A substance or medicine that expels parasitic worms from the body.
From Greek 'helminthos' (worm) plus 'agogos' (leader/driver), forming a noun for worm-expelling agents. Ancient physicians used this term for any treatment that forced parasites out of infected patients.
Before modern parasitology, helminthagogues were precious—medieval healers guarded recipes for walnut-husk extracts and tansy oils that genuinely helped people get rid of parasites. These remedies worked so well that 'worm season' (spring) was when people routinely took preventive treatments.
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