatments :

• Half can of pineapple & papaya
• Half a small finely grated carrot
• Teaspoon of coconut oil
• Thumbnail knob of sliced ginger or a teaspoon of dried ginger
• Teaspoon or so of flax seed
• 2 spoons of natural yoghurt
• Enough water to blend

Onion & Garlic Base

Picky eaters aren't always great with onion & garlic bits, are they?

So blend up 4 or 5 onions cooked with a head of garlic and oil.

Then freeze in ice cube trays so you can add their pinworm killing goodness to all your kids meals and be sure they will actually eat it!!

Grated Carrot Baking

If your kids won't touch raw grated carrot, bake with it. These intestine cleaning carrot recipes are low on sugar & prevent constipation:

• Carrot Breakfast Cookies
• Carrot & Banana Cake
• Carrot Muffins
• Carrot Star Bites

Flax & Pumpkin Seed Bars

Snacking on pumpkin seeds or chucking flaxseed on porridge is a super easy way to build natural worm treatments into your diet.

Or make these easy energy bars with both pumpkin seeds and flaxseeds :

And there you go: everything you need to know about how to get rid of pinworms & threadworms overnight naturally with simple home remedies & natural treatments PLUS how to prevent them coming back.

I really do hope it all helps. Let me know what works best for you.

And if you found the post helpful please do share with your friends.

For more simple home remedies from kitchen ingredients do check out my other posts :

• Hair Lice Remedies
• Sunburn Remedies
• Sting & Bite Remedies
• Coughs & Colds

And follow my home remedies board on Pinterest :