Swarming maggots over open flesh may sound horrifying but the Food and Drug Administration are giving doctors the thumbs up when being used for treating non-healing wounds.

It’s called maggot therapy and it’s been approved for use on diabetic ulcers or bed sores. The once common treatment in the United States has resurfaced due to antibiotic resistant bacteria.

The maggots feed on sick tissues so healthy cells can move in and prevent further infections. They dissolve the dead tissue by secreting ingested enzymes into the wound, a process known as debridement. The liquified tissue is then eaten or drained out. After killing the bacteria, maggots speed the rate of healing.

Thanks to the FDA, patients no longer have to go to one of the few regional-wound specialty hospitals to get maggot treatments. Today, any physician in the U.S. can prescribe maggot therapy, and over 4,000 therapists are using it in twenty countries, according to Dr. Ronald Sherman.

If you know someone suffering from a chronic wound that won’t heal, maggot therapy may be something you consult your physician about.

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