Most of us would squirm in disgust when we come across worms around the house. The very mention of parasitic worms is enough to send you scurrying for cover. But not all of us look at worms from the same perspective. Some people specialize in studying these wriggly creatures to see how they survive, thrive and how they can be used to help fellowmen. A lot many studies have been conducted on using parasitic worms for health and treatment. While there was a huge effort in the past to get rid of these worms, the scenario has changed today. What was regarded as filth is now being tested for eliminating ailments!

What have worms got to do with improving health?

These parasitic worms go by the general name ‘helminthes’. Hence we have the name helminthic therapy to represent the treatment of problems with parasitic worms. Now, a few decades back, it was common to have worms in the stomach. People had infections due to worms and went to get treated. But now, it has been observed that owing to strict hygiene, the possibility of having worms in the stomach and intestine is considerably less. But this absence of parasitic worms has also led to conditions like various bowel ailments.
It is believed that insufficient exposure to the parasites makes the body delicate and inefficient when actually faced with a parasitic worm attack. Helminthic therapy sees to exploit this fact and make the body familiar with such pathogens so that it does not get affected the next time there is an outbreak of worms.

How can worms help?

Studies on the behavior of worms and the body’s response to such pathogens have led to the ‘old friends hypothesis’. This means that the body’s immune system learns how to cope with pathogens like worms by getting exposed to worms. The T regulator cells are the main participants that tackle such intruders. When kids are brought up in a fully hygienic environment, the body’s immune system does not encounter such worms. Therefore, the body fails to respond properly when there is a worm infection.
The autoimmune ailments like bowel inflammation can now be treated by infecting the healthy body with an ova or the actual helminthes worm. Such an inoculation helps to prepare the body for a future worm attack. The chemicals generated to tackle the infection are then triggered whenever there is a worm infection in future, making the body capable of coping.

I do not want harmful worms in my body!

While helminthic therapy involves exposing the body to worms, it does not mean that we are inviting all harmful worms to infest your body. To qualify as a possible candidate, a helminthic worm must satisfy some basic requirements. Such a parasitic worm must be easily removable from the body when needed. A helminthic worm must not be capable of damaging the body system. It should be a worm incapable of causing disease in the person, if given in proper regulated doses. The doctors administering the dose must be in a position to control the amount of worms. Hence, the helminthic worm must not be capable of reproducing at uncontrolled rates.

Such a parasitic worm must not have the capability to set off an attack by spreading from person to person. It must not be able to transmit from one person to another. The other important factor is that injecting the body with these worms must not affect any other medication the person may be taking currently. Compatibility is a must. Also, such worms must not carry any other kind of bacteria or virus with them. It must stay in the body for a certain time until the body has found some mechanism to combat the attack.

What about side effects?

Rest assured, the treatment is done based on strict standards. While you will not be harmed by taking the treatment, a few side effects are natural. You might have a little pain in the abdomen, slight fatigue or discomfort in the stomach. These conditions wear off in a short time. These worms have been very effective in helping the body cope with autoimmune disorders. Moreover, it just sounds a bit disgusting but is very helpful and less complicated as compared to the other treatments. Of course, you will be checked for already existing health problems before the doctors consider you for the treatment. There are well-defined procedures for the treatment and with the experts, you are in safe hands.
The helminthic therapy has achieved a good remission rate in patients, as compared to other fancy treatments. Not only that, this therapy is relatively less expensive and time-consuming than the other new therapies available today. There are hardly any risks, when you see the risk of acquiring cancer or more through other treatments.

Dosage and durations

Helminthic therapy normally involves a set of oral doses. The subsequent doses depend on the efficiency of the first few doses in a patient. 500 ova are administered in a single dose the first time. The next dose may be given from 1 to 3 weeks. The maximum dosage usually goes up to about 2500 ova. This has generated good results. There were hardly any side effects in the average patient, but some sensitive patients did report slight discomfort. If the worm larva is applied to the skin, there might be a temporary rash on that area. There are usually 4 oral doses spread out at a frequency of one dose every 3 weeks.

Progress

Research is still on to determine how many diseases can be treated by such a therapy. More people are growing aware about the efficiency of helminthic therapy. Willingness is the key factor to helminthic therapy. The benefits are many. Currently, treatment is available for multiple sclerosis, IBD, dermatitis, eczema, asthma and a few others. With more study, experts are trying to find how helminthic therapy can work well to treat even more conditions. Who knew that a worm infection could actually help us?

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