| are many alternative treatments for | | | | Crohn’s disease and lack of worms within |
| Crohn’s disease; aloe vera isn’t | | | | the system. Crohn’s is a disease of the |
| the only remedy out there. In fact, one of the | | | | 20th century, and primarily develops in people |
| latest studies showing promise for Crohn’s | | | | who live in Western industrialized countries were |
| disease sufferers is an alternative treatment | | | | sanitation is high and worms no longer exist. |
| known as helminthic therapy. | | | | Therefore, it is possible that the lack of worms |
| Helminthic therapy is an alternative treatment that | | | | within the body may be partly or totally |
| uses Trichiuruis suis (pig whipworm) to combat | | | | responsible for bowel disorders such as |
| symptoms of Crohn’s disease and | | | | Crohn’s disease. |
| ulcerative colitis. During therapy, a patient is given | | | | Medical studies are being conducted to find out |
| eggs of the pig whipworm. The eggs hatch within | | | | what happens when worms are introduced back |
| the body, grow and colonize for a limited time and | | | | into people’s bodies. The hope is that |
| then disappear, so no harm is done. | | | | worms will re-instruct the immune system on |
| It may sound bizarre and disgusting to treat | | | | proper response to inflammation and eradicate |
| Crohn’s by causing an infestation of pig | | | | the disease. |
| whipworm in the intestines, after all, | | | | Most Crohn’s patients who participate in |
| shouldn’t we in Western civilization be | | | | helminthic therapy studies are given the pig |
| celebrating that we’ve eradicated these | | | | whipworm eggs, which are dissolved in a drink |
| pests from our systems with our sanitized | | | | they ingest. As was previously mentioned, the |
| culture? We’re the first people in history | | | | whipworms hatch, develop and colonize, but they |
| to be worm free, so where’s the logic | | | | only live for a short time period. |
| behind this therapy? As ridiculous as it seems, | | | | So far, the success rate of these studies has |
| when you learn all the facts behind helminthic | | | | been high, as more than two thirds of the |
| therapy, you’ll find that it’s not as | | | | patients who participated in the study for a 6 |
| crazy as it sounds. | | | | month period, experienced remission, while others |
| You see, Crohn’s disease occurs when | | | | who didn’t go into remission still found the |
| the small intestine becomes inflamed. It is believed | | | | treatment helpful. Furthermore, researchers are |
| by many medical researchers that this | | | | finding that even those who unsuccessfully |
| inflammation is the result of the immune | | | | responded to conventional treatment for |
| system’s improper response to regular | | | | Crohn’s, are benefiting from helminthic |
| gut flora. Thus, by introducing pig worms to the | | | | therapy |
| body, the immune system is provided with an | | | | There appears to be no side effects or |
| actual target and will stop its assault on the | | | | complications with this treatment as none have |
| natural gut flora in Crohn’s sufferers. In | | | | been reported. However, research and studies are |
| short, worms help to regulate the immune | | | | still being conducted on pig whipworm infestation |
| system. | | | | as a therapy. Only time will tell if the re-infestation |
| It is interesting to note, that many medical | | | | of worms is the cure for Crohn’s disease. |
| researchers believe that there is a link between | | | | Nonetheless, the future certainly looks promising. |