While not quite on topic of bees. the implications are. I found this very interesting. Dick >>>Begin quotes<< Why are we so prone to inflammatory disorders? What has happened to the modern immune system? There's a good evolutionary answer to that query, it turns out. Scientists have repeatedly observed that people living in environments that resemble our evolutionary past, full of microbes and parasites, don't suffer from inflammatory diseases as frequently as we do. A probiotic, many of which have anti-inflammatory properties, may also be of benefit. Not coincidentally, asthma researchers are arriving at similar conclusions; prevention of the lung disease will begin with the pregnant woman. Dr. Parker has more radical ideas: pre-emptive restoration of "domesticated" parasites in everybody - worms developed solely for the purpose of correcting the wayward, postmodern immune system. Practically speaking, this seems beyond improbable. And yet, a trial is under way at the Montefiore Medical Center and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine testing a medicalized parasite called Trichuris suis in autistic adults. First used medically to treat inflammatory bowel disease, the whipworm, which is native to pigs, has anecdotally shown benefit in autistic children. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/26/opinion/sunday/immune-disorders-and-autism .html?_r=1&src=me&ref=general&pagewanted=all *********************************************** The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html Guidelines for posting to BEE-L can be found at: http://honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/guidelines.htm