New Autism Cure - breakthrough treatments and cures for autism

Though it’s not completely proven, there have been studies that show a strong connection between food allergies and autism symptoms. One of the most frequently heard connections is that between Gluten (wheat) and Casein (milk) products. These food proteins are broken down into smaller proteins, also known as peptides. The two peptides, glutenin and gliadin, and leak into the gut and attach to the opitate receptors of the autistic child’s brain. This is very similar to the body being on a morphine drip. The peptides act as a Narcotic to the autistic body.

One of the primary steps in the Defeat Autism Now! (DAN) Protocol is that the autistic child be placed on a Gluten Free, Casein Free diet for at least three months. Many parents have been reporting a link between Autism and diet for years, but it’s now being found that children who consume gluten and casein regularly have more severe autism symptoms. Some of the research reports that claim to “disprove” this theory, also depend a lot on the idea that this is an allergic reaction that is being claimed to exist. Quite the contrary. In fact, it’s not due to an allergic reaction that the symptoms worsen. It’s because the autistic body cannot break down the proteins properly from gluten and casein.  It’s not necessarily an allergy so much as an intolerance.

When parents make the move to take their children off of Gluten and Casein completely, they’re often worried. One of the main concerns is that their children love gluten and casein products. Many parents have a difficult time getting their children to not eat gluten and casein, as if they’re addicted to it. This is more than just an analogy. It could be completely true. Remember, when gluten and casein break down, they leak into the gut and attach themselves to the opiate receptors of the brain. The same receptors that morphine, codeine and heroin attach themselves to. Your child could literally be addicted to gluten and casein.

Researchers are firm in their statements that “autism is not caused by an allergy.” When some parents read about the effects of gluten and casein, they assume their child is allergic to the foods and that’s the cause of Autism. They take their children off of the foods and expect a cure. Again, as far as we know, autism is not caused by an allergy. However, children with Autism Spectrum Disorders are very sensitive - especially in their immune system in how it reacts to the environment.

One of the primary focuses of the Autism Alternative Medicine field is exploring ways in which we can treat our children’s autism symptoms and getting to the source of the problem. While there have been some reports that go against the connection between food allergies and Autism, there are still researchers who very much believe that there is a valid connection and they’re exploring this intensely.

Just in case you missed it, last week, we took a look at the basics of Biofilm. If you did miss it, go on and get caught up, and then come on back.  In summary, Biofilm as a slime like organism that can form almost anywhere where water is present. One of its favorite places to form is in the human gut as well as in the bloodstrean and on teeth. That little fur coat that your teeth seem to be wearing after no brushing your teeth? Yes, that’s Biofilm. In most cases, Biofilm hides itself so well that it is often not affected by even the highest and strongest doses of Antibiotics.

The interesting thing about Biofilm is that once it is broken down during Chelation, it gave off a large discharge of toxic metals into the bowel. This was detected in stool samples. Interestingly enough, a stool sample taken from someone before Chelation may not have shown that high metal level. See how smart Biofilm is? Until its accessed and broken down, it isn’t detected. If it’s not broken down, it’s just holding onto bacteria and metals that can contaminate the body.

High levels of toxic metals has been known to be something that is often found in those with Autism. A large amount of Autism treatments include the removal of these metals and improvement of symptoms has been noted. If these toxic metals are hiding deep inside of a matrix as biofilm does, it makes the removal a bit more difficult.

Enter: Biofilm Protocol Treatment:

The Biofilm Protocol was developed by Dr. Anju Usman and her staff during the Defeat Autism Now (DAN!) Think Tank. It wasn’t discussed much as it was relatively new at the time. The idea of the protocol is to break down the Biofilm by targeting the fibrin that biofilm needs to form. Breaking down the fibirn is done with the help of enzymes such as silk-worm produced serapeptase. Once this has begun, then the body must be trained to recognize what’s about to be released. If the immune system doesn’t recognize the broken-down biofilm, then one may get sick. It’s not always about killing the bugs and sickness. The idea is rewiring the gastrointestinal system to that those bugs cannot exist.

The protocol was also developed keeping in mind that the body may have to go through a heavy metal detox since the biofilm may be holding onto toxic metals like aluminum and lead.

The Protocol itself is meant to be a 2-3 month process and comes in three steps:

ONE: Detatchment of the Matrix - the Matrix is where the biofilm hides itself, so it’s essential that this is broken down. Chelation is often used to be able to disolve the minerals in the matrix to initiate a breakdown. This is done on an empty stomach.

TWO: Targeting the Microorganism: Since the biofilm is now unprotected, a dose of antibiotics is given to the body to attack it.

THREE: Clean up:  The body is given anything that can bind up the matrix and potential metals in the gut.

This isn’t an overnight treatment. It took a while for the body to get to the point where the infectious biofilm forms and is hiding to the point where its affecting the body, but undetectable. So, reversing the situation also takes a bit of time.

In 2009, at the Lyme Induced Autism Conference, an interesting point was brought up concerning the outbreak of MRSA.  The most effective antibiotic to MRSA was vancomycin.  However, it wasn’t effective because there was a biofilm. When the drug was combined with EDTA (a Chelation agent), the elements of the biofilm were extracted and the film was broken down. This shows that the idea of breaking down the biofilm and then dismembering the matrix has been effective in other situations as well.

It has been evidenced that some of the common symptoms of Autism may result from an abnormal immune response. It has also been evidenced that removing helminths from the body could influence the occurrence of autoimmune disorders. Could it be that having a few worms living in your stomach could be life altering…in a good way?

What’s a Helminth? And how it it used in Autism Treatment?

Simply stated, a helminth is a parasite. More exactly, an internal parasite. You may be more familiar with external parasites such as fleas and lice. Unlike these more common itchy friends, helminths or “Parasitic Worms” live inside of their host. That host is typically the animal or human digestive tract. Though they can live almost anywhere in the body, they prefer the intestinal wall.  An abundance of parasites are often found in people with HIV.

Helminthic therapy, also called TSO (Trichuris Suis Ova) Therapy is a type of immunotherapy. It’s used to treat autoimmune diseases and immune disorders by deliberately infesting the body with a helminth. Why the heck would we do that?

Think about the flu shot. We purposely inject the body with a form of the flu, so that the body fights it off and (hopefully) we avoid getting the horrible flu for one more season. Though not exactly the same instance with TSO Therapy, it’s a similar idea.

It’s been evidenced that there are some parasites that the body needs. This day in age, there’s a vaccine for almost everything. While we’ve decreased the number of instances of immediate death sentences with a severe disease or disorder diagnosis by eliminating parasites like helminths, it seems that it’s a double edged sword. Colitis and Crohn’s Disease numbers are on the rise. So is the number of Autism cases. Maybe, just maybe the body needs helminths. Maybe not in abundance, but at least enough to have a properly functioning immune system.

So, we’re treating Autism with that same parasites that are found in bodies with HIV?

Incorrect.

It’s more of another type of parasite, protozoans that are most common in HIV cases.  It’s strictly hookworms or helminths that are used for this kind of immunotherapy. Also, it’s not so much treating Autism as it is a treatment of some of the symptoms of Autism.

For example, it has been shown that some Autism symptoms are the result of malfunctioning immune system. Studies are also suggesting that removing helminths from the body is the start to obtaining a malfunctioning immune system. There have also been cases reported in which Autism symptoms decrease significantly when the child is sick or with a fever.

In TSO therapy, there are two types of approaches that treatment centers use. They either dose the skin with one large dose of infectious necator americanus larvae, or they are given a more spread out treatment of smaller doses over about 10 weeks. The one dose treatment is typically much cheaper, however the 10 week treatment decreases possible side effects that can occur. Although each individual is different as far as which side-effects may be experienced,  the most common were mild cases of nausea, vomiting and topical rash.

As with every single treatment for every single condition your child may have, you’ll want to consult your doctor. As time goes on, we can only hope that we make greater advancements to improve the lives of our loved ones who have Autism.

Whenever we have some sort of illness or condition, one of the first things we think to ourselves is “what medication can I get that can help me?”.   As humans in a very scientifically advanced world, we rely a lot on medication to k,ill infection and to improve our quality of life. The same rings true in parents who have children diagnosed with Autism. One of the first questions of any parent is surely “how do we fix it?”  The second is surely “Will it hurt my child?” and somewhere down the line in the “doesn’t matter as much as my child’s health” category is “How much will it cost?”

Unfortunately for Autism, there is no cure. Not yet. There are dozens of medications that can treat symptoms individually, but with every medication comes side effects. Even over-the-counter pain medication has some risk of side effects. What if, though, there was another possible treatment? An non-invasive, non-medicinal, safe treatment that has proven effective in some cases. There is such a treatment: Neurotherapy.

Neurotherapy - Physical Therapy For The Brain

Neurotherapy has also been commonly referred to as Neurofeedback or EEG biofeedback. More simply put, it’s a real-time illustration of brain wave activity that can be monitored by specialists to determine where dysfunctional brain patterns are occurring, especially in Autism.

Neurotherapy can also be thought of as Physical Therapy for the brain. When you hurt a bone or muscle, you have to train it how to work appropriately again. When brain activity is abnormal, Neuroptherapy aims at making the activity functional again. For example, during an EEG/Neurotherapy session, if the brain displays activity that is desired by the “trainer”, then a positive reward can be given. If it is in the opposite direction of the desired activity, then the trainer can give opposite feedback, or sometimes the absence of the positive feedback is enough.When an undesired habit or symptom is existent, if the brainwave that is associated with it can be located, isolated, and normalized, then ideally the symptom disappears.

As we said, one of the most worried about issue with any kind of Autism treatment is whether or not the treatment will hurt your child. It’s universally agreed that there isn’t anything much worse than seeing your child that you love in some kind of pain or discomfort. Rest assured that Neurotherapy treatment isn’t painful at all. In fact, many children actually enjoy it very much.

The process is simple: Electrodes are placed on various areas of the head and scalp to live-monitor brain waves. A screen is in front of the patient and on that screen is where the positive, colorful brain feedback is given. Many children compare the treatments to video games and many parents have reported successful symptom alleviation after only a few treatments.  It seems like more of a game, or a fun-time activity than it is Neurotherapy and brain training.

This treatment is typically used in high-functioning Autistic children to improve attention spans as well as learning disabilities that often occur.

*Photo Credit: Via