Why Does My Child Keep Getting Worms? Gentle Natural Support When Nothing Seems to Help

A holistic approach for families stuck in the cycle

A few weeks ago, a mum sat across from me with that familiar mix of exhaustion and worry in her eyes. Her five-year-old son had been treated for worms again — the third time in two months. “We do everything,” she told me. “Wash the sheets, treat the whole family, wipe down all the toys. But they always come back. I’m starting to feel like it’s something I’ve done wrong.”

She’s not alone.

Worms, especially threadworms are incredibly common in children. But when they keep returning, it can feel defeating, confusing, and even shameful. Most families I meet have done all the right things. They’ve cleaned, medicated, and Googled their way through the cycle — and still feel stuck.

This is where naturopathic care can offer a fresh, gentle perspective — one that focuses not just on eradicating worms, but on strengthening the body, calming the nervous system, and addressing the root of why they keep coming back.

Could My Child Need Extra Support?

Worms are surprisingly persistent. While some children have a single episode and recover quickly, others seem to get stuck in a cycle — reinfected every few weeks, struggling with itchy nights, irritability, and sleep disruption.

Here are some common signs that your child’s body may need deeper support:

• Frequent episodes of worms (every few weeks or months)

• Trouble sleeping, especially waking with itching

• Restlessness or irritability during the day

• Clinginess, anxiety, or emotional meltdowns

• Strong sugar cravings or poor appetite

• Repeated tummy aches, especially in the evening

• A history of antibiotic use or food intolerances

These signs are not failures — they’re little signals from the body that it may need a bit more support.

Nutrition for Immunity, Gut Health & Resilience

When worms keep coming back, I often look at the gut first. The digestive tract is where they live, and it’s also home to the immune system. Supporting the gut can make it harder for worms to thrive — and easier for your child’s body to clear them.

Some key areas we focus on:

• Fibre: supports bowel regularity and gut flora

• Zinc: helps strengthen the intestinal lining and immune defences

• Vitamin A: important for mucosal immunity

• Fermented foods: like coconut yoghurt or sauerkraut (if tolerated)

• Probiotics: especially strains like Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Saccharomyces boulardii

Simple food shifts — like reducing refined sugar, adding a fibre-rich breakfast, or offering probiotic-rich snacks — can make a big difference over time.

Herbal Support for Gut & Nervous System

Herbal medicine can play a beautiful role in supporting children through recurrent infections. In my clinic, I create gentle, child-safe blends to:

• Calm the digestive tract

• Gently discourage worms

• Soothe the nervous system

• Support deeper, more restful sleep

Some commonly used herbs include:

• Wormwood and clove – traditional anti-parasitic herbs (used with caution and under supervision)

• Thyme and pau d’arco – support healthy microbial balance

• Chamomile and lemon balm – calming, gentle support for stress and digestion

• Pumpkin seeds – rich in zinc and shown to have mild anti-parasitic action when eaten regularly

Herbal support is always tailored — considering your child’s age, sensitivities, constitution, and emotional world.

Homeopathy: Tuning into the Emotional Landscape

Worms are incredibly common in preschool and school-aged children — and while they’re usually harmless, they can cause a lot of discomfort, especially at night. For some children, flare-ups seem to follow emotional stress — a move, a change in routine, or a rough week at school. These sensitive kids often carry the weight of the world on their shoulders, even if they don’t have the words to express it.

Homeopathy offers gentle, holistic support by addressing the whole child — not just the worms themselves, but also their emotional landscape, energy, and individual symptoms.

Here are a few of the most commonly used remedies in clinic:

• Cina – for classic worm symptoms with irritability, teeth grinding, and tummy rubbing

• Spigelia – For nausea, mucous-filled stools, and a strange sensation of worms moving upward, with rectal itching or tickling.

• Calc carb – For sweaty, sluggish kids with crawling sensations in the rectum, strong hunger, and undigested stools.

The right remedy can help shift the inner landscape — calming the body, soothing the mind, and creating more resilience from within.

Daily Rhythms to Reduce Reinfection

Yes, hygiene matters — but it doesn’t have to become a full-time job. What I encourage is simple, consistent rhythms that feel sustainable:

• Trim fingernails short and encourage handwashing before meals

• Use a dab of coconut oil (with lavender) around the anus at night to reduce itching and egg-laying

• Change sheets and underwear daily during an active phase

• Offer grounding foods and warm baths to settle the nervous system

• Limit refined sugar and processed snacks where possible

• Create a calm bedtime rhythm to support sleep and reduce cortisol

Sometimes, the shift is not in doing more — it’s in doing less, more consistently.

A Little Story from the Clinic

The boy I mentioned earlier, Leo*, was five, bright-eyed and gentle — but deeply sensitive. He’d had multiple rounds of antibiotics as a toddler and now, in his first year of school, his gut and nervous system were showing signs of strain. He’d had worms four times in six months, and his sleep was constantly disrupted.

We started slowly — adding a small herbal blend, tweaking his snacks to include more protein and fibre, and giving his mum a simple daily plan that felt manageable.

What changed first wasn’t just the worms — it was Leo. He started sleeping through the night, was less irritable in the morning, and his emotional outbursts softened. His mum told me, “It’s like he’s back in his body again.”

By gently supporting his gut and nervous system, the worms finally stopped coming back. And Leo could get back to being a happy, grounded little boy.

*Name changed for privacy

A Gentle Word

If you’re reading this after yet another round of treatment, wondering what you’ve missed or if you’re doing enough — take a breath. You’re already doing so much. You care, you’re paying attention, and you’re trying — and that matters more than anything.

Your child isn’t dirty. You’re not doing anything wrong. Recurrent worms are incredibly common, and there is nothing shameful about seeking support.

There are gentle, natural ways to help — and you don’t have to figure it out alone.

Ready for Personalised Support?

If your child is stuck in the worm cycle and you’re feeling out of options, I’d love to help. In a children’s naturopathy consultation, we’ll explore the full picture — digestion, immunity, sleep, nervous system, and daily rhythms — and create a plan that’s realistic, nourishing, and tailored just for your family.

Book a Children’s Naturopathy Consultation
Let’s gently break the cycle — together.

With warmth and care,
Ayelet x