Helminthic therapy presents a modern rediscovery of significant medical practice based on knowledge acquired at the beginning of the twentieth century. In general, helminthic therapy is based on the principle of helminths used to terminate various types of inflammations, such as autoimmune diseases, allergies, and chronic inflammations. The process involves the insertion of eggs of domesticated types of helminths or larvae into an individuals’ digestive tract. In the process, the helminths reconstruct the depleted biome of the human organism and stop the inflammation.
The fact that it has taken quite a long time to rediscover the importance of the biome to the human immune system is quite puzzling. However, this could be considered a breakthrough in the medical world in the context of the epidemic nature of immune-related diseases. According to Elliott and Weinstock (2009), most people were colonized with helminths before the 1930s. Recent epidemiology reports indicate that over the last 40 years, cases of asthma diagnoses have significantly increased in developed countries (Elliott & Weinstock, 2009).
Furthermore, immune-mediated diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease and diabetes have become more common in modern society (Elliott & Weinstock, 2009). The microbiome plays a vital role in influencing the development of the human immune system. Thus, through the development of technologies and hygiene practices, humanity caused a decrease in human immune systems.
Conducting research of the currently available body of knowledge on the concept and evidence-based practices allowed me to base a thorough opinion on the safety and credibility of helminthic therapy. Researchers on helminthic therapy agree that exposure to approved helminthic parasites is necessary to revive the human immune system and make it stronger (Liu et al., 2017). According to Liu et al. (2017), results from numerous studies on helminthic therapy provide evidence that the therapy can be used to heal various types of allergies, neuropsychiatric conditions, and autoimmune disorders. Considering that human beings and their associated biome have been coexisting for millions of years without considerable harm, claiming that the use of the same microorganisms to heal immune-related disorders would be unsubstantiated.
The human immune system is more active with the presence of helminthic than being without them. Therefore, human beings have survived for so long because of their strong immune system that was able to effectively respond to invaders, including helminthic microorganisms. In turn, the parasitic organisms adapted by suppressing the inflammation response by the human immune system and hence were able to survive. Keeping the inflammation in check meant that the human immune system was not reactive to perceived invaders hence low levels of immune disorders such as allergy.
The fact that helminthic therapy can treat numerous types of allergies, neuropsychiatric conditions, and autoimmune disorders is a big reprieve to the medical world and the well-being of the human species. Modern medicines and practices have not been able to effectively treat the aforementioned conditions. The application of helminthic therapy, which is simple to administer without too many complications, is quite advantageous while, at the same time, effective in the treatment of immune disorders. In addition, although not recommended, helminthic treatment could be self-administered with the correct information and expert knowledge.
The only setbacks of the procedure are that in some instances, exposure to helminthic parasites could cause diseases to human beings, and some helminthic microorganisms, such as Trichuris suis ova (TSO), are relatively expensive. All in all, owing to the benefits that the human population stands to gain from helminthic therapy, including safety and successful treatment of immune disorders, I would recommend its application in the United States.
References
Elliott, D. E., & Weinstock, J. V. (2009). Helminthic therapy: Using worms to treat immune-mediated disease. In P. G. Fallon (Ed.), Pathogen-derived immunomodulatory molecules (pp. 157–166). Springer.
Liu, J., Morey, R. A., Wilson, J. K., & Parker, W. (2017). Practices and outcomes of self-treatment with helminths based on physicians’ observations. Journal of Helminthology, 91(3), 267-277. Web.