Now this made me shudder, but after reading it a couple of times, I suppose it is plausible. An article on NSTOnline talks about using live bacteria to cure digestive disorders including constipation and ulcerative colitis:

Try supplementing your diet with live bacteria such as the clinically-proven strain Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM. This group of friendly bacteria re-establishes the gut micro-Flora and exerts health benefits on the host by reducing gastrointestinal symptoms such as constipation. Live bacteria may also help improve digestive disorders such as gastritis, ulcerative colitis, indigestion and Helicobacter pylori infection.

Peristaltor, in the Live Journal, took this a step farther:

Some scientists think that the spread of these diseases was caused by the eradication of intestinal worms. The idea certainly fits their history. In the United States, they appeared first in affluent people in the cities -- the people, in other words, who would have been the first to be cleared of tapeworms, and other worms living in their bowels. . . . Intestinal parasites are still common in most of the world, but in countries where they've been recently readicated, colitis and Crohn's diease have followed fast. Even farm animals are starting to get bowel diseases as they've been getting treated with antiworm medicines. .

Nobody loves me.
Everybody hates me.
Gonna go out and eat worms.