On Amazon trip, Eric Hovde ate armadillo, swam with piranhas – and found relief from MS

MADISON – Shortly after his 40th birthday, U.S. Senate candidate Eric Hovde traveled to the Amazon rainforest — where he ate an armadillo, swam in a stream with piranhas, contracted two parasites and, unexpectedly, found relief from the symptoms of multiple sclerosis.

The 60-year-old Republican businessman shared the story Tuesday during an hour-long radio interview with conservative talk radio host Dan O'Donnell on WISN-AM.

Hovde said he'd experienced pain in his joints and lymph nodes for about six months after returning from the trip. A visit to the doctor determined he had contracted E. histolytica and giardia.

"But the weird thing is during that six months, my MS almost totally went away," Hovde said. "So, ironically, I finally take different medications to get rid of the parasites. My MS just went very much in a very benign form."

It turns out Hovde isn't alone in this experience. According to the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America, parasites are "a possible risk-reduction factor in the development of MS."

Hovde was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in May 1991. The disease affects the central nervous system, attacking the substance that protects nerve fibers (myelin), damaging nerves and disrupting communication between the brain and the body. At its worst, it can be debilitating and even fatal.

He and his brother started the Hovde Foundation in 1998 to support research to find a cure for the disease.

The charity expanded into building homes for vulnerable children in countries including Rwanda, Guatemala, Honduras and Kenya, and has also provided grants to Wisconsin organizations including the Clean Lakes Alliance, the River Food Pantry, One City Schools and Horizon High School.

Several studies have indicated certain parasites can modulate immune system responses, reduce relapses and alleviate symptoms of MS. However, others have the potential to exacerbate the disease.

A 2023 study published in the International Journal of Molecular Science concluded that while "the use of live parasites is not optimal," proteins secreted by certain parasites "offer a unique resource for the discovery of anti-inflammatory drugs."

Some of that research has been conducted in Wisconsin. A study led by University of Wisconsin-Madison professor emeritus John Fleming published in 2017 found that "potentially favorable MRI outcomes and immunoregulatory changes were observed" in patients who ingested whipworm eggs, "however, the magnitude of these effects was modest, and there was considerable variation among the responses of individual subjects."

"I look back and go, oh my God, thank God I got two parasites," Hovde said.

The candidate also stressed the effects of exercise and a healthy diet, along with a positive attitude.

"There's many days and mornings or weeks and months where life's a grind, and you're struggling, and I can walk around and feel, 'Oh, woe is me. I'm sad. I've got MS.' There were many years when I didn't know — I used to pray to God, just give me 'til I'm 40 … so my daughter knew the man I was," Hovde said. "Thankfully, God gave me a lot longer bandwidth than that."

Hovde, a banking and real estate mogul, is challenging Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin as she seeks a third term.

Jessie Opoien can be reached at jessie.opoien@jrn.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Eric Hovde tells of finding relief from MS by a parasite infection