Helminthic therapy and breastfeeding

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Up until the last 100 years, all our ancestors, including all nursing mothers, would have continuously hosted a range of helminths and, while those living in industrialised countries today have now mostly lost contact with intestinal worms, more than a quarter of the human population is still colonised by soil-transmitted helminths, including 740 million with hookworms, and this obviously must include a lot of breastfeeding mothers, many of whom will be regularly acquiring new worms.

It is also the case that light infections with the human hookworm, Necator americanus (NA), are considered so benign by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that they do not recommend their removal so, in most cases of hookworm infection, no treatment is required. Nursing mothers are not mentioned by the CDC as being an exception to this.

There are helminths that are able to migrate to a child via breastmilk, but most do not.

Most parasitic infections in the mother do not contraindicate breastfeeding. [1]

And none of the species used in helminthic therapy ever reach their host's mammary glands.

Personal experience

I did 3 NA at second trimester. And another 3 one month after giving birth. Baby is healthy ❤ and breastfeeding continues with no worries. [2]

I inoculated throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding, baby is almost 9 months old and we have no issues. [3]

See also

• Helminthic therapy safety

• Deworming debunked

• Helminthic therapy and pregnancy

• Helminthic therapy and children

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.

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 species of human hookworm used in helminthic therapy. Its microscopic larvae are applied periodically to the skin.

the human hookworm, Necator americanus

An organism that lives in or on another organism (its host) and benefits at the host’s expense. (The organisms used in helminthic therapy are, strictly speaking, not parasites, but mutualists, because they have a mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship with their hosts.)

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.