Cina: A Powerful Remedy for Tantrums, Worms, and Restless Nights

Best known as a go-to remedy for worms, Cina also has a remarkable ability to calm those sudden, explosive meltdowns that don’t seem to come from any obvious emotional upset. In the world of cina homeopathy, recognising the full picture of physical and emotional signs helps the remedy shine. It’s not necessarily about what happened, but rather about a child who feels on edge – constantly irritated, touchy, and ready to erupt. Cina has big and sudden emotions, often when a child needs Cina the parent/s are at their wits end – they may be feeling completely desperate trying to manage the behaviour of their child and often feel embarrassed, defeated and exhausted by their child’s tantrums and outbursts.

The remedy Cina is made from Artemisia cina, or wormseed—a plant whose dried flower heads have been used for centuries in traditional and indigenous medicine to expel intestinal worms. This homeopathic remedy Cina is processed via potentisation, making it safe and appropriate for the sensitive cases described. In homeopathy, these flowers are tinctured, diluted, and potentized into the safe and powerful remedy we know as Cina. While wormseed in its raw form can be toxic, in homeopathic doses it is entirely safe and remarkably effective.

As a remedy for worms, Cina has a clear set of physical signs that often catch our attention; itching in the rectum, especially at night, is common. Children might grind their teeth in their sleep, pick at their nose and show a high level of irritability.

These more commonly known signs of worms often help us to see what’s going on, but they are not always present, Cina also reveals itself through other physical disturbances, the child’s appearance and a very distinct emotional picture.

Children who need Cina often have huge emotional outbursts that seem to come from nowhere. This kind of pattern is exactly what the cina homeopathic remedy aims to address in holistic practice. Their tempers are sudden and can be violent, they may lash out – hitting, biting, or kicking in sheer frustration. One of the hallmark traits is contradiction: they demand something desperately, only to throw it away or reject it once it’s given. Nothing seems to satisfy them. Parents often describe these children as impossible to please—easily overwhelmed, constantly dissatisfied, and quick to anger.

Despite their behavior seeming to be attention-seeking, these children usually hate being touched or looked at. They resist comfort from their parents and loved ones, but especially dislike attention from strangers. Underneath the temper and defiance is a child who feels very out of sorts in their own body. Physical symptoms which are sharp and intense are characteristic.

Night-time often makes things worse for Cina children who may be incredibly restless in bed, twitching and jerking during sleep, waking frequently, and or grinding their teeth. Some have nightmares and may wake screaming out. Bedwetting can also be a sign of worms, and we see both chronic and periodic bedwetting in Cina.

Despite being hungry all the time, even asking for food shortly after eating, they tend to lose weight or remain thin. They often crave specific foods, particularly bread and sweet things.

Digestive discomfort is another key aspect of the Cina picture. Colicky pain around the belly button is common, and it can be either relieved or worsened by pressure. Often, the pain comes on after eating. This can be a great remedy for Colic in babies who are worse from mothers milk and present with some of the other Cina symptoms.

There may also be a dry, spasmodic cough—short, suffocative, and sometimes resembling whooping cough.

In terms of appearance Cina children are likely to be pale, may have dark circles around the eyes or a bluish tinge around the mouth. Generally they will have an unhealthy look about them.

Cina is a remedy that touches the gut, the nervous system, and the emotional body all at once. When a child needs and is prescribed Cina the transformation can be remarkable, not just for their own health, but for the whole family dynamic.

While Cina can be incredibly effective for treating worm infestations—especially when the emotional and physical picture match, repeated worm infections is a sign that something deeper is out of balance. A weakened or disrupted gut microbiome can make children more susceptible to parasites, digestive issues, and emotional dysregulation. In these cases, it’s important to look beyond just symptom relief. A full consultation with a qualified homeopath can help identify the underlying imbalance and support your child’s overall vitality and resilience from the inside out.

Blog post by Jessica de Barco
Visit her website: www.jessicadebarcohomeopathy.com
Related article by Jessica about Cina: Cina: A Case of Worms and a Terrible Temper