Worms anyone?

Worm Eggs, Anyone?
It's hard to get excited about intestinal worms, but University of Iowa researchers say the putrid parasites could help fight irritable bowel disorders. The scientists have been using pig whipworms to treat Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, by having patients ingest 2,500 microscopic parasitic worm eggs in a glass of Gatorade. Said one enthusiastic participant about ingesting the cocktail, "What you don't see can't hurt you." About 40 percent of the parasite-infested ulcerative colitis patients showed improvement, and 91 percent of the worm-egg-guzzling Crohn's disease patients went into remission after six months. The scientists believe the worms may provide chemicals that suppress undesirable immune-system responses and keep the digestive track healthy.
-- Jenny McKeel


--from wired magazine