Element Number Three
Detoxification
Toxins, as much as any other single, isolated element, are a primary driving force
of the 4-A epidemics.
Toxic heavy metals and environmental chemicals are the two most destructive
toxic forces. They are, in my opinion, the greatest contributors to the epidemic of
autism. In addition, they often play an important role in ADHD, and are often
involved in the onset of asthma and allergies.
The toxic heavy metal mercury, from environmental and other sources, is a key
cause of the autism epidemic. If it were not for toxification from mercury, autism
might not currently exist in such epidemic proportions.
Many other factors contribute to the 4-A epidemics, including:
- Poor nutrition
- Immune dysfunction
- Gastrointestinal distress
- Genetic vulnerabilities
- Assaults by viruses, bacteria and fungi
However, many of these factors could be overcome or successfully endured by
most children if it were not for the role played by toxins, and especially heavy
metals.
The public health damage that is done by toxins is magnified by the fact that not
everyone has the capability of adequately detoxifying their bodies. 4-A children, in
particular, often have impaired detoxification. Frequently, that’s the main reason
why they are 4-A kids. They have vulnerabilities and limitations in the body’s four-
phase system of defenses against toxins.
The Four Phases of Defense
When each of these four phases is functioning properly, toxins can be adequately
eliminated. However, a breakdown in even just one phase can derail the entire
process, and enable toxins to attack children’s bodies and brains.
Detox Phase #1 consists of keeping ingested toxins confined to the GI tract, where
they can safely exit the body, instead of allowing them to be absorbed by the
system.
Detox phase #2 is focused on the liver. In this phase, toxins are moved from the
gut to the liver, primarily through the portal tract, which connects the gut and the
liver. In the liver, toxins, which are often fat soluble, are converted into water
soluble toxins, because water soluble materials are much easier to excrete.
Detox Phase #3 consists of joining, or conjugating, toxins with specific detoxifying
compounds, particularly those found in highly concentrated form, as
supplements. These special nutrients, in their high-impact supplement form,
have the particular action of helping to remove toxins from the body.
Detox Phase #4 consists of supporting the body’s natural detoxification processes
by adjusting the body’s acid-alkaline balance, or pH. As a rule, a state of alkalinity
is more efficient for detoxifying than is a state of acidity.
Unfortunately, this 4-phase system of defense often breaks down, and allows toxic
accumulation, resulting in toxic overload. When this occurs, the following special
detoxifying procedures may be necessary.
Giving Glutathione
Of all the therapies that help kids eliminate existing toxins, and recover from
autism and the other 4-A disorders, giving glutathione stands out as among the
best. This has been demonstrated in research performed by my colleague Jill
James, Ph.D. When glutathione is returned to normal levels, it can trigger great
improvements in kids.
These include improvements in:
- Calmness
- Focus
- Presence
- Eye contact
- Receptive language
- Expressive language
- Social interaction
Glutathione can cause side effects in some kids, including increased stimming,
hyperactivity, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, and irritability. Glutathione must be
administered under the supervision of your child’s own physician.
For more information on glutathione administration, read Healing the New
Childhood Epidemics.
Enhancing Methylation
Another important detoxification approach is to bolster the natural detoxification
process of methylation. One ways to do this is with supplemental nutrients.
Nutrients that boost methylation include:
Methyl-B-12.
TMG.
DMG.
Folinic acid.
SAMe (sometimes).
Vitamins C and E.
Glutathione.
N-acetyl cysteine.
Virtually all of these nutrients are readily available as supplements, and use of
these supplements, under a doctor’s supervision, is generally quite helpful for
most children.
A few other natural approaches also help to rid the body of toxins. These are all
common sense methods that are widely used. They include drinking plenty of
fluids, exercising, engaging in deep breathing, avoiding constipation, and
sweating.
A relatively recent innovation in detoxification is the use by some physicians of
hyperbaric oxygen therapy, or HBOT. Although this therapy is still in its early
stages as a treatment for autism, initial studies tend to indicate that it can be
helpful for some children. A relatively large number of patients have undergone the
therapy, with generally good results.
Detoxification With Chelation
Another notable detoxification measure is chelation. It is considered to be
controversial by many experienced and reputable physicians, but has been
approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a safe and effective
treatment for removing some heavy metals from the body. However, it is a
relatively invasive procedure, when compared to essentially benign therapies such
as dietary modification. Even so, it is generally believed by most biomedical
practitioners to be a powerful and reliable biomedical method of removing heavy
metals, including mercury. Chelation (key-lay’-shun) is a procedure in which a
patient is given a medication that attaches to heavy metals, and helps the body
excrete them.
Chelation therapy has been successfully applied to thousands of children on the
autism spectrum, under the supervision of integrative physicians. The results
have generally been gratifying and promising. The positive response rate, as
quantified in the ongoing series of Autism Research Institute (ARI) parent
evaluations, is as follows:
Symptoms improved: 76%.
No discernible effect: 22%.
Symptoms worsened: 2%.
These parent evaluations represent a 38-to-1 ratio of improvement of symptoms
compared to worsening of symptoms. Worsening of symptoms was generally
mild and temporary. Side effects most frequently consisted of increased
hyperactivity, irritability, and stimming.
No other single element in the biomedical treatment of autism has been rated this
highly by the parents of autistic children. Nonetheless, this parent evaluation
process was highly subjective, and was conducted as a survey, and not a
controlled study.
Most of the parents of my own young patients have generally reported significant
improvements to me when their kids began to be chelated. Not all kids respond
positively to chelation, of course. No single modality works for everyone.
Even though chelation has been scientifically proven to be safe when correctly
administered, there are still reports about possible dangers of chelation that
sometimes circulate among the general public, and even the medical community.
These reports are medically unfounded, because chelation, when performed
properly, has a compelling clinical record of safety. It must be performed properly,
though, with sensitivity to safety issues.
If it is not done properly, it can, similarly to many other medical treatments, harm
patients. This harm from improper administration of chelation has been verified
to have occurred three times in recent years, resulting in the tragic deaths of two
children and one adult. However, many thousands of chelation treatments have
been performed properly, with no adverse effects. Nonetheless, mistakes can,
unfortunately, occur, so it is incumbent upon parents and physicians to be careful
and cautious. One reasonable precaution is to always have chelation performed
by a physician who is very familiar and experienced with the procedure. Another
necessary precaution is to be sure that all patients undergoing the treatment are
first given laboratory tests, to see if the therapy is necessary and advisable for
them. All tests must be administered by physicians.
Many integrative physicians believe that the best test for determining the possible
need for chelation is a test called a provocation test, in which a chelation
medication is administered, and pre- and post-chelative results are monitored to
determine if the procedure caused the excretion of heavy metals. If heavy metals
are excreted due to the procedure, it is generally a significant sign that at least
some heavy metals are probably still present in the body, and that further chelation
procedures are advisable.
Toxins probably are, to a greater degree than any other single factor, responsible
for initiating the negative cascade of biological processes that has resulted in the
proliferation of the 4-A disorders. Although these disorders may ultimately
encompass, in most children, dysfunction of widely dispersed systems, organs,
glands, nerves, tissues, and cells, toxification appears to lie at the heart of these
new childhood epidemics.
To achieve your own child’s possible recovery, you and your child’s physician may
need to reduce or eliminate your child’s load of stored toxins. Of particular
importance is the excretion of heavy metals, including mercury and lead.
For much more detail on detoxification, read Healing the New Childhood
Epidemics.
Talk to your doctor about detoxification. It is fundamentally important.
