As The Worm Turns.
Posted on 01/28/2009 7:39:48 PM PST by Steelfish
What? From this link...it seems as tho the hookworm infection may emulate the symptoms of asthma:
http://www.personalmd.com/news/hookworm_072600.shtml
Or conversely, in undeveloped countries those who are predisposed to asthma could have a tendency of dying out - not from asthma per se, but from any number of other diseases which are likely to afflict those with weaker constitutions.
Theodoric, Barber of York used to do wonders with leeches.
As The Worm Turns.
Helminthic therapy.
“Could hold key......”
and if it doesn’t, what? You’re full of worms?
The mention of using pig whipworms was based on German research. Pig whipworms can only live in the human body for a couple of weeks, and so were ideal to work with, and had good results.
Importantly, using hookworm for severe asthma only seems to work as long as the infection is maintained, so in past, those individuals that used the treatment had to breed their own hookworms and reinfect themselves at intervals. Hookworms are more dangerous than whipworms, especially to children, because they may cause anemia.
Hookworm used to be endemic the the southern US, but was generally wiped out by the wearing of shoes, and the use of latrines. Several species are still around in the world, and are carried by dogs and cats. In the developing world, there has been considerable effort to wipe it out.
There is considerable potential for research, as over 100 different types of worms are known to infest humans.
They are case studying this in the treatment of Celiac Disease as well in Europe. (My kids have C.D. It’s an auto-immune disease too) But no - I won’t let them get worms!
I’m fairly convinced (though only anecdotal evidence) that asthma is more prevalent in households that are cleaned by neat freaks. Friends that grew up in sterile houses all have asthma. Friends and I who grew up in dusty houses that maybe got windex/lisoled once a month if we were lucky don’t have asthma.
Dr. Joel Weinstock of the University of Iowa did some amazing research in this area.
It will be interesting to read and hear the ‘small print’, ‘fast talking’ about the side affects... sometimes similar to or worse than what the intended ailment was!
Reminds me of this cure.
My arm hurts.
We’ll break your leg.
How will that help.
You won’t feel the pain in your arm.
I’ve noticed the same thing. It seems that not only are their immune systems not developed to handle natural toxins but they are also bombarded with cleaning chemicals, which are toxic. A double whammy.
Hey, I'm not a clean freak when it comes to housecleaning. But I'd have to be dead before I'd deliberately let someone infect me with worms.
Another neat treatment involves using maggots to clean wounds. Highly effective against gangrene. The maggots eat only the decaying flesh, leaving the healthy flesh to heal.
Good ol’ maggots. Our little friends.
I knew a family who came from an extremely spotless house and almost everything almost killed them.
I dunno about the asthma, my granddaughter has grown up in a dusty house, she’s had pigs, dogs, cats, goats, horses and when she turned 13 started up with the asthma. She’s allergic to all animals and she loves them.
She has ended up with a hamster,she is allergic to him but she just holds him in her hands and then washes them immediately. Her brother cleans the cage and he lives in her brother’s room.
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