Faced with chronic diseases such as severe allergies, inflammatory bowel diseases, or certain autoimmune disorders, some patients who have not responded to conventional treatments explore alternative paths. Among them, helminthic self-therapy is gaining increasing interest: it involves voluntarily introducing intestinal worms (called helminths), natural parasites of the human body, into the organism. The goal? To reduce inflammation and calm an overly aggressive immune system.
This practice, still experimental, is developing outside traditional medical channels, particularly through online support groups. Some draw a parallel with phage therapy (using viruses to target bacteria), which has also been revived in the face of certain therapeutic dead ends.
The link between excessive hygiene and the rise of autoimmune diseases has been highlighted by research for several decades. In industrialized countries, where deworming campaigns have nearly eradicated these worms, there is a significant increase in chronic inflammatory diseases. Studies have then attempted to reintroduce certain parasites in a controlled environment, with sometimes very encouraging results: in the United States, for example, a study showed improvement in patients with Crohn’s disease after ingesting helminth eggs.
A scientific journal, the Journal of Helminthology, affiliated with the University of Cambridge, has been compiling research on this approach for over 40 years. It reminds us that helminths have already demonstrated their potential in treating inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, as well as disorders like depression and anxiety.
However, this self-therapy raises many ethical and medical questions. Practiced without professional supervision, it is not without risks. It embodies both the boldness of patients seeking solutions… and the necessity of an open dialogue between therapeutic innovation and safety.
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