Treatment of Taenia saginata infection with mixture of areca nuts and pumpkin seeds.
In January and February 1974, 32 adults (20 males and 12 females) and a 13-year-old girl with taeniasis saginata were treated with the mixture of boiled areca nuts and pumpkin seeds at Mastoban, Jen-ai District, Nantou County, Taiwan. A total of 48 worms including 42 scolices were recovered from 29 cases. Side-effects were observed in 4 cases including 3 with complaints of dizziness, tinnitus, nausea and vomiting, and one with coma and abdominal pain. Mixtures of 75-150 g areca nuts and 50-100 g pumpkin seeds were judged effective and safe.
D000293:Adolescent; D001114:Areca; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D008518:Medicine, East Asian Traditional; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D012639:Seeds; D013622:Taeniasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013624:Taiwan