In my last post, I talked about how microbiome depletion results from immigrating to the United States (and subsequent dietary changes), which leads to obesity and metabolic diseases. I promised to tell you more about immigrant studies on biome depletion so today I am addressing a paper from 2 years ago in which researchers describe … Read more
I have read the vast majority of papers ever written on the subject of therapeutic helminths, and cannot, for the life of me, remember reading one that specifically addresses their potential anti-cancer effects. I knew that helminths’ inflammation-modulating effect should theoretically be highly beneficial in terms of lowering cancer risk, but today, for the first … Read more
I just stumbled across beyond-cool research which unveils a whole new way helminths may work to reduce inflammation. Researchers at the University of California, Riverside, have discovered that helminths not only manipulate the endocannabinoid system of their hosts, but the organisms themselves produce natural cannabinoids in order to help ensure survival.[i] For those unfamiliar: endocannabinoids … Read more
I got a wonderful email this past Friday, and have been very much looking forward to sharing it with you all this week. A friend from the helminthic therapy world sent me a “Happy Anniversary” message, celebrating the 50th year since the publication of the first paper[i] noting that exposure to helminths is associated with … Read more
I have written before about the work of Dr. Jamie Lorimer, of Oxford University. I was very excited yesterday when a friend sent me his newest paper, which examines the history of the helminth/human relationship[i] A few favorite parts to share with you: When we first discovered germs, medical science came to view anything not … Read more
An interesting study just came out of the University of Chicago, looking at how specific bacteria in the small intestine affect the absorption of fat from the diet.[i] The work should, in the long term, have huge implications for the treatment of obesity and also, illnesses where malabsorption (like Crohn’s) is problematic. We know that … Read more
Warning: I am not a ray of sunshine today. Yesterday, I was at the funeral of my very loved aunt, who just died of cancer. I’ve also lost a grandmother and 3 friends to cancer (leukemia, brain, and liver)…and have had multiple scares with other friends and relatives (ovarian, breast, prostate, etc.), who, thank goodness, … Read more
Today is the 22nd anniversary of my son’s diagnosis with autism. It is always a day of mourning for me: 8030 days of my life spent failing my Alex. Yes, of course, that sentiment comes from the irrational and emotional part of me. Rationally, I know perfectly well that I have done everything within my … Read more
Two new papers have just come out that provide yet more proof of the importance helminths play in health and a modulated immune response. The first paper[i], published in the American Journal of Physiology, looked at using Hymenolepis diminuta (HD) to prevent inflammatory bowel disease. Researchers at the University of Calgary exposed young mice to … Read more
I was very excited to see a new paper[i] by Dr. William Parker and his colleague, Henry Kou, at Duke University, looking at the effects of the loss of our helminths and the relationship to mental illness. The paper is, in some ways, a plea to the scientific community to look at the potential use … Read more