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Detoxification and Children with Autism

Introduction

Why does my child have autism?  Dr. Judy Stern, Harvard educated professor at UC Davis succinctly put it; "The genetics load the gun and the environment pulls the trigger."  One underlying factor with autism is the excessive accumulation of toxins from various sources in our environment combined with an inability of the body's biochemistry to excrete those toxins efficiently during the developing stages of the developmental milestones.  This toxic overload for a developing baby/toddler whose immune, nervous, neurological and sensory systems are too immature to handle this overload may cause a child to regress back in time.

Many children with autism may also have the genetic mutation MTHFR, which means the biochemical pathways in the body have deficiencies causing the levels of glutathione to be low.  This affects the body's ability to excrete toxins. Therefore, detoxification is a very important protocol for autism recovery.  There are many different methods of detox, but what is most important of all is the preparation needed prior to beginning any kind of detox.  This is important to discuss with your doctor. Preparing the body by cleaning up the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and making your child physically stronger to tolerate a detoxification process is the first step.  This will ensure a more successful outcome and easier process for the child.  Preparation may include: dietary changes, epsom salts baths for sulphation, and various GI detoxes which include: yeast overgrowth, mold, parasites, bacteria and viruses.  In addition, supplementing with probiotics, the good bacteria, improves the micro flora that is needed to protect the immune system.  Enzymes are also needed for proper digestion to restore a healthy functioning GI tract which will prepare the body for detoxification.

Some of the different methods of detoxification are as follows:

  • Infrared Sauna – the skin is the largest organ and can sweat out toxins
  • Chelation – agents to cleave the heavy metals from the body
  • Homotoxicology – a detoxification process through homeopathy
  • LED – Laser Energetic Detoxification using light energy
  • Cease Therapy – homeopathic detox using specific substances
  • Promotion of the Metallothionine Protein System to eliminate toxins
  • Clay baths – clay is a binder that can pull toxins from the body
  • Sound Frequency Therapy – energy medicine using frequency for detox
  • Ionic Foot Bath Therapy – detoxes toxins through the feet in water

Related Sites

Speech, Focus and Behavioral Skills Can Improve Using Safe Detoxification & Supplement Therapies
Description:  This site provides information on detoxifications, supplemental therapies, and dietary planning.

Detox Step One: Reducing Child Exposure to Toxicants
Description:  This blog shows how even small changes add up to a big impact when it comes to your child’s health.

Autism Treatments: Detoxification for Heavy Metals as a Treatment for Autism by Lewis Mehl-Madrona MD PhD
Description:  An article regarding the concept of detoxification of heavy metals.

Real Child Center
Description:  Consultations include the use of Homotoxicology to assist the body’s own eliminative mechanisms to safely remove pathogens and toxins on a cellular level.

Autism &Toxicity
Description:  This site discusses sources of toxicity and problems associated with toxicity.

Books

Detoxify or Die by Sherri Rogers
Description:  Detoxify or Die is authored by Dr. Sherri Rogers, one of the first doctors to use infrared saunas to help detox the body. Dr. Rogers outlines the importance of accumulating toxins that cause diseases. She feels our bodies are incapable of detoxifying these toxic chemicals and heavy metals on their own. She maintains that reversing even the most difficult cases can be achieved through detoxification.

Outsmarting Autism by Patricia Lemer
Description:  Outsmarting Autism is the ultimate guide to management, healing and prevention of Autism. Patricia Lemer’s “total load” theory is a perfect explanation of what happened to our children before they were diagnosed with autism. Parents will have a systematic outline of how to approach the disorder from every area that is important in a child’s life with autism.

Children with Starving Brains: A Medical Treatment Guide for Autism Spectrum Disorder by Jaquelyn McCandless
Description:  Children with Starving Brains is a treatment guide for both parents and physicians outlining many of the environmental triggers in conjunction with the genetic susceptibility which has resulted in impaired immune systems, poor GI functioning and starving brains. Dr. Jaquelyn McCandless focuses on a thorough biomedical evaluation and workup in order to prepare the child for detoxification of heavy metals

Tools

Medical Academy of Pediatric Special Needs (MAPS) Practitioner List
Description:  List of Medical Practitioners and Other Professionals who have attended MAPS Training Conferences.

General Homeopathic Practitioner Referral Lists
Description:  This site provides a list of classical homeopathic practitioners.

Finding a Clinician Using an Evidence-Based Approach: Questions to Ask
Description:  Article from the Autism Research Institute (ARI) helping parents learn how to find practitioners.

Treating Autism: An Interview with Andy Cutler PhD
Description:  Andy Cutler discusses autism, heavy metals, and chelation.

Parent Forums/Blogs

Some forums require you to sign in to Yahoo or Facebook to locate forum names.

Forum/Blog Name:  Toxic Household Detox for Autism
Description:  This Facebook page discusses the need to detox the body from household products that could be harmful to the body.

Forum/Blog Name:  Can Autism be Cured?
Description:  Dr. Mark Hyman’s blog details how fixing the gut (gastrointestinal tract), reducing inflammation, adding missing nutrients, detoxifying and reducing oxidative stress, along with dietary changes can make significant changes in a child with autism.

Forum/Blog Name:  Autism & Alternative Detoxification
Description:  This group is for all parents wanting feedback and discussion specifically on herbal, homeopathic, or other alternative methods or additions to chelation detoxification of heavy metals for autism or autistic symptoms.

Forum/Blog Name:  CEASE -Therapy for Autism
Description:  This is a group for parents and practitioners alike who are interested in and/or know the power of CEASE Therapy (Complete Elimination for Autistic Spectrum Expressions). This groups mainly to share your experience using Tinus Smits' Detox method.