Strong Evidence Suggests Parasitic Worms can Cure Auto Immune Diseases

This is the news I belatedly learned from an article in a recent issue of Mental Floss..

…It seems that a scientist named Joel Weinstock (NY Times Article/Boston Globe Article) has been successfully experimenting with parasitic worms on humans for the past decade or so. His research stems from ‘Hygiene Theory‘ and a distinct correlation he noted between the de-worming and sterilizing of popluations and an increase in auto-immune disorders. For example, Weinstein observed a “100-fold increase in Crohn’s Disease and ulcerative colitis infections in the United States – concurrent with worm infestation eradication.” (Mental Floss)

…Over the last decade, Weinstein and others have been putting live parasitic worms, such as hookworms, inside human hosts, with incredible results. These researchers have been able to demonstrate complete remission of Crohn’s Disease and even a 95% reduction in relapses in patients with Multiple Sclerosis! How is this possible??

…Well, it seems the exact reasons why are still being debated and tested, but the predominate reasoning is that humans and parasitic worms – as well as microbes and bacteria – have long had a symbiotic relationship, or at least a naturalized relationship. The human immune system adapted to the presence of parasites, with the parasites possibly even changing the genetic makeup of human ‘helper-T’ cells. The human body, used to having these parasites around, developed immune responses strong enough to keep the parasites in check. From the late 19th century on, more and more emphasis was placed on cleanliness; soap was used on a wide basis, toilets and sewage systems were advanced and developed, and food was over-cooked to safe levels. This culminated in the 1950s – with the spic-and-span housewife/home image, anti-septic cleaners for the entire household, DDT spraying, pesticide use, etc. The ultra-cleanliness of the 1950s carried on more-or-less, and today we have ultra modern, sealed, central-air homes, with the same cleaners, plus microwaves, dishwashers, and anti-bacterial hand-wash galore. While its hard to argue that all this cleanliness didn’t have positive results, with the virtual eradication of cholera, typhoid fever, and typhus in the west, as well as defence against e-coli outbreaks and so on, it now becomes apparent that this system has many negative consequences for us as well.

…The mantra of ‘cleanliness is next to godliness,’ with roots in ancient Babylonian and Hebrew times is an excellent lens – both to criticize, and to view this problem. In my opinion, like organized religion, this mantra is a false and destructive method of control. To ramble a bit, while organized religion brings us solace, community connection and moralistic teachings, it also controls our minds, spirits, and wallets, lies to us, instills false trust, and causes war, terror, and wanton destruction. Whereas the west has been slowly turning away from organized religion – or at least one dominant form of it, we have been quickly amping up our efforts to sanitize our environment – to control the earth to our liking beyond the realm of the domestication of animals. The great cleaning process, through the manufacture and application of harsh and toxic chemicals, has poisoned our environment. Pesticides cause birth defects and cancer, cleaning supplies continuously dumped in our water systems have harmed water supplies, fish and frogs, poisoned homeowners, children and janitors. Some cleaning products contain known carcinogens and can enter our skin and lungs. Now, to top it off, we find that mass sanitize-ation (interesting word ‘SANITYize’) has further disrupted our ecosystem.

…So, should we stop washing our hands and start pooping in the streets again? Absolutely not! This is not an option for the majority of westerners who live in cities at least. Basic cleanliness and sewage-handling is essential in what is really a completely unnatural social environment. Humans are not supposed to live in large cities together, we are supposed to live in small groups. If you argue that we’ve evolved towards city life, well fine, but we must then enforce standards of cleanliness which will keep things like, oh, the Bubonic Plague at bay. The Plague was essentially caused by unclean, overcrowded conditions, which then stimulated vectoring through rats, fleas and dead bodies. But basic standards are really all we need. We have to find a balance whereby we are using only limited amounts of biodegradable, environmentally-sound cleaning products, manage our garbage, manage our excrement, and eat wiser, with minimal fuss.  The tools are there right now: Environmentally-safe cleaning products are in vogue, we have the infrastructure for sewage and garbage, and we try to recycle and compost. Moreover, many, such as the creators of Food Inc. (and local CB Beef farmers) believe that naturally-raised, free-range meat is much cleaner than factory meat and almost eliminates any chance of e-coli outbreak; meaning you don’t have to cook it so much and can allow yourself to get some microbe exposure. Of course we have to do more in this regard, but the foundation is there and progress is very possible.

…But what about these worms? It would seem very difficult to reintroduce parasitic worms into an urban environment, at least for the near future. For one thing, most people who don’t gag at the idea to begin with, would probably rather not regularly expose themselves to parasitic creatures which burrow through their skin and writhe around inside them. To get these worms, we would have to eat a lot of raw meat and/or go walk around in the sewers and such, a prospect I don’t see happening – right? On the other hand, when a person is diagnosed with MS – a terrible, painful, crippling disease, it comes down to taking multiple expensive drugs with numerous side-effects and no possibility of a cure OR stick a worm in yourself, get past the disgust, and have a very good chance of living a normal life.

…Because parasitic worms have mostly disappeared from the western world, alternative methods of worm application have had to be found. As discussed in Mental Floss, some scientists have been working on using worm species which generally infect pigs and other animals, while others have been working on synthesizing the right proteins from the worms to create a new wonder-drug. The standard pill form will hold the most initial appeal to the most people, as it can completely remove any unsightly worm suggestions – but it misses the point. Manufacturing yet another pill will make another pharmaceutical company even richer, continue our cultural reliance on pills, and do nothing to change our fucked up relation to our own environment, or our relationship with the other creatures in it [See Picture below for how well MS drug companies do].

…While rural westerners could benefit from a reintroduction of parasitic worms into their natural environment, city-dwellers are left with the above options, and options from entrepreneurs such as Jasper Lawrence, founder of Autoimmune Therapies. This enterprising man began his business by flying to Cameroon, Africa, and picked up hundreds of worms by walking around barefoot in local latrines for hours. The worms tunnelled through his feet, through his bloodstream, and into his intestines, where they reside. He then flew back to LA and started a mail/online-order business which sells hookworm eggs to clients with auto-immune diseases (or those who don’t want to get them). Unfortunately, the eggs are rather expensive – but his business sets a precedent which could allow for expansion and the usual levelling of prices through increased demand. Even with the price (around $3000), I’m sure many people with MS and other diseases would be more than willing to pay. More unfortunately, the worms only survive for two to five years, which means you may have to order more. I see people getting around this with either massive scale worm farming or laboratory growing (which would probably never happen if the pill form is perfected), or something akin to local organic farming, where some community farmers or university labs could purchase or acquire worm eggs, use themselves and perhaps even their families/students as hosts, and then store and sell the results – maybe even at farmers markets.

…To conclude, rather than the mantra ‘cleanliness is next to godliness,’ I vote we put more emphasis on ‘what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger.’

…I passionately encourage everyone who reads this to learn more about it via the hyper-links I’ve posted throughout, and personal research. If you know someone with Crohn’s, MS, Type 1 Diabetes, or other auto-immune disorders – TELL THEM about the potential for parasitic worm treatment!

For an academic study on the topic, see: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1618732/

For further information and links, see: http://jem.rupress.org/cgi/content/full/206/2/262

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