Protocol for the Treatment of Autism

Christopher Pick ND. DHH. DCN. DLT
Naturopath Physician

This article may seem long, but it is vitally necessary to convey the magnitude of the problems we all face, particularly children. We are breeding weaker and weaker human beings, a tragedy that can be avoided once we understand the reasons at the back of it. Much of what I have to say to convey my message is negative. But a negative can only be turned into a positive once it is recognised as so. There are so many positive steps that can be taken. I therefore sincerely hope that this article can help both children and indeed adults, in that endeavour.

The statistics for serious diseases and disorders for those on a Western-type diet has for the most part, been a steep upward curve. Alarmingly, some conditions such as tuberculosis, which were thought to be eradicated, are reappearing. As an example, women have a lifetime risk in the UK (worse in the USA) of 1 in 11 of getting breast cancer. The risk factor changes for the worse with each passing year - 1 in 10 next year.

Approximately 4 out of 10,000 people in the USA are diagnosed with autism. This equates to around 100,000 sufferers in that country alone at the present time. The statistics here, also are becoming worse year by year.

Both allopathic and complementary medicine is trying to stem a tidal wave of ill-health with only marginal success. To illustrate this point I quote Mark Winfield* ‘If current trends continue over the next 7 years, (from 1994) approximately 35% of all those who die before the age of 50 will die of cancer, 30% of heart disease, 15% due to the effects of diabetes and respiratory disorders and a further 10% due to complex organ dysfunction and breakdown. Based on current life expectancy, less than 15% will make it past 60 and more than half will suffer ongoing or terminal health problems from the age of 30 years.’

The sad reality for many will be to learn that for the period leading up to their death, their immune systems will have been rendered incompetent. We think we ‘know’ what causes many diseases, but this is only partially correct. For example we really do know that high cholesterol, the inability of the body to quench free radicals and excessive homocysteine levels is a very strong indicator for heart disease. So, we have drugs to counter some of these symptomatic conditions. The problem is that this type of treatment only addresses the symptoms and in the case of cholesterol lowering drugs make matters far worse as they are known to be carcinogenic (cancer causing). In this scenario, the immediate problem may well go away but the cause remains. As an analogy, if the low oil warning light in your car comes on, you have two choices. You can cut the wire that feeds the warning light and the immediate problem goes away, only to manifest very quickly with dire consequences. This is treatment of the symptom. Or you can add more oil so the system operates efficiently. This is treatment of the cause. NYC Manhattan hotel is located in the heart of Manhattan.

There are many diseases and disorders that we are not sure of the exact cause. We have clues here and there and we find that different treatments work for different individuals. Autism fits into this category in my view. The fact that different treatments work in autism and many other diseases and disorders gives us or should give important clues to the real nature of the problems.

THE REAL NATURE OF THE PROBLEM OF VIRTUALLY ALL DISEASE.

The human body, so it is generally held, has evolved over millions of years into an amazingly complex and integrated whole. It had reached this incredible level of sophistication by utilising around 100 nutrients daily from around 225 different foods. Today, our average nutrient intake is very low, coming as it does from around 18 foods. It is estimated that only 3% of the Western population eat a healthy balanced diet and even these lack many vital nutrients.

We eat to live, we do not live to eat! One of the most important things to remember is that the body is an enormously complex manufacturing facility, producing tens of thousands of different substances. It needs these substances to rebuild, repair and sustain life. These substances should be obtained from the food we eat, the water we drink and the oxygen we breathe. In turn the food chain has to obtain the nutrients it needs and that we need from the soil. A hundred years ago or so, these nutrients were still present in much of our soil and the animals that grazed on them, therefore they were passed on to the body’s manufacturing unit and the maximum health potential of the individual could be sustained. Since the 1930s the ecology of the soil has changed beyond recognition. It has also become seriously deficient for instance, in minerals. Prehistoric soil was rich in around 80+ colloidal minerals, today there are virtually no minerals left in our soil. Plant processed minerals are absolutely vital to health, they are required for thousands of metabolic functions and as an example, without them vitamins do not work. Find unique glass pipes & color changing glass pipes worldwide.

TOXICITY OVERLOAD RULES

You cannot remove even one or two raw materials from a manufacturing unit without suffering a consequence. It doesn’t matter if that manufacturing facility makes cars, computers or human bodies. There is no doubt in my mind that the body has a huge margin for error built in. For instance, if certain nutrients are lacking, it has various mechanisms for making up the shortfall. However, we have exceeded that margin for error some time ago. Our bodies try and make do and we are suffering the consequences. Minerals are only part of the story; our Western diet also lacks vitamins, essential fatty acids, antioxidants, digestive enzymes, fibre etc. How can we possibly expect to build a strong, disease resistant, long-living body? If this wasn’t bad enough, it is only part of the problem.

So, much of the life sustaining nutrients have gone from the soil to be replaced with toxic chemicals such as pesticides and insecticides. We have processed much of the pitifully little remaining nutrients out of our food and replaced them with unnatural colourings, additives, preservatives and a choice of E numbers. In fact, over five thousand additives are licensed for use in food products. Even our water supply is polluted by various toxic chemicals and should carry a health warning. This is sheer madness and is motivated by profit. Even our oxygen supply is seriously contaminated. Our bodies do their best in coping with detoxifying this mass, but to operate efficiently these mechanisms need to be fuelled by a nutrient rich body - do you begin to see the pattern? Toxicity overload rules.

The overuse of antibiotics has much to answer for. These drugs, while extremely valuable in some cases, are handed out like sweets. (The public who demand them are as much to blame as the doctors who prescribe without very good reason.) Antibiotics kill the friendly bacteria in our gut, allowing other unfriendly organisms such as candida to rage out of control. Many children have had countless courses of antibiotics by the time they are two or three years old. Friendly gut bacteria has many functions that are required for health, including the synthesis of some B-vitamins. With the depletion of them, another vital nutrient manufacturing process is shut down.

The foregoing deals with the external factors of introducing food and toxic substances into the body, but of equal importance is the operation of the internal factors, beginning with digestion. Food is a poison to the body until acted on correctly by all the digestive processes. Hydrochloric acid (HCl) must be present in the stomach in the correct amounts and is needed initially to break down foods into smaller components, a vitally important function. HCl is also the first line of defence in the immune system armoury as it has the ability to kill off bacteria and certain other pathogens. So, where does HCl come from? Well, it is manufactured in the body. And the raw materials that precede this manufacture? - you probably guessed it - minerals among others. Insufficient minerals equals insufficient stomach acid. Here, the first stage of digestion has gone wrong. The problem is that the symptoms of a lack of stomach acid are exactly the same as an excess. It must be said that very few people have an excess!

One of the most prescribed drugs are stomach acid suppressants (remember symptoms are the same) which further compounds a drastic situation. I could go on, but enough on this!

In a correctly functioning digestive system, the acidified food must be alkalised (neutralised) by a flow of bicarbonate from the pancreas. This is under the control of the hormone secretin. In turn, secretin will only kick in if the food leaving the stomach is sufficiently acid. As well as a flow of bicarbonate, pancreatic enzymes are also released to continue the digestive process, together with bile from the gallbladder. We come back to the situation where the body has to manufacture both bicarbonate and sufficient digestive and metabolic enzymes. Again, in most cases the body does not have the raw materials it needs. So, with a lack of HCl, we get little or no secretin release and little or no bicarbonate and enzyme release. The improperly or properly digested food must be alkalised for the further extraction of whatever nutrients are there. If it is not, whatever nutrients are there cannot be extracted. This snowball rolls on - less and less nutrients are available. The final phase of digestion is undertaken by the villi in the small intestine which are equipped with their own enzymes - that also have to be manufactured. I am not going to say it! To recap:

SOME EXTERNAL FACTORS

• Toxic substances in food, water & air
• No nutrients in food
• Overuse of antibiotics

SOME INTERNAL FACTORS

• Toxicity
• Lack of HCl
• Little or no secretin release
• Little or no bicarbonate release
• Little or no pancreatic enzyme release
• Little or no intestinal enzymes.
• The result is a nutrient starved body that almost imperceptibly gets worse on a daily basis. Depending on genetic strength and weakness the weakest part will fail first. This may take weeks, months or years.
• This leads to the growth of opportunist organisms such as candida albicans - a fungal infection that can mimic many other diseases. Viruses and bacteria proliferate, parasites take up residence. Worms, liver flukes and who knows what else are allowed to flourish.

Note: It is of the utmost importance to find out if systemic candida is present in children with autism.

Improperly digested proteins cling to the gut wall and putrefy. This putrefaction process, produces at least thirty different poisons (as if there were not enough already). One of these, octopamine, acts as a false neurotransmitter and can seriously affect cognitive function and brain function generally. Eventually, the colon can become so clogged with impacted faecal matter that constipation rules and waste disposal which is also vital to health, is minimal. If candida gets into the gut it can change form, growing roots or tentacles that penetrate the bowel wall. This leaves direct access for toxins which includes partially digested food, to enter the blood-stream and cause auto-toxicity and severe immune reactions.

Under these conditions most adults and children have an overloaded immune system that is functioning well below maximum potential. For others, it has reached a state of hyperactivity reacting to just about everything in foods and the environment.

A nutrient malnourished mother cannot produce or ‘grow’ an extremely healthy baby - this is obvious by now. The modern shift from breast to bottle feeding merely perpetuates the problem. With breast feeding, important disease antigens are passed on to the baby to help its infantile immune system cope. (Dog food literally has more nutrients than any of the brands of mother’s milk substitutes.) When the course of immunity inoculations start - three at once (DTP MMR) an enormous stress is placed on the immune system that can cause further havoc, depending on the strength or weakness of a particular child.

I am not saying that inoculations are the cause of autism - they appear to be another link in the chain. I feel that in most cases of autism the problem has many differing causes. These revolve around nutrient depletion, toxicity, digestive factors (particularly proteins), candida (and other types of infestation), toxic bowel and an overloaded and/or hyperactive immune system. I guess that most parents of autistic children will be looking for a simple answer - but I am afraid that I don’t think that it is that simple. A protocol for health is relatively simple, but it does require a learning curve. Secretin does seem to be a simple answer, but my feeling is that it is bringing back a body from the brink. This is not to demean its worth in any way, it can produce wonderful results. However, I feel that with an overall health protocol the results with the use of secretin would be even better. I utilise hydrochloric acid and a specially prepared formula of plant based digestive enzymes in a particular ratio, as my own version of secretin. The full protocol will follow. At this point I must mention the fact that secretin is stabilised with cysteine hydrochloride. Cysteine and its metabolite taurine (both are amino acids) are both biologically active in the peripheral and central nervous system. In the amounts given in the secretin infusion, cysteine can have a significant impact on behavioural and immunological functions in children. Cysteine also exhibits detoxification properties. As autistic children have a problem with digestion, particularly proteins (proteins are comprised of amino acids) I wonder if a shortage of some or all of the amino acids are contributing to the problem? Also, I find it interesting that as cysteine hydrochloride is an acid, I also wonder if it can stimulate the release of any natural secretin that may be in the body?

AUTISM - A COURSE OF ACTION

These topics need some research. It is of considerable interest to note that many autistic children respond to supplementation with vitamin B6 and zinc. This has been known since 1970 and in April 1978 a positive study was published in the American Journal of Psychiatry (Vol. 135, page 474) and in Science News (Vol 113, 13 May, 1978).

There are many issues to address with any disease including autism. Having studied this article you will be aware of the underlying causes of most diseases (genetic inheritance excepted). This protocol endeavours to identify certain specific problems and address them within the main treatment protocol - a protocol that seeks to detoxify and cleanse the body, return digestion, absorption and metabolism to optimum functional capability and supply high levels of supplementation together with the best available food and water. This regime allows the body to activate its own healing and regeneration capabilities and return to a state of homeostasis, or normal operation.

I have to say that the use of organic foods whilst absolutely necessary, does not in many cases provide significantly more nutrients than non-organic foods. Remember, that the nutrients have to be in the soil in the first place! Organic farmers are really not in a position to fully re-mineralise the soil, for instance. There are several reasons for this. Cost is one and lack of availability of a full spectrum of minerals is another, etc. However, organic foods sold under the Soil Association banner has far less toxic chemicals added to it than non-organic. Beware though, they do allow food producers to add some undesirable substances and still sell the produce under the organic banner.

INITIAL TESTING

• Stool analysis for the presence of candida & parasites etc. Treatment dependent on what is found. Note: Blood tests for candida cannot differentiate between a current and past infestation. So are of little use.
• Levels of Indican from 24hour urine sample - to determine levels of protein putrefaction. Treatment dependent on the levels found.
• pH & ammonium test from 24 hour urine sample - to determine tissue acid /alkaline base. Treatment based on findings. (Ammonium levels MUST be measured also, to get an accurate measure of pH). Note: This test can be incorporated with the test for Indican.
• Optional tests: Comprehensive hair or urine analysis to determine various nutritional factors. If required any treatment that the main protocol does not cover is based on findings.Note: With the urine analysis, Indican, ammonium and pH are incorporated.
• Comprehensive digestive stool analysis - to look at digestion, absorption, bacterial balance, possible inflammation, metabolic activity and immune function. If required, any treatment that the main protocol does not cover is based on findings. Note: Many other tests may be carried out dependent on the individual child and the progress under the protocol.

DIET

Dietary measures should revolve around as much organic food as possible. Plenty of fruit and vegetables are a must. The ratio of daily food intake for a child should be approximately 15-20% unsaturated fats, 15% protein and 65-70% carbohydrate. ‘Fast fix’ carbohydrates such as brown and white sugar (in hundreds of products) should be avoided altogether. Saturated fat should be kept to a minimum. All junk food should be eliminated, including junk drinks. Distilled, filtered or bottled water should be consumed, around a litre a day for children if possible. Do not use tap water. Avoid cows milk totally and substitute with goat or organic soya milk.

Many foods can be juiced raw. With fruit and vegetables this retains the vitally important enzymes that assist the digestion of all food in the body. Boiling or micro-waving depletes up to 80% of nutrients. Steaming retains 80%! Frying and barbecuing foods produces many toxic and carcinogenic substances. Grill or steam instead.

Where there are digestive problems with certain proteins such as gluten (from wheat) and casein (from cows milk) - they obviously have to be excluded. Other proteins must be utilised to make up any shortfall.

Do not use farmed fish such as trout, as they contain synthetic growth hormones and antibiotics in many cases. Source organic white meat or fish instead. Keep red meat consumption to a minimum or cut out altogether. Avoid stimulants such as tea and coffee. Learn to read food labels so you can identify what the product actually contains, this is very important. For instance, sugar can be called fructose, maltose, dextrin, glucose, etc. The first ingredient listed on the label is the one the product contains the most of! Beware of such statements such as ‘90% Fat Free’. This still leaves a 10% fat content - which is usually of the saturated variety.

BASIC SUPPLEMENTATION PROGRAMME

In illness the need for supplementation can vary greatly from individual to individual. I am sorry to say that it has become virtually impossible to obtain the 100 or so needed daily nutrients without supplementation. As a healthy individual I take 12-15 differing supplements daily! My six-year-old son takes seven and has done since the age of two years.

It is virtually impossible to overdose on food supplements. However, with the ‘blanket’ advice listed below, the supplements and levels thereof err on the side of caution.

There is a huge difference in the quality and efficacy of the supplements that are available. For instance, tablets are far inferior to capsules, many of the brands of say multivitamins, in chemist stores, contain so little of the individual nutrients, that they have virtually no effects. The ratios of one nutrient to another is very often incorrect. Materials are chosen for their cost rather than their effect. To give you an example, if the RDA for calcium is 1000mg and you buy a capsule containing 1000mg of calcium ascorbate you would expect that your body would get this amount. Wrong! Calcium citrate is only around 20% elemental calcium, so that leaves you with 200mg of calcium. The body can only metabolise around 10% of that, so you are left with around 20mg per 1000mg tablet or capsule. And so it goes on. Within reason, the more you pay for supplements the better they should be. Practitioners such as myself have access to much higher dose products, particularly when a range is formulated by them and produced for them under their own label. I found it necessary to follow this course, because I wanted the best quality products that were available.

Supplements should be taken every day for a minimum of 6-12 months. After this period it may be possible to go on to a maintenance dose. After supplementing for some time - if it then becomes necessary to stop a particular nutrient(s), it/they MUST be withdrawn slowly. Obviously, if there is any adverse reaction to a supplement it must be stopped straight away.

THE SUPPLEMENTS

LIVER CLEANSE (HERBAL)

Take half the adult recommended dose and follow any other label instructions. Take for one month.

DIGESTIVE ENZYMES

These should be of vegetable/plant origin. Do not use bovine or porcine sources. Do not use tablets. Take two daily with each meal. Can be sprinkled into water and drunk. Note: I utilise a non-encapsulated powdered high-strength version of a specially formulated enzyme mix. Its digestive and other beneficial effects are far greater and it is far more economical to buy, unit for unit. However, I have this product manufactured for my clinical use. Plant enzyme capsules are available at some outlets and via some practitioners.

HCL (BETAINE HYDROCHLORIDE)

Take one capsule (around 200mg) with each meal. Do not open capsule. Notes: If heartburn occurs (rare) drink plenty of water and do not take more. This product is usually only available from practitioners.

COLLOIDAL MINERALS

(contains 70+ organic minerals & trace elements) Take 1-2 500mg capsules two to three times daily away from food. Take with water only. Liquids - take as directed on label - adult dose is fine. Note: These products are freely available in the USA. Very limited availability in the UK.

ORGANIC FLAX OIL CAPSULES

Take 2-3 1000mg capsules three times daily with food. These are one of the finest sources of essential fatty acids.

MULTIVITAMIN CAPSULES

Take as directed on the label.

VITAMIN C POWDER OR CAPSULES

Take 500mg four times daily.

ZINC CAPSULES (AMINO ACID CHELATE)

Take 20mg once daily with food.

VITAMIN B6 CAPSULES

Take 25mg daily with food.

YUCCA S EXTRACT LIQUID

For children, 5 drops daily in a liquid. The label states 10 drops - this is for adults. This wonderful product is antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral. It stimulates immunity and stimulates the pancreas. It also enhances the growth of the friendly bacteria in the gut and increases protein metabolism by around 33%. Note: Having extolled Yucca’s benefits, I am afraid that it is not generally available except from one small source. I am endeavouring to make sure that it becomes more generally available in 2000.

OR USE:

ECHINACEA LIQUID OR CAPSULES

Take as directed on the label. A herbal ‘antibiotic’ and immune stimulant.

You may think that this supplement regimen is ‘over the top’. I can assure you that it is not. These are not drugs, they are some of the nutrients that we all should be getting from food. If you instigate this programme for your autistic child and he or she is taking prescriptive drugs; I suggest that you read the information pertaining to the drugs and/or check with your healthcare professional that there will be no adverse inter-reactions. In the majority of cases, there will be none.

*Mark Winfield - Surviving 2000 - Future Food Technologies Pty Ltd, Australia.

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