Capillaria hepatica
Liver capillariasis
Symptoms reported
- •space-occupying lesion in the liver
- •hepatitis
- •liver dysfunction
Life cycle
Adults live in the liver and deposit eggs in the parenchyma; eggs must be released by the death or predation of the host to become infective.
Transmission
Ingestion of embryonated eggs from contaminated environment or feces of predators that ate infected livers.
Conventional medical treatment
Albendazole or Thiabendazole.
For information only. Discuss with a licensed healthcare provider before starting any pharmaceutical.
Treatment Options — Natural First, Pharmaceutical When Needed
Natural First
- •Berberine
- •Garlic
- •Neem
- •Activated charcoal (binder)
- •Hydration + electrolytes
- •Rest + bone broth nutrition
Pharmaceutical (if natural-first insufficient)
- •Albendazole or Thiabendazole.
When to escalate to pharmaceutical
Pharmaceutical first if: heavy worm burden with anemia or weight loss, persistent symptoms > 6 weeks of natural treatment, pediatric failure to thrive, immunocompromised host, or pregnancy.
Traditional herbal alternatives
In stock at our apothecary
In our database (educational reference)
Each herb above carries a tradition. See the 2,000-year lineage of Western herbal medicine →
“Hepatic capillariasis: First case report in the Republic of Korea... A space-occupying lesion in the liver due to Capillaria infection.”
— Foundations of Parasitology (Roberts, Janovy)
This page is for educational purposes only. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Consult a licensed healthcare provider before acting on anything you read here.