Helminthic therapy and lupus

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Lupus, technically known as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue in many parts of the body. Exposure to helminths introduces a legitimate target for the immune system, thereby distracting it from attacking bodily tissues.

The two helminth species that have proved to be particularly effective in reducing lupus symptoms are TSO and NA. HDC may add to the benefits provided by NA and TSO, as can be seen from the details below.

The scientific evidence[edit | edit source]

The following papers all concern aspects of the effects on lupus of helminths and their products.

2023 Jul 18 Gut microbiota: a newly identified environmental factor in systemic lupus erythematosus -- Full text | PDF

2022 Oct Gut microbiota in systemic lupus erythematosus: A fuse and a solution -- Full text

2022 Feb 24 Helminth products modulate innate immune recognition of nucleic acids in systemic lupus erythematosus

2020 Jun Suppression of systemic lupus erythematosus in NZBWF1 mice infected with Hymenolepis microstoma

Infection with the murine helminth, Hymenolepis microstoma, protected mice against the development of lupus, improved all signs and symptoms of the disease, and prevented death.

2019 Feb 19 Helminth-Based Product and the Microbiome of Mice with Lupus -- Full text | PDF

2018 Aug Tuftsin-phosphorylcholine (TPC) equally effective to methylprednisolone in ameliorating lupus nephritis in a mice model -- Full text | PDF

2017 Apr Diminished IL-17A levels may protect filarial-infected individuals from development of rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus -- Full text

2017 Jun 5 Helminthic Therapy: A New Era in Immune-Mediated Diseases -- Full text (Mixed connective tissue disease/MCTD, Raynaud phenomenon)

2015 Nov Drug-like analogues of the parasitic worm-derived immunomodulator ES-62 are therapeutic in the MRL/Lpr model of systemic lupus erythematosus -- Full text | PDF

2015 Apr 17 Helminths and autoimmunity: the good, the bad and the ugly -- PDF

2015 Apr Taenia solium in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus: do parasites protect against autoimmune diseases -- PDF

2015 Apr The parasitic worm product ES-62 targets myeloid differentiation factor 88-dependent effector mechanisms to suppress antinuclear antibody production and proteinuria in MRL/lpr mice -- Full text | PDF

A worm-derived immunomodulator protects against kidney damage in lupus/SLE.

2015 Mar The immunomodulatory parasitic worm product ES-62 reduces lupus-associated accelerated atherosclerosis in a mouse model -- Full text | PDF

2014 Dec Absence of filarial infection in patients of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in filarial endemic area: a possible protective role -- Full text | PDF

2014 Oct 27 Efficacité thérapeutique du composé phosphorylcholine-tuftsin dans un modèle murin de lupus -- PDF (thesis, in french)

2014 Jan 28 Interplay of infections, autoimmunity, and immunosuppression in systemic lupus erythematosus

2009 Nov Parasitic infection and autoimmunity

2006 Jun-dec Protective Role of Helminthiasis in the Development of Autoimmune Diseases -- Full text | PDF

The anecdotal evidence[edit | edit source]

The first two reports are more detailed than the quotes that follow them.

"The (hook)worms have been working for me. I have been in drug free remission for over 3 months now, I hypothesize that other lupus-spectrum disorders will respond similarly. After all, HLA-B27 is an autoimmune marker that is shared by inflammatory bowel disease as well as lupus/MCTD.” (Reported in a private message, Sept 2012)

“Hi, I just wanted to let people out there know that I have been using hdc with great success for the last 6 mnths. I have lupus and myasthenia gravis and it has definitely helped. Along with hdc I do also use Hk and have been for three years., though for me it wasn't enough on its own and it gave me severe gi issues. I lost my hk frequently, but after adding the hdc I have not had that happen. One huge bonus for me is that I have had hair grow in that I thought was permanently gone due to the lupus.” (Reported in Mar 2014.)

“I’ve had symptoms for almost 10 years… Was on cellcept/plaquenil/prednisone for 2.5 years… I also have hypothyroidism. so the week I started HW, I also had my thyroid meds increased. Since then I have been just about symptom free. I feel pretty normal. I know not I overdo it. I can get by with 8 hrs sleep instead of 12! And I can eat whatever. If I go overboard with junk and alcohol I feel shitty, but it's the most normal I've felt in 10 yrs!” (Reported to a closed group, Sept 2014)

“It's been a little over 2 years since my first dose of HW. I took a total 125 with a top up of 10 to treat Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and food sensitivities. I just had a recent batch of rheumatology labs done and everything is normal - except for a positive ANA. I've been feeling about 90-95% symptom free for close to the entire 2 yrs I've been hosting... YAY WORMS!!!!!” [1]

2016 - “It has been 5 months since I started Helminthic therapy for systemic lupus. Originally with 25 hookworms, then with 2500 TSO every two weeks which I started taking just over two months ago… My pre helminthic therapy pain and fatigue level had always been a steady 6.5 out of 10… Now my pain is a steady 3 out of 10… Fatigue has also been reduced to an outstanding level… For the first time since I was 14, I can wake up after 7-8 hours sleep and feel like I have enough energy to do a full day… For the past 3 weeks I’ve had the energy to go to the gym twice a day, 6 to 7 times a week. 45 minutes of moderate intensity cardio in the morning followed by weights at night… For the past five years I feel like I have been asleep. Although I worked and studied, my memories have been distorted by pain, fatigue and depression. For the first time since I was first diagnosed at 17, I feel that Im finally starting to wake up and that I have a lot to catch up on.” [2]

The following two reports are by the same person.

“I am doing amazingly well. I am back at work and, apart from some neurological deficits caused by the medication, I am back to normal. I did a tough climb in the Swiss Alps in the Fall without any problems. I need to top up the NA approx. every 3 mth. The symptoms start to return (mildly) at around 3 mths. I used to top up with 25-30 NA's, but I used around 10 on my last 2 dosing and it worked great! I cannot tell you how grateful I am to be well!” [3]

“(I am doing) Absolutely brilliantly! Running, lifting weights and working. I still have the nerve damage but it has minimal impact on my life. I just celebrated a birthday that I did not expect to see.” [4]

“I have severe lupus (only two things work for me cytoxan and NA). I would not be here today had I not have HT.” (Link expired.)

A helminth provider reported in 2015 that he had had seven clients with lupus and lichen ruber planus who had experienced full remission during a course of 10 doses of TSO. [5] In the following two years, a further four cases had been added to his list. (Link expired)

Many of the lupus patients who used TSO mentioned to their provider that they had had good results with cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) which mostly affects the skin. They also reported good results with other SLE symptoms such as swelling and pain in the joints, muscle pain, headache and migraine, gastrointestinal complaints and general complaints like tiredness, fatigue, poor performance, weight loss, etc. [6]

Also see: Mixed Connective Tissue Disease (MCTD).

Lupus, helminths and CRP[edit | edit source]

A subject using NA to treat Mixed Connective Tissue Disease/Lupus reported that her CRP fell from 2.20 to 0.50 (Standard Range: 0.02 - 0.5 mg/dL). [7]

A lady with Crohn's, lupus and coeliac disease, who had accidentally become infected with the helminth, Enterobius vermicularis, reported that her rheumatologist apparently had difficulty believing his eyes when her test results showed that her CRP was near normal. [8]

Lupus-related hair loss and helminths[edit | edit source]

In one case, hookworms proved to be effective for someone who has alopecia as a result of the lupus component of her disease.

… without a doubt, my treatment with hookworms has been very effective on my bald spots and thinning areas. [9]

And, in another case…

Hi, I just wanted to let people know that I have been using HDC with great success for the last 6 months. I have lupus and myasthenia gravis and it has definitely helped. Along with HDC I do also use NA and have been for three years, though for me it wasn't enough on its own and it gave me severe GI issues. I lost my hookworms frequently, but after adding the HDC, I have not had that happen. One huge bonus for me is that I have had hair grow in that I thought was permanently gone due to the lupus.

Lupus nephritis[edit | edit source]

2024 Oct Helminth derivative tuftsin-phopshorylcholine to treat autoimmunity -- Full text

2014 Dec Parasites alter the pathological phenotype of lupus nephritis -- Full text

And there is a very positive anecdotal report of NA producing improvements in lupus nephritis:

I'm about 11 months into my HT (hookworm, for lupus and Mixed Connective Tissue Disease), and doing really well. There are long periods (days, even a week or more) when I have zero pain in my body. My recurring nephritis now sits dormant for weeks at a time... [10]