Helminthic therapy and neuropsychiatric function
All four species of therapeutic helminth appear to be capable of improving neuropsychiatric function.
Contents
Depression
Reduced depression / improved mood
HDCHymenolepis diminuta cysticercoids (Hi-men-o-lep'is dim-a-nu-ta sis-ti-sur-koid) - the larval cysts of the rat tapeworm, Hymenolepis diminuta is mentioned a lot in this context, and William Parker’s team at Duke University are proposing to test its effect on depression.
Since HDCHymenolepis diminuta cysticercoids (Hi-men-o-lep'is dim-a-nu-ta sis-ti-sur-koid) - the larval cysts of the rat tapeworm, Hymenolepis diminuta is taken regularly, usually every 2 weeks, its users can benefit from a repeated post-inoculationThe introduction of an infectious agent into an organism. [http://helminthictherapywiki.org/wiki/index.php/Helminth_inoculation Helminth inoculation] 'bounce’, which is a brief period of temporary symptom relief accompanied by a sudden feeling of unusual wellness, perhaps with a strong sense of calm, focus, happiness and lightheartedness.


For some people, this effect may be repeated after every dose.


In other cases, this effect may reduce over time.

However, this effect on neuropsychiatric function is not unique to HDCHymenolepis diminuta cysticercoids (Hi-men-o-lep'is dim-a-nu-ta sis-ti-sur-koid) - the larval cysts of the rat tapeworm, Hymenolepis diminuta. It is also seen with TSOthe ova (eggs) of the porcine (pig) whipworm, Trichuris suis, NAthe human hookworm, Necator americanus and TTOthe ova (eggs) of the human whipworm, Trichuris trichiura.


The following comment was made 6 weeks after inoculationThe introduction of an infectious agent into an organism. [http://helminthictherapywiki.org/wiki/index.php/Helminth_inoculation Helminth inoculation] with 25 hookwormA 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. larvaeThe active immature form of an insect, or an animal such as a helminth, which develops from an egg and eventually transforms again into its adult state..

For further accounts of how helminthic therapyThe 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 and prevent chronic inflammation, autoimmune disease and other immunological disorders including allergy. has reduced depression, see the following.
- Helminthic therapy personal stories: Depression / low mood
- Practices and outcomes of self-treatment with helminths based on physicians' observations -- PDF (In particular, see Table 1.)
Temporarily increased depression
Occasionally, depression may increase temporarily following initial inoculationThe introduction of an infectious agent into an organism. [http://helminthictherapywiki.org/wiki/index.php/Helminth_inoculation Helminth inoculation] with helminthsAn intestinal worm which grows large enough to be seen with the naked eye when mature but which is microscopic when administered in helminthic therapy. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helminths Wikipedia:Helminths]. This is usually, but not necessarily, the result of using doses that are too high.

A few individuals experience increased depression after every dose of hookwormsA 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., especially if the doses contain too many larvaeThe active immature form of an insect, or an animal such as a helminth, which develops from an egg and eventually transforms again into its adult state..


Anxiety
Reduced anxiety
The potential for helminthsAn intestinal worm which grows large enough to be seen with the naked eye when mature but which is microscopic when administered in helminthic therapy. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helminths Wikipedia:Helminths] to reduce anxiety can be seen in the reports in the following page section.
And in this paper. (See Table 1 in particular.)
Temporarily increased anxiety
There have been a few reports of anxiety increasing temporarily following the initial inoculationThe introduction of an infectious agent into an organism. [http://helminthictherapywiki.org/wiki/index.php/Helminth_inoculation Helminth inoculation] with NAthe human hookworm, Necator americanus, TTOthe ova (eggs) of the human whipworm, Trichuris trichiura and HDCHymenolepis diminuta cysticercoids (Hi-men-o-lep'is dim-a-nu-ta sis-ti-sur-koid) - the larval cysts of the rat tapeworm, Hymenolepis diminuta. This can be dose-related.




If anxiety does arise, or worsen, after introducing helminthsAn intestinal worm which grows large enough to be seen with the naked eye when mature but which is microscopic when administered in helminthic therapy. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helminths Wikipedia:Helminths], this should eventually resolve along with any other symptoms that appear during the initial side effect period. Resolution is usually complete by the end of the 14 week period of immune activation following inoculationThe introduction of an infectious agent into an organism. [http://helminthictherapywiki.org/wiki/index.php/Helminth_inoculation Helminth inoculation], but it has been known to persist for longer.

Bipolar disorder
HDCHymenolepis diminuta cysticercoids (Hi-men-o-lep'is dim-a-nu-ta sis-ti-sur-koid) - the larval cysts of the rat tapeworm, Hymenolepis diminuta has been found to help in several cases of bipolar disorder.
And there are further reports of success with this disorder in the following paper.
See also
