Although helminths in general are regarded as disease-causing parasites, the reality is not so cut and dry. While many do cause horrible disease, others are entirely benign. Elimination of benign helminths went unnoticed, as sanitation and food storage technologies were put in place to effectively eliminate a variety of pathogens, including disease-causing helminths. However, a vast array of scientific evidence now demonstrates that the loss of all helminths is, unfortunately, just too much for our body to handle.
This loss of biodiversity leaves our immune system susceptible to a wide range of inflammation-related disorders, including allergies, autoimmune conditions, and several neuropsychiatric disorders. Worm therapy is able to help many disease states including IBS, IBD, depression, anxiety, allergy, and even autism. Fortunately, the results of restoring biodiversity using domesticated helminths has been very encouraging.
This course uncovers this very promising approach to treating and preventing allergies, autoimmune disorders, and several neuropsychiatric disorders. Dr Parker will cover the scientific basis of helminth therapy and a brief history of that therapy. Discussion will focus on what is known from current clinical trials and what is known from monitoring over 1000 individuals “self-treating” with helminths to treat a variety of autoimmune, digestive, allergic, and neuropsychiatric conditions.
Dr Parker has studied biochemistry and immunology at Duke University since 1993. He is best known for the discovery of the function of the human appendix as a safe-house for bacteria. And his work on “biota alteration,” has led to many of the discoveries about intestinal worms’ role in human health. Dr Parker has published more than 120 peer-reviewed papers including a number of widely-acclaimed studies comparing the immune function of wild rats with that of their cleaner and more “Westernised” cousin, the laboratory rat.
