Parasite Therapy

My internet friend Mangan is infecting me (and probably others) with his bold health ideas. He directed me to this story:

This is my personal account of curing my asthma and hayfever by deliberately infesting myself with the intestinal parasite hookworm.

It isn't for the faint hearted and for some should not be read while eating.

It involves a great deal of research, a trip to Cameroon and a lot of barefoot walking in open air latrines in west Africa.

If you have asthma, or know someone who has asthma (or for that matter Crohn's disease, IBD or colitis) and are suffering badly you owe it to yourself to consider this approach. Because although it sounds strange and is repellant it is founded on sound science and it has one other virtue.

It worked.

Before giving up losing weight (temporarily, till the pill will be discovered and marketed) I had considered the parasite diet. What about self-infesting with some intestinal parasite that would "steal" part of the food I intake, causing me to starve? The idea seemed too bizarre and I am not a leader type boldly going where nobody went before. I am follower. That's what I am and not too proud of it. Is there anyone out there to lead?

I recommend reading the story not only because of the hookworm thing. It contains gems like this:

I had to get my visa for Cameroon from the embassy in Washington DC. They are remarkably concerned with making sure visitors are going to leave their country and require far more documentation than the Americans...

Who is this guy? I like his style. Another gem:

By claes in claes' Diary
Thu Jun 18, 2009 at 10:56:12 AM EST

My boss has me look at resumes for potential new engineering hires. I haven't seen a western name in years.

Ok, one guy last year, but still...

Anyone else have the same experience, and the same sinking feeling for the future of our once-great technological powerhouse of a country?

I cannot but compare this (Korean?) blog full of original ideas and observations, with The Occidental (its latest note daydreams of resuscitating the Fighting SS criminal gang, whose last member - a French traitor fighting against France - was executed by a happy (=drunken) Red Army soldier sixty nine years ago...).