Speech, Focus and Behavioral Skills Can Improve
Using
Safe Detoxification & Supplement Therapies
Although the debate continues over whether natural bio-medical interventions can help our kids on the spectrum and those with other developmental & behavioral issues, I as a parent have no doubt that dietary interventions, detoxification and supplement therapies can make a huge difference in the quality of life for our children.
We invite you to read our information, check out our recommended books and resources. Then, consider trying one or all the interventions below.
Even a moderate improvement in behavior or speech is significant for many parents, and you many never know what your child is capable of unless you go "outside the box" and try the afore-mentioned therapies.
None of these interventions can hurt your child, and they have helped many children become healthier and happier.
Scroll down for details or click on the individual links above:
1. Detoxification
Our children are exposed to more and
more toxic metals and chemicals every day,
such as mercury, lead, food additives, pesticides, vaccination toxins, and so on. In some children, especially those on the spectrum, these toxins build up
in their systems due to a “metal-metabolism” disorder.
In other words, they are genetically unable to detoxify sufficiently. This causes neurological as well as digestive
problems.
As a result, chelation therapies to remove
toxic metals including thimerosal (mercury from vaccinations)from the body are now a cornerstone with DAN (Defeat Autism Now) doctors and other experts treating childhood neurological & behavioral conditions.
Chelators are substances
that bind to heavy metals. The two most common
chelators used by medical professionals are transdermal
DMPS and oral DMSA. As excellent as these chelation
therapies are, they are not without problems: They
are expensive, they require visits to a doctor, and
there is a greater risk of side effects, especially
for children.
An alternative to using a chelator is to reove heavy metal and chemical toxins using bentonite bathing clay. Be sure you use a clay that has been purified and/or is pharmaceutical grade. That way you are sure no bacteria, yeast or mold can be ingested by your child when taking a bath.
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services has determined that vaccines given to Hannah Poling on her 18 month medical check-up significantly aggravated an underlying disorder that caused autistic symptoms.
According to the case, Hannah was healthy and developing normally until her 18 month immunizations, two of which contained thimerosal, a mercury- containing vaccine preservative.
Hannah became ill within hours of receiving the shots, and within three months, she began showing signs of autism.
There are 4,900 such cases such as Hannah's still pending in Federal "vaccine court".
As we know, many parents believe the multiple, wide-ranging vaccines now given to children before they enter kindergarten play a role in:
withdrawn behavior, lack of emotion, speech delay or absence, learning difficulties, extreme sensitivity to sound and touch, repetitive movements, impairment in social interaction, and a delay in fine and gross motor skills.
Although thimerosal was taken out of childhood vaccinations in 2002, autism rates continue to rise. One reason for this may be that infants are still exposed to thimerosal in flu shots. And, what most parents don't know is that vaccinations today still contain such toxins as aluminum, formaldehyde, and
animal viral antibodies.
According to Donald W. Miller, MD, mercury's negative effects are significantly increased in the presence of aluminum and other neurotoxins.
And aluminum, as most people know, has been implicated in other brain and neurological disorders.Therefore, many doctors and scientists
agree - the rise in brain abnormalities among children are likely
caused by an interplay between genes and these environmental
factors.
The Vaccine Controversy
If you are a parent, or a soon-to-be-parent, you may be wondering if you should vaccinate your children in light of the vaccine controversy. And, if you do choose to vaccinate your child, you may be wondering if there is a way to do it safely. The following book addresses these concerns:
What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Children’s Vaccinations by Dr. Stephanie Cave, M.D.
Wrttten by an expert on pediatric vaccinations, What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Children's Vaccinations
is a MUST READ!
This book will guide you on when to give children vaccinations and which ones to give; research and safety track records for various vaccines; and precautions parents can take when their children get vaccinated, including the use of natural supplements.
According to Bernard Rimland, Ph.D., founder of the Autism Society of America, if you are concerned about the unexplained recent rise in autism, ADHD, and a host of other disorders, read this book. This book is a vital, down to earth guide that will tell you which vaccines may be risky and what to consider to help safely vaccinate your children.
Testing Your Child for Toxic Heavy Metals
Some parents are wondering if they need to test their child for toxic metals prior to beginning a detoxification program. The answer is no, it is not necessary. However, it is useful to chart your child's heavy metal detoxification progress.
There are various ways to test your child for heavy metals, the most accurate being a chelation challenge test. This test needs to be performed by a doctor specializing in chelation therapy. The benefit of this test is that it is the most accurate way to pinpoint your child's toxic load.
The drawback is that it is invasive (the child is given either DMPS or DMSA, and his/her urine is collected and analyzed over a 24 hour period), it is expensive, and there is a possibility of side effects.
The simplest and least invasive way to test what toxic metals your child is excreting is through a Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis.
Hair Tissue Mineral Analyses (HTMA)
A tissue mineral analysis or hair analysis provides a unique reading of heavy metal and mineral levels in the cells over a two to three month period. It takes into consideration that toxins are stored in the tissues of the body, not in the blood.
For instance, you can have normal copper levels in the blood, but high copper levels in the tissues.
The reason hair is used for testing mineral status and metabolic activity is because of its very nature.
Our hair is formed from clusters of specialized cells that make up the hair follicle. During the growth phase, the hair is exposed to the internal environment such as blood, lymph and extra-cellular fluids. As the hair continues to grow and reaches the surface of the skin, its outer layers harden, locking in the metabolic products accumulated during the period of formation. This biological processs provides a blueprint and lasting record of metal content and nutritional metabolic activity that has occured during this time.
The precise analytical method of determining the levels of minerals in the hair is a highly sophisticated technique: when performed to exacting standards and interpreted correctly, it may be used as a screening aid for determining mineral deficiencies, excesses, and/or imbalances. HTMA provides you and your healthcare professional with an economical and sensitive indicator of the long-term effects of diet, stress, toxic metal exposure and their effects on your mineral balance that is difficult to obtain through other clinical tests.
It is important for the attending healthcare professional to determine your mineral status as minerals are absolutely critical for life and abundant health. They are involved in and are necessary for cellular metabolism, structural support, nerve conduction, muscular activity, immune functions, anti-oxidant and endocrine activity, enzyme functions, water and acid/alkaline balance and even DNA function.
Many factors can affect mineral nutrition, such as: food preparation, dietary habits, genetic and metabolic disorders, disease, medications, stress, environmental factors, as well as exposure to heavy metals. Rarely does a single nutrient deficiency exist in a person today. Multiple nutritional imbalances however are quite common, contributing to an increased incidence of adverse health conditions. In fact, it is estimated that mild and sub-clinical nutritional imbalances are up to ten times more common than nutritional deficiency alone.
To get an idea of how helpful a hair tissue analysis can be, think about this: Researchers using tissue mineral analysis determined, more than 100 years after Napoloen Bonaparte's death, that he had been poisoned by arsenic. Even though his hair sample was tested more than a century after his death, it still revealed pathological amounts of arsenic that had gradually proved fatal.
Introducing the Comprehensive
Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis
A hair analysis usually needs to be obtained through a health care professional. However, we offer a service that allows you to get a comprehensive hair analysis from a federally licensed laboratory called Trace Elements, Inc.
Each hair analysis contains a detailed 10-15 page report from the laboratory itself, which shows bar graph readings indicating high, low and reference range levels for toxic metals, essential minerals and significant mineral ratios. It also includes a metabolic profile, recommendations for diet and supplements based on individual results.
It also includes a metabolic profile, recommendations for diet and supplements based on individual results.
Unlike some labs that test hair tissue analysis, Trace Elements, Inc. does not wash the hair at the lab. Washing the hair removes some of the loosely bound minerals and can reduce some mineral readings by 50 percent or more. The hair sample is prepared in their licensed clinical laboratory by using a series of chemical and high temperature digestive procedures. Testing is then performed using highly sophisticated detection equipment and methods to achieve the most accurate and precise results.
The Comprehensive Hair Tissue Analysis report details graph results for 8 toxic heavy metals/elements, 15 nutritional minerals/elements, 15 additional elements, 7 significant mineral ratios, and 9 toxic metal ratios. Once you purchase the hair analysis from us, we send you a hair sample kit with instructions on how to take the hair sample.
To view a sample of the bar graph measurements for each mineral element and significant ratios, click here or the bar graph images above.
Nutritional Elements: Extensively studied, the nutrient elements have been well defined and are considered essential for many biological functions in the human body. They play key roles in such metabolic processes such as muscular activity, endocrine function, reproduction, skeletal integrity, and overall development.
Toxic Elements: The toxic elements or "heavy metals" are well-known for their interference upon normal biochemical function. They are commonly found in the environment and therefore are present to some degree, in all biological systems. However, these metals clearly pose a concern for toxicity when accumulation occurs to excess.
Additional Elements: These elements are considered as possibly essential by the human body. Additional studies are being conducted to better define their requirements.
Significant Ratios: If the synergistic relationship (or ratio) between certain minerals in the body is disturbed, studies show that normal biological functions and metabolic activity can be adversely affected. Even at extremely low concentrations, the synergistic and/or antagonistic relationships between minerals still exist, which can indirectly affect metabolism.
Toxic Ratios: It is important to note that individuals with elevated toxic levels may not always exhibit clinical symptoms associated with those particular toxic minerals. However, research has shown that toxic minerals/metals can also produce an antagonistic effeect on various essential minerals, eventually leading to distrubances in their metabolic utilization.
Once you purchase the hair analysis from us, we send you a hair sample kit with instructions on how to take the hair sample. You then send the hair sample to the Trace Elements lab, and the lab sends us the detailed report/results, which we then mail to you (there is an option for emailing the results as well to save time).
Parents of autism, or anyone whose life has been touched by
the disorder, will find inspiration, practical information, and a welcome sense of optimism in this important book.
Healing the New Childhood Epidemics
During the last two decades the incidence of autism, asthma and allergies has skyrocketed.
Dr. Bock shares dramatic true stories of parents and children that will inspire you to change the life of your own child. Hope is at last within reach.
2. Use The Following Targeted Supplement Therapies
Dimethylglycine (DMG)
DMG or Dimethylglycine is a methyl donor. A methyl donor is simply any substance that can transfer a methyl group (a carbon atom attached to three hydrogen atoms) to another substance. Methylation is a biochemical process that is essential to life, health and regeneration of body cells. Scientists suspect that proper methylation of DNA may prevent the expression of harmful genes.
Fish Oil with Omega 3 Fatty Acids
Many studies have demonstrated the importance of adding fish oils to the diet of children on the autism spectrum.
EFA's aid in the development and function of the brain and nervous system, and aid in immune function and hormone synthesis.
Noticeable benefits from adding fish oil to your child's diet can include less emotional ability (mood swings), better concentration and faster learning responses.
A high DHA formula fish oil helps develop a healthy brain, and eyes and heart.
Caution though: Studies have shown that some cod liver oils can have too high a ratio of vitamin A (natural or synthetic) to vitamin D. You want to buy a fish oil tha has a safe ratio of vitamin A to vitamin D (cholecalciferol).
Too much vitamin A can de-activate the naturally occuring vitamin D in the body which is so vital. You also want to buy a fish oil that is free of mercury and other heavy metals, PCBs and other toxins.
Vitamin D is one of the most important nutrients for health and is produced in the body naturally through regular sun exposure. The skin produces approximately 10,000 IU of vitamin D when exposed to 20–30 minutes of summer sun.
However, many children today are not getting enough exposure to the UV rays that are necessary for natural vitamin D production in the skin.
You want to buy a vitamin D that provides 5000 IU of all natural vitamin D3 per serving. Liquid vitamin D is the most absorbable form of vitamin D to take. Giving vitamin D to your child will help with their moods and promote cognitive functioning. Also vitamin D helps maintain a healthy immune system, maintain healthy bone density, and promote efficient utilization of calcium by the body.
Probiotics
Probiotics with digestive enymes help support digestive tract health and nutrient absorption in children and people of all ages. You want a probiotic that has at least 2.5 billion microorganisms at time of usage. Probiotics help support proper immune function and microbial balance.
Multi Vitamins
Children with learning disasbilities and neurological challenges typically have an astonishing array of nutritional deficiencies, as well as some excesses. Overcoming these deficiencies requires targetted supplements.
Common nutrient deficiencies in autistic children include:
calcium
selenium
zinc
magnesium
vitamin A
vitamin E
vitamin D
B-6
B-12
cysteine
sulfate
taurine
methionine
essential fatty acids
In addition, these kids tend to have excesses of copper and glutamate, both which can be neurotoxic. These deficiencies, and excesses, can create dysfunction in the gastrointestinal system, the immune system, and the nervous system.
Supplementing the diet with these nutrients is critically important in helping your child achieve optimal wellness. Diet alone is not enough - these kids need more than the minimum daily requirements. Most of our kids have very restricted diets, and are not getting anywhere near the correct amounts of these nutrients. These deficiencies can be overcome with the nutrients that are available in targetted supplements. Supplement therapy can improve the function of the immune system, the gastrointestinal system and the nervous system.
Magnesium and Calcium
Calcium and magnesium, taken together, help to to make up for calcium deficiencies which are extremely common in children with restricted diets. Children on the spectrum are typically deficient in calcium due to gastrointestinal problems, malabsorption, and low dietary intake.
Yeast or Candida Fighters
Many children on the spectrum have "gut issues" or digestive problems, which have been linked to an overgrowth of candida, a yeast/fungus that colonizes primarily in the digestive tract.
Many health care professionals are recommending antifungals or yeast fighting products to help keep candida levels in check, and to assist in the normalization and healing of the digestive tract.
It is important to get an antifungal that can get the live bacteria safely past the acidic environment in the stomach.
Once in the intestines, the oxygen-friendly bacteria can go to work "dining" on problem organisms, and thus purging the intestinal tract of both the yeast and more serious fungal forms of candida. As an added benefit, the body restores it's natural pH levels, which promotes digestive health.
Important Note: If heavy metals like mercury and excess copper are present in the body, it is extremely difficult to eliminate candida yeast from the system.
This is why many children respond very well to antifungals as long as they are on them, but as soon as the treatment is stopped, the candida returns, along with the associated difficulties. In order for the candida treatment to be successful, the toxic metals must also be eliminated from the body. There are good natural alternatives to the antifungal medications such as Diflucan.
Making significant changes in your child’s diet is one of the single most effective actions you can take on your own to begin to help your child.
Dietary issues play a major role in the onset of certain health and behavioral symptoms, and the alteration of diet can play a primary role in recovery.
The
ABCs of Autism
Autism is a disorder which is marked by impairments in
social skills, behavior, and speech. Children with autism
are often withdrawn, lack emotion and speech, and are
extremely sensitive to sound and touch.
More
info on what is autism
Signs
& Symptoms of Autism
Since autism is a disorder and not a disease, it is not
entirely accurate to refer to "symptoms" of
autism. Instead, there is a range of signs and behavior
patterns that indicate autism.
More
info on signs of autism
Asperger’s
Syndrome Asperger’s Syndrome is an autistic spectrum disorder
(ASD) that was first identified by physician Hans Asperger
in 1944, but was only added to the DSM-IV in 1994.
As
a result, many children have been misdiagnosed with Autism, Attention Deficit Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive
Disorder and even Schizophrenia.
More
info on Asperger's Syndrome
Autism
& Mercury Poisoning
There is now a great deal of information available that
tells us in no uncertain terms that toxic metals and
chemicals are a causative factor in many cases of
autistic spectrum disorders. These would include harmful toxins such as mercury, lead, arsenic, cadmium, insecticides
and pesticides
More
info on Autism and
mercury poisoning
is a MUST READ! 
compiles interviews with ground-breaking physicians and real-life patient histories to
present natural medicine options for autism.
, leading medical innovator Kenneth Bock, M.D., details an innovative biomedical approach that has changed the lives of more than a thousand children.
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