Helminthic therapy and autism
Autism subtypes[edit | edit source]
Italian researchers have suggested that there may be two subtypes of autism, inflammatory ASD (I-ASD) and non-inflammatory-ASD (NI-ASD).
Those subjects with inflammatory ASD are likely to exhibit chronic and/or recurrent sino-pulmonary infection, asthma and persistent GI symptoms with high frequency non-IgE mediated food allergy. Those with this subtype are more likely to have a better response to antinflammatory therapies such as helminthic therapy than are those with non-inflammatory ASD
Significant results have been observed over a 4-5 year period in 70% of those with inflammatory ASD who took TSO in its original pH2.7 form, and the improvements observed were not only in the quality of stool and control of allergic symptoms, but also in improved behaviour and cognitive skills.
For more detail about this, see this post and this support group thread.
The science on helminthic therapy and autism[edit | edit source]
- 2018 Mar 7 Interplay Between Peripheral and Central Inflammation in Autism Spectrum Disorders -- Full text | PDF
- 2017 May Practices and outcomes of self-treatment with helminths based on physicians' observations | PDF
- 2016 Jan 20 Autism & Helminths: The Good, the Bad, and the Rumors (Autism Research Institute, YouTube)
- 2016 Helminths as a Cause or a Potential Treatment for Autism? (Autism Research Institute)
- 2016 Jan Got Worms? Perinatal Exposure to Helminths Prevents Persistent Immune Sensitization and Cognitive Dysfunction Induced by Early-Life Infection (Also see The “Old Friends” hypothesis: Reopening a can of worms.)
- 2015 May 6 Microbiome Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders (Autism Research Institute, YouTube)
- 2015 Jan 28 A model for the induction of autism in the ecosystem of the human body: the anatomy of a modern pandemic? -- Full text | PDF
- 2012 Jun 26 Is autism a member of a family of diseases resulting from genetic/cultural mismatches? Implications for treatment and prevention -- Full text | PDF
For more research, use your device's search function (the 'Command' and 'F' keys on a desktop or laptop, or 'Find in page' in the drop-down menu from the three dots icon on a mobile) to search the following page for "autism" and "ASD".
Media coverage of helminthic therapy and autism[edit | edit source]
- Supplements, worms and stool: How families are trying to game the gut to treat autism traits - Leah Shaffer, Spectrum
- Sid Baker: Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice! Beetle Larvae? – #311 - Dave, Bulletproof (autism)
- Microbiome Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders - William Parker (Helminths mentioned from 34 minutes)
- Helminths: ASD Cause or Potential Treatment - William Parker, Autism Research Institute
- Testing the use of helminth worm ova in treating autism - Eric Hollander, Simons Foundation
- An Immune Disorder at the Root of Autism - Moises Velasquez-Manoff, New York Times
- Biome normalization using Hymenolepis diminuta (HDC) - Judith Chinitz, CDePalma (autism)
- Got Bugs! - William Parker, AutismOne
- Autism/TSO Presentation Part 1 - Stewart Johnson on the use of TSO as a treatment for certain symptoms of autism, Mt. Sinai Autism Conference, 2007, YouTube
- Autism/TSO Presentation Part 2
- Autism/TSO Presentation Part 3
Anecdotal reports about under 18s with autism (ASD)[edit | edit source]


Three comments by a parent/therapist



TSO and HDC have both been found generally effective in autism, and NA may help with some of its co-morbidities, but individuals can respond uniquely to the different helminths.

When using helminths in children with autism, they should be introduced VERY gradually to avoid triggering severe side effects.


Once smaller doses of TSO have been tolerated, 2,500 ova has been found to be best dose size in most cases.


For a further collection of reports, see the following page:
Anecdotal report about an adult with autism[edit | edit source]

The role of the microbiota in autism[edit | edit source]
Worms and bacteria are known to interact in complex and subtle ways to provide an efficient and beneficial ecosystem.
- How the parasitic worm has turned (Web archive copy)
The role of gut bacteria in autism is therefore arguably as important as that of helminths, and the two are likely to be complementary in addressing this disorder.
- Gut bacteria in children with autism spectrum disorders: challenges and promise of studying how a complex community influences a complex disease -- Full text | PDF
- Towards large-cohort comparative studies to define the factors influencing the gut microbial community structure of ASD patients -- Full text | PDF
- The human gut microbiota with reference to autism spectrum disorder: considering the whole as more than a sum of its parts -- Full text | PDF

- Long-term benefit of Microbiota Transfer Therapy on autism symptoms and gut microbiota — Full text (Also reported by MedicalXpress. [9])
In view of the articles above, Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) might be worth considering for autism, either alone or in combination with helminthic therapy. For more about combining these treatments, see the following page.
Asperger (Asperger’s) syndrome[edit | edit source]
The limited feedback received so far from those with Asperger’s who are hosting helminths suggests that, while this therapy may not change the unique features of Asperger’s, it may make positive changes to health that can improve the life of someone with this form of autism.


See also[edit | edit source]
- Exploring Helminthic Therapy An interview with Sidney Baker, MD.