The number of autism cases are exploding into epidemic numbers which has caused researchers to look for a gene that will explain the disease, and it’s escalation. Epidemics are usually caused by environmental factors and how a person who is at risk responds to those stressors. So far no single autism gene has been found.
The FDA has approved only two medicines, Abilify and Risperdol, for the treatment of autism. Both these drugs are used to control undesirable behavior. The best treatments resulting in symptom reversal have come from nontraditional approaches that are not currently government approved.
Symptomatic treatment may be helpful, but it does not get to the root problem. The Destroy Autism Now (DAN) group has long realized that autism is a multi factorial disease and for decades both parents and healthcare professionals have found pieces of the puzzle that help explain this complex disease. Physicians like Dr. Sidney Baker have written extensively on the biomedical treatments emphasizing the individuality of each child with autism.
Functional medicine has further defined nine imbalances at the cellular level that explain disease in general. Dr. Mark Hyman, the President of the Institute of Functional Medicine, uses these principles of functional medicine and has seen patients lose their diagnosis of autism and begin to lead normal lives. This is accomplished by finding the root cause at the cellular level and using specific targeted nutritional supplementation with the goal of correcting the underlying imbalances.
Autism has been diagnosed for years by a characteristic group of symptoms that are displayed. However, in addition, many biochemical abnormalities are also commonly found. Toxicity may be the most important environmental factor. The Environmental Working Group found significant toxicity in the cord blood of all randomly chosen newborns. (See the 10 Americans video.) A study by Bernof and Buttar showed all autistic children had multiple, heavy metal toxicity. Autistic children do not detoxify well. Initially most will have a negative hair analysis for toxic metals which gives the misleading impression that toxic metals are not present. The failure to detoxify may be genetic, nutritional, or related to occult infection or low cell energy.
“Leaky gut” is a common finding caused by inflammation in the gut which leads to neurological symptoms due to the toxins entering the brain that are coming from the intestinal tract. Nutrition and digestion are problem areas across the board. In addition many autistic children have food allergies and sensitivities. Infections in the gut are also common. The gut houses 75% of the body’s immunological system, therefore the entire body may be affected with increased infections, allergies, and related problems like asthma.
Mitochondrial dysfunction is also commonly found in autistic children which can be genetic but is usually acquired. With poor cell energy the cell can not detoxify well or do all its metabolic functions. Oxidative stress is always found due to the accumulation of free radicals which increases the need for antioxidants and metabolic balancing.
The resulting neurological dysfunction that we see in autistic children is manifested in unwanted maladaptive behavior and learning disabilities. Toxins may be causing these problems which are often a result from the direct exposure of these toxins leaking from their gut. Low blood perfusion decreases oxygen to brain cells causing dysfunction such as disruptive behavior. Low body pH decreases the oxygen available to the tissue as well.
Some exciting areas involving autistic children may be helpful to explore. Dr. Westin Price decades ago found that nutrition was of paramount importance in the development of children. Mineral depletion leads to bad teeth and bone development. Most autistic children have a metabolic acidosis from poor mineral ingestion and utilization. Infections can be both a result and a cause of this mineral depletion. All children who have had vaccinations have toxic focal sites at the location the vaccination was given. These can lead to energetic dysfunction, increase toxicity, and negatively affect the immune system. Using energy medicine techniques these toxic focal sites can be detected and simple external detoxification can be used to eliminate them. Harmful environmental energy from sources like cell phones has also become an area of interest that may help solve the question about why we have an autism epidemic.
While considering the autism spectrum disorders (ASD), many children without a diagnosis of regressive autism are included. Children with ADHD, ADD, sensory dysfunction, motor dysfunction (including tics or other involuntary movement) may have one or more of the nine functional medicine imbalances. Although they may seem isolated and separated from one another, all these imbalances are connected like a giant complicated web where one imbalance directly or indirectly affects all the other imbalances. Without a systematic functional medicine approach treatment can be confusing, frustrating, and unsuccessful.
It is naive to think that one drug or magic treatment will ever be found to treat autism. Neither will only one gene be found to explain this devastating disease. By thinking “outside the box” and simply giving the body what it needs while removing that which is hurting the body, balance can begin to be obtained, and the body can begin to heal itself. With this approach we should see more and more children lose their diagnosis of autism and go on to lead productive, fulfilled lives. The multifaceted “out of the box” thinking is key in our approach to this disorder.
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