Parasites as treatment

[carolinajak]

I was listening to NPR, and an author they had on gave an example of old somewhat crude remedies that are becoming new again and have some proven results. The one related to crohns was to purposely introduce a type pf parasitic worm in the the GI tract that they can control and doesn't have huge side effects (further detail was not given). The purpose of this is to give the out of control immune system something constructive to attack. This is experimental obviously, but I found it really interesting. Another non-crohns example that you may be familiar with is leeching (allowing leeches to attach to wounds) to get rid of infections and clean wounds.

The author had a whole book on these topics but I haven't been able to dig it up yet and do not remember the name or title from the NPR program. Anyone heard of any of this? Any thoughts?

 

[kix66]

Worms

http://rootio.com/news/2006/12/30/[...a-possible-crohns-disease-treatment-63324.htm

I found this site interesting....don't think I want to give it a try tho...

 

[carolinajak]

nice digging. thanks for the link. it explains it much better. it says no side effects, really interesting. i think i will wait for them to do some more long term follow up on the treatment, but it sounds better than steroids.

 

[carolinajak]

So I saw the author of the book I was talking about tonight on the daily show. the book is called Survival of the Sickest. Read more here, very cool stuff.

 

[Hamp]

It is this german company that manufactures these, hmmm, worms. You can try this today. If you have the cash. The price of one treatment (10 doses every two weeks or so) is about 3 000 euros.

www.ovamed.de

There is some hope of getting it on insurance in a few years though.

The idea is really interesting. To remove the problem or what is wrong in the body, instead of depressing the symptoms.

 

[carolinajak]

Cool, where did you dig up this company?

 

[smith02]

This is no doubt a welcome move but then as far as the expenses is concerned it is clear that not all can afford to take up the huge cost involved in this. Further I dont think that the said form of treatment is available globally so those who might get benefit out of this would be only a handful, hope that there are something as a treatment that can be universally accepted.

 

[FQ1513]

Alternative to Ovamed (whipworm from German company)

Hi, I have asthma and have been following the issue of helminth infection vs. various autoimmune diseases for years. Ovamed was founded by Joel Weinstock of the University of Iowa to capitalize on his research into whipworm and IBD/Crohn's.

His most recent research suggest hookworm are a better choice (http://gut.bmj.com/cgi/content/extract/55/1/136). Ovamed is using ursine (pig) whipworm because it allows them to skirt the laws prohibiting sending infectious organisms through the mail - they do not infect humans in the strict sense of the word. They also have (from Ovamed's point of view) the advantage of dying off every two weeks which means customers purchase regularly. If they were human whipworm it would be one dose ever few years.

I cured my asthma with hookworm. Because it was so hard and dangerous to obtain hookworm I have founded a business to make them available.

I got around the laws about infectious organisms by basing my company in Mexico. You can visit a preliminary version of my site at http://www.autoimmunetherapies.com.

I have negotiated relationships with clinics and doctors in Mexico and hope to be operational by the end of summer, 2007.

let me know what you think, but please be polite!

thanks.

 

[TiredofCrohns]

I think I'll pass on allowing leeches to clean my internal wounds. Although there are many creatures of nature that do this such as maggots that clean dead flesh away from wounds and not "good" flesh.

 

[killerzoey]

I'm interested. I have reviewed the autoimmunetherapies website but would need SUBSTANTIAL reassurance about the methods used in the lab to ensure that unwanted pathogens are not transmitted with the hookworms.

I am often in California and it would be nothing for me to make a trip down to Tijuana for the treatment. And I love that the hookworm lives longer than the porcine whipworm (that could get really expensive couldn't it? I'd just need bulletproof reassurance I wouldn't possibly be infected with something like HIV or Hepatitis, increasing my problems rather than hopefully decreasing them.

Respectfully,

Jamie

 

[Dekar]

it has virtually no side effects if you arent infected with a lot (this worm's cousins are commonly found in humans in 3rd world countries). it eats a couple millileters of blood a day which is nothing, if theres a lot in ur body though it adds up and makes you anemic, but thats in the extreme.

 

[healthboy]

Using leeches as well as maggots to help clear wounds have been around for a while now. Although I am not generally squeamish, I would rather opt for another form of treatment.