Linda Mansfield is one of the several researchers who support the fact living in ultra-hygienic conditions has rendered human body more vulnerable to infections due to weakened immune system.
Mansfield in her study has researched using threadlike intestinal parasites called whipworms to treat the inflammatory bowel disease, the most common forms of which are Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis disease.
The diseases lead to diarrhea, painful cramps and even intestinal bleeding.
Mansfield studied the whipworm infections in pigs, in a trial to develop a vaccine against the parasites. During the course of her study, she noticed that whipworm infections produced a strong anti-inflammatory immune response.
Mansfield says, when given to patients with inflammatory bowel disease, the worms can help to counteract the inflammation and "actually reset the immune system to be in better balance."
She also mentions, pig whipworms are relatively safe. Most people will expel them in a matter of weeks and, if that doesn't happen, they can be eliminated with anti-worm drugs.
The treatment still needs to undergo further testing before the FDA can approve it.
