Helminthic therapy and asthma

"(My son) started HT for asthma/allergies. (He) has been at a camp this week and has spent the large majority of the time outdoors, playing games etc. in a grassy field. He was covered with grass last night and said, "Mom, I don't itch!" [2]

"...my breathing does seem to be somewhat easier. Mildly impaired breathing never was something I even thought about as a symptom until after I noticed the before and after treatment difference." (Link expired)

"... no short breath, no attacks, nothing that makes me aware of my breathing. Stoked!" (Link expired)

"My five year slide into asthma hell is over… the difference in my life is night and day." (Link expired)

"By week 13... there was significant improvement compared to my pre-hookworm condition." (Link expired)

"... the difference in my life is night and day. I am walking regularly, and cutting firewood, and playing ball with my son, and feeling like I can make it through the day without medical inhalation." (Link expired)

The following two reports are by the same blogger, almost two years apart.
- “It’s now been a bit more than 6 months since my initial inoculation, and I'm now the proud mom of (a family of) hookworms and the results I have seen have been amazing! … I stopped taking one of my asthma medicines completely, and I only have had to use my rescue inhaler about once every 2 weeks or so. BW (before worms) I was taking my rescue inhaler at least once a day. I would have to refill it every month. I have the same one now that I refilled in June (3 months ago).” [3]
- "For the larger part of my 30 years here on earth I’ve struggled to breathe every single day. I didn’t know any different. I puffed on my “rescue” inhaler a few times and went on with my day… I was guaranteed at least one ER visit a year for my asthma. To have two years go by without one was awesome… I realized just how much things have changed since I brought my little worm babies home two years ago… It's so great to be able to breathe!" [4]

"Over the course of the year (with hookworms), almost unnoticed while I was getting the side effects, my problems diminished immensely. The fatigue is much reduced, I've lost that 'tired but wired' feeling that stopped me relaxing properly, and I've started to sleep better. I get less stressed by ordinary events, and almost never use my inhalers any more. The condition of my skin, nails & hair has improved greatly." (Reported in a private discussion, Feb 2013) (See this note about colony size.)

"(Helminthic therapy) has really reduced my allergy and asthma "flare-ups". Over the past few months, I haven't had an asthma attack without my inhaler and I can actually do more cardio workouts than I used to do. IT IS GREAT!" (Reported, after only one dose of hookworms, in a private message, Mar 2013)

"I've also seen marked improvements in my allergies. While I still have symptoms they are 100% better than they were. Before the worms, I always had a stuffed or runny nose. People were always asking if I had a cold. Since my first dose, I've seldom had a stuffy nose. It's so great to be able to breathe! I seem to be less reactive to other allergy and asthma triggers as well." [5]

"This spring, i had a good top off of hookworm… so they were fired up and ready to go when the allergens filled the air. i marveled at how well i was breathing. in years past my asthma and sinus allergies have been so bad i had to stay indoors huddled next to an air filter. not anymore. worms are great medicine." [6]

The following two reports are by the same individual, written at 6 and 18 months.
- “I'm at month 6 with 75 HW. Today I went for a hike, uphill, at 8,500-9,000 ft., at a peak tree pollen and allergy time in our area, and I didn't wheeze at all. In fact, I "forgot" my inhaler in the car and didn't even need it. This is significant for me and I hope it gives encouragement to others.” [7]
- “18-month update… Last week, just about 40 days past my most recent inoculation… I noticed that I had NO ASTHMA SYMPTOMS at all, for the first time. I was not needing my inhaler, nor wheezing at night. I could breathe through the seasonally heaviest pollen index… I'm truly able now to see how much better I feel than I did 18 months ago. Not only with the asthma, but overall.” [8]

“I dose 20 NA at about 3 month intervals and currently enjoy 100% remission of asthma symptoms. No asthma meds at all. I can jog, I can swim 1000 yds without stopping or feeling any distress” (Link expired)

"I started HDC about 9 months ago for multiple problems and just realized the other day that I can’t remember when I last used my inhaler. I can’t remember!! There was a time when asthma ruled my life, and I went to the emergency room once a week until I found out what triggered it (ragweed). But (since hosting helminths) I don't have to stop a hike and immediately head home if I accidentally let it touch my ankle. I cannot tell you what a difference this has made in my life…" [9] [10]

“Two years ago, one of our 12 y/o twins suffered a sudden onset of extreme and debilitating allergies to dust mite and cat dander. Associated asthmatic episodes, severe vocal chord dysfunction, chronic and debilitating hay fever, that was barely touched by prednisone, various antihistamines, nasonex etc... Her condition initially hospitalised her - at times for up to a week, where they would struggle to stabilise her with pred, nebs and antihistamines - once back at home and on a host of drugs she still couldn't go to school full time… Then came 2 doses of Necator americanus (NA), first 10 and then 20… Today, she regularly rides her bike 14 kms to school, even in cold weather. Rarely looks hay feverish - though sometimes has a few days of struggle. She plays saxophone (something she would never have contemplated starting 2 years ago!) and is hardly recognisable in comparison to the person who had to fight so hard for air 2 years ago. Her recovery has been nothing short of miraculous and the only thing that it can be attributed to is the NA…” [11]

“… after 3 inoculations totaling 85 NA (25/25/35 at 6 month intervals) I am allergy and asthma free for the first time in about 20 years! … No horrible allergies and asthma that usually end up with bronchitis and once even pneumonia. I am so happy! The third inoculation was the tipping point. I did not see any signs of relief before that.” [12]

“I am almost exactly 6 months post first time inoculation with NA (treating asthma, eczema, dust mite and multiple other allergies, IBS and the auto-immune skin blistering condition, pemphigus). I am nearly completely symptom free for the first time in years. No more sandpaper dry eyes, dry mouth, incessant post nasal drip, constant cough, joint pain and bone tiredness. My energy is up, better than it has been in 10 years. I can breathe again. I'm off the inhalers, off the drops, off the pills. I went into this with guarded expectations. This is better than I could have dreamed of.” [13]

“I purchased 25 NA for my asthma, hay fever, and eczema. NOTHING doctors have given me has helped my itching eyes, save steroid drops which I only get when eyes infected. It's year-round, relentless, crazy-making. I dreaded spring. I would cry thinking about what more my eyes would go through with the pollen counts. But the change in my symptoms is remarkable. I have not taken one allergy pill this season yet, and I barely have to use eye drops. Not saying my eyes don't have a slight itch every once in a while, but I can stop myself instantly. Before I would rub and scratch them raw. I am simply over the moon. My mom and sister have never seen me so unconcerned about my health.... 62 years of terrible suffering, and this is the first time I feel what normal might feel like.” [14]

“My daughter (age 16) suffers from terrible allergies. She is allergic to all grasses, most trees, dogs , cats and dust mites. She gets asthmatic symptoms and needs an inhaler. We live in an area that has mild climate year round. So constant blooming of something. We tried allergy shots for 2+ years with no symptomatic relief. Also the pharma meds we’re starting not to work too. Eight weeks ago she inoculated with 5NA. She is at this time much relieved. I would estimate by about 70% or more. She has a clear nose and has not needed her inhaler for over a month. Last night she spent the night at a friends house who had a cat. She was fine. In my opinion this can be a real option for people with allergies.” [15]

“Prior to beginning to host NA about two and a half years ago, my lifelong asthma had slowly but steadily worsened throughout my life. Prior to HW therapy, my daily medication routine for allergies and asthma consisted of a long-acting beta agonist/steroid inhaler twice daily, rescue inhaler several times a day, albuterol breathing treatments on especially bad days, Allegra daily, nasal steroid spray several times a day, and prednisone for very bad days. Even on that regimen, wheezing, shortness of breath, fatigue and anxiety were pretty much normal for me. I typically came down with bronchitis and sinus infections several times a year, even while on all those regular meds. Most every day of the year, I felt quite literally as if I could just collapse and die. Somehow I just kept going. If it weren't for my beautiful wife and kids, I think I would have probably just given up on life, the allergies and asthma made me feel so pitiful. My whole body, but especially my head and sinuses, ached most days. I generally took 800 mg of ibuprofen two or three times a day just to feel a little bit less miserable physically. Since about three months after I began hosting NA, I now will rarely ever need any of my inhalers or breathing treatments, I very rarely ever need any ibuprofen or Tylenol for headaches or body aches. I would estimate my allergy and asthma symptoms to be 95% gone as a result of hookworm therapy. I no longer need asthma or allergy meds on a regular basis. Only rarely do I have any wheezing or shortness of breath now. Allergy symptoms are minor, when they (rarely) occur now.” [16]

“My mother developed severe adult-onset asthma 3 years ago. She also has heart disease and most of the asthma meds were toxic to the heart. The regular coughing also put her at risk of Afib and subsequent heart attack. Rock and a hard place! Out of desperation, she inoculated with 35 NA and within 3 weeks her symptoms were gone. Like, completely. All meds discontinued. Did not have to re-inoculate until this fall.” [17]

“I love my helminths! No more asthma. I can run and climb mountains. So close to dying so many times, but no more! Best thing I have ever done for myself! Gave me my life, hope and vitality back.” [18] [19]

And a 5 year update: "For more than 5 years now I have been asthma free - love my little wormy friends." [20]

"My allergy and asthma symptoms continued to improve and I stopped all asthma medication which was my primary goal. My life was very different for a year or so with improved gut health and fewer arthritis pains. I would tell people “I used to have asthma”. I then neglected to dose anymore (due to) two traumatic years in which many things were neglected. I then had a return of symptoms (so) began to host again with doses of 3,3 four months apart and, after a few delivery problems, dosed with another 3 , 5, 10 approximately 4 months apart, and I am now feeling the previous positive effects." [21]

"I started my first dose of 5 NA 5 weeks ago (and) I've had great improvement in severe allergy symptoms (rhinitis, plugged ears, itchy throat, asthma and eczema) while landscaping outdoors." [22]

"I have asthma and have been on antihistamines, all with horrid side effects. And I've been on so many different steroids. The last one made me suicidally depressed and that was the final straw for me. I learned to deal with my asthma without meds, but used food, vitamins, minerals, and caffeine to keep it tolerable. Then I found out about helminths. I read and read before I tried them. I've been taking them for 1.5 years every 12-15 weeks and am so happy with my results. I started with a very small dose of 3 and this took only about 6 weeks to help with my asthma. Now I'm up to 4 each dose. My food allergies and asthma are worlds better. I can go to new places without my asthma kicking in and making me sick afterwards. I'm also not on any medications." (Edited from two posts: [23] [24])

"I came down with asthma at age 64 after a life of triathlons, marathons and 12 yr as a soccer ref. WTF? I used NA and the asthma went into remission." [25]

Selecting a suitable helminth species to treat asthma[edit | edit source]

To identify the best helminth species to treat asthma see this list.

How to obtain and use these organisms, as well as what to expect from the treatment, is all explained in detail elswhere on this site. The best place to begin is here: Introduction to helminthic therapy.

Helminthic therapy and asthma

Contents

The scientific evidence[edit | edit source]

The anecdotal evidence[edit | edit source]

Selecting a suitable helminth species to treat asthma[edit | edit source]

See also[edit | edit source]