Helminthic parasites are parasitic worms, such as hookworm, that co-evolved with humans and damp the immune attack against themselves, fine-tuning the immune system so it tolerates harmless triggers. Without them, the immune system overreacts, which is why modern sanitation tracks with rising allergies and autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis and Crohn’s.
While there is a clear genetic predisposition for some individuals to develop autoimmune disorders, there are also significant environmental interactions, with a near epidemic rise in autoimmune disorders and food allergies in the industrialized world occurring in less than fifty years. Access to clean water, safe food, sanitation, and modern medical care in the last century has led to a near elimination of parasitic infections in modern cultures. Unfortunately, improved sanitation has also been closely associated with an increase in hypersensitivity and autoimmune disorders such as Multiple Sclerosis, Crohn’s, and peanut allergies. It should be noted that tropical and subtropical parts of the world with poor sanitation have high numbers of people with ongoing parasitic infection and extremely low incidences of inflammatory diseases. Additionally, when immigrants relocate to the western world with its pristine sanitation, the next generation develops autoimmune disorders and food allergies similar to the industrialized world.
The “hygiene hypothesis” suggests that parasitic worms fine-tune the human immune system and protect against allergies and autoimmune diseases. Parasites have co-evolved to manipulate their environments so they can live and reproduce without causing the illness or death of their host. By mediating the immune system’s attack against them, parasites can live and reproduce comfortably. Parasites release substances that interact with the host’s chemistry, and 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.
Autoimmune reactions occur when the immune system launches an attack at something that is not harmful, either a substance in the environment or the individual’s own tissues. Exposure to certain organisms in our natural environment teaches the human immune system which things it needs to respond to and which things it can safely ignore. Exposure to helminthic parasites triggers the fine-tuning of the immune system and teaches it to tolerate the parasite, as well as some overlapping antigens seen in Multiple Sclerosis, Crohn’s and peanut allergies. If the immune system is never exposed to helminths and other fecal microorganisms, it doesn’t mature properly, resulting in an exaggerated response, and development of allergies and autoimmune diseases.
Other autoimmune mediated diseases that may be reduced by parasitic infections include Alzheimer’s disease, asthma, atherosclerosis, some cancers, eczema, hay fever, Parkinson’s disease, type one diabetes, celiac disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and ulcerative colitis.
The use of helminthic therapy with hookworm and TSO is currently being investigated. Data suggests that Multiple Sclerosis, Crohn’s and severe peanut allergies all benefit from induced parasitic infections.
Frequently asked questions
Which parasites are helminths?
Helminths are parasitic worms, and hookworm is one example. These worms co-evolved with people and learned to calm the immune system’s attack against them, so they could live and reproduce in the gut without killing their host. Hookworm and TSO are the two now being investigated in helminthic therapy for Multiple Sclerosis, Crohn’s and severe peanut allergies.
Can helminthic therapy help autoimmune disease?
Helminthic therapy uses a deliberate, induced parasitic infection to retrain an overactive immune system. It is being investigated now, and the data suggest that Multiple Sclerosis, Crohn’s and severe peanut allergies all benefit. The idea rests on the hygiene hypothesis: once clean water and sanitation removed the worms, the immune system lost the brake they provided and began attacking harmless targets.
Is helminthic therapy used for Crohn’s disease?
Crohn’s is one of the three conditions where the data point to a benefit from induced infection with hookworm or TSO, and the therapy is still being investigated. Crohn’s also follows the sanitation pattern: inflammatory diseases are extremely rare where parasitic infection is common, and they rose alongside clean water, safe food and modern sanitation in the industrialized world.
