Jimmy Bernot PhD - Heres the story of how I volunteered to be infected with fifty parasitic worms (hookworm) for a year as part of a research study

I feel normal but for 1 thing… no seasonal allergies! I have a scratchy throat in the spring from pollen but not this year! The worms secrete compounds to modulate your immune system slightly so they don’t get killed by it…

It’s been suggested this immunomodulation might help people w/ overactive immune issues like IBS, Crohn’s disease, or even allergies. The jury is still out on this and obviously my experience is just a single anecdotal one, but interesting!

If anyone wants a book-length read on this idea, look at Moises Velasquez-Manoff’s An Epidemic of Absence (please note that I recommend the book as an interesting read but NOT an endorsement of the principles or therapies it discusses — as far as I’m aware there is not yet scientific consensus on this).

The book identifies the theory that many autoimmune disorders stem from the immune system not having sufficient actual targets, so it starts identifying friendly/neutral targets as enemies. Introducing manageable, low-harm parasites into the body, the theory goes, lets the immune system focus on their presence, relieving some of the symptoms of allergies and autoimmune disorders.

Apparently there are readily available black market treatments where you can buy your own worms and whatnot, and Velasquez-Manoff tells stories of multiple people who sought treatment this way (himself included).

The whole concept has a squickiness to it that I find hard to stomach, but I also think that speaks to the magnitude of the suffering of some people with severe disorders that they would consider such treatment in the first place. I have some moderate allergies and mild eczema and while they aren’t debilitating, they are certainly obnoxious. I totally get where people who experience far worse are coming from should they choose to seek relief in a manner that is so troubling at face value.