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Helminthic Therapy
Has anyone tried this for alopecia? It is being used experimentally on other auto-immune disorders with some good results. I heard about it on RadioLab (an internet and radio program). The idea has been tossed around for a while and is now getting some trials, but not on alopecia as far as I know. If you haven't heard of it, brace yourself, helminthic therapy uses stomach parasites (hookworm most often) to help the body reduce its immune response. The hookworm does not reproduce in the human stomach and don't eat much, but they do interact with the body's immune system to sometimes cause it to stop having auto-immune reactions. Anyway, I'm looking into it even though it is kind of disgusting -- thanks, Maureen
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Maureen Roddy on
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Thanks for your thoughtful reply -- this is a really disgusting idea (swallowing a hookworm!), but I am interested in the research. I've been looking up this type of research on the internet and I've written to a few doctors who have used N.I.H. grants to see if these worms can help people overcome auto-immune disorders and, amazingly enough, this type of therapy looks very promising! It is still gross though. One researcher said to wait and see if scientists can find out how the worms reduce humans' auto-immune reaction, then take that chemical as a medicine rather than taking a worm. That makes sense, but it could take forever. I just got an e-mail back from a doctor who was researching helminths and he said "Helminth exposure likely prevents or diminishes many autoimmune reactions" but he goes on to say that it hasn't been researched yet for alopecia and there is no FDA approved source of helminths so it would not be safe to use them yet. Still-- this could lead somewhere! Maybe NAAF could look into this. Thank you to everyone for your comments. Bald is beautiful - Maureen
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wow -- so gross! The way to use the worms in therapy involves swallowing a capsule with them in it -- no need to do the foot -- bloodstream -- lungs route. Also, the quantity of hookworms is small, when people get them in the tropics the quantity can be so great that they become anemic (causirng fingernail and other symptoms). Anyway, this is being studied at University of Iowa for people with stomach problems -- they say it is promising research so far... but they are definately not making people trod through poo (thank goodness).
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Permalink Reply by Andrea on
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My biggest fear would be how do you get rid of it after you've acheived results? Or what if you don't acheive results? On a wikipedia article there is no mention of alopecia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helminthic_therapy
In fact most of the auto-immune diseases they mention are largely digestive, which is probably why it would offer results by introducing them into the digestive tract. I get the concept of introducing something else for your body to fight rather than itself. I guess it would be mostly a mental block of consciously adding a parasite to my system.
ETA: I have long believed that much of the increase in some problems is trying to live in a world that is too pristine. Antibacterial agents are in everything now, but some bacteria is highly beneficial.
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Hi -- thanks for your comment! The worms used for this type of treatment don't reproduce in human stomachs and they live about 5 years. Also, there are pills to take to kill them. It is dangerous though to take these worms at this point because they aren't being sold through an FDA approved source, so I would be afraid that they could have other parasites that come with them -- and these could be impossible to get rid of. I'd love to see more research for alopecia with this line of therapy.
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Permalink Reply by Lee on
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This reminds me on that episode of Nip/ Tuck last week. Doesnt seem worth it honey!
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Thanks for your comment! I agree, maybe mot worth it -- It really seems disgusting. But the research using these little critters shows it can really help people with auto-immune disorders. It would be nice to learn more. My heart goes out to teens who are going through the stress of high school and dating while being bald -- that could make taking a worm worth it, as long as it was from a safe, FDA approved source and watched over by a doctor.
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O.K. -- I'm getting kind of fascinated in a morbid but hopeful way, if that makes any sense, especially since some researchers feel that the worms help other auto-immune problems, not just stomach ills. I'll post more if I find out more.
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Permalink Reply by BaldGirlsDoLunch.org on
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That sucking sound you hear? That's from the end of a hose attaching itself to the wallet of a person with alopecia.
Thea
baldgirlsdolunch.org
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oh my gosh yes -- we have tried only hats, wigs, and temporary tatoo eyebrows, but the wigs are astonishingly expensive for realistic ones. Still, if a person is going to get an auto-immune disorder, alopecia is one of the better ones.
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Permalink Reply by Dominique Cleopatra on
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Well as long as they "don't eat much" hookworm me up LOL!
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that's a good one :-)
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