Maggots May Help Heal Wounds Faster, Study Shows

RALEIGH, N.C. (CBS) – A new study about maggots might make your skin crawl, but it also has good news when it comes to treating wounds.

"Maggot therapy" was approved by the FDA back in 2004 for cleaning wounds.

Now, researchers at NC State University say that genetically modified green bottle fly larvae can actually help a wound heal faster.

Scientists fed the modified maggots a special diet that caused them to secrete a human growth molecule that can accelerate wound healing.

Maggot therapy can be especially useful for patients with diabetes, many of whom do not have access to more expensive forms of treatment to heal diabetic ulcers.

One of the university researchers said this study will hopefully lead to "a cost-effective means for wound treatment that could save people from amputation and other harmful effects of diabetes."