Helminthic therapy and neuropsychiatric disorders

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Helminths are capable of improving neuropsychiatric function, and all four species of therapeutic helminth appear to make a positive contribution to psychological wellbeing.

Socio-medical studies of humans "self-treating" with helminths as well as limited studies in animal models strongly suggest that helminth therapy may be a productive approach toward treating a range of neuropsychiatric disorders, including chronic fatigue, migraine headaches, depression and anxiety disorders. [1]

The scientific evidence[edit | edit source]

2021 Jan 12 IL-33 Changes Our "Gut Feelings" about Serotonin -- Full text

2020 Nov 20 Interleukin-33 promotes serotonin release from enterochromaffin cells for intestinal homeostasis -- Full text | PDF

2020 May 28 Endocannabinoid Regulation of Helminth Induced Hypophagia -- PDF (Capstone project)

2020 Jan Potential application of helminth therapy for resolution of neuroinflammation in neuropsychiatric disorders

2019 Sep Invisible Designers: Brain Evolution Through the Lens of Parasite Manipulation

2019 Jun 28 Microbiome and Cognitive Impairment: Can Any Diets Influence Learning Processes in a Positive Way? -- Full text | PDF

2019 Feb Inflammation in psychiatric disorders: what comes first?

2018 Oct 25 Host- and Helminth-Derived Endocannabinoids That Have Effects on Host Immunity Are Generated during Infection -- Full text | PDF (media coverage "Getting high on worms")

2018 Sep 20 Modulation of the immune response by helminths: a role for serotonin? -- Full text | PDF

2018 Aug 15 Intestinal worms eating neuropsychiatric disorders? Apparently so -- PDF

2016 Sep The Microbiota, Immunoregulation, and Mental Health: Implications for Public Health -- Full text | PDF

2014 Jun Microbiota, immunoregulatory old friends and psychiatric disorders

2012 Jun Microbial "Old Friends", immunoregulation and psychiatric disorders

2012 May Can we vaccinate against depression?

Depression[edit | edit source]

Reduced depression / improved mood[edit | edit source]

HDC is mentioned a lot in this context, and, since HDC is taken regularly, usually every 2 weeks, its users can benefit from a repeated post-inoculation 'bounce’. This is a brief period of temporary symptom relief accompanied by a sudden feeling of unusual wellness, perhaps with a strong sense of calm, focus, happiness and lightheartedness.

I like how it puts me in a good mood for a day or two when I first take it.

I also experienced a significantly elevated mood that night after taking just 10 HDC, the elevated mood lasted until the end of the next day. [2]

For some people, this effect may be repeated after every dose.

... every dose of HDC's is followed by a delightful stream of energy that lasts almost a week. [3]

Within 24 hours of taking HDC I feel much calmer. That feeling lasts a few days, before it lets up a bit, but I still continue feeling calmer than usual up to 30 days after dosing, when their effects completely wear off… If I could regularly dose, say, weekly, I probably would see my anxiety completely resolved. [4]

In other cases, this effect may reduce over time.

The first day I take HDC it usually puts me in a really nice mood, especially the first time I did it. It's not exactly euphoric but I noticed it and counted on it… First time, (it lasted) 48 hours. Second time, 24 hours. Third time, 12 hours. Fourth time, 12 hours.

However, this effect on neuropsychiatric function is not unique to HDC. It is also seen with TSO, NA and TTO.

My mood was the first indicator that TSO was working. I became calmer and happier despite my physical symptoms. [5] I find TSO is the best for mood and general feeling of well being as well as increased energy. Hookworm and (human) whipworm both work as well, it just takes longer. [6]

My daughter started TSO last week and we are already seeing an improvement in her mood and energy on a low dose of 500 ova. [7]

TSO cured a mood disorder I didn't realize I had until it was gone. [8]

I would like to confirm positive effect of TSO on mood stabilization as well. Even with low dose in my case (300 ova bi-weekly). [9]

I didn't have depression, just a generally negative view of life, but NA has (unexpectedly) made me a whole lot more positive and even happy. [10] It's noticeable enough that I would continue with them even if that was the only benefit. [11]

The following comment was made 6 weeks after inoculation with 25 hookworm larvae.

What is already interesting is my steady and calm mind.

For further accounts of how helminthic therapy has reduced depression, see the following.

Helminthic therapy personal stories: Depression / low mood
Practices and outcomes of self-treatment with helminths based on physicians' observations (PDF) (In particular, see Table 1)

Temporarily increased depression[edit | edit source]

Occasionally, depression may increase temporarily following initial inoculation with helminths. This is usually, but not necessarily, the result of using doses that are too high.

After first small group of NA, I became much more depressed for about 10-12 weeks, then got back to previous mood level. [12]

I have hit a patch of depression here at week 9 of my first inoculation with 3NA and I am feeling very bleak. [13]

I also feel quite depressed, will be 9 weeks for me on Tuesday. [14]

After first small group of NA, I became much more depressed for about 10-12 weeks, then got back to previous mood level. [15]

I experience plummeting mood following an NA inoculation. Dosing amounts are important with NA. [16]

When I used HDC, I found that a high dose made me agitated, where a low dose would lift my depression within hours from the moment of taking it. [17]

My wife, who suffers from clinical depression, took 1 NA each month for 3 months. Then the Dr. told her to take 5 at once despite us asking multiple times if this would cause depression. We were told no each time. So my wife took the 5 at once as the doctor had suggested. A few days later, she began to get depressed and could not get out of bed for about 7-10 days. Cried all day. We killed the colony about 4 days later to prevent my wife from going to hospital because the depression was that bad. It was about another 2 weeks before she felt better again. (Edited from two posts: [18] [19].)

3.5 years in, I now have times where I even feel positive and optimistic, which is a huge improvement over a lifetime of clinical depression. But it’s also the first symptom to return, especially if I take a dose of NA that’s a little too much. Last dose was 7, and 3 days later I started 9 days of deep despair. I know it’s temporary, so I just hang on and get through it, but now I know 7 is too many. [20]

… the participant abruptly halted his antidepression medications and began taking HDCs. Although confident in his actions because of the effects of HDCs on his adult daughter and a friend, the outcome was severe depression. The participant resumed his medication and, fortunately, recovered rapidly. [21]

Anxiety[edit | edit source]

Reduced anxiety[edit | edit source]

The potential for helminths to reduce anxiety can be seen in the reports in the following page section.

Helminthic therapy personal stories: Anxiety

And in this paper. (See Table 1 in particular.)

Practices and outcomes of self-treatment with helminths based on physicians' observations (PDF)

Temporarily increased anxiety[edit | edit source]

There have been a few reports of anxiety increasing following initial inoculation with NA, TTO or HDC, but this increase is usually temporary and often related to dose size.

I think it aggravated the anxiety component for me. Not sure why. (After dosing with HDC)

Around day 15 (after an initial dose of 10 NA), I had severe anxiety for 2 days straight but nothing since. [22]

I had mild/moderate diffuse anxiety for about a week at ~19-20 weeks. (After a supplementary dose of 65 NA!)

My anxiety and more-so paranoia seems to have increased significantly after hosting. Its a strange feeling but I "feel" like its the worms interacting with me somehow.

I had a major increase in anxiety when I started whipworm (TT). But with hookworm my anxiety has improved greatly. I terminated the whipworm after 6 or 8 weeks when my reaction to them still hadn't eased, so I can't say if that feeling would have persisted or eventually passed.

I am very thankful that I only had 3 NA For my first dose. I am almost done with the week five, and the anxiety I am feeling is truly challenging me. [23]

If anxiety does arise, or worsen, after introducing helminths, this should eventually resolve along with any other symptoms that appear during the initial side effect period. Resolution is usually complete by the end of the 14th week and, if it recurs at all following supplementary inoculations, it typically becomes gradually less troublesome over time.

I have severe anxiety, including PTSD & panic attacks etc. When I initially began treating (with NA) I would notice an increase in anxiety for several days. It would be a bit uncomfortable & high doses of D3, Benadryl, & magnesium would help. I’m honestly not sure when it stopped. Likely when the bounce stopped, so a year in? Now, the opposite occurs and I get very calm & fall asleep after treating. This usually lasts for several days. [24]

In a few rare cases, anxiety can persist for a longer period of time, leading one individual to terminate their colony.

Increase in energy and exuberance the first month, restlessness the second month, worsening anxiety/OCD third and 4th month, increased to day-long panic attacks fifth month. Directly due to hookworms as symptoms are 90% improved after 3 days of albendazole.

Combining helminth species to treat anxiety and depression[edit | edit source]

Some individuals have found that a combination of helminth species has given them the best longterm effects.

For me, TSO plus NA is the magic combo for anxiety and depression. [25]

Autism[edit | edit source]

See Helminthic therapy and autism

Schizophrenia[edit | edit source]

Has not been hospitalized in 9 months. Has dropped medications 50%. Looks better, bright eyes. Energy. Hopefulness. Pleasure in life. (After one year of treating with NA.)[[26]]

Bipolar disorder[edit | edit source]

HDC has been found to help in several cases of bipolar disorder.

(Before treatment), in my 30’s, I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. In my 50’s, I was diagnosed as bipolar. Since the beginning of self-treatment (with HDC), my symptoms have subsided. My wellbeing has improved 100%. [27]

(After treatment, I have) less anxiety and am able to think clearer. The helminths (HDC) seemed to help in areas that were positive but unexpected. [28]

When I get angry I used to (before helminth therapy) have thoughts of killing the person that made me angry or maybe just hurting them severely, but now (after therapy with HDC) I am not angry often, or depressed. [29]

Helminthic therapy personal stories: Bipolar disorder

And there are further reports of success with this disorder in the following paper.

Overcoming Evolutionary Mismatch by Self-Treatment with Helminths: Current Practices and Experience (PDF)

Alternative approaches to treatment[edit | edit source]

Omega-3 fatty acids and uridine for depression[edit | edit source]

According to Wikipedia, Harvard researchers have reported that omega-3 fatty acids and uridine, two substances in foods such as fish, walnuts, molasses and sugar beets, prevented depression in rats as effectively as antidepressant drugs. William Carlezon, director of McLean’s Behavioral Genetics Laboratory, commented:

Giving rats a combination of uridine and omega-3 fatty acids produced immediate effects that were indistinguishable from those caused by giving the rats standard antidepressant medications. [30] [31]

Some helminth species produce uridine amongst their excretory/secretory products, for example, N. brasiliensis.

2025 May 5 Protective effects of Nippostrongylus brasiliensis- derived uridine via the apical sodium-dependent bile acid transporter in a mouse model of TNBS-induced inflammatory bowel disease -- Full text | PDF

Unfortunately, none of the four therapeutic helminths are known to produce uridine.