Having worms can be good for the gut
Parasites trigger immune reaction that can calm inflammation
THE WORM TURNS Intestinal parasites may have an upside. Researchers have discovered that people with whipworms (Trichuris trichiura, left) and mice with Heligmosomoides polygyrus (right) have fewer inflammation-provoking bacteria than they do without the worms.
AJ Cann/Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0); D. Davesne/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Parasitic worms may hold the secret to soothing inflamed bowels.