A man travelled to Thailand in the hopes of curing his colitis in a very different way.A 36-year-old California man wormed his way into medical history by opting for an unusual treatment for his worsening case of ulcerative colitis.
Short on options for his painful condition — and staring down the removal of his colon — the man sought out the services of parasitologist in Thailand who recommended ingesting 1,500 parasitic worm eggs,. Remarkably, there was method to the madness, as detailed in the man’s case study in the journal Science Translational Medicine in 2010.
Certain types of parasitic worms, also known as helminths, have become the subject of increasing interest for their ability to influence the way the body’s immune system responds to certain threats. Because ulcerative colitis causes an inflammation in the colon that kills healthy cells and leaves painful ulcers in their place, the hope was that the worms would supress the man’s immune system and decrease his discomfort.
Within a year of devouring the slimy snack, researchers discovered the man’s inflammatory bowel disease had improved to the point where treatment was no longer required. But before anyone starts adding plates of plump parasitic eggs to the menu, the researchers helpfully point out that although the worms had the desired effect, it was for a different reason then expected.