This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

Hi! It seems like ages ago that a trial was going ahead using hookworms, does anyone have any info on what's going on with that? Or any other helminth study for that matter?

I think it was a British uni doing the study... I think that it's one of the most intriguing trials out there at the moment, and I have high hopes for it!

Also, is anyone currently using hook/whip worm and is seeing substantial benefits?

Hello. Yes there is some research and small trials going on at Edinburgh and Nottingham Unis I think. I think they may be using whipworm rather than hookworm, but its the same principal.

I have been using hookworm since Spring 2011, increasing the dose gradually, and now host over 100 helminths. This is a safe dose level, I have no ill effects from the worms, and I have not had a relapse since starting. Of course its "only" been 18 months, so I'm not jumping to any conclusions, but so far so good.
The science behind this is very strong, though I dont claim to understand it all. Here is the Argentinian study http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17230481 convinced me that this was worth a try.

The problem with the trials is that it will take a long time for anything to come of them. In order for anyone to invest in full phase 3 trials they need something patentable. So they'll want to find, isolate, and patent the particluar active molecule(s) from the worms and turn it into a patented drug - this is where the money is. But this will take years.
So why wait for this when the natural product (that has evolved over thousands of years in symbiosis with humans) is available now. There is at least one company currently providing safe doses of hookworms and whipworms.

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On Twitter @Erimus_ms

Thanks for your response erimus, it's fascinating to hear of your experience and im extremely happy to hear of your results, 18 months is brilliant. Can I ask, do you get any symptoms still, like weird sensations or vision problems or whatever you used to have, or has everything cleared up? Also did you go to the UK company (AIT is it?)

Are you going to go up to 300, which I have heard is the target for Ms?

Its good to hear of someone else interested in helminthic therapy. I always planned to "spread the word" if it showed signs of working. If this keeps up for another couple of years I'll be even more encouraged.

Meanwhile 18 months is a good start. It does apparently take the worms a while to reach full efficacy - probably up to a year. So I am hoping to see the full benefit now they are fully up and running. I actually have close to 200, and no plans to go higher at the moment. In a year or so I'll probably top up, as its likely that some will gradually dying off.
Yes I do do still have residual symtpoms from previous attacks, especially when my temperature is raised - but no new symptoms. I would say that the helminths work to control inflammation to prevent or drastically reduce further relapses. This will hopefully allow the body to heal itself as much as possible.

Yes, I'm using AIT. They've been great, and they - Jasper and Marc - really believe in what they're doing.

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On Twitter @Erimus_ms

Cool, i think that everyone should look into Helminths as there is some really good data, even if it is narrow. There are a few people on these forums who are also taking them (with inteferon), so you can take them with DMDs. By the way, how do you know how many are in your system?

Also, out of interest, what are your particular symptoms when it gets hot? Is it the usual fatigue or something else?

Its mainly my sensory symptoms that are brought on by the heat - blurry vision, numbness. I believe its called Utthoffs phenomonon, due to incomplete remyelination - the heat somehow inhibits neural conduction.

The data is only limited by the relatively low number of subjects. In the Argentinian study they compared 12 people with helminth infection against 12 without infection, and followed them for 4.6 years....... only 3 relapses from 12 infected people in 4.6 years, compare to 48 relapses in the 12 non-infected people. No change in EDSS in infected people. WOW
These results are simply incredible, and the study is of really high quality. It was published in Annals of Neurology in 2007 and I only wish I'd seen it, and acted on it, sooner. I cant believe the study is not more widely known, but then I guess there is no big money behind it
Theres a follow-up study where they 'treated' some of the people to remove their helmiths... this population reverted to a higher number of relapses over the next few years. Further convincing evidence that the helminths excert a protective influence on MS.

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On Twitter @Erimus_ms

I started HT in February 2011 following Optic Neuritis and MS diagnosis in November 2010. So far so good. No relapses and health largely returned so much so I can hold down job involving 80 hour weeks in the Mining Industry.

See my thread in Regimens section