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Garlic Banished Pinworms

Q. I read your article on pinworms. As a child I had several episodes with this parasite. Because I was vomiting up the meds that were prescribed my mother called the doctor and he said to put sliced garlic on buttered bread and have me eat the “garlic sandwich.”

That was the end of pinworms. Never had another attack and I still love garlic to this day.

A. Garlic is an old-fashioned remedy for pinworms. We could find no scientific validation for this approach, but others have shared similar stories of success. The medicines (albendazole, mebendazole or pyrantel pamoate) also work quite well.

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About the Author
Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies..
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