I heard that episode too and thought it was totally RAD! I mean, what an interesting, bizarre and gross medical concept to infect yourself with hookworms from someone else's poop- but, if it works, it works. Ever since I heard this guy's story- about his auto-immune disorders and how the hookworm just calmed everything down- I've been contemplating how to get ahold of these things. Too bad the FDA made him move to Mexico. If possible, I'd absolutely particpate in a study to see if this treatment would work for IC.
Good Germs, Bad Germs is a book about the same kind of stuff. I got it at the library. Ask your library to order you a copy if they don't have access to a copy in the system. Author is Jessica Snyder Sachs. Amazing stuff... especially for those of you with small children. The microbiology is facinating. Let kids get dirty, be around lots of other kids and animals- farm animals and dogs especially. They need early exposure to get the imune system in gear.
