# Are spices actually effective against intestinal parasites. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 8, 2003, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-spices-actually-effective-against-intestinal-parasites/217651 "2003-12-08T00:13:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-spices-actually-effective-against-intestinal-parasites/217651/1 "2003-12-08T00:13:23Z")
I’ve often heard it said that spices such as chillies can be used as a medicine against intestinal parasites such as tapeworms - is there any hard data in support of this? ---
**Author:** ![Chairman\_Pow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Chairman\_Pow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chairman_Pow)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-spices-actually-effective-against-intestinal-parasites/217651/2 "2003-12-08T04:36:00Z")
Hmmm… A quick google search hasn’t come up with anything promising (not quite a pun…), but certainly there is a renewed emphasis on intestinal health/parasite infections popping up in the alternative medicine world these days and getting awfully close to appearing on a #1 bestseller list… All the data I’ve run across (had handed to me) was from “alternative medical” sources, not anything from what a skeptic would call “reliable.” The basic theory behind the anti-parasite herbs is not so much a parasiteacide (?), but that you’re instead cleansingb the bowels such that they can’t keep a hold on anything and are expelled. I haven’t yet seen anything “scientific,” but it’s certainly worth a try - if anything else, you’ll improve elimination which will certianly make your day go better… ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-spices-actually-effective-against-intestinal-parasites/217651/3 "2003-12-08T05:06:42Z")
Lord, I was waiting for **Mangetout** to come along and answer this one :smack: The UCLA Biomed library’s entry on [chili pepper](http://unitproj.library.ucla.edu/biomed/spice/index.cfm?displayID=21) says nothing about parasites, however it does say: > [@](#): > > Most of the older medical uses (such as dyspepsia) are not regarded as valid medications, but chile pepper is still used in Ayurvedic therapy to treat peptic ulcers. OTOH, the library’s entry on Garlic mentions its effectiveness against bowel parasites. Somewhat offtopic, I found this interesting bit about spices in the Cornell Chronicle: [Antibacterial spices explain why some like it hot](http://www.news.cornell.edu/Chronicle/98/3.5.98/spices.html) > [@](#): > > Garlic, onion, allspice and oregano, for example, were found to be the best all-around bacteria killers (they kill everything), followed by thyme, cinnamon, tarragon and cumin (any of which kill up to 80 percent of bacteria). Capsicums, including chilies and other hot peppers, are in the middle of the antimicrobial pack (killing or inhibiting up to 75 percent of bacteria), while pepper of the white or black variety inhibits 25 percent of bacteria, as do ginger, anise seed, celery seed and the juices of lemons and limes. ---
**Author:** ![jovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jovan)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-spices-actually-effective-against-intestinal-parasites/217651/4 "2003-12-08T05:41:56Z")
I found a citation that would seem to support some anti-bacterial effect, [from a Pubmed abstract](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10363839&dopt=Abstract) (Originally published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology): > [@](#): > > The bioactive amides affinin and capsaicin isolated respectively from Heliopsis longipes roots and Capsicum spp fruits, were assayed for activity against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas solanacearum, Bacillus subtilis and Saccharomyces cerevisicae suspension cultures. The alkamide affinin inhibited growth of E. coli and S. cerevisiae at concentrations as low as 25 microg/ml. Higher concentrations of affinin were necessary to inhibit growth of P. solanacearum and B. subtilis. However. high concentrations of capsaicin only retarded the growth of E. coli and P. solanacearum, whereas growth of B. subtilis was strongly inhibited and that of S. cerevisiae was initially enhanced. Heliopsis longipes is also known as raiz del oro, and is used both as herbal medicine and spice. Capsicum fruit is red pepper. [From another abstract](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=8735449&dopt=Abstract): > [@](#): > > Using a filter disk assay, plain and heated aqueous extracts from fresh Capsicum annuum, Capsicum baccatum, Capsicum chinese, Capsicum frutescens, and Capsicum pubescens varieties were tested for their antimicrobial effects with fifteen bacterial species and one yeast species. Two pungent compounds found in Capsicum species (capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin) were also tested for their anti-microbial effects. The plain and heated extracts were found to exhibit varying degrees of inhibition against Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Clostridium sporogenes, Clostridium tetani, and Streptococcus pyogenes. And better yet, [this article](http://cmr.asm.org/cgi/content/full/12/4/564#T1) gives an overview on the use of plants as anti-microbial agents. In the article you’ll find [a nifty table](http://cmr.asm.org/cgi/content/full/12/4/564/T1) that lists the effects of many, many common plants, herbs and spices. I didn’t find a anything specifically on tapeworms, though. At least, nothing scientific. ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-spices-actually-effective-against-intestinal-parasites/217651/5 "2003-12-08T05:44:51Z")
I guess if you wanted to get rid of worms, you’d start by trying [wormwood](http://www.umm.edu/altmed/ConsConditions/Roundwormscc.html). > [@](#): > > \*\*Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) \*\* > > Various species of wormwood are reported to have antiparasitic properties and have been used traditionally to treat parasites. The safety and efficacy of this herb, however, has not been established in clinical trials. That page also lists: > [@](#): > > **Garlic (Allium sativum)** > > Laboratory studies suggest that large quantities of fresh, raw garlic may have antiparasitic properties against the roundworm, Ascaris lumbricoides; this herbal remedy has not yet been tested clinically in humans. > > **Turmeric (Curcuma longa)** > > Laboratory studies suggest that curcuminoids, the active components of turmeric, may work together with wormwood to reduce the destructive activity of parasites. Clinical trials with humans are warranted. ---
**Author:** ![ken\_stoico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e99b99/32.png) [@ken\_stoico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ken_stoico)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2010, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-spices-actually-effective-against-intestinal-parasites/217651/6 "2010-12-04T14:17:01Z")
An old Amish folk medicine journal states that hot chile peppers are effective for intestinal worms. I tried this method and passed a 6ft. tapeworm after mixing the peppers with various foods…such as Italian spaghetti, salads, stews, etc. I did this for about 2 weeks on a daily basis. You need to remove the scolex (head) of the tapeworm, otherwise, the worm will regenerate. I continued using the peppers (red dried Chile peppers), for another 2 weeks and passed a family of roundworms that were still in alive in the toilet. After another 2 weeks several threadworms were passed. The peppers clean the intestinal wall of old fecal matter and the worms actually have no where to hide. ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2010, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-spices-actually-effective-against-intestinal-parasites/217651/7 "2010-12-04T15:22:07Z")
Any side effects? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2010, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-spices-actually-effective-against-intestinal-parasites/217651/8 "2010-12-04T15:26:44Z")
> [@Myglaren](#): > > Any side effects? Other than lurching about looking for brains? ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2010, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-spices-actually-effective-against-intestinal-parasites/217651/9 "2010-12-04T17:19:38Z")
> [@ken\_stoico](#): > > An old Amish folk medicine journal states that hot chile peppers are effective for intestinal worms. I tried this method and passed a 6ft. tapeworm after mixing the peppers with various foods..such as Italian spaghetti, salads, stews, etc. I did this for about 2 weeks on a daily basis. You need to remove the scolex (head) of the tapeworm, otherwise, the worm will regenerate. I continued using the peppers (red dried Chile peppers), for another 2 weeks and passed a family of roundworms that were still in alive in the toilet. After another 2 weeks several threadworms were passed. The peppers clean the intestinal wall of old fecal matter and the worms actually have no where to hide. Rubbish. The intestines do not harbor “old fecal matter,” and parasites do not “hide” in old fecal matter – they burrow partway into tissue, which is why they’re not excreted. Anyone infected with a tapeworm, a “family” of roundworms (which I suppose means Ascaris lumbricoides), and threadworms (pinworms? Enterobius?) would have been pretty damn sick. Identifying threadworms/pinworms in feces is very difficult – I’d say impossible, unless you routinely pull your stool out of the toilet and examine it. Most importantly, if peppers could remove parasites that effectively, they wouldn’t be endemic in areas where peppers are eaten with every meal. ETA: And since when do the Amish cook with hot peppers? My recollection of Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine is that it’s bland, bland, bland. ---
**Author:** ![Staggerlee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/staggerlee/32/3134_2.png) [@Staggerlee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Staggerlee)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-spices-actually-effective-against-intestinal-parasites/217651/10 "2010-12-06T10:54:01Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > Other than lurching about looking for brains? No surprise that a zombie is absolutely riddled with worms, either. ---
**Author:** ![ken\_stoico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e99b99/32.png) [@ken\_stoico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ken_stoico)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-spices-actually-effective-against-intestinal-parasites/217651/11 "2010-12-10T00:34:17Z")
> [@Nametag](#): > > Rubbish. The intestines do not harbor “old fecal matter,” and parasites do not “hide” in old fecal matter – they burrow partway into tissue, which is why they’re not excreted. Anyone infected with a tapeworm, a “family” of roundworms (which I suppose means Ascaris lumbricoides), and threadworms (pinworms? Enterobius?) would have been pretty damn sick. Identifying threadworms/pinworms in feces is very difficult – I’d say impossible, unless you routinely pull your stool out of the toilet and examine it. Most importantly, if peppers could remove parasites that effectively, they wouldn’t be endemic in areas where peppers are eaten with every meal. > > ETA: And since when do the Amish cook with hot peppers? My recollection of Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine is that it’s bland, bland, bland. Rubbish? Oh yeah, and lots of it. Remember when they performed an autopsy on John Wayne? If I recall it was somewhere around 50 lbs. of “old fecal matter” that was found stuck in his colon…not to mention the worms. Well “Duke” rest in peace. Of course the Jewish Medical Association would never let anyone know the problems intestinal parasite can cause…and lose billions of dollars on misdiagnosed symptoms. Maybe that’s why Jews don’t eat pork ! Hmmmm. I would advise anyone interested in finding more information about the subject to visit Dr. Bill Miller’s websites. He has an interesting article entitled “Parasites. Worms and Flukes.” Another informative film produced by National Geographic called “The Body Snatchers.” is well worth seeing. My first symptoms were the presence of fecal fat…known in the medical community as steatorrhea. The worms interfere with the absorbtion of fat. Yes worms burrow themselves deep in tissue and hide to avoid detection. They have been around for thousands of years and their ability to survive is uncanny. Trust me…they are difficult to kill. Smaller worms like hookworms, threadworms are quite visible. Females are much larger than males. It’s true the Amish do not like “spicy” food. But they do use spices for medicinal purposes. Anyone interested in knowing more about Amish remedies can obtain the book “Amish Folk Medicine” written by Patrick Quillin. I have tried other remedies like onions, garlic, wormwood etc. They did not work. Hot dry red chile peppers, cut, fried and mixed with food did the job…and lots of 'em too. ---
**Author:** ![spenczar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/858c86/32.png) [@spenczar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spenczar)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-spices-actually-effective-against-intestinal-parasites/217651/12 "2010-12-10T00:41:17Z")
> [@ken\_stoico](#): > > Rubbish? Oh yeah, and lots of it. Remember when they performed an autopsy on John Wayne? Sure.. yeah.. ok.. blah blah.. > [@](#): > > If I recall it was somewhere around 50 lbs. of “old fecal matter” that was found stuck in his colon…not to mention the worms. Well “Duke” rest in peace. yadda yadda… hmm.. gross… > [@](#): > > Of course the Jewish Medical Association would never let anyone know the problems intestinal parasite can cause…and lose billions of dollars on misdiagnosed symptoms. Maybe that’s why Jews don’t eat pork ! Hmmmm. … blah bla- wait what? How did _that_ happen? I get it! It’s a [Dead Snow](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1278340/) reenactment! ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-spices-actually-effective-against-intestinal-parasites/217651/13 "2010-12-10T00:42:37Z")
> [@ken\_stoico](#): > > Rubbish? Oh yeah, and lots of it. Remember when they performed an autopsy on John Wayne? If I recall it was somewhere around 50 lbs. of “old fecal matter” that was found stuck in his colon…not to mention the worms. Well “Duke” rest in peace. [Complete balderdash.](http://www.snopes.com/horrors/gruesome/fecalcolon.asp) ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-spices-actually-effective-against-intestinal-parasites/217651/14 "2010-12-10T00:50:03Z")
John Wayne autopsy proving him full of shit? [I don’t think so](http://www.snopes.com/horrors/gruesome/fecalcolon.asp) … And if they did find some residue in there, I would give him a pass as a special issue, the poor guy died of cancer and was on some pretty damned heavy opiates, which affect peristalsis and cause whopping nasty constipation. That constipation has absolutely NOTHING to do with being full up with shit stuck to your intestinal walls. Try getting your head out of your ass and give up pseudoscience. ---
**Author:** ![ken\_stoico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e99b99/32.png) [@ken\_stoico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ken_stoico)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-spices-actually-effective-against-intestinal-parasites/217651/15 "2010-12-10T00:54:46Z")
Residue…you ever see his gut? ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-spices-actually-effective-against-intestinal-parasites/217651/16 "2010-12-10T01:00:28Z")
Well I’ve gone to National Geographic and searched under their Video link for “worm”, “parasite” and “intestinal”. Shock of shocks, I was not able to find \*any]/i] films relevant to this discussion. All this despite **ken** ’s recommendation > [@](#): > > Another informative film produced by National Geographic called “The Body Snatchers.” is well worth seeing Perhaps he accidentally misinformed us.:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-spices-actually-effective-against-intestinal-parasites/217651/17 "2010-12-10T01:01:55Z")
> [@ken\_stoico](#): > > Residue…you ever see his gut? a “gut” is nearly always from excessive visceral fat. anyone with enough impacted matter in the colon that would cause a visible gut, well, it wouldn’t be visible because said person would be in agonizing pain. > [@](#): > > Remember when they performed an autopsy on John Wayne? If I recall it was somewhere around 50 lbs. of “old fecal matter” that was found stuck in his colon are you really this dumb, or was the guy eating lead shot or something before he died? ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-spices-actually-effective-against-intestinal-parasites/217651/18 "2010-12-10T13:25:22Z")
> [@ken\_stoico](#): > > Residue…you ever see his gut? Did you? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-spices-actually-effective-against-intestinal-parasites/217651/19 "2010-12-10T13:43:18Z")
The problem with much of what’s been posted here is that it refers to bacteria (not parasites), references in vitro (test tube) research (not activity in the human body) or undocumented folklore. The bottom line on wormwood seems to be that it is overhyped and also toxic to humans (a component is a promising malaria drug). Hard to believe that the old John Wayne 50 pounds o’ poop nonsense made it in here. > [@ken\_stoico](#): > > Residue…you ever see his gut? I’ve seen the “guts” of a whole bunch of patients at autopsy (I’m a pathologist) and even in cases where people have been critically ill and their gastrointestinal functions slowed way down, their bowels don’t contain more than a few pounds of feces. The Wayne story is nonsense. There is no ancient fecal matter encrusting anyone’s bowels, parasites don’t hide in it, and the myriad “parasite cleanses” that infest the Internet are bunk. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-spices-actually-effective-against-intestinal-parasites/217651/20 "2010-12-10T14:07:43Z")
> [@](#): > > There is no ancient fecal matter encrusting anyone’s bowels, parasites don’t hide in it, and the myriad “parasite cleanses” that infest the Internet are bunk. I especially get a kick out of these fools who swear by these “colon cleansing” supplements, and hold up (sometimes literally) these disgusting masses of crap they drop out as proof that the supplements work. Uh, dumbass, the supplement you’re taking is what puts that crap in your colon in the first place! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-spices-actually-effective-against-intestinal-parasites/217651.md?page=2)