The story reminds me of the people doing intentional helminth infestation (e.g. hookworm) as a treatment for issues like asthma and IBD. My sense was that helminth treatments are on pretty solid scientific ground -- of the kind where we don't have large N studies but that's only because it would be hard to get approval for them -- but maybe that's not true? Reading this article has me wondering if it's all just placebo and eventual recovery.