Re: Natural treatment for Helminthiasis - Why?

http://suite101.com/article/parasites-a-mutually-beneficial-coexistence-a273427

Mutually Beneficial Coexistence

Successful parasites evolve to manipulate their environments so they can live and reproduce without causing the illness or death of their host. Parasites that kill their host must then face the inconvenience of their own death. But by mediating the immune system's attack against them, parasites can live and reproduce comfortably.

Many helminths have developed mechanisms to do exactly that, by releasing substances that interact with the host’s chemistry. Over thousands of years, the human immune system has slowly adapted to the presence of certain intestinal parasites. By removing the worms and the inhibitory effect that they have on inflammation, the human body can overproduce inflammatory agents, resulting in autoimmune disease.

Helminths and Immune Response

Tropical and subtropical parts of the world with poor sanitation in large populations have high numbers of people with ongoing parasitic infection. They also have extremely low incidences of inflammatory diseases, specifically asthma, IBD (Crohn’s and ulcerative Colitis) and allergic reactions. As industrialized societies have developed sterile environments and rid themselves of parasites, autoimmune diseases have increased.

Decades of related data have been collected and analyzed worldwide, and the common conclusion is that the presence of helminths in human bodies can protect people from diseases of overactive immune response. From the 1950’s to the 1980’s there was a significant leap in the number of people suffering from Crohn’s Disease. An interesting possible correlation is that this generation immediately follows one in which parasites were eliminated from the same population

Natural Treatment of IBD

In a 2004 study in Iowa, twenty-nine Crohn’s Disease patients were enrolled and given 2500 live ova from Trichuris suis (pig whipworm) every three weeks for a 24 week period. The result was that 79.3% responded (experienced improvement) and 72.4% remitted (experienced remission). There were no adverse effects and all of the subjects that enrolled had not responded to conventional therapy. This highly successful study has prompted others with similar results.

Asthma and Allergies

Dr. David Pritchard is an Immunologist at the University of Nottingham who has been studying the link between helminths and immune response suppression since the 1970’s. His research involving hookworm infection and its association with resistance to dust mite allergens has significant value in the search for an asthma cure. Scientists have been isolating compounds secreted by hookworms and other nematodes in an effort to understand the specific chemical interactions.

Fascinating results have shown consistent protective qualities that helminths have against human autoimmune disease, as well as small keys to understand how parasites and bacteria interact in human bodies. This understanding will hopefully bring opportunities to improve human health and end autoimmune disease without the need to carry parasites.

From Multiple Sclerosis to Autism

Positive and consistent findings have extended from Multiple Sclerosis studies using helminths. Believed to be an autoimmune disease, researchers are experimenting with immunosuppressive helminth activity in MS patients and finding that the disease process appears to slow, with longer remission periods.

Autism researchers began a study with helminths in December 2009 to attempt to assess the impact of helminth activity on the behavior of autistic patients. The focus is on reducing neuroimmune disturbance and thereby reducing aggression and irritability and improving general health.

Scientists are discussing the importance of the compounds that parasites secrete in order to modify our immune response in relation to conditions like atherosclerosis and skin diseases like eczema. And from the National Institutes of Health, a 2010 study on peanut allergy and helminth therapy is underway based on the science of the last decade of research for IBD and asthma.

The connection between parasites and modern inflammatory diseases is one of the most significant findings of modern medicine and is driving ongoing research towards understanding how to live healthier lives.

Sources:

David E. Elliot, Joe F. Urban, Jr., Curtis K. Argo, and Joel V. Weinstock. 2000. Does the failure to acquire helminthic parasites predispose to Crohn’s disease? The FASEB Journal 2000 14: 1848-1855 (January 3), fasebj Accessed 12 August, 2010

R W Summers, D E Elliott, J F Urban, Jr, et al. 2004. "Trichuris Suis Therapy in Crohn’s Disease." Gut 2005 54: 87-90 (March 28) gut Accessed 14 August, 2010)

Stephen Stearns. 2008. "Pig worms and multiple sclerosis: the unintended consequenses of hygiene." The Evolution and Medicine Review. 2008. (July 10). evmedreview Accessed 15 August 2010

Summers RW, Elliott DE, Qadir K, Urban JF Jr, Thompson R, Weinstock JV. 2003. "Trichuris suis seems to be safe and possibly effective in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease." National Center for Biotechnology Information, PubMed 2003 Sep;98(9):2034-41. PubMed PMID: 14499784 ncbi Accessed 14 August 2010

Yoshio Osada and Tamotsu Kanazawa, “Parasitic Helminths: New Weapons against Immunological Disorders,” Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, vol. 2010, Article ID 743758, 9 pages, 2010. doi:10.1155/2010/743758 hindawi Accesed 15 August, 2010