Helminthic therapy and osteoarthritis

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Osteoarthritis is a type of degenerative joint disease that results from breakdown of joint cartilage and underlying bone.

The scientific evidence

Helminths reduce the Th17 response that seems to be involved in osteoarthritis, according to the articles below.

• 2024 nov 11 Innate Immunity and Synovitis: Key Players in Osteoarthritis Progression

• 2023 may 17 Osteoarthritis "The histology and pathophysiology both demonstrate an inflammatory process"

• 2020 May 5 Interleukin-1-Interleukin-17 Signaling Axis Induces Cartilage Destruction and Promotes Experimental Osteoarthritis

see Arthritis for more papers dedicated to arthritis

The anecdotal evidence

• “I was starting to get early onset osteo, seems to have stopped.” [1]

• “In my own case, (osteoarthritis) is well controlled by taking Glucosamine/Chondroitin and Hyaluronic acid, but, having recently forgotten to get a top-up dose of hookworm on time, I noticed a reappearance of discomfort from my affected joints and had to increase the supplements to compensate, so it looks like the worms were helping with this condition.” [2]

• ☹️ “I have solid osteo in the hips. I have also had NA for about 5 years. No apparent help at all for osteo but good help for hay fever.” [3]

• “HDC reduced the inflammation I suffered from osteoarthritis so I feel it indirectly helped.” [4]

• “My osteoarthritis is most evident in my right hand knuckle and spine (back and neck). At 12 weeks post inoculation (with NA), my osteoarthritis improved noticeably, measured by pain in knuckle and 'cricking' noises in my neck during exercises.” (Via email.)

• “I have Osteoarthritis in my big toe/foot joint and Coeliac Disease. I was also diagnosed with Polyarthralgia. After getting my 10 NA about 14 months ago and then another 10 about 5 months later I really noticed a difference in the aching joints. My polyarthralgia in my hands and feet have improved immensely and the osteoarthritis is definitely better although I still get pain walking as constantly have to walk using that big toe joint. It was when I lost my colony of NA after having to take a series of courses of antibiotics in early 2018 when my symptoms came back and I really noticed how well I had been with the NA on board.” [5]

• “I received my first dose of NA in June 2016 for widespread food and inhalant allergies and arthritis (osteoarthritis since childhood). 10 months later noticed that I was less stiff when getting out of the car. High sensitive C (a measure of inflammation) went down from 11 (very high) to 8 (still very high but progress). Just received new results at the 22 month mark, and my levels are down to 3.99. Although this is still high (it should be 2 or lower), it is the lowest I have seen in my adult life.” [6]

See also

• Helminthic therapy personal stories: arthritis

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

A helminth that lives in the small intestine. Necator americanus (NA) is the only hookworm species used in helminthic therapy. Its microscopic larvae are applied periodically to the skin.

the human hookworm, Necator americanus

Hymenolepis diminuta cysticercoids (Hi-men-o-lep'is dim-a-nu-ta sis-ti-sur-koid) - the larval cysts of the rat tapeworm, Hymenolepis diminuta

The introduction of an infectious agent into an organism. Helminth inoculation