Hookworms Are Nature's Claritin

Tired of sneezing all the time? Just inject a bunch of parasitic worms into your system and say goodbye to those pesky allergies.

i-5638032170c8ecc51dbc6254467472f4-Hookworm.jpg
How can you stay mad at this face?

Scientists are looking at the possibility of using hookworms to combat hay fever, asthma and even Crohn's disease. The worms grow to approximately a half an inch long, feeding on...

...nutrients in the intestines of their hosts.

Researchers have long noted that humans in tropical areas known to be hookworm hotbeds have much lower rates of allergies. Recent research also suggests that hookworms may indeed prevent allergy attacks. The speculation is that in an absence of such parasites, people's immune systems have essentially too much time on their hands, causing the disproportionate and inappropriate immuno-responses that result in allergies. The hookworms must avoid detection in order to survive and thus "damp down" humans' immune systems with proteins.

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When you hear the crunching noise, you know that they're working!

A gentleman by the name of Dr. David Pritchard of the University of Nottingham is currently conducting experiments with hookworms and getting pretty positive results. Testing samples of people with hay fever and asthma, his findings have yielded conclusive evidence that injecting a small number of hookworms into a person's system can indeed help prevent these ailments. Says Dr. Pritchard, "Many of the people who were given a placebo have now requested worms. And the people with worms, many of them have decided to keep them for the next hay fever season." They're like this year's Tickle Me Elmo!

There is also evidence that the hookworms can be used on multiple sclerosis and Crohn's disease, two other disorders caused by aggressive immuno-responses in humans' bodies. Seriously, is there anything they can't do?

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Well. Nothing else you've posted has ever creeped me out, but this article - with that smiling face at the top - has done it.

*shudder*

And it's an entirely natural cure !!!

I'd totally take them if they help my allergiesi, but not if it means having those tunnels under your skin. Now that's just nasty.

Dave Pritchard has been working on putting real data behind what was a parasitologist's anecdote for a long time; kudos to him. You wouldn't want a serious dose of hookworm though -- they actually suck blood from your intestine, and are supposed to be one of the causes of rural poverty in the South before indoor plumbing became common.

Feet are the portal of entry, as the life cycle usually involves a host wading barefoot in water contaminated with community waste. The larval form of the parasite enters the bloodstream from the sores on the feet, arriving by an indirect route in the intestinal lumen.

By Coleman JP (not verified) on 20 Sep 2007 #permalink

Oh gosh, I have never commented before... but this story! Through all of my disgust, I thought if it would cure my psoriasis, I would do it!!

I would try almost anything to get rid of my allergies, but.....

I Heart Hookworms.
Starring Samuel L. Jackson
If you thought the snakes were bad...

By hookers4life (not verified) on 21 Sep 2007 #permalink

Does the full treatment cover getting rid of the worms after you're done with the allergies?

Have they studied any other forms of intestinal worms? I only ask because I had terrible allergies in high school, but after a few bouts of pin worms (less nasty than hook worms, from what I can tell) they've died down considerably.

My little girl got this from a sandbox. She had tunnels all over her legs, buttox and feet! She cried miserably for a month until the ivermectin pills killed them all. They really do tunnel under the skin and I don't wish this on my WORST enemy! (and she still has allergies...so I dont believe this at all!)

i have hookworms - they are in the roof of my mouth and lips - gums are they trying to make me swallow them or kill me ... i can't take it... someone please give me some insight

terra_myst21@yahoo.com thanks

Wow, thanks for the watch! I wanted the chance to flip through your book more but when I got back I couldn't find you! Thankfully Matt let me look through the book he got from you.
Beautiful stuff!

By ankara nakliyat (not verified) on 21 Apr 2008 #permalink

this is freaken gross.

By miley cyrus (not verified) on 26 Jun 2008 #permalink

Well, I'd better not sneeze on campus; they might kidnap me and fill me with hook worms.

By University of … (not verified) on 26 Jun 2008 #permalink

I'm not really game for this. I mean, I would love to get rid of my allergies and do whatever I can-- but hookworms? With those tunnels under my skin? No thanks. What happens when they go overboard, and start breeding hectically or something? What happens if they end up in your brain instead of your intestine? They used to warn me about worms in school – and there was probably a reason for that!

I actually got a dose of 25 hookworm yesterday thanks to autoimunetherapies. Don't let the picture of the foot scare you. When deliberately receiving hookworm, they are placed on a bandage on the arm. At worst you will have a patch of an itchy rash for a few weeks. I seem to have gotten off with 24 hours of mild itch and barely a mark.

While getting a parasite may seem like a strange or mildly disturbing thing to do, it is a far better option than many of the prescription drug alternatives that have serious side effects. Hookworm can be removed very quickly and easily if desired with no long term effect. There are some potential side effects such as diarrhea and cramping. Compare that with steroids that can cause cataracts, bone fracture, organ failure, etc. Or in my case - Ulcerative Colitis - I could take Remicade, a prescription drug that can lead to tuberculosis, sepsis, pneumonia, lymphoma, or a host of other things that are potentially fatal!

Bottom line, I will take hookworm over suffering with a debilitating condition and taking drugs of dubious benefit and known dangers.

By David Phillips (not verified) on 08 Jul 2008 #permalink

and how do you get around the anemia? That is the primary concern of hookworms...how much blood they ingest (along with the mucosa membranes), but of course you already knew that.

Lol, How can you stay mad at this face?

hi. I must say congratulations! Wonderful changes and new opportunities. All these people are glad for you.. me too ...

ac tully good a dose

Ulcerative Colitis - I could take Remicade, a prescription drug that can lead to tuberculosis, sepsis, pneumonia, lymphoma, or a host of other things that are potentially fatal!

Dictionary, which I expected to be wildly entertaining. Then I started in on the review and it was definitely entertaining, but in an entirely different and more educational direction than I'd expected.

So basically I think you should review a Psychic Dictionary as well, and do a compare/contrast between the two.

"The speculation is that in an absence of such parasites, people's immune systems have essentially too much time on their hands, causing the disproportionate and inappropriate immuno-responses that result in allergies."

So the way to get rid of allergies is to give your immune system something really nasty to think about.

I'd rather have the allergies.

Hello i'm hoping someone can help me. My brother has hookworms. it's hurting me and i'm cry for him every time i call him and speak to him. It drives me crazy because i cant help him. He's in excrusiating pain for the past month or so. The hospitals in florida dont want to help him. He can barely speak and eat or even move around. It hurts me very much because i love him so much. I want to just take the pain away and make him feel better. He was such an active and health man before this. what medications or procedure that has to be done for the hookworms to get out his body and make him better. Can anyone PLEASE email me annd give me any insights on his condition im scared that something might happen to him. I would appreciate anybodys insight on this. Thank you so much. Our family will appreciate it very much. My brother help is on the way. I love u.

Have they studied any other forms of intestinal worms? I only ask because I had terrible allergies in high school, but after a few bouts of pin worms (less nasty than hook worms, from what I can tell) they've died down considerably.

it gave me much information about the hookworm
thanks

By blosom jose (not verified) on 19 Nov 2009 #permalink

What would make the most sense is identifying the protein involved in the immunosuppressive activity. I have seen plenty of research lately on the t-bet transcription factor as a major factor in inflammatory diseases. If hookworm produces something that can inhibit the activity of t-bet, it could be isolated and used as a effective targeted solution to inflammatory diseases ... without the massive yuck factor.

What would make the most sense is identifying the protein involved in the immunosuppressive activity. I have seen plenty of research lately on the t-bet transcription factor as a major factor in inflammatory diseases. If hookworm produces something that can inhibit the activity of t-bet, it could be isolated and used as a effective targeted solution to inflammatory diseases ... without the massive yuck factor.

What would make the most sense is identifying the protein involved in the immunosuppressive activity. I have seen plenty of research lately on the t-bet transcription factor as a major factor in inflammatory diseases. If hookworm produces something that can inhibit the activity of t-bet, it could be isolated and used as a effective targeted solution to inflammatory diseases ... without the massive yuck factor.

"Video games clearly influence people's behaviour - why else do the people who grew up on Pac-Man spend their nights stood in darkened rooms, munching pills and listening to repetetive music?"

What would make the most sense is identifying the protein involved in the immunosuppressive activity. I have seen plenty of research lately on the t-bet transcription factor as a major factor in inflammatory diseases. If hookworm produces something that can inhibit the activity of t-bet, it could be isolated and used as a effective targeted solution to inflammatory diseases ... without the massive yuck factor.

Wish my video of fireworks in Shenzhen came out as clear as yours. Then again, I'm using an old camera that wasn't intended for that purpose.

Pemphigus vulgaris is an autoimmune disease/inflammatory disease. Has anyone asked about it? I've had this for 19 years.
I've taken many toxic medications through the years.

By Yesterday (not verified) on 06 Apr 2010 #permalink

Iâve given up on CB. It is so hard to get anyone to help you if you have problems. Iâm sure itâs different if youâre a super affiliate, but the whole process of actually getting someone to help you really pisses me off. Iâve had way better luck with some of the other networks.

ideo games clearly influence people's behaviour - why else do the people who grew up on Pac-Man spend their nights stood in darkened rooms,

Wow, thanks for the watch! I wanted the chance to flip through your book more but when I got back I couldn't find you! Thankfully Matt let me look through the book he got from you.
Beautiful stuff!

Wow, thanks for the watch! I wanted the chance to flip through your book more but when I got back I couldn't find you! Thankfully Matt let me look through the book he got from you.
Beautiful stuff!

Hi .. My Names Hakan .. I mean, I would love to get rid of my allergies and do whatever I can-- but hookworms? With those tunnels under my skin? No thanks. What happens when they go overboard, and start breeding hectically or something? What happens if they end up in your brain instead of your intestine? They used to warn me about worms in school â and there was probably a reason for that ...

Wow, thanks for the watch! I wanted the chance to flip through your book more but when I got back I couldn't find you! Thankfully Matt let me look through the book he got from you.
Beautiful stuff!

I mean, I would love to get rid of my allergies and do whatever I can-- but hookworms? With those tunnels under my skin? No thanks. What happens when they go overboard,

612
They were "the pets of the future" then. I guess everything that's old becomes new again. Pigs are smarter than any cat of dog (and probably some people as well). They get into trouble that would never occur to a dog. They can be affectionate and are social critters. They have their own, well pig-headed nature. They keep at something for hours until they figure it out, particualrly if there's a potential for food involved. They are intelligent sensitive creatures with long memories and become very attached to their people.

They get into trouble that would never occur to a dog. They can be affectionate and are social critters. They have their own, well pig-headed nature.

that would never occur to a dog. They can be affectionate and are social critters. They have their own, well pig-headed nature.

trouble that would never occur to a dog. They can be affectionate and are social critters. They have their own, well pig-headed nature. They keep at something for hours until they figure it out, particualrly

I actually got a dose of 25 hookworm yesterday thanks to autoimunetherapies. Don't let the picture of the foot scare you. When deliberately receiving hookworm, they are placed on a bandage on the arm. At worst you will have a patch of an itchy rash for a few weeks. I seem to have gotten off with 24 hours of mild itch and barely a mark.

Å Teminat: TaÅınan yükün çıkıŠdeposundan varıŠdeposuna ulaÅıncaya kadar uÄrayacaÄı tüm zararları temin eder. Yükleme, boÅaltma ve kısmı hasarlarda teminata dahildir. Malın kendi kusuru teminat dıÅıdır.

Considering all the countries you listed, Their birth rates may be higher but quality of life is much lower. So they must have more offspring for their society or however you want to categorize them to be able to survive in worse living conditions. A survival of the fittest kind of terminology. Yet countries with the highest unbelief rates have fewer birth rates but they live a longer and better quality of lives. But I would have to agree with you on the explanations of the placebo effect and the creation of an idea. There is my 2 cents. Have a nice Day.

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Evden Eve Nakliyat: Nakliyat TaÅıma sektöründe iÅini bilen uzman kadromuz, tecrübelerimiz iÅ ahlakımızla müÅterilerimize saÄladıÄımız kaliteli seviyeli Sorunsuz evdenevenakliye EÅya Nakliyesi Hizmeti bizim en temel prensibimizi oluÅturmaktadır.

i hope to get more information about Hookworm because right i studying and doing s project about parasites
Thank You

The speculation is that in an absence of such parasites, people's immune systems have essentially too much time on their hands, causing the disproportionate and inappropriate immuno-responses

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Their birth rates may be higher but quality of life is much lower. So they must have more offspring for their society or however you want to categorize them to be able to survive in worse living conditions. A survival of the fittest kind of terminology.

The speculation is that in an absence of such parasites, people's immune systems have essentially too much time on their hands, causing the disproportionate and inappropriate immuno-responses

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Hi Michael Bouwman - I remember seeing some of these fellas down near the Kangaroo Point ferry in Brisbane. It was late 50's following some torrential rain. Very impressive.

The speculation is that in an absence of such parasites, people's immune systems have essentially too much time on their hands, causing the disproportionate and inappropriate immuno-responses

In this post, we take a look at 100 haber that look really different from their peers and automatically captivate their haber

arkadaÅlar adamın ayagı çok fena olmuÅ bu hastalıgın adı mantar hastalıgı bunu geçirmek çok zor bir hasatlıktır yardımcıcı olsun bu kiÅiye umarım ayagındaki hastalık gecer bencede

But don't hookworms also cause anemia and weight loss due to lost nutrients? Plus, if those things multiply, do you really want your intestines to look like this? http://www.grandpetcare.com/images/Jul31_57.JPG
Eventually, you might have so many that you'll be pooping worms all the time. Now that's gross!!! No thanks! There's a reason they were classified as parasites.

those things can work wonders in indonesia! they can get you out of almost any situation! where you had to bribe your way through piles of money, once you start giving out these things you walk out of anywhere without paying a dime!

but god help you if you come in without âem the next year!

Personally, I'd stick to "There are areas where Democrats and Republicans can agree. If you're represented by Senator XYZ, get him or her on the phone and tell him or her to start governing instead of doing Senate stupid pet tricks--because right now your Republican Senators are not representing you." Or something along that line--a genuine call to action.

Maybe there should be a "Bunning Shunning." Like a really serious one. Nobody talks to the guy. Uninvite him from parties and events. Bring the workers he disemployed to Washington and have one follow him every time he goes to the bathroom. Nothing makes a guy more nervous than having an angry unemployed guy glaring at him while he's trying to pee.