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Autism
The causal agent of autism is not clear in the current medical literature. The most current, prevailing theories suggest the following causative agents and treatments. (Medical Hypotheses, Vol. 62, Issue 5, May 2004, pages 788-794; Science News, April 16, 2005; Med Science Monitor, January 2004; 10(3): pp 33-39.):
The autistic brain is damaged due to heavy metal poisoning. The primary assault is during the entry of the heavy metal, ethylmercury, into the bloodstream during the injection of childhood vaccinations, particularly the MMR and DPT vaccines. The ethylmercury is used as a preservative and is called Thimerosal. The current hypothesis is that the mercury has a devastating effect on the brain and has varying affects on the brain because of the combined effects of the following:
o Vaccine entry at an early age of the child (the younger the child the higher risk for damage).,
o The number of vaccinations given at one single time; i.e., the more vaccines given at one time, the higher dosage of mercury. For example, during the 1981 - 1996 when multiple vaccinations were administered, the dosage level of mercury injected within the first 6 months of life was 187.5 micrograms. For every microgram of mercury administered, the odds ratio of autism increases by 2.3%. During the ’81 – ’96 time period, the prevalence of autism increase 6-fold from 1 in every 2,000 births to 1 in every 300 births. For reference, the first case of autism was reported in 1943, while mercury was introduced as a vaccine preservative in the 1930’s.,
o The coupling of vaccines – the more vaccines that are given at once, the higher the risk of autism. (The MMR vaccine is of particular interest regarding the increased risk for the onset of autism. When the Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccines are uncoupled and given separately, the statistical risk associated with the MMR vaccine goes away. Thus, it is recommended that the vaccines should be uncoupled and administered to the pediatric population over a much broader, longer period of time).,
o The route of administration (injected into the bloodstream vs. cross-placental, inhaled, ingested, mucosal or trans-dermal). Direct injection into the bloodstream yields that highest risk for the onset of autism.,
o The excretion context (i.e., if the vaccines are administered while the child is taking antibiotics and the loss of intestinal flora there is a higher risk of brain damage)., and
o Of tremendous significance, the presence of the child’s genetic inability to produce sufficient levels of the protein Glutathione (GSH). Glutathione is our body’s most important antioxidant, and in its absence, these children cannot metabolize heavy metals, like mercury, from the brain before these heavy metals cause significant damage to the brain.
Suggested Treatments: The two leading physiological goals in the treatment plan of an Autistic patient are: 1). Eliminate any future heavy metal exposure, while also giving the body an opportunity to eliminate existing supplies of heavy metals already in the body, and 2). In order to attempt rehabilitation of the brain and its higher learning centers, the patient should be afforded both "unconscious" and "conscious" neural stimulation to help "drive" both the production of new neural connections (synaptogenesis) and normal patterns of neurospinal learning (neuroplasticity).
A. Get rid of heavy metal poisons from the diet and the body:
Avoid the body’s re-contamination of heavy metals/mercury by avoiding:
o Amalgam (dental) fillings,
o Tap Water (water source and lead pipes),
o Vaccines with Thimerosal (adult flu, diphtheria and tetanus vaccines contain Thimerosal yet today), and
o Immunoglobulin (antibodies) injections contain Thimerosal.
Nutrition: Detoxify the body, removing heavy metals via:
o Chelation (EDTA), or
o Dr. Thomas/Standard Process guidelines.
Nutrition: Increase blood cysteine levels by supplementing B6, B12 and Folic Acid in order to restore Glutathione (GSH) activity/heavy metal detoxification.
Nutrition: "Murphy Nutri-West" Shake, or take the following on a daily basis:
o 5 – 10 grams of Omega-3 per day for 4 months, followed by 2.5 grams of Omega-3 supplementation forward/ongoing (The EPA:DHA ration should be 2:1). The current medical literature suggests that Omega-3’s help the brain "re-wire" after it has been damaged. Omega-3’s are "essential fatty acids", but are chronically deficient in the American diet. The primary source of Omega-3’s are cold-water fishes. Unfortunately, this is a double "whammy" for consumers, and the autistic patient, because we not only do not eat enough fish, but the vast majority of fish that contain Omega-3’s are contaminated with heavy metals, like mercury and PCB’s. For example, a non-autistic adult can eliminate up to 38 micrograms of mercury from his body per week, while only one serving of tuna may contain over 160 micrograms of mercury. Omega-3’s are critical to normal brain function and therefore the "Autistic diet" must be supplemented with pharmaceutical grade fish oils to ensure complete absence of heavy metals.
o (5) Anti-oxidant cofactors/day (Nutri-West)
o 600 mg of Magnesium/day
o 50 mg of Zinc/day
Nutrition: Reduce Omega-6 Fatty Acids (Safflower, Corn, Cottonseed, Peanut, Sunflower & Soy Oils). In the American diet, we already consume too many Omega-6’s, so we want to reduce these oils, while we increase the Omega-3’s. Omega-6 Fatty Acids contribute to chronic pain perception because the Omega-6’s help the body over-produce arachidonic acid and prostaglandin E2. Chronic pain adversely affects normal brain development, maintenance and function.
Nutrition: No Trans-Fatty Acids – TFA’s reduce "membrane permeability" of each cell in our body. TFA’s make our cell’s outer wall too rigid; thereby, lowering the cell’s ability to "communicate" with the body through the cell’s receptor sites; i.e., nerve damage, insulin-resistant type 2 diabetes, etc.
Absolutely no dietary Aspartame (NutraSweet).
Absolutely no dietary Glutamate (Visit the website www.truthinlabeling.com to find the 70+ different names for glutamate): Aspartame and Glutamate are called "excitotoxins" and are very harmful to the nervous system. In fact, they are nerve poisons, particularly to an autistic brain that is already "over-taxed" by everyday environmental stimuli. Excitotoxins like Aspartame and Glutamate (MSG) are reported to have the following side effects:
o A complete ability to cross the blood-brain-barrier,
o "Chronic nerve cell death" in the brain and spinal cord (promotes the onset of Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s Chorea, memory loss and other "neuro-degenerative" disorders),
o Limbic system over-stimulation; thereby, promoting aggressive behavior,
o Hypothalamic over-stimulation; thereby, promoting fluid retention, appetite enhancement and weight gain, and
o Aggravation of chronic pain perception.
B. Neurological support/rehabilitation of the higher centers of the brain:
Mechanoreceptor stimulation – Mechanoreceptors are a critical part of the "unconscious" nervous system and are found in the highest concentration in spinal joints, spinal ligaments, discs, deep spinal muscles, particularly in the neck and lower back, jaws and ankles and our skin. "Unconscious" mechanoreceptive neural input is absolutely critical to normal brain function because 95% of all sensory input traveling to the brain originates from spinal joint mechanoreceptors. In order to maintain normal brain function, the brain requires constant mechanoreceptive input from the joints. Thus, a normal brain, including the higher learning centers, is actually "driven" by constant, normal mechanoreceptor activity. Without normal mechanoreceptive input, the brain literally shrinks in physical size. The following methods stimulate essential mechanoreceptive activity that helps "drive" the development, maintenance and repair of the central nervous system; including the brain’s higher learning centers:
o The Chiropractic adjustment offers two primary neurological benefits:
§ It normalizes spinal and peripheral joint mobility. Normal joint mobility is absolutely critical to the delivery of constant. "unconscious" mechanoreceptive stimulation of the brain., and
§ At the moment of the adjustment, an "explosion" of mechanoreceptive input is delivered to the brain, literally helping to drive the formation of new synapses (connections) throughout the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord).
o Cold Laser Therapy – Photoreceptors are a form of mechanoreceptors and also help drive the higher brain centers., and
o Massage Therapy – Stimulation of the mechanoreceptors in the skin and spinal musculature also drive the higher centers of the brain.
Active Movement – Active movement drives the "conscious" part of the nervous system through stimulation of mechanoreceptors called muscle spindles, golgi tendon organs and other receptors. Necessary forms of active movement include:
o Walking 30 minutes every day (can be substituted with swimming, yoga, etc.).
o "Superslow" resistance workout 3 times per week.
Minimize or avoid television – T.V. over stimulates lower centers of the brain, particularly the limbic system, which deals with emotion and aggressive behavior. Our goal is to stimulate the highest center of the brain, the cortex. Simply put, television over-stimulates the wrong parts of the brain, so minimize its use.
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