Today (April 2nd) is World Autism Day
April 2nd, 2008
Autism is a growing epidemic in our society. The CDC estimates that 1 out of every 150 children will be diagnosed with some type of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Autism is 4 times more prevalent in boys than girls. It cost the US $35 billion annually.
I’ve seen many patients who have been affected by autism and it places a huge emotional and financial burden upon them. I must commend all parents who have autistic children. I only get to see a fraction of what it takes to care for them when my ASD patients come in. These parents are truly Angels!
Signs and Symptoms of Autism
- Delay in speech development or lack of speech development
- Repetitive behaviors
- Lack of interest in socializing
- Obsessions
Vaccination controversy: Is there a link between thimerosal and autism?
Many parents of children with ASD and those within the alternative medicine realms have a firm belief that there is a link between the preservative thimerosal (used in vaccinations) and autism. It is proposed that thimerosal causes a change in certain genetic expressions within the central nervous system. Thimerosal, in and of itself, is a toxic chemical compound that targets the nervous system and kidneys. It breaks down into ethylmercury and thiosalicylate. Both are highly toxic compounds to the body.
Whether or not to vaccinate is a personal choice. I recommend that you do your own research and gather all the facts. Don’t get caught up in the hype of “never” vaccinating your child without having the science to back it up. You need to understand why you’re making the decision.
Personally, my wife and I decided not to vaccinate our son at the time of birth. I truly believe that our body’s immune system (and our detoxification systems) are too fragile to deal with a vaccination shot. I’m not just looking at the chemically toxicity portion, but rather the entire notion of “vaccination.” We’ll leave this for another blog post or even a podcast discussion.
Here’s a good book to check out on the subject:
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The Sanctity of Human Blood : Vaccination is Not Immunization (Fifth Edition) by Tim O’Shea |
Is there a treatment for Autism and other associated diseases?
I stand on the fence with this issue, because I truly believe that everyone is different (biochemically speaking). It has been shown that the majority of autistic children have low levels of glutathione and are therefore more prone to oxidative damage. There have been reports that alternative treatments such as chelation therapy and other forms of heavy metal detoxification programs help to improve the condition. There have been some great results for people using hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
In my clinic I use therapies such as ionic detoxification baths, cold laser therapy, homeopathy, cranial-sacral therapy and chiropractic adjustments to help balance the body. See Velocity Wellness Center
Another great resource is listed below at Autism Voice. They offer a 7-step mini course to aid parents in helping their autistic child.
