Helminthic therapy and eosinophilic esophagitis (EE / EoE)
Eosinophilic esophagitis is an allergic inflammatory condition of the esophagus that involves eosinophils, a type of white blood cell.
The scientific evidence[edit | edit source]
- 2026 Apr 27 Restoring Balance in Atopic Disorders: Insights into Type 2 Immunity and Chronic Inflammation (Online ahead of print)
For more scientific papers see:
See also
- 2020 Nov 27 Basophils and Eosinophils in Nematode Infections
Certain helminths may be suspected. This probably depends on the species, the quantity, and whether the infection is in the acute or chronic phase. This does not correspond to the therapeutic use of helminths.
The anecdotal evidence[edit | edit source]
- "My daughter who has EE is off of Prilosec for the first time in six years!!! Only one incident of reflux in the last eleven days and none of the other typical symptoms that we've seen without it -- sleeplessness, crabbiness and emotional volatility because of increased pain. I'm not giving her anything else -- no antacid, betaine HCL, TUMS, or baking soda in water… This is absolutely huge for us… Her eating is much better in general as she is now able to eat a lot more nutritionally dense food… Yesterday she went to sleep before the rest of us. This has practically never happened." (Reported in a private discussion, Apr 2012)
- "… after the initial inoculation with seven hookworms, Cole experienced some side effects—periumbilical pain and mild diarrhea—but his food reactions improved. After five months, however, Carmon says, 'He regressed a little.' She and her husband decided to have Cole inoculated with 20 more worms. That’s what did the trick, Carmon says. Cole stopped having reactions to his remaining foods and Carmon is slowly adding foods back into his diet. According to his doctors, Cole is in clinical remission, and they are 'fascinated' that helminth therapy worked. Helminth therapy has had other benefits, in addition to dramatically improving his health. 'He used to have trouble learning but he is now doing wonderfully in school … He used to be fussy and hard to please but now he’s just so happy all the time.'” (Living Without, Aug 2012)
- "… there has been a dramatic improvement with the eosinophilic esophagitis. Prior to inoculation, I was experiencing some level of food impaction that would, on a weekly basis, require a rush trip to the bathroom to find a way to push food down. I could not eat most foods without a glass of water near by at all times to help wash down each bite of food. Since inoculation, I have not experienced a single episode of food impaction! It's no longer necessary for me to remember a glass of water every time I want a snack… It has been 5 weeks since I used the medication (Flovent) with any regularity, and I'm still symptom free. I'm surprised for 2 reasons. First, EoE was not a condition that I really hoped the worms to improve… Second, I am surprised to have seen such a significant improvement so early in therapy…” (FB, May 2013)
- "I have been dealing with EE for the past 25 years. Food would get stuck in my esophagus just about every day. I have made several trips to the ER to get it pulled out. I started getting dilations done, but it would just close up again within a 2 months. I've had ~30 dilations. My throat was so tight (worst all my doctors have ever seen) they would have to use pediatric scopes and wires to do the dilations. Normal adult sized instruments where two large. I started therapy with Hookworms 20 months ago. It was not until 6 months after starting that I could really say it was starting to help. The dilations done in the past they were BARELY able to dilate me to 8mm and it would close up again in a few weeks. Today I'm dilated to 13mm and we are dilating every 6 months just to stay on top of it… I am very happy with the results so far. It is not 100%, more like 60%, but that 60% has made a HUGE impact on my quality of life." (Link expired)
- “Both my sons were diagnosed with EE at a young age. They were avoiding long lists of foods. One of my sons got to the point that he wasn't tolerating any food, and was on a special hypoallergenic formula. we were considering a feeding tube. We infected both of them with hook and whip two years ago. They now only are allergic to nuts and shellfish! It is a miracle for our family. Their last endoscopies looked great! Our quality of life has greatly improved!! I also had hookworms during my last pregnancy. I was a little worried but delivered a beautiful, healthy baby girl. She has no food allergies. Our allergist is shocked based on our family history.” (Link expired)
- “I started helminthic therapy almost 2 years ago in a desperate attempt to get my eosinophilic esophagitis and endless list of serious allergies under control. At several points, the number of foods I could tolerate was... zero. Even on "medically fabricated food" I was still pretty sick. One of my most burdensome allergies was oral allergy syndrome - an allergy to any food that has not been cooked. I am celebrating this week, because I've discovered that for the first time in 8 years I can eat raw food with NO reaction! Blueberries, strawberries, spinach, broccoli... Delicious! I was close to giving up on my little worms, since I saw no discernible improvement for a year and a half. I'm glad I stuck with it. I'm the healthiest I've ever been, and I wanted to share my joy and gratitude with all of you.” (Reported in a private message, Sept 2013)
- “Our son is five-years-old. He has EoE, Ige mediated allergies, Gastroparesis, OAS, and all of the symptoms of MCAS. He began treating with Helminths seven months ago. We had a rough start. His first dose of 5 HW made him incredibly sick. Thereafter, he had two small doses of HDC a few months apart. The HDC helped him slightly, but their purpose was to acclimate his body for a second dose of HW. He received his second dose of 5 HW around two months ago. Those little guys took him to task. He was extremely ill: vomiting, weight loss, refusal to eat, dangerously high fevers with sudden onset that wouldn't go down, I rushed him into his doctor's office, sometimes several days in a row. His Helminthic doctor suggested terminating the worms, but we hunkered down and stuck through it. Now, he is doing absolutely amazing. He feels better than he has ever felt in his life. The aches and pains that he had learned to live with, in his throat, stomach, chest, and legs have vanished. He is not throwing up. He still struggles a bit when he eats, but he is eating like a champion. He's eating faster and he's eating more. Most importantly, the pain that he used to feel while eating is gone. His rashes are gone. He achieved a new weight record (35 pounds! Yay!)… He has been holding strong, symptom free, for an unprecedented stretch of time now… In hindsight, I am grateful that the mainstream treatment options didn't work for him. He is now pharmaceutical free and feeling good, and that is a wonderful thing.” (FB, Jul 2019)
- “Re daughter, 11 yrs old, with EOE. Failed pork on elimination diet trial. Doctor ordered elimination of pork, and either adding Prilosec back in, or up Flovent from 2 puffs twice daily to 4 puffs twice daily. We opted for the later: eliminate pork and 4 puffs twice daily on Flovent. PLUS we added 3 NA. During the three months we cheated on chicken, turkey and pork over a dozen times. She was not consistent with her Flovent. Probably did not do it 1/3 of the time. Scoped yesterday (for latest biopsy) thinking the worst. Doctor comes in with the biggest smile on his face. Showed me pictures of the beautiful pink veins and smooth skin. He was so shocked at how good the pictures where. He actually talked about a 6 month trial without Flovent. HA HA… Am getting excited about the next dose (of NA) to arrive!” (FB, Nov 2019)
- "The TSO worked for the eosinophilic esophagitis for me. I used TSO 2500 eggs every two and a half weeks for 5 months and stopped for about a month and I could feel it coming back so I bought five months more and that seemed to do the trick. It seems to be ok now. I have not taken any for a couple of months now." (FB, Mar 2024)
- "Our 16 year old daughter has been on NA for about 5 years and is in remission for EOE. We started in 2019 with three NA every three months and now maintain the colony with three NA every four months. Inflammatory foods that she avoids are gluten, dairy, eggs and nuts, but she has never tried to add these back in because we just don’t want to mess with what is working. She doesn’t even have a GI doctor anymore. She never really got severe because we caught it early, and I believe her most severe scope was 30-60 eosinophils in a high power field. Yay!" (FB, Dec 2024)