There are a number of different reasons that can cause one to develop ulcers. Ulcers generally will form because of bacterial infections caused by the gram negative bacterium H. pylori (this is probably the most common cause of ulcers) or an over-production of stomach acid. Another reason that some ulcers can form is due to the body’s inability to secrete an effective amount of mucus that lines the gastrointestinal tract which protects it from the acids that are required for digestion. There are a variety of medications that can be used to treat the painful effects of having ulcers, from over the counter acid reducers, to antibiotics (depending on the diagnosis). However, there is one method that is being used to treat people with ulcers who have found these medications ineffective. This method involves the ingestion of parasitic worms such as hookworms and whipworms in order to enhance the secretion of mucus in the gastrointestinal tract.
There have been a number of cases in which patients who suffer from various types of ulcers have used these parasitic worms with satisfactory results. Particularly patients with Ulcerative Colitis (a type of inflammatory bowel disease) have seen a major decrease in the painful symptoms of the disease. This is because ulcerative colitis is classified as an autoimmune disorder in which there is an over-reaction of the immune system, which causes white blood cells to attack the walls of the large intestine thereby making it bleed. This causes the ulcers to form in the large intestine. The parasitic worms come into play after they are ingested, in the form of eggs, by the patient. Once the parasite eggs are in the digestive tract, they will hatch and attach themselves to the intestinal wall, living off of the host’s blood. This seems somewhat contradictory to the disease itself; however, the body will try to combat the attached parasites by substantially increasing the production of mucus in the gastrointestinal tract, thereby decreasing the painful symptoms of ulcerative colitis and other various ulcers. In order to obtain long-term results from the parasitic worms, they must be replenished every two to three weeks as they will pass normally through the digestive system.
Even though this treatment seems to be somewhat archaic, it has shown to be a worthy treatment for patients when all other treatments have failed. And although it is not a very common form of treatment for ulcers, it still can be used in cases when appropriate.
References
Eat your Worms; The Upside to Parasites: By John Hamilton Via www.npr.org
Eat Worms-Feel Better: By Matt Ellsworth Via www.news.bbc.co.uk
Good for the Gut: By Cindy Sacco via www.scientificamerican.com
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