I've been telling people for years that the next diet craze should be tapeworms. These folks have beaten me to the punch with a whole range of therapies based on intentionally becoming a host for parasitic worms. Check it out. (thanks Drew!)
link

link
Welcome to Worm Therapy People with diseases of immune dysregulation face a host of challenges which are inadequately represented in the established medical climate. Our company understands the constant fear of flare-up or exacerbation, the uncertainty of disease progression, and the life-disrupting efforts to avoid triggers. Extensive research and clinical trials have demonstrated that the introduction of small doses of intestinal worms may be effective in the treatment of asthma, allergies, and some autoimmune conditions. Our company is dedicated to providing these therapies. Note: The use of hookworm or tapeworm to modulate the immune system is an experimental therapy that has not been approved by any governmental body for the treatment, diagnosis, cure or prevention of disease. The information provided by Wormtherapy.com is intended as a starting point for you and your physician. The burden is on you to understand the medical and legal risks you are taking when considering these therapies.













OK, so I wouldn't mind having the worm for weight loss, but I would not want to know it's in there. Can I be knocked out, then taken to the clinic, given the worm, then come back to normal life and be none the wiser?
Posted by: Jen | May 27, 2009 at 03:32 PM
I always appreciated the folk tale that if you starve yourself for a few days, the thing'll poke it's head into your mouth looking for food, and you can just grab & pull. Mmmmm.
Posted by: Zen | May 28, 2009 at 01:05 AM
That is just horrible. Just the thought of a host crawling around in your intestines. One day it eats it's way out of your intestines. Crawls it's way up your body and into your brain. Eats up your brain and them crawls out your ear. Just like an episode I saw on Star Trek.
I have such a head ache tonight. Wish I could get rid of it.
Posted by: Melanie | May 28, 2009 at 06:19 PM
Maggot therapy to clear away scar tissue yes (maggots actually only eat dead tissue and can be sterily bred in disease free lines in labs). Gut bacteria transplants, yeah (gut bacteria directly impacts how many food calories get into your system, and replacing them with someone a different set from someone else when you don't have any has been proven to work -- your appendix exists for the same reboot purpose).
Worm therapy, not so much, particularly as therapy for auto-immune/allergic diseases. The theory to back up the idea isn't there.
Posted by: ohwilleke | May 28, 2009 at 07:02 PM