BREAKTHROUGHS IN THE EVALUATION
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Biocentre Lab |
| 1-800-494-7785 |
ImmunoLab |
| 1-800-231-9197 |
Immunosciences |
| 1-800-950-4686 |
Meridian Valley Lab |
| 1-253-859-8700 |
Metametrix |
| 1-800-221-4640 |
Dr.'s Data Lab |
| 1-800-323-2784 |
Please note that only your doctor can order test kits from these labs.
USEFUL RESOURCES:
Dr. Sidney Baker's Book, "Detoxification and Healing" ISBN 0-87983-709-8 Publisher: Keats Publishing Inc. This book is easy to read and is very important to understanding Autism, or how to stay healthy yourself. In addition, Dr. Baker's web site is a very valuable source of information on Autism and healing. www.sbakermd.com
Defeat Autism Now! Protocol: $25.00 Explanation of all of this material, more accurately and more scientifically. Phone: 619-281-7165 (Autism Research Institute). www.autism.com/ari
"Children with Starving Brains", by Jacquelyn McCandless M.D. A book that every Autistic child's parent should read and study ISBN 1-883647-09-6. It is a well-written book on the Defeat Autism Now! protocol.
Another very informative web site is www.rxforautism.com
Web sites for casein and gluten free diets are: www.gfcfdiet.com www.gfcfkids.com and www.missroben.com
Dr. Megson at the Pediatric and Adolescent Ability Center www.megson.com
Valuable information on mercury can be found on the following sites: http://altcorp.com/autism.htm : http://www.house.gov/reform/hearings/healthcare/00.07.18/index.htm : http://www.cureautismnow.org/sciwatch/invest.cfm.
SUPPLEMENTS:
Transfer Factor: This is the first substance that we gave Marky that made a substantial difference in having him become more sociable, co-operative, calm, having great eye-contact and more speech. Transfer factor is extracted from colostrum or blood. It can be given by injection or orally. Transfer factor may have anti-viral properties, so that if you have the flu, and you take 9 capsules a day for three days, you may shorten the natural course of the flu. Initially, we did not believe that the MMR vaccine contributed to Marky's Autism, because Marky's Autism did not manifest until he was two years old. But if there were no viral inflammation, the transfer factor would not have worked. We noticed a difference in Marky in less than a week. Transfer factor also improves the environment in the gut.
There are two commercial sources of oral Transfer Factor that we are aware of:
Chisolm's Lab (Phone: 1-800-664-1333)
This is a specific Transfer Factor against childhood flus, viruses, including MMR, DPT. At the present time, I recommend immune factor #4; they are supposed to be coming out with one specific to Autism soon.
Dosage: 1 cap/day. Dr. Bradstreet (www.gnd.org) had good results with this.
Life (Phone: 1-888-454-3374)
This is a non-specific Transfer Factor
You start with 1 capsule 2x 1 day, then 3x 1 day, up to 3 capsules 3x/day
Dr. Peter Bock had the kids maintain this dosage for 3 months, then backed off to 1 capsule, 3x/day for maintenance.
DANplex (Phone: 1-800-792-6670). This is a vitamin/mineral/amino acid nutritional supplement, compounded by Hopewell Pharmacy, under the recommendations of many of the Defeat Autism Now! doctors. Some people prefer Super-NU- Thera from Kirkman's 1-800-245-8282. There is also a good tasting multi-nutrient-Brain Child from Michael Lange, 1-831-465-9405.
Omega Brite (Phone: 1-800-383-2030). This is the best source of omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids ("essential" means that the body cannot produce it from something else). These fatty acids are necessary for the maintenance of the cell membranes as well as cell-to-cell communication. Dr. Andrew Stoll has found that a dosage of 1 capsule, 3x/day, helped many Autistic children. When you are on this product, you don't need to continue with flaxseed oil or evening primrose oil.
Sphingolin (Ecological Formulas 1-800-888-4585). Many Autistic children have anti-myelin antibodies. You can do a specific blood test for this or just give a trial of this supplement. It is inexpensive and has no side effects that we know of, at the proper dosage. The dose is a half a capsule a day, regardless of the child's size. Please note that you should not be on Sphingolin and Secretin at the same time.
Cod Liver Oil (Kirkman Labs 1-800-245-8282). Dr. Megson (www.megson.com) has done remarkable research on the necessity of obtaining vitamin A (the "cis" form) from cod liver oil. It turns out that most of the vitamin A (including vitamin A from beta-carotene), is in the "trans" form, a form that we cannot utilize. The "cis" and "trans" forms are mirror images of each other; the "cis" form works better on the human body. The dosage is 1 capsule 3x/day.
There is also a good tasting, orange-flavored one called Dale Alexander's Cod Liver Oil, by Twinlabs, in many health food stores.
Digestive Enzymes: These help to break down the foods that the kids eat, into absorbable components. Most of the kids have very poor digestion. I recommend taking EnZym-Aid (Kirkman's), with another enzyme, which contains lipase, (such as b, c or d below), to break down the fats since EnZym-Aid has no lipase in it.
EnZym-Aid (Kirkman's)
Phone: 1-800-245-8282
Plantizyme (Thorne's)
Phone: 1-800-228-1966
Megazyme (Whole Foods)
Creon - 10
Creon - 20 by prescription
Probiotics: This is to supply the body with "good" bacteria to keep down the yeast growth and to acquire many other health benefits from them. This is well explained in Dr. Sidney Baker's book. Remember, some lactobacilli do not survive the hostile environment of the unfriendly pH's in these children's intestines.
Lactobacillus sporogenes (Thorne) 1-800-228-1966 - This is a tougher form of lactobacillus since it is in the spore form.
Enterogenic concentrate (Preventhium)
Phone: 1-800-755-1327 (They often have phone problems)
Fax: 1-770-831-8610
Pro-Bio Gold (Kirkman's)
Phone: 1-800-245-8282
Cuturelle has the reputation that it can actually colonize in the gut. Many health food stores carry it.
Mineral Supplements
Citramin I or II (Thorne)
Phone: 1-800-228-1966
Trace minerals (Thorne)
Mineral supplementation is a must in chelation on the "off" days
Phone: 1-800-228-1966
It is also a good idea to add extra Zinc, as this mineral seems to be deficient in most Autistic kids. Zinc must be taken on an empty stomach, at bedtime, for best absorption.
D.M.G. (Kirkman's)
This helped 40% of the Autistic kids in Dr. Rimland's study. You may need higher doses than you think in order to have a great effect. DMG helped Marky calm down, almost
over-night after his car accident. He was pinching and biting himself and others to the extent of drawing blood. Now he is on 12 capsules a day. Phone: 1-800-245-8282
Fibre: Arabinex or Medibulk (Thorne) 1-800-228-1966. This is important for the health of the intestines as well as the survival of the lactobacilli.
Secretin This substance is helping a lot of Autistic kids, but not as many as originally thought. It is available in I.V., oral and skin patch forms. Again there is controversy as to whether the latter two forms work.
I.V. Glutathione: There have been some benefits with this therapy as far as calmness and getting rid of "tics" are concerned, as well as some acceleration in cognitive abilities. Of course, Glutathione is also available in oral and topical forms.
Metallothionein Promotion Therapy: This seems like a really exciting therapy with promising results as mentioned earlier in this synopsis. There is basically 2 phases to this protocol. The first phase is to increase the zinc and to decrease the copper. The second phase is to give the body the amino acids necessary to build the MT Protein. The MT Protein will then help the body heal and catch up in the necessary areas. Taurine interferes with Zinc absorption, so no Taurine on the days of Zinc Therapy.
A very exciting area is being researched at Harvard Mass. General Hospital where hundreds of Autistic kids are being endoscoped by Dr. Tim Buie. The findings are, that even in the absence of G.I. symptoms, there is inflammation of the gut. When the gut is given the appropriate therapies to heal, the Autistic symptoms greatly recede.
If you live outside the US, you might need to find the non toll-free number through a friend. In some cases, your friend might have to order it and ship it to you, as regulations may not permit shipping outside the country. This applies to all the toll free numbers mentioned.
Please remember that, if you introduce your child to a new supplement, it is not unusual for the child to experience some adverse effects for a short while. These effects may include hyperactivity, skin rashes and behavioral regressions. When this happens, it does not necessarily mean that you should discontinue the supplement, unless the adverse effects are dangerous, or persistent. Usually these side effects wear off in a few days. Please remember to start with a very low dose, even as low as a quarter capsule. If there are adverse effects, stay at this dose until the adverse effects are gone, then proceed to a slightly higher dose, etc. Marky became hyperactive for a few days, when we first started most of these supplements. In addition, you may not see the beneficial effects of these supplements for a period of time. Also remember that just because a therapy did not work before, it does not mean that you should not re-visit that therapy at a later time, for instance, after you clean up the gut problem. Please consult your doctor about any adverse effects that persist or cause concern.
GENERAL POINTERS TO CHELATION
Make sure your child is balanced nutritionally - i.e. amino acids, vitamins, minerals etc., before chelation. If the child is very out of balance, chelation may lead to seizures (especially if the child is low in magnesium or taurine)
Do not take mineral supplements on the days of chelation, but make sure you do take them on "off" days. Even though the agents are not supposed to affect calcium and magnesium, I found that taking extra amounts of these reduces the muscle twitching and headaches. The revision in the chelation protocol advises us to take some Zinc and some selenium even on the days of chelation. We find that doing this helps cut down the irritability by quite a bit. Also, Kirkman (1-800-245-8282) now has packages of replacements and supplements to support chelation.
In dosing of the DMSA or DMPS, chelating agents, remember to remind your doctor, to "go low" and to "go slow"!
Make sure you have a knowledgeable doctor supervising the chelation - what blood parameters to monitor etc. Dr. Rimland's institute, Autism Research Institute, has a list of doctors who are familiar with the Defeat Autism Now! protocol. Phone: (1-619-281-7165). Again, we are set up to treat Autistic individuals anywhere in the U.S.A. or in Canada, so you can contact us at the e-mail or phone number at the beginning of this document, if you wish. We are passionate about giving our Autistic children their best chance!
There are three agents for chelation of mercury:
DMPS (Heyl is the purest brand) oral, I.V. or I.M.
DMSA (Chemet, Succimer). (Kirkman makes a very palatable form) oral.
DMSA with ALA (alpha lipoic acid) oral.
Allithiamine- this is a mild chelator and is used as a cream on the soles of the feet. The advantage of this treatment is that you don't end up with so many problems with over-growth of yeast and different bacteria as you do with DMSA or DMPS.
There are many chelation protocols, please consult either the web site of the Autism Research Institute www.autism.com/ari. Most chelation is done orally; some doctors implement the oral chelation with I.M. shots of DMPS.
Please note that most of the information from this Defeat Autism Now! Conference (including the Autistic child's underlying inability to detoxify, deficiency states and toxicity and the treatments as discussed), is not yet widely accepted by the medical profession. The conventional medical community takes a very long time to embrace and accept new ideas. Don't be surprised if your doctor regards this information with skepticism (as I once did). You may need to find a Defeat Autism Now! Doctor (see # 4 above) or a doctor who is open-minded enough to supervise the testing and treatment with you.
SUMMARY
In the beginning of this journey, I did not believe all the theories and explanations, presented at the Defeat Autism Now! conference, even although I greatly respected the presenting doctors and scientists. How can so many things be going wrong, biochemically, in our Autistic kids? Throughout the years, we would try this therapy and then that therapy, with very minimal results. When we finally did all the testing recommended, we were shocked! All the things that they postulated at the Defeat Autism Now! conference, turned out to be true for our son. Marky could not detoxify. He had high levels of mercury, lead, copper and antimony. Marky could not digest or absorb fat and was deficient in fat-soluble vitamins. Marky was also deficient in 13 out of the 23 amino acids tested. Marky also had yeast overgrowth, as indicated by his anti-Candida antibody test. He was allergic to 21 food items!
In a nutshell, we are trying to correct Marky's deficiencies, by giving him the supplements mentioned, as well as his amino acid supplements. We are trying to eliminate his toxicities by anti fungal therapies, probiotics, a diet free from his identified food allergens, and soon, by chelating the heavy metals. We are continuing Special Education Classes for three hours a day, individual tutoring for 6 hours a day, his Occupational and Speech therapies. It's really quite a lot, but then, the rewards are worth it! Marky is calm, happy, focused and interactive. Both his teacher and tutor state that he is learning faster and retaining what he learns. Also, both his expressive and receptive language has progressed markedly. We still have a long way to go, but hopefully, the chelation will give us additional improvement.
The Defeat Autism Now! doctors and scientists now believe that Autism is a biochemical disease that can be helped greatly through much effort and persistence. I used to think that organic foods were for the truly neurotic. Now I believe that, for ultra-sensitive people, like our Autistic kids, organic foods are a necessity. Who knew that they could be, not only sensitive to so many foods, but also to dyes, preservatives, molds and fungi? In many cases, filtered water is also a must. So, be curious and be persistent. Take good care of yourselves so that you can endure this arduous journey called "Autism"!
Remember, the lesson is in the journey, not in the destination.
"Spiro, Spera" "While I breathe, I hope" Never give up!
God bless you and good luck!
ADDENDUM
There is significant evidence that the measles virus, in the form of the vaccination, MMR, plays an important role, in the etiology of Autism.
There are other more "in depth" tests as well, among them are:
Intestinal permeability
Detoxification profile
Vitamin profile
Essential fatty acids profile
All the tests for different antibodies, and immunoglobulins
This Metallothionein Promotion Therapy is claiming excellent results and bears watching and trying. We certainly intend for all our patients to be on it, after evaluation.
When the test results for the plasma or urinary amino acids are back, and you know what amino acids are necessary, a good compounding pharmacist is College Pharmacy (Colorado), Phone: 1-800-888-9358.
Prayer is very important! (Probably the most important)! "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me..." In our prayers, we alternate between praising God and groveling to Him!
If you find something that works for you, don't be afraid to pass it on to us, and to others; we would be very grateful.
Don't be afraid to do some of the tests or take some of the tests yourself. Remember that there is a genetic component to Autism so that the defects might be present, but to a slighter degree, in other members of the family. Also, don't forget that Autism is just a part of a spectrum that includes A.D.D., A.D.H.D., obsessive-compulsive disorder, manic- depressive disorder etc. Many members of the family feel and perform so much better on the diets and some of the supplements that these kids are on. You might want to have your mercury dental amalgams replaced. There is a Dental Materials Compatibility Test by Clifford Labs, (1-719-550-000), to find out which amalgams will not be toxic to you, in the long run.
Please feel free to photocopy this and distribute this to anyone who might benefit from it. You might want to send copies of this to your local and national parent support groups for Autism. Think big! We want as many children to benefit from this information, as possible. Maybe you might want to mail this out to other countries and ask your contacts there to forward this document to the local and national parent support groups there. This goes for all useful information that you might have. Let's not fight Autism alone, but as a united group!
Again, God bless you and good luck!
Miriam Jang, MD
miriamjangmd@comcast.net
E-mail me if there is any new therapy that you want me to be aware of, (please keep it brief), or if you want to be on my e-mail list for future updates, or if you want me to treat your Autistic child.
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