Helminthic therapy and thyroid disease
Relatively few people are using helminthic therapy to treat thyroid disorders, so the amount of evidence is limited. What has been learned so far is presented below.
The scientific evidence[edit | edit source]
- 2025 Aug Trichinella spiralis excretory-secretory protein alleviates autoimmune thyroiditis by modulating Th17/Treg balance via the STAT3/STAT5 pathway
- 2022 Mar 21 SJMHE1 protects against excessive iodine-induced pyroptosis in human thyroid follicular epithelial cells through a toll-like receptor 2-dependent pathway -- Full text | PDF
- 2004 Dec TSH receptor-adenovirus-induced Graves' hyperthyroidism is attenuated in both interferon-gamma and interleukin-4 knockout mice; implications for the Th1/Th2 paradigm -- Full text | PDF
- 2004 Nov Graves' hyperthyroidism and the hygiene hypothesis in a mouse model -- Full text
- 2004 Aug 1 Schistosoma mansoni and alpha-galactosylceramide: prophylactic effect of Th1 Immune suppression in a mouse model of Graves' hyperthyroidism -- Full text | PDF
See also :
Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Hypothyroidism[edit | edit source]
We know that prednisone can provide relief from Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis [1] and, since helminths act in a similar way to prednisone (but without the damaging long-term side effects) this may indicate that helminthic therapy could be of value in arresting Hashimoto's and other forms of autoimmune thyroiditis.
Someone with autoimmune thyroid problems who began using helminthic therapy to treat other disorders reported noticing a significant decrease in anti-thyroid AB titres following inoculation.
Others have commented as follows.
A year or so ago, my husband's annual checkup showed elevated thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and low thyroid hormone. Further tests revealed antithyroid antibodies. Although diagnosed with developing hypothyroid disease he was non symptomatic for hypothyroidism and didn't want to start medication as suggested by his doctor. After starting helminthic therapy with NA about nine months ago, his latest blood test showed both TSH and thyroid hormone in the normal range, and his antibody level had lowered. (Edited from a private message and this post.)
My 15 new worm friends may have cured my hypothyroidism. I inoculated myself with 15 NA hookworms (and) after about 6 months I noticed I was burning up when I took my prescribed dose of thyroid hormone (Synthroid). I eased up on taking Synthroid and completely stopped it about three weeks ago. I'm doing fine. Skin warm (oral temp 98.3 which is normal for me), no hypothyroid issues other than perhaps muscle stiffness. But I suspect that may be more related to an astonishingly little amount of sunlight exposure this year than to thyroid issues. My impression is my worms have successfully cured my hypothyroidism. [2]
Within a couple weeks (of taking my first dose of hookworms) I could no longer take thyroid medicine for Hashimoto's without feeling like I was on speed. I haven't taken thyroid since. The rest of my autoimmune issues are still there, and I still take Lugol's iodine, but my thyroid is symptom free. I don't think this is typical, and I have only had my first dose, but my experience has been good thus far.
It seems to (help with Hashimoto’s). Not that I do not need medication any more, but the medication seems to work better. My T4 to T3 conversion is much better than it was.
I’ve found helminths (I use NA) combined with diet (AIP and Wahls) to be very effective for autoimmune thyroid issues. I had hashimoto’s, which is just the other side of the same coin. Initially I put my hashi’s in remission with daily acupuncture for a month, but my thyroid labs never looked very good until I’d been doing the helminth/diet combo for about a year. Now they’re perfect. [4]
It took about 6 years to be diagnosed (with Hypothyroidism and Hashimotos). Going to the doctors regularly with issues and symptoms and no tests were done and nothing investigated. Until one day I saw a new grad doctor who listened and sent me off for blood tests to check my thyroid levels among other things. Which came back showing thyroid levels way off. A few years go by with me taking Thyroxine which didn't make me feel too much better. My levels were still low or went the opposite way and went too high, and it never came right no matter how much the doses changed. Then my mum suggested I try Helminths. I was scared at first as it seemed so strange to me, but I watched the documentary that was on TV and was ready to try anything so gave it a go. This was the game changer. After a while, my brain fog went and I started waking up and feeling like I had actually slept. Had more energy and best of all my thyroid levels have been within range while on no medication for some time now. I have 10 wormies about every 10 to 12 weeks currently. Yes I still have bad days here and there and have to remember to slow down at times, but I love that I can now live life without the medication and feeling better than ever. [5]
I took one batch of 25 NA last year because I was experiencing pain and swelling every day from Graves and Hashimoto's diseases. I had a dramatic reduction in swelling and pain … also lost about 15lbs of water weight. A few months later, I got pregnant, and did not have a miscarriage (I had 3 earlier that might have had something to do with the thyroid diseases). My TSH, T3 & T4 levels stabilized right before the pregnancy, they followed the "textbook" levels through the pregnancy and stabilized right after as well. My antibody levels for both diseases dropped. My Endo tells me that she had expected my Graves disease to flare up as it had before the NA, as I had the beginnings of a goiter and pregnancy can do that. As she said - "you can't say for sure that your experiment is the cause of all the improvements, but the improvements are real - and they are unexpected. I will certainly be continuing with this therapy!” [6], [7]
I started NA (six months ago) for Hashimotos Thyroiditis and have had good results, with most symptoms subsiding. (Link expired)
I started taking HDC from Biome Restoration in December (8 months ago). I have Hashimotos (amongst other things...) and have always had TPO antibody levels over 1,000… Anyway, I was retested last week and my antibodies are down to 215! I'm gobsmacked! … I’m so pleased! [8]
For the first time since I started measuring, my anti-thyroid antibodies (I have Hashimoto's) are NORMAL. This is thanks to helminthic therapy. I have been trying to regain my health for five years (and was sick probably all my life). My thyroid antibodies decreased with the diet, but remained high, no matter what I did. They started slowly decreasing two years ago, when I started HT, first with TSO and then about a year ago with NA. Every time I measured, they were lower. Today for the first time, they are normal. And I feel...normal. I do not feel as if something was wrong with me anymore. I don't take any other meds. (Link expired.)
I started with diet changes 10 years ago, which helped quite a bit, and started helminths about 3 years ago. The helminths had a huge impact and I had so much more energy and was able to expand my diet. I have been dosing with approx 25 NA per year with good results. So good that all my blood's were normal and my Dr told me I must be in remission (Hashimotos Thyroiditis) so I missed a dose. 6 months later I crashed - worst symptoms in years… I will make sure I do 25 per year after that (lesson learned). [11] [12]
I started NA treatment for Hashimotos and went into complete remission. On my blood test no antibodies were detected. I also knew the treatment was working, as many of my symptoms including lethargy, body aches, and most notably painful thyroiditis had all disappeared. I can't remember exactly how long this took, but it was months not years. Through absolute carelessness, recently I accidentally killed my valued colony. I'm eagerly waiting by the mailbox for my next dose as all my afore mentioned symptoms have returned. It's been really interesting to note my subsequent decline and to reflect on how terrible I felt most of the time prior to treatment. This treatment has been life changing as evidenced by my improved quality of life and the blood tests. I can't imagine being without it now. [13]
I had undiagnosed Graves’ disease in 2018. My father also has it. They were semi-watching it. I’ve been treating with NA every 10 to 12 weeks since 2019. I also treated for about a year (maybe longer) with TSO around 2021. I was treating symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, celiac, general food intolerances, sinus/ allergy issues and inflammation. I also have a history of a post-traumatic stress disorder and panic disorder. My TSH has slowly been improving since I started NA. Now (in 2024) my TSH levels are healthy and where they should be. (Edited from two posts: [14] [15])
While it appears that helminthic therapy can arrest the ongoing autoimmune process in Hashimoto’s, it is unlikely to be able to reverse existing damage to the thyroid, so people who are in the early stages of this disease, with minimal thyroid damage, will likely gain more benefit than those in whom the disease is well established. Unfortunately, in most cases, there is quite a large degree of thyroid tissue destruction before disorders like Hashimoto's become clinically evident and are diagnosed, so the extent to which helminthic therapy might help in these cases may be limited.
Hookworm therapy had no positive results on my thyroid disease.
Graves' disease and Hyperthyroidism / overactive thyroid[edit | edit source]
I began my helminthic therapy a couple of months ago. Other than waking up two days after starting with a single episode of loose stool, I've been feeling better and stronger every day, bit by bit. Which is great, considering I have a collection of autoimmune challenges: Multiple Sclerosis, Graves' Disease (autoimmune overactive thyroid), and Lichen Sclerosus… My thyroid levels seem to have normalized: T3, T4 and TSH levels are in normal range - HALLELUJAH! It's been a long time since I've had that! I hope I won't ever have to use propylthiouracil again! (Link expired)
I've had very impressive early improvement of my Graves disease from HDC (in a month). (Link expired)
I have Hashimotos & Graves diseases - both autoimmune issues that affect thyroid hormones - the NA dialed my symptoms down (bloating fatigue, joint pain and swelling, itchy skin and eye swelling, racing heart) steadily without any harsh side effects - much more effective than any of the medications I have tried. (Reported in a private discussion, Mar 2015)
I took one batch of 25 NA last year because I was experiencing pain and swelling every day from Graves and Hashimoto's diseases. I had a dramatic reduction in swelling and pain … also lost about 15lbs of water weight. A few months later, I got pregnant, and did not have a miscarriage (I had 3 earlier that might have had something to do with the thyroid diseases). My TSH, T3 & T4 levels stabilized right before the pregnancy, they followed the "textbook" levels through the pregnancy and stabilized right after as well. My antibody levels for both diseases dropped. My Endo tells me that she had expected my Graves disease to flare up as it had before the NA, as I had the beginnings of a goiter and pregnancy can do that. As she said - "you can't say for sure that your experiment is the cause of all the improvements, but the improvements are real - and they are unexpected. I will certainly be continuing with this therapy!” (FB. Nov 2015, and [16])
Thyroid nodules[edit | edit source]
A new positive development is the thyroid nodules I've had for a very long time are completely GONE and my thyroid looks completely healthy under an ultrasound. (FB. Jan 2017)