New Autism Cure - breakthrough treatments and cures for autism

Last week, we explored the basics of Homotoxicology. (You can catch up by reading last week’s post).

The focus of homotoxicology is to rid the body of harmful toxins in order to promote self healing. The Homotoxicology method of treatment believes that the body possesses the innate self-healing mechanism and can treat and prevent illness, and that disease is the culmination of toxins in the body.

The philosophy of homotoxicology is that disease develops over six steps or phases. These phases are listed below with their related symptoms and reactions:

1) Excretion Phase

The excretion phase is the expulsion of toxic products. It is characterized by intense sweating, difficulty concentrating, coughing, sneezing, tears, joint and body aches, electrolyte shift, and increased susceptibility to disease and infection.

2) Inflammation Phase:

Acne, menengitis, conjunctivitis, acute sprain,  acute bronchitis, urinary tract infection, weak immune system.

3) Deposition Phase:

Obeisity, gout, gallbladder or kidney stones, intestinal polyps, and nasal polyps.

4) Impregnation Phase: (invasion of toxins into the cell):

Allergies, Asthma, migraines, chronic gastritis, glucose intolerance, chronic infections, autoimmune disease, chronic urinary tract infections, hypertension, and insufficiency of the lymph system.

5) Degeneration Phase:

Alzheimer’s, macular degeneration, congestive heart failure. renal atrophy, anemia, fibrosis, diabetes.

6) Dedifferentiation Phase:

Tumors, Cancer.

The first two phases are part of the Humoral Phase. The defense system is intact and the body can excrete toxins via numerous pathways.

Phases three and four are part of the Matrix Phase. During this phase, the biology of the cells in the body begin to change.

The final two phases occur in the Cellular Phase. At this point. the body cannot excrete toxins.

Homotoxicology is not a substitute for medical treatment, so much as a supplement to it. It can treat any of the conditions and diseases listed in the phases of disease development. Practitioners who study homotoxicology assess which stage the disease is at, and which phase it falls into.  The treatment plan will depend solely on the stage of the disease and the condition of the patient.  The smaller scale and acute symptoms are often treated first, and then the chronic condition.

As the body is detoxified, the idea is that the disease or condition will become a “lower” phased condition, and enable the body to heal itself. The typical treatment plan will require 12-18 weeks of consistent treatment. The more severe the condition, the longer it may take.

In a case like Autism, we have spoken about the need to detoxify the body of toxic metals. This detoxification, in homotoxification theory, would enable the body to begin to heal itself. Without being completely free of toxins, the body has the inability to promote it’s natural ability to heal itself.

The basic idea of homotoxicology is to restore the body’s chemical balance by detoxifying. It shares the same idea as Chelation, which is the process of removing heavy metals from the Autistic body. With homotoxicology, homeopathic remedies are given to help the body learn to heal itself. A belief of homotoxicology is that every human being regardless of age, race, gender, or nationality has the ability to instill healing mechanisms  and processes within themselves that can prevent and treat illness.

Homotoxicology was developed in Germany over 50+ years ago and is becoming more and more studied and used at this point in the Uniter States.

Practicing homotoxicology promotes the idea that it is believed that almost every disease is the result of an overabundance of toxins within the body.

In order to start the process, homotoxicology calls for homeopathic remedies to be administered to the body. Homeopathic remedies are FDA approved and are given orally, topically, via inhalation, or by IV injection. A great deal of homeopathic remedies are all natural and have been developed organically from animals, minerals, or plants. Once the remedy is in the body, it goes to work aggressively to stimulate the part of the body that is believed to be able to heal itself. Small amounts of remedies yield to the body practicing its ability to restore its health.

Another view of homotoxicology is that “Like yields like”. In short, this means that the side effects of a remedy may cause a similar reaction to that which is being treated. In essence the body is being given a substance that will trigger these symptoms to train the body to fight them. You can compare this to a chicken pox or flu shot that injects the body with the condition to get the body educated on how to fight.

Because of the dangerously high amounts of chemicals just in our oxygen, let alone through our homes, or supermarkets, or any public place, the body can pick up disease, sickness, and chemical traces rather easily. Toxins that are picked up from an external source are called Exogenous. The liver, kidneys and skin membranes do their best to take these chemicals and rid the body of them.

Endogenous toxins are created inside the body and reak havoc on the body just as the exogenous can. These toxins are often the result of nutrient deficiencies, emotional traumas, psychological stress, and histamine. These conditions constantly generate toxins that can adversely affect cells, tissues, organs, etc.

Next week, we’ll take a look at the homotoxicology process and dig a bit deeper into this holistic type approach to Autism, Diabetes, and other diseases in which poor chemical balance could exist.  You won’t want to miss next week’s post.

Meanwhile, please as any questions you might have regarding this process, and we’ll address them accordingly!

A dairy free diet is a health choice that many parents of Autism make. The studies surrounding wheat and dairy as causing adverse reactions in Autistic children are numerous and even those without Autism are hopping on the gluten and dairy free diet. A new study is claiming that cow’s milk is a cause of Autism and several other diseases and disorders.

Milk from a particular cow - A1 Cows - which is consumed by millions of people world wide is claimed to be a contributing cause to Autism, according to Dr. Keith Woodford, a professor of Agribusiness. Dr. Woodford says that there is a protein in A1-Cow’s milk that is causing Autism, Schizophrenia, Diabetes, inflammation and heart disease. This protein is not found in A2 Cow’s milk, however. Making the switch from A1 to A2 type milk have a dramatic, positive effect on your health.

Why is A1 milk bad for us?

There is a protein, BCM7 that is found in an abundant amount in the urine and blood of A1 cows. This protein is known as an opitate and has negative effects on the immune system, especially in the Autistic and Schizophrenia bodies. According to Dr. Woodford, injecting animals with BCM7 triggered a development of diabetes.

What’s the difference between A1 and A2 cows?

Along with there being BCM7 traces in A1 and not in A2 cows, A1 cows tend to be the more modern breeds of cow. A2 cows are the older breed of cows including Asian, African, and Jersey cows.

How do I know which kind of milk my child and I are drinking?

It’s difficult to know which cow you milk came from. The safest route would be to switch to goat’s milk or sheep’s milk, both of which do not show traces of BCM7. Oat, rice, and soy milk are also fine substitutions if you wish to avoid BCM7 intake.

Are there any other problems with milk that I should know about?

Nothing that’s been completely documented yet. However, Dr. Joseph Mercola says that autistic children should avoid pasteurized milk. He says:

Over the last six months I have come to realize that the major reason why autistic children need to avoid milk is because it is pasteurized. The pasteurization process turns casein into a very dangerous molecule that can further precipitate the brain injury. If the children are fed real raw milk this will not occur.

Whether you’re a parent of Autism, a young adult with autism, or just a health conscious individual who is very attentive to what goes into your body, monitoring and changing your milk intake could have dramatic health benefits.

As a parent of Autism, it’s difficult in itself to adjust to the changes that need to be made. One of the most difficult areas to adjust to are diet changes. Adopting a gluten and casein free diet is something that is commonly practiced amongst parents of autistic children. Parents instantly cut out the obvious foods like bread and milk, and foods that contain bread and/or milk. Is cutting out the obvious enough? What about products that contain hidden gluten? And we’re not just talking food.

There are some foods that don’t necessarily have gluten or wheat in the ingredients, however it is part of the food makeup. Some foods to be sure to avoid are:

• Salad dressings
• Maranades
• Soy Sauce
• Spices
• Anything with “Spices” in the ingredient list
• Gravy
• Ice Cream / Yogurt
• Dried Fruit
• Non-Stick cooking spray
• Chewing gum
• Candy Mints
• Ketchup
• Infant Formula
• Processed Meats

It is important to pay special attention in situations in which the GF diet isn’t the only diet practiced in the house, special care should be taken to ensure that cross contamination doesn’t take place. If your Autistic child is on the Gluten Free diet, however, you’ve chosen to not practice it, there’s a good chance that you may be cross contaminating without realizing it. Do you toast your gluten free bread in the same toaster as regular bread?  Do you use the same cutting board for gluten free and non-gluten free food? If so, there’s a high chance for cross-contamination to occur. The little peices of wheat that fall off of the regular bread can easily latch onto the gluten free bread.

It’s not just the foods that we eat that can contain hidden gluten in them. Products that are used every day with no second thought can contain gluten and cause adverse reactions to those who are intolerant of gluten. Where are these hidden sources of Gluten? Here a few that you should certainly be mindful of to ensure that you or your Autistic child are really are on the Gluten Free diet.

Some of the things that you should avoid, or check into are:

• Any kind of adhesive (including that in band-aids)
• Lickable stamps/stickers for kids
• school supplies including glue
• modeling clay
• soaps in bar and liquid forms
• shampoo
• conditioner
• any kind of lotion or sunscreen
• toothpaste
• dental floss
• mouthwash
• play-doh
• hair gel
• hair spray

Going Gluten Free is a very big decision with marked health improvements from those who are successful. It’s important that if you or your child are on the gluten free diet, that you’re sure not to just cut out the obvious. Gluten is an ingredient that is included in many foods and products that you might not ever think of.  If you adopt the GF diet, be sure to do your homework and research potential hazards in your food and product habits.

When you or your child are diagnosed with an allergy, you probably walk our of the doctor’s office with a prescription for an allergy medication. When you have an allergy reaction, you’re instructed to take the medication to treat the reaction. What if instead of treating the reaction, we treat the source: the body’s reaction to the allergen. Sublingual Immunotherapy (SLIT) revolves around the idea that the body be trained not to be allergic to specific foods or substances.

Allergies are common in the majority of people, so it’s no surprise when you learn that someone you know is allergic to a specific food or medication. Over the counter medications are typically administered to treat the condition and flair ups. Isn’t this, in a sense, accepting the allergy as a life-sentence?

The most common treatment for allergies is avoidance. If someone is allergic to Penicillin, then they tell their doctor, and that medication isn’t prescribed and no reaction is present. Easy enough, right? But how about similarly common instances where the allergen is pollen, dust, or animals? With things that occur naturally like dust and pollen, it is very difficult to avoid these as they’re literally everywhere.

Sublingual immunotherapy is a treatment option in which a solution of drops, or tablets are placed under the tongue and absorbed into the immune system. There is also an injection method, however since the treatment needs to be taken several times a week, the under-tongue route is often more convenient as a medical professional needs to be present for injections.

The purpose of the therapy is not to treat the allergy itself, moreso to desensitize the body against allergens. It has the same idea as a flu shot; injecting the body with the flu so that the immune system knows how to fight it off. In the case of allergies, adverse reactions decrease as the body is desensitized.

Sublingual immunotherapy can be compared to the psychological “Exposure Treatment”, in which people who have phobias are exposed to small doses of whatever they fear in hopes that their tolerance is built up.

While over the counter medications are fine with treating the reaction itself, allergy immunotherapy is the only way in which the underlying problem can be addressed. Why just treat the reaction when you can reduce or eliminate the problem all together? When you have a toothache, you can take an over the counter medication to eliminate the pain, but the best thing to do is to treat the problem, what’s causing the ache?

What does this mean for Autism?

Food allergies are something that are often mentioned with cases of Autism. Specifically gluten and casein, both of which we’ve discussed several times here at New Autism Cure. A healthy diet is suggested, vitamin supplements are suggested, both which focus on fixing the problem [with the gut symptoms], rather than just treating it. Immunotherapy takes the same approach. Rather than focusing on medications and the newest big thing, it’s important that Autism is something that needs to be treated. The symptoms need to be treated, and not just masked by a daily dose of whatever medication is being prescribed.

A new study conducted by a professor at the University of Memphis suggests that Autism can be detected through speech patterns and signatures of children with the disorder. The study focuses on the analyzing of sounds produced rather than words in children.

The theory supports the idea that many Autistic children have an inability to communicate effectively, and rather than words, produce grunting,  or random sounds. Analyzing these sounds at an earlier age, when it’s typically considered “baby talk”, could be the key to diagnosing Autism.

The research study was headed by Dr. D. Kimbrough Oller, professor and chair of excellence in audiology and language pathology. Dr. Oller hopes that LENA (Language Environment Analysis) will enhance the study of language development and Autism.

LENA itself is a pocket-sized processor and analysis software. Running the processor is an algorithm developed by Oller and his team that analyzes 12 aspects of language development. The LENA processor fits into the pocket of the child’s clothing and records a full day of his/her speech. It detects and differentiates between crying, attempts at talking, etc. It also can tell and filter out other voices and background noises.

Oller says that his LENA was 86% successful in detecting Autism in children. The system can detect the difference between speech patterns conducive to Autism,  typically developing children, and children with a language delay.

LENA will hopefully give parents a much more cost efficient way to diagnose their child with Autism. In fact, Oller hopes to get LENA to the point where it is offered in family doctor’s offices. This way pediatricians can conduct the test, analyze the speech, and then make the decision whether or not to refer the family out to an Autism specialist.

Currently, the average age of diagnosis for Autism in children is between 5 and 6 years old. This is typically well after the average child begins speaking, communicating, and functioning at a more advanced level. Dr. Oller and his team say that LENA can bring that age down to 18 months. The sooner autism is detected, the sooner that appropriate treatment methods can be implemented, and the chance of recovery and improved symptoms heightens.

An online report of the aforementioned study can be found online in the July 19th edition of   Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The behavior of Autistic children can be a very challenging thing to handle. From temper tantrums, to self-injury, to repetitive, destructive behavior, parents often don’t know where to turn to for behavior modification techniques. When “No!” doesn’t work, and time outs are ineffective, it almost seems as though it’s a lost cause. Behavior Modification Therapy focuses on these outbursts and trains the Autistic mind to relate good behavior with good feelings.

In the shoes of an Autistic Child…

If every day you went to work, did your 8 hours, and didn’t get paid, would you continue to do go to work? If you started a new diet, and it claimed that maybe someday you would be healthy, would you continue to do it? Life is all about the reward system: if you do something correctly, then you receive a reward. What the reward might be is relative to the situation, but if you seek value in that reward, you’re sure to do what is required in order to get it.

If you went to work late everyday, sat around and did nothing and still collected a paycheck, would you continue to go to work? If you were on a diet that allowed you to eat as much candy as you wanted, but promised that you’d lose weight rapidly, would you remain on the diet? Probably. Life is also about consequences. If your reward isn’t taken away when you do something against policy, then you never learn right from wrong. How are you to know that going to work late is wrong, or that eating candy is bad, if you’re not given a consequence to your action?

You Need To Say Exactly What You Want To Get Exactly What You Want

For this to be a structured approach, it’s important that you identify three main ideas to the new method:
1) What exact behavior are you looking for from the child.
2) How long do you wish for the child to apply this behavior?
3) Under what circumstances should the behavior be preformed.

For example, if you are having an issue with your child throwing a temper tantrum every time you try to put their shoes on, this can surely become a great hassle. In this situation, the behavior you’re looking for might be to calmly sit on the sofa, and allow his/her shoes to be put on. The  duration of the action may be for 2 minutes or until the shoes are on and tied. The circumstances would be when it’s time to go outside and you have to wear shoes. The goal here would be for the child to learn the idea that “When it’s time to go outside and put on shoes, I have to sit on the sofa for 2 minutes until my shoes are tied”.

Creating a reward system and sticking to it

Why should your child put their shoes on? Of course it prevents mommy and daddy from going nuts from all of the screaming, but what does the child get out of the deal? If there’s no reason or reward for them to do it, then why in the world should they?

It is our own natural defense mechanism to avoid pain and gravitate to good. If you don’t know the difference, then how do you know which direction to go? Behavioral Modification creates a reward system for desired behavior, and enables the child to create healthy behavioral patterns. If they do the right thing, they receive a reward. Whether it be a hug, a high five, 5 minutes to play a video game, the key is to make the reward be something that the child wants. If you try giving a child who doesn’t like ice cream and ice cream cone, that’s not considered a reward.

In our shoe example, let’s assume that the child loves hugs and sandboxes.In this case, we may want the child to think “When it’s time to go outside and put on shoes, I have to sit on the sofa for 2 minutes until my shoes are tied, and then I get to go outside and play in the sandbox and get a big hug from Mommy”.

You Might Need a Little Help…

Unless you have your PhD in Behavioral Health hanging in your office, you probably aren’t completely sure on where to begin. There are plenty of specialists available who can help get you and your family on the right track to behavioral modification. True to form, you as the parent should keep your eye on the reward:

A happier, healthier child. This is probably above all, the best reward we could offer.

In any child, or person for that matter, it is important to keep the body healthy and balanced. We hear all of the time how the body has too much of some things and not enough of others and it causing havok on the body. With more and more research pointing to the theory that Autism is in fact a biochemical disorder, the benefits of  maintaining a healthy body are becoming more documented and studied especially in Autistic children.

Some of the most commonly studied and practiced methods are diet modification, and vitamin and mineral therapy. Each method has its own purpose but aim for the same goal: maintaining a healthy autistic body to reach increased functioning and decreased symptoms.

Diet Modification

We’ve spoken before about the benefits of changing your childs diet. There have been plenty of studies surrounding the omission of Gluten (wheat, bread) products and Casein (dairy) products. In many children with Autism, there are issues with stomach and gut. The first thing that doctors typically suggest is the removal of gluten and casein from the child’s diet.

Some parents report that getting their children to stop eating wheat and dairy products is similar to trying to get an addict off of drugs. Their children seem to fiend for wheat and milk, and parents end up giving in because they finally feel they can give their child something that they need and want. Think again and maybe a little more literal into the “addict” comparison.

When digested, gluten and casein are broken down into peptides; glutenin and giladin respectively, attach themselves to opiate receptors of the child’s brain. This means that wheat and dairy products can act like narcotics and children can literally be addicted to them.

So, how do you get a child off of Gluten and Casein? Luckily, these days there are many wheat and dairy substitutes in grocery stores with the boom of vegetarianism and all-around body health awareness.

Vitamin and Mineral Therapy

Because of the dietary needs and habits of children with Autism, it has been found that a great deal of children are lacking the proper vitamins and minerals in their bodies. Even as fully-grown, healthy adults we often focus on the proper amounts of vitamins and minerals each day. Specific supplements have been documented as helping aid in the alleviation of autism symptoms and increasing the level of functionality.

One specific mineral that has been often studies is DMG (Dimethylglycine). DMG is found, albeit in small amounts in brown rice and liver. Chemically it resembles vitamin B15. Some of the improvements noted by administering DMG (available over the counter in health stores) are attention span, social awareness, eye contact and speech.

Some parents report an increase in hyperactivity with DMG, but have found success with an alternative, TMG (trimethylglycine).  The same improvements have been reported in TMG as in DMG.

There are quite a number of ways to keep the body healthy. Of course, parents are looking for the methods with the highest result. Which method will decrease symptoms and alleviate some of the everyday frustrations that come with Autism? You know that we can’t answer this directly simply cause each child’s body makeup is different. What might be good for one child, may be counterproductive for another. You may have to try one, two, or ten methods. Stay optimistic, even with minor setbacks, that you will find a method that will work for your child.

Autism is a puzzling disorder. Almost too appropriately, the universal logo and symbol of Autism is a puzzle. When you find out that your child has Autism, you’re going to be flooded with information on treatment methods from doctors and specialists. There are a variety of available treatments, but when you’re still suffering from the shock of the diagnosis, it’s difficult to tell the difference of each treatment. Here are a few of the most commonly used treatment options.

1. Behavioral Modification

Often in cases of Autism, children have difficulties with maintaining acceptable behavior. Hitting,  self injury, temper tantrums, and other like behaviors are common and damaging to the child and their families. Behavior modification treatment focuses on refining the behavior by initiating a reward system for acceptable behavior. Children are rewarded with hugs, high fives, toys, or something that they enjoy so that they associate good behavior with positive reinforcement.

2. Dietary Modification

It has been found that diets that are high in gluten or casein can be damaging to the autistic body. Eliminating these wheat and dairy items can be easier said than done because they’re often such a large part of a child’s diet. With substitution and new skills, parents can learn how to remove these foods from their child’s diet and allow their inflamed guts to heal.

3. Communication Treatment

Social interaction is another area in which children have a hard time performing in when they are diagnosed with ASD. Very often, Autistic children are unable to speak or communicate effectively and this makes it difficult to understand what it is that your child needs or wants. Communication treatment or Speech therapy explores other methods of communication such as non-verbal communication that can enable ASD children to communicate on a level that can be understood.

4. Chelation

Chelation is the process utilized to remove damaging heavy metals from the body. Mercury, iron, and other metals are often found in the Autistic body and can have negative effects on the brain making Autism symptoms even worse. Another source of damaging metals is Thiomersal, which is found in many childhood vaccines. Chelation Therapy includes the administering of chelating agents to remove heavy metals.

5. Treatment with Medication

When it comes to treating Autism with medication, since the ultimate cause isn’t known, you aren’t really treating the Autism so much as the symptoms. With Autism often comes depression, anxiety, and behavioral challenges in which doctors are quick to hand over a prescription for an anti-depressant.  While this can give symptoms a pacifier and can make living with Autism somewhat easier, there’s no one medication to treat autism.

An ideal treatment plan will focus on your individual child’s needs and interests. For example, if you have a child is is very interested in toys and enjoys playing with them, toy therapy may be a beneficial treatment for them. It’s perfectly okay to explore different methods of treatment to find which one works best. While there is no cure for Autism, there are a decent number of treatment options that can be very beneficial to treating the symptoms and body damage that Autism brings with it.

As a parent, making the decision to see a DAN! doctor is a difficult task.  Surely, you will search the internet until the wee hours of the morning trying to figure out where you can find a DAN! doctor, what’s going to happen in your appointment, and the benefits of the DAN! protocol over currently mainstream Autism treatments. This week, we hope to shine a little light on the DAN! protocol, DAN! doctors, and what you can expect at your DAN! appointment.

It becomes more and more evident with research that a biochemical disruption has, at the very least, a small connection to Autism. A great deal of specialists, researchers, and parents of Autism believe that it has quite a large impact on the developmental disorder that is currently affecting 1 in every 110 children in the USA.

Where Can I Find a DAN! Doctor?

A simple internet search will bring up many lists of DAN doctors. (We like this list for US doctors and this one for international doctors) It may be somewhat difficult to get a recommendation from your family doctor depending on his or her personal views on the DAN! protocol and the DAN practice in general. Be prepared to hear reasons why you shouldn’t see a DAN! doctor. Listen to the reasons, but also take a look at the reasons why it may be a good move for your child. After all, isn’t that what it boils down to? What’s best for your child?

What is a DAN! Doctor? What makes them different than a regular pediatrician or family doctor?

If you’re a parent, then you probably just “knew” something was going on inside your child’s body. As parents its just nature to realize if something is wrong. Maybe you made an appointment at your family doctor. If that was the case, you may have walked out with a suggestion to go through a battery of tests. Or, you may have walked out with a prescription for a psychiatric medication that would help calm the symptoms.

Some Autism families decide to use psychiatric drugs prescribed by their family doctor to control Autism symptoms, but these drugs do not balance the biochemical levels. However, with the biochemical connection, some parents decide to choose an alternative medication doctor who can target the specialized biochemical imbalance. These doctors, called “Defeat Autism Now” or DAN! doctors are credentialed doctors who go through DAN! training and develop skills to treat Autism using alternative forms of medical treatments (or DAN! protocol) which explores treatments beyond psychiatric drugs.

DAN! Protocol? What is that?

The Defeat Autism Now! Protocol is a series of alternative medicine solutions for Autism. There are several avenues that a DAN! Doctor may explore, but traditionally, the following plan may be enforced.

-Dietary intervention: Omission of Gluten (Wheat) and Casein (Dairy) products from your child’s diet. Additionally omitting junk foods that have refined sugar.
-Vitamin and Mineral Supplements - To balance out the dietary changes, replacement minerals and vitamins that the body may lack will be supplemented. Some of the vitamins and minerals commonly supplemented:  Magnesium, Calcium, Vitamin D, Vitamin B5.
-Chelation - the removal of heavy metals which have proven to be very destructive to the Autistic body
-Treatment of intestinal bacteria

What can I expect at my DAN! Doctor Appointment?

A large determining factor of what to expect depends on the doctor. Many parents report a friendly and helpful physician who is just as interested in the road to a cure as you are. Their focus isn’t so much on treating the symptoms of Autism so much as healing the damaged, Autistic body. With this approach, symptom improvement often comes naturally.

Your child will more than likely go through a battery of testing mostly revolving around the state of their internal body. A test for hidden food allergies will be conducted to be sure that any dietary changes that are made as part of your child’s treatment plan are beneficial and not more damaging to them.

You should leave with your questions answered and a customized treatment plan for your child’s needs. If you have questions, ask, ask, ask. Remember, these doctors chose to be DAN! doctors. They believe in this treatment method, and want to see your child healthy.