Helminthic therapy and autoimmune diseases

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An autoimmune disease is a condition that results from an anomalous response of the adaptive immune system, wherein it mistakenly targets and attacks healthy, functioning parts of the body as if they were foreign organisms.

Introduction

Helminth therapy is a highly effective method for preventing and treating autoimmune diseases. The first studies were carried out in Crohn's disease (IBD).

There are numerous scientific publications and testimonials on this subject.

The most studied diseases are: inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and type 1 diabetes. For these diseases, there are fundamental research studies in animal models and on humans. There are also numerous testimonials from self-treaters.

Helminths act primarily by shifting the body from an inflammatory Th1/Th17 immunity to an anti-inflammatory and reparative Th2 immunity. They stimulate the production of regulatory T cells (Tregs), which calm the immune system. They stimulate numerous immune pathways through their presence and their excretory/secretory products which includes proteins, peptides, lipids, and RNA-carrying extracellular vesicles (EVs).

General reviews

• 2025 Apr 15 Coevolutionary interplay: Helminths-trained immunity and its impact on the rise of inflammatory diseases
• 2017 Apr 24 Helminth Immunomodulation in Autoimmune Disease -- Full text | PDF

See more papers : Helminthic therapy research

Type III hypersensitivity (Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis, IgA nephropathy, Henoch–Schönlein purpura)

• 2015 Oct 1 Ten Weeks of Infection with a Tissue-Invasive Helminth Protects against Local Immune Complex-Mediated Inflammation, but Not Cutaneous Type I Hypersensitivity, in Previously Sensitized Mice -- Full text | PDF
• 2014 The Use of Filariae as a Therapeutic Agent for Hypersensitivity Diseases (Thesis, USU Bethesda)

See also (not directly related) :

• 2026 Mar 5 The Th17/Treg axis: a key to understanding and treating autoimmune disorders
• 2026 Feb 4 The Gut Microbiota: Emerging Evidence in Autoimmune and Inflammatory Diseases
• 2025 Oct Immunomodulatory role of gut microbiota in autoimmune disorders and the advancement of gut microbiota based therapeutic strategies
• 2024 Dec Type 2 hypersensitivity disorders, including systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren's syndrome, Graves' disease, myasthenia gravis, immune thrombocytopenia, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, dermatomyositis, and graft-versus-host disease, are THαβ-dominant autoimmune diseases
• 2024 Oct 1 The Gut Microbiome and Autoimmunity: Scientists reveal an increasing number of links between autoimmune diseases and the trillions of microorganisms in the human digestive system
• 2023 Jun 8 Regulatory Mechanism of M1/M2 Macrophage Polarization in the Development of Autoimmune Diseases
• 2023 Jan The impact of the gut microbiome on extra-intestinal autoimmune diseases
• 2023 Microbiome-Induced Autoimmunity and Novel Therapeutic Intervention (Book chapter of Neuroinflammation, Gut-Brain Axis and Immunity in Neuropsychiatric Disorders)
• 2019 May Restoring self-tolerance in autoimmune diseases by enhancing regulatory T-cells
• 2017 May 26 Microbiota in T-cell homeostasis and inflammatory diseases

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM)

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), or acute demyelinating encephalomyelitis, is a rare autoimmune disease marked by a sudden, widespread attack of inflammation in the brain and spinal cord.

ADEM's symptoms resemble those of multiple sclerosis (MS), so the disease is classified as one of the multiple sclerosis borderline diseases.

There are no case reports or scientific studies on the effect of helminthic therapy on this disease. Nevertheless, given the similarity between this disease and multiple sclerosis, it is likely that helminths will have a therapeutic effect.

See Helminthic therapy and multiple sclerosis (MS)

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV)

See Helminthic therapy and systemic vasculitis

Ankylosing spondylitis

See Helminthic therapy and ankylosing spondylitis

Autoimmune encephalitis

Autoimmune encephalitis (AIE) is one of the most common causes of noninfectious encephalitis.

Autoimmune encephalitis can result from a number of autoimmune diseases including: Rasmussen encephalitis, Systemic lupus erythematosus, Behçet's disease, Hashimoto's encephalopathy, Autoimmune limbic encephalitis and Sydenham's chorea. See:

• 2021 Jun 17 Short- and Long-Lived Autoantibody-Secreting Cells in Autoimmune Neurological Disorders

Autoimmune kidney diseases

See Helminthic therapy and kidney diseases: Autoimmune kidney diseases

Autoimmune hepatitis

See Helminthic therapy and the liver: Autoimmune hepatitis

Coeliac / celiac disease

See Helminthic therapy and coeliac / celiac disease

Crohn's disease

See Helminthic therapy and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP)

It includes Lewis-Sumner syndrome (LSS)

… the infection of 50-80 necator americanus helminths did not help appreciably with the cidp. I have since increased my infection of hw's to about one per pound of weight which is approximately 190 - 200 helminths. I weigh approximately 203 pounds… having the higher infection has seemed to help my cidp.” [1] (See this note about colony size.)

See also

• 2021 Jun 17 Short- and Long-Lived Autoantibody-Secreting Cells in Autoimmune Neurological Disorders

Dermatitis herpetiformis

See Helminthic therapy and skin conditions: Dermatitis herpetiformis

Dermatomyositis

See Helminthic therapy and neuromuscular disorders: Myositis and dermatomyositis

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA)

See Helminthic therapy and systemic vasculitis

Giant cell arteritis

See Helminthic therapy and systemic vasculitis: giant cell arteritis (GCA)

Gluten ataxia

Also see Helminthic therapy and coeliac / celiac disease

The biggest indicator for me is I’ve only had to miss a few days of work. And prior I was considering disability. Improved quality of life. My inflammation is decreased. I’m no longer reacting to being CC’d with gluten. Decreased stomach pain. Increased absorption of food. I’m off most supplements. Depression is 90% decreased. Anxiety is 25% decreased. migraines down a little. Menstrual/ hormonal issues are resolving. And bladder issues seem to have resolved. It’s a multi systematic response, that I had no idea was all connected to inflammation. Still coping with RA. But it’s a process. (Reported 4 months after commencing helminthic therapy to treat gluten ataxia, gluten allergy, RA, immune disease, systemic inflammation, migraines, anxiety, depression, allergies, chronic UTIs, early onset peri menopause, dental issues, weak muscles and generally failing health.) [2] “One day I will reintroduce gluten slowly. But I’m no longer so focused on that. It’s simply beautiful not being sick 90% of the time. [3]

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA)

See Helminthic therapy and systemic vasculitis

Graves' disease

See Helminthic therapy and thyroid disease

Hashimoto's thyroiditis

See Helminthic therapy and thyroid disease

Henoch-Schönlein purpura

See Helminthic therapy and systemic vasculitis: Henoch-Schönlein purpura

Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS)

See Helminthic therapy and kidney diseases: Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS)

IgA nephropathy (IgAN)

IgA nephropathy (IgAN), also known as Berger's disease, or synpharyngitic glomerulonephritis, is a disease of the kidney (or nephropathy) and the immune system; specifically it is a form of glomerulonephritis or an inflammation of the glomeruli of the kidney. Aggressive Berger's disease (a rarer form of the disease) can attack other major organs, such as the liver, skin and heart.

See Helminthic therapy and kidney diseases: IgA nephropathy (IgAN)

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)

ITP is also known as idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura or immune thrombocytopenia

• 2025 Dec 15 Antigen B from Echinococcus granulosus regulates autophagy-mediated macrophage polarization to alleviate immune thrombocytopenia
• 2025 Dec The Mechanism of Echinococcus Granulosus Sensu Stricto Antigen B to Protect Immune Thrombocytopenia Mouse Model by Influencing Autophagy (Chinese)
• 2025 Jun Echinococcus granulosus antigen B regulates T-cell function through inhibition of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 in experimental immune thrombocytopenia
• 2025 Jan 25 Antigen B from Echinococcus granulosus regulates macrophage phagocytosis by controlling TLR4 endocytosis in immune thrombocytopenia
• 2023 Study on the mechanism of Echinococcus infection regulating immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) through polarized macrophages
• 2022 Preliminary study of the immunomodulatory effect of Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto antigen B on immune thrombocytopenia mouse model

See also

• 2023 Application of platelet parameters in the diagnosis of immune thrombocytopenia and echinococcosis in children
• 2020 Sep 15 Downregulation of microRNA-155-5p prevents immune thrombocytopenia by promoting macrophage M2 polarization via the SOCS1-dependent PD1/PDL1 pathway
• 2016 Apr What do we learn from immunomodulation in patients with immune thrombocytopenia?
• 2014 Mar Thrombocytopenia caused by albendazole in a patient with Sjögren's syndrome: A case report

IPEX syndrome

Immunodysregulation polyendocrinopathy enteropathy X-linked syndrome is a rare autoimmune disease. It is one of the autoimmune polyendocrine syndromes. Most often, IPEX presents with autoimmune enteropathy, dermatitis (eczema), and autoimmune endocrinopathy (most often Type 1 diabetes), but other presentations exist

See also

• 2016 Aug Functional characterization and biomarker discovery of FOXP3+ regulatory T cells in human health and disease (Thesis)

Lichen planus

I ended up using TSO 2500 and it halted progression of my lichen planus, while doctors were telling me that I had to use immunosuppressive medication. Also I experienced no side effects from 20 weeks of treatment with TSO. [4]

Lupus

See Helminthic therapy and lupus

Lupus nephritis

See Helminthic therapy and kidney diseases: Lupus Nephritis

Microscopic polyangiitis (MPA)

See Helminthic therapy and systemic vasculitis

Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD)

See Helminthic therapy and mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD)

Multiple sclerosis (MS)

See Helminthic therapy and multiple sclerosis (MS)

Myasthenia gravis

See Helminthic therapy and neuromuscular disorders: Myasthenia gravis

Myositis

See Helminthic therapy and neuromuscular disorders: Myositis and dermatomyositis

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD)

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) are a spectrum of autoimmune diseases characterized by acute inflammation of the optic nerve (optic neuritis, ON) and the spinal cord (myelitis).

There are no case reports or scientific studies on the effect of helminthic therapy on this disease. Nevertheless, given the similarity between this disease and multiple sclerosis, it is likely that helminths have a therapeutic effect.

See Helminthic therapy and multiple sclerosis (MS)

See also

• 2025 Apr 10 Microglia/Macrophages in Autoimmune Demyelinating Encephalomyelitis (Multiple Sclerosis/Neuromyelitis Optica)

Pemphigus

Pemphigus is a rare group of blistering autoimmune diseases that affect the skin and mucous membranes.

• 2021 Immune signature in pemphigus and its potential for therapeutic JAK inhibition (Thesis, Tuebingen)

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR)

See Helminthic therapy and polymyalgia rheumatica

Primary sclerosing cholangitis

• 2024 Apr CsHscB Derived from a Liver Fluke Clonorchis sinensis Ameliorates Cholestatic Hepatic Fibrosis in a Mouse Model of Sclerosing Cholangitis
• 2007 May An inverse relationship between autoimmune liver diseases and Strongyloides stercoralis infection | Full text

I used helminths to treat psc. It did help reduce the symptoms. [5]

See also

• Helminthic therapy and the liver

• 2020 Nov Roles of Trained Immunity in the Pathogenesis of Cholangiopathies: A Therapeutic Target

Psoriasis

See Helminthic therapy and psoriasis

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA)

See Helminthic therapy and arthritis: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA)

Rapidly-progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN)

See Helminthic therapy and kidney diseases: Rapidly-progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN)

Rheumatoid arthritis

See Helminthic therapy and rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

Scleroderma

alias Systemic sclerosis

See Helminthic therapy and scleroderma

Stiff-person syndrome (SPS)

See Helminthic therapy and neuromuscular disorders: Stiff-person syndrome (SPS)

Sjogren's disease

See Helminthic therapy and Sjögren's disease

Type 1 diabetes

See Helminthic therapy and diabetes: Type 1 diabetes (T1D)

Ulcerative colitis

See Helminthic therapy and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

Uveitis

See Helminthic therapy and vision: Uveitis

Complementary and alternative treatments

• 2009 Induction of Tolerogenic Dendritic Cells by Vitamin D Receptor Agonists (Chapter of Dendritic Cells)

The reintroduction to the digestive tract of a controlled number of specially domesticated, mutualistic helminths (intestinal worms) in the form of microscopic eggs or larvae to reconstitute a depleted biome to treat or prevent chronic inflammation, autoimmune disease and other immune-related disorders, including allergy.

The reintroduction to the digestive tract of a controlled number of specially domesticated, mutualistic helminths (intestinal worms) in the form of microscopic eggs or larvae to reconstitute a depleted biome to treat or prevent chronic inflammation, autoimmune disease and other immune-related disorders, including allergy.

Also known as regional enteritis, this is an inflammatory disease of the intestines that may affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract from mouth to anus, causing a wide variety of symptoms. It primarily causes abdominal pain, diarrhea (which may be bloody if inflammation is severe), vomiting or weight loss, but may also cause complications outside the gastrointestinal tract such as skin rashes, arthritis, inflammation of the eye, tiredness and lack of concentration.

Inflammatory bowel disease is a group of conditions affecting the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, particularly the colon and small intestine. The major types of IBD are Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis (UC).

Ulcerative colitis (Colitis ulcerosa, UC) is a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) which specifically affects the large intestine, or colon, causing characteristic ulcers, or open sores. The main symptom of active disease is constant diarrhea mixed with blood, of gradual onset.

An intestinal worm which grows large enough to be seen with the naked eye when mature but which is microscopic when administered in helminthic therapy. Wikipedia:Helminths

Multiple sclerosis (also known as disseminated sclerosis) is a chronic, typically progressive disease involving damage to the sheaths of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, whose symptoms may include numbness, impairment of speech and of muscular coordination, blurred vision and severe fatigue.

a change which is a result or consequence of an action or other cause.

The reintroduction to the digestive tract of a controlled number of specially domesticated, mutualistic helminths (intestinal worms) in the form of microscopic eggs or larvae to reconstitute a depleted biome to treat or prevent chronic inflammation, autoimmune disease and other immune-related disorders, including allergy.

An intestinal worm which grows large enough to be seen with the naked eye when mature but which is microscopic when administered in helminthic therapy. Wikipedia:Helminths

The species of human hookworm used in helminthic therapy. Its microscopic larvae are applied periodically to the skin.

hookworm, usually referring to the human hookworm, Necator americanus

the ova (eggs) of the porcine (pig) whipworm, Trichuris suis

Ulcerative colitis (Colitis ulcerosa, UC) is a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) which specifically affects the large intestine, or colon, causing characteristic ulcers, or open sores. The main symptom of active disease is constant diarrhea mixed with blood, of gradual onset.