A Wormy Way of Life

I too, was unable to access the article Zoe recommended us read regarding worms as treatment for IBD. However, I did find another article on WebMDHealth pertaining to the same information. This article plainly states that “Parasitic Worms Ease IBD.” It briefly explains the wormy treatments and research for IBD conducted under gastroenterologist Robert W. Summers, MD, of the University of Iowa, College of Medicine. Several IBD patients are administered thousands of eggs of Tichuris suis, the “whipworm” (named for its whipping tail) found in pig intestines. The initial treatment with these patients shows evidence of a boost in their quality of life and also a decrease in symptoms. However, their symptoms do return. As a result, Summers increases the dosage every two weeks. In the end he states, “Some patients have continued getting the doses for years now and are doing well. And we have yet to detect any side effects in any patient.”

Although, the research carried out by Summers was fascinating to read that wasn’t what caught my attention with the article. I don’t know about any of you, but I was always taught that cleanliness was the key to a disease free lifestyle. Well this article made me rethink that theory and childhood teaching. The article explains that underdeveloped countries with insufficient sanitary conditions are without diseases such as IBD. Researchers suspect that the nonexistent diseases are due to parasitic worms, “helminths,” that live in the intestines of humans and animals. In contrast, industrialized, developed nations such as the U.S. lack helminths, therefore, countries without these parasites run rapid in IBD. Summers says to WebMD, “In fact, Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis really emerged in the U.S. during the 1920s and 1930s, when we began to shift to improved plumbing and sanitation and we no longer fertilized soil with both human and animal waste. Until then, these parasites were very common. And we didn’t have much IBD.” Now, isn’t that interesting? Made my eyes bulge out. So pretty much, Cleanliness = Disease; Dirtiness = Health. Hmmmm!

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/537189