Will Grapefruit Seed Extract Kill Worms?

When you find out that you have parasites living off of your body, it can become an overwhelming idea to deal with. The idea of having worms attached to various parts of your body can make you feel desperate to get rid of them. A person may get infected with worms with dealing with soil that is infested with eggs or larvae. There are a variety of options available when trying to kill worms, some of which include prescription medications such as medendazole or albdendazole. Other options include natural methods, such as grapefruit seed extract.

Grapefruit seed extract is simply the substance that is extracted from grapefruit seeds. It is available to purchase in the liquid form as well as the tablet or capsule form for those who are sensitive to its bitter taste. In addition to its ability to kill various parasites, this supplement is also used to treat irritable bowel syndrome, which may be the result of a parasitic infection in the colon.

Worms, or nematodes, typically live in the intestines and range in size from as little as 1mm to as long as 1m. Depending on the exact species that infects your body, some of the classic symptoms you may experience include abdominal pain, shortness of breath, weight loss, fatigue, blood in stool or nausea and diarrhea. Additionally, you may also notice worms in your vomit or stool once it has been excreted from your body. Some worms, such as the hookworm, may present no symptoms at all. Other types of symptoms you may experience include itchy or watery eyes, an itchy rash, blurred vision, swelling and scarring in the legs and groin area, loss of pigmentation in skin and the development of sores on your skin.

The typical recommendation for consuming the liquid form of this supplement is by taking 10 to 12 drops in 6 to 7 ounces of water up to three times each day. If you have opted for the capsule or tablet form of the supplement, the recommendation is between 100mg to 200mg up to three times daily. Although no side effects have been reported as of September 2011, some medications should not be consumed with this supplement as it can interfere with its effectiveness. An example is Warfarin, which is used to slow blood clotting. If you decide to take this medication while supplementing with grapefruit seed extract, you may experience dangerous or undesirable interactions.

Grapefruit seed extract is well known in the alternative and complementary medicine community as a multi-use supplement that helps with a variety of ailments. It is taken to fight a number of internal and external infections that are the result of parasites, bacteria, viruses and fungi. It is a supplement that is used to naturally detoxify, enhance and support the immune system.