Welcome! Thank you for visiting the Chelation Therapy for Autism message board. This is a place for support, discussion and friendly debate. This board is designed for those who hold the belief that heavy metal toxicity and/or environmental exposures (ie: mercury/aluminum from vaccination) are the probable cause for regressive autism. This is the main topic of discussion but subject matter is not limited to chelation alone. This message board does not constitute medical advice. Consult your physician for medical advice.
Serotonin
by
My son has below normal amounts of serotonin. I don't want to use drugs because he is taking a drug for epilepsy and his liver has enough to handle. We are boosting certain foods in his diet to increase his serotonin level. (on my own; no medical help) Has anyone else had this problem and what did you do?
I have heard other people talk about 5HTP, bought in health food stores used to regulate seratonin levels.
Also, there is the brushing protocol where you use an OT brush (bought in a hospital pharmacy, normally...they are white plastic with soft bristle). If you brush every two hours (except while sleeping) for 6 weeks, it will help your child's sensory defensiveness (by re-programming how your child produces seratonin). The focus is not the bristle stimulation as much as the even and firm pressure. Also, you do the arms, legs, hands, feet, and back. Then you are supposed to do joint compressions as well. It is best to see if someone can show you how to do it so you don't waste 6 weeks. (never brush stomach)
My son has been put on the 'Autistic Spectrum' since age 2, he is 4 now. He has poor interactive language skills, hand flaps, runs in circles, will laugh/hum for no good reason. He has no problems with transitions, knows his ABC's quite well, can count to 30, knows his colours and shapes and more.
I never noticed any change after vaccinations. He is on the GFCF diet and the only noticeable change (he's been on the diet for 8+ months) is he no longer has diarrhea. He was late to crawl/walk, is less receptive to pain than other children, has gross and fine motor weaknesses, and is a very cautious child, always has been.
I truly believe intensive one on one work (floortime, ABA) is what he needs but I think a medical complex may also be needed. Nystatin did nothing, Super Nu Thera was pointless. Chelation is new to me. I don't know if he has any heavy metal toxicity/deficit and if so how they could have arrived. We live in Canada.
We will be trying Ojibwa Tea of Life in July. Sorry to ahve rambled so much but our biggest (two biggest) problems are the fact that no one has ever met a child like ours and nobody has a clue about what to do. The local professionals are uninformed and are no help in any respect. They want social play, I want one on one. At least I have evidence that my way works a bit!
What can you tell me about chelation, based on what I've laid out? Thanks.
Even though you haven't noticed any differences after any vaccines, your son was still injected with therimsol vaccines which contain mercury. Mercury is the 2nd most toxic element on this planet. It is documented to cause severe neurological damage even in small amounts.
Also, are you considering the Hep.B. series that they start when the infant is 6 hours old? That has thermisol in it, as well.
The baby I used to babysit after I new about the vaccine-injury relationship had reactions after her vaccines. Only the mom wasn't very receptive to it, so I didn't tell her. It wasn't like she regressed into autism, afterall. But she was 4 months when I began to watch her. At 6 mo. her mom took her to get vaccines. She was just starting to stay awake for longer periods and smile and coo more. She was trying to explore rattles and toys more. After the vaccine, she wanted to eat and sleep again for several more months. And she began crying in the car for the first time on. Reactions can be very subtle if you aren't looking for them.
Now that said, I will post an old post from Dr. Amy Holmes so that you can make your own decisions about your child.
Amy,
Would you mind sharing your sons history and chelation response for our case studies. I'm really excited to hear of his response to DMSA. It sounds only a little short of miraculous.
Lyn
----- Original Message ----- > From: Amy Holmes
From: "Lyn Redwood" <autism-mercury@m... </group/Autism-Mercury/post?protectID=43075114009099192217154163148062077039158044034053123009193242002198057157061151110147>
Date: Thu May 4, 2000 10:50pm Subject: Fw: Re: [Autism-Mercury] Doctors
This is a repost for amterry. These results are very similiar to you son's. Lyn ----- Original Message ----- From: Amy Holmes <aholmesmd@p... </group/Autism-Mercury/post?protectID=243015253078038198090154004248021063248048166189043>> To: <Autism-Mercury@m... </group/Autism-Mercury/post?protectID=100075114009099192217005163148062077039158044034053123009193242002198057157061151110147>>
Sent: Tuesday, May 02, 2000 8:58 AM
Subject: Re: Re: [Autism-Mercury] Doctors
Lyn,
I would be happy to share Mike's history with you for your case studies. But first, let me thank you for all the work you have done in this very important area. I am becoming increasingly convinced that mercury poisoning underlies all of autism. I finally figured out that Mike's case was most likely due to mercury about a year ago, but I had no idea of the scope of the mercury problem until I went back into practice (this time as a DAN! doctor). Almost every child I tested had the same lab abnormalities as my son, including the high levels of various heavy metals. Very uncanny! Anyway, thank you for starting this list and for everything else you have done in the pursuit of the truth about what happened to our children. Feel free to edit this, because I'm not sure exactly what info you want.
Mike - DOB 10/18/94
Unremarkable pregnancy. Born by planned C-section (advanced maternal age and very large baby). Weight 9 pounds, 2 oz. Very healthy. Apgars 8/9. Uneventful first year. Got all immunizations on time. Sat at 4 months, crawled at 7 months, walked at 10 months. Spoke first word at 9 months. By 12 months, had 10 to 15 words. Good eye contact, good imitative skills, very social.
Stopped talking 5 days after MMR plus Hep B at 12 months, gradually lost all imitative skills, all interaction and eye contact. By 18 months was in his own world. Would not even respond to his name. We asked everyone why he was acting this way, including several pediatricians - no answers. Finally diagnosed as autistic at 26 months.
We began an intensive ABA program (Lovaas) at 28 months. We took him to see Dr. Stephanie Cave at 29 months. She ran a number of tests, including hair analysis for heavy metals. He was very high in lead, aluminum, and antimony. Mercury was only slightly elevated. She gave him DMSA 100 three times a day for 5 days, followed by 100 mg twice a day for 2 weeks (the old treatment).
By 1 month after this first chelation course, he had improved noticeably - behavior was better, no longer as "zoned out" as before, was no longer pale, looked healthier. Repeated the hair analysis several months later. This showed a significant drop in lead, but still high antimony and aluminum, and to our surprise, a high level of mercury. No one knew what this meant at the time - this subsequent high level of mercury meant that mercury had been mobilized back into the bloodstream, thus could finally show up in the hair. Looking back, if we had realized the significance of this finding then, Mike would be completely recoved now.
After this, we pursued other areas like getting rid of yeast and pathogenic bacteria, gluten and casein-free diet, getting rid of multiple food allergies, and did not return to the heavy metal issue until he was 4 years old. By this time, I had taken over his case. I repeated a hair analysis for heavy metals when he was 4. Mercury had dropped (of course - it had gone back into its favorite storage areas), but aluminum and antimony were still very, very high, and the lead was back up to elevated range.
I started him on a kinder, gentler course using DMSA 200 mg TID for 3 days, off for 11 days while repleting minerals. I repeated this 2 week cycle for a total of 4 cycles, then got a toxic urine screen on the last cycle. To my surprise, tons of mercury were coming out. That is when I started investigating mercury-autism connection in Mike's case. After a few weeks, I was convinced that mercury was responsible for a lot of his problems, so we continued with the same 2 week cycles of DMSA for several more months, repeated the urine toxic metal screen with almost the same findings. From April of 1999 to the present, I have been doing these 2 week cycles, 4 to 6 at a time, then allowing him a month off now and then to fully recover from the chelation. We got a urine toxic metal screen last month (4/00) which showed mercury at 2.7 ("normal" range > 0 - 3). This is the first time he has ever been in the "normal" range for mercury (provocative urine).
One year ago, Mike was essentially non-verbal and preferred to engage in meaningless self-stimulatory behaviors. Today (5/00), he speaks in sentences, addresses people by name to get their attention, and no longer "stims" non-stop. His receptive language is excellent, expressive is still 2 years behind his peers (but is catching up fast). His pronunciation, which had been so bad as to make any words completely unintelligible, is now improving to the point that we can understand almost everything he says.
I intend to continue chelation until no more mercury comes out on provocative urine toxic metal screen.
Hope this helps,
Amy
<aholmesmd@p... </group/Autism-Mercury/post?protectID=243015253078038198090154004248021063248048166189043>
To: <Autism-Mercury@egroups.com </group/Autism-Mercury/post?protectID=100075114009099192217005163148062077039158044189113239188120242216142254099102>
Sent: Saturday, April 29, 2000 6:16 PM
Subject: Re: [Autism-Mercury] Doctors
-------- Reply Separator --------------------
Originally From: AndyCutler@a... </group/Autism-Mercury/post?protectID=100071080200069162050181163148114253078105139218183041>
Subject: [Autism-Mercury] Doctors
Date: 04/25/2000 12:42pm
I don't know any mercury toxic adult who got better by depending on one doctor, mainstream or alternative. All the adults I know who got better went through a lot of doctors. They all found this extremely alienating and emotionally traumatic. I doubt it will be any different for those of you who end up getting your kids well - I suspect you will go through a lot of doctors and be pretty upset about MD's in general by the time you are done. As with the adults, I expect your choice is the emotional turmoil and alienation involved in running roughshod over a bunch of doc's to get what you want, or developing a long term relationship with one or two doc's who never do get your kid well. For the most part I don't think this is the doctors' fault. They are as much victims of the system as we are. Bouncing from doc to doc just seems to be the only thing that has a hope of working - I am sure it is as tough on the doctors as it is on us.
Andy Cutler
Andy,
Speaking as a physician and a parent of an autistic son, I can tell you that it is not traumatic to the doctors at all - most of them go home to nice normal kids and never give our kids a second thought. My son's pediatrician said," I now have 20 autistic kids in my practice and I don't know what to do with any of them." He was very perturbed when I had the audacity to ask him if he had ever thought about WHY he had that many autistic kids in his practice when both of us learned in medical school that it was extremely rare and a pediatrician could finish 50 years of practice without seeing even 1 kid with autism. To be perfectly honest, the people in my med school class who went into pediatrics were not great thinkers. They were just nice guys who wanted to do something that didn't require a lot of thought.
Your comment about parents figuring out the problem when physicians should have done it 20 or 30 years ago really struck home. You are completely correct on that one. I have learned the hard way that the only physicians who really care about our kids are the ones with kids just like them at home.
BTW, add me to the list of people who have used DMSA on my child with great results. My son, Mike, was very high in lead, aluminum, and antimony, but I suspected that the real culprit was mercury. He has been on DMSA chelation - 3 day "on"/ 11 day "off" for about a year. His clinical improvements have paralleled the drop in his urine lead and mercury levels. He has gone from an essentially non-verbal 4 year-old to a very talkative (very bossy, I might add!) 5 year-old. His GI problems have completely disappeared. He is no longer pale with dark circles under his eyes. His receptive language has gone from the 5th percentile for age to the 45th percentile.
I wonder if it is too late to get a urine porphyrin test?
Another question - considering that mercury irreversibly inhibits DPP IV, if I can get all the mercury out, dare I try re-introducing gluten and casein? It would be so nice if he could go to McDonald's and get a Happy Meal like his friends do.
Just my thoughts,
Amy (formerly mainstream physician, now DAN! doctor) ----------------------------------------------------------------------
This one is a long paper that is very informative about mercury poisoning=autism. If you go to the 3 or 4th page, it starts listing autism characteristics paired beside the mercury poisoning symptoms. You can see that they are the same http://www.autism.com/ari/mercurylong.html
This is an Autism-Mercury group. It is very informative and the "FILE" section has informative papers regarding autism and mercury. Someone also compiled some success stories. People from the group compiled important information that can save you lots of time searching for information on Autism-mercury.
Good luck...and we did both ABA and floortime. I think that one on one is very good for children. Regardless of the therapy that you select, I think that is an important thing to note between all the therapies that are successful. They all have one on one with many hours of keeping the child engaged in common. (Son-rise, floortime, ABA, DTT, DTT-NET, VB) And they have all been shown to be successful. Best wishes!
Hi. My son was very high in alunimum. Was there anything else your child was high in? How were the essential elements?
If you cook with any alunimum pans - I would suggest you replace them with stainless. Alunimum pans are toxic to everyone. They produce a gas when heated. And it can and does leach into the food.
I just talked on the phone with the nurse; I haven't actually seen the report. How long have you been chelating? and how is it going? What have you been finding?
Oh my gosh no. I don't test every round. It would get way too expensive! I run urine and fecal tests about every 4 to 5 rounds.
We have gotten out alinumum since the first test and are still getting it out. Very slowly. I didn't put my son on the higher doses of the dmsa and ala. Just taking it very slow.
My son is just over 3 and has been diagnosed with PDD. We just got back the analysis of his hair sample: His aluminum and potassium levels are off the charts and he has very high levels of antimony, silver, sodium, vanadium, bismuth, manganese and zinc. His mercury and lead levels are normal.
The aluminum is frightening. I understand that a lot of PDD kids have high aluminum levels. I am going to have our water tested and make sure that we are using non-aluminum pans for cooking. I want to be aggressive with chelation too. Is DMSA the best and safest chelator for alum.? Have you heard of EDTA?
OK - so I'm a little slow with this forum stuff. I just read the string of emails between you and Stacie. Any advice you two have for us beginners is appreciated. Thanks.
My son is just over 3 and has been diagnosed with PDD. We just got back the analysis of his hair sample: His aluminum and potassium levels are off the charts and he has very high levels of antimony, silver, sodium, vanadium, bismuth, manganese and zinc. His mercury and lead levels are normal.
The aluminum is frightening. I understand that a lot of PDD kids have high aluminum levels. I am going to have our water tested and make sure that we are using non-aluminum pans for cooking. I want to be aggressive with chelation too. Have you done any research on the best and safest alum. chelator yet?
From: Moria Merriweather <moriam@e...>
Date: Thu May 3, 2001 12:10 am
Subject: Re: [Autism-Mercury] Andy's book is wonderful!!!!
Hi marib005@h..., and all,
I've been meaning to write in about Andy's book (and a lot
of other things!) I am one of those who has said it is a
bit technical/difficult. Which it is, for me (at least some
parts, which I skip every time!) HOWEVER I
was rereading some of it recently and I am now so excited about
some of the stuff that I probably didn't even notice when I
first read it---- such as:
--there is a whole section on chelation consideration in the
appendix (p 199)
--this includes some description of the molecular structure of
chelation agents (with diagrams)--- Something to do with thiol
groups. (If I read this enough times, perhaps someday it will
be meaningful to me?) "A chelating agent is something with TWO
OR MORE thiol groups in the same molecule which holds onto the
mercury more tightly than a lone thiol group."
--cute drawing of the "spikes" of chelation agent in the bloodstream
on different chelation schedules (p 201)
I swear, this is actually really interesting to me now (even
though I don't understand it). I think this is probably a
sign that I've been reading the list too long! In any case,
I've been having fun rereading and "finding" new stuff that
I didn't notice (or care about) before.
Moria
At 11:49 PM 5/2/2001 -0000, you wrote:
>Listmates,
>I recently received Andy's book and I must say it is wonderful! It
>is full of so much information. A few post I have read regarding the
>book implied that it was difficult but it isn't, it is just chock
>full of information. Anyway, great job Andy!!!!!
>
>P.S. My mom who has parkinson's was very happy to read about the
>tryptophan. It help her a great deal years ago and did not realize
>she could get it w/ a prescription.
>
I am an Oklahoma City fireman and I hope that Tuesday when Tim McVeigh's book hits the newsstands that NO ONE WILL BUY IT. This man is being given to much publicity and shows NO REMORSE for the horrible crime that he committed.
He has admitted he is guilty.
He refers to the precious 19 children he murdered as "collateral damage" and his only regret is that "their deaths proved to be a public relations nightmare that undercut his cause."
The pictures of these children and the adults will always be in our minds. One hundred and sixty-eight innocent people died that day. This man murdered them. Please do not make him some sort of hero.
He wants part of the proceeds to go to the Oklahoma City Memorial. The Oklahoma City Memorial declines the money.
Send the money to the Memorial, but PLEASE DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK....!!!!!!
Thank you....and remember the precious children who were so innocent.
Please pass this on to everyone you know so that this monster does not get any more publicity.
Paul Hinchey, Captain
Guymon Fire Dept.
Guymon, OK
I just started reading this board and have come across a few of your postings. I understand that you are also chealating yourself? I am wondering if you had any symtoms that helped you decide to chelate? I will be taking my son to see Doctor Ehldar at Tulane in New orleans on June 25th. I am interested in trying celation on everyone in my family (husband,myself,son TJ autistic, and Tori).I am only 28 years old and have been put on the following meds:anti-depressants,high blood pressure,and rapid heart beat.Just wandering if you may have had any of these problems?I would also like to know more about how the chelation is working for both you and your child.
Thank you so much,
Denise
We started chelation with DMSA on Tuesday May 22. On the 29 of May, Logan did some imaginary play by putting beads around his neck and twirling them. He said "Daddeee" several times, though we don't think it was directed AT daddy. AND he was studying the keys on this keyboard for a long time, it was the first time he'd noticed them. Yesturday he was saying "oh baby" over and over while jumping on his bed. And when it was bath time and daddy was trying to get him in, he refused. When daddy asked why, he took his hand to the epsom salt that he had just put in the water, as if to say "THAT'S why". He doesn't like the gritty feel of it in his bath. I just had to share with you. I hope this kind of progress continues. We haven't even started the second round!!
You will probably be able to confirm all of these things with round 2. I know we did. I have heard that some children show major regression but my son never regressed while doing the round. He tended to loose a little ground when he neared the start of the next round. Almost as if the chelation were wearing off or the mercury was being released from the cells back into the system or something like that. Now he doesn't do that so we are about to add ALA. I am a bit nervous about it because I have been told this will definitely cause regression and more stimming. Not looking forward to it at all. Keep us posted on the progress.
the first couple of rounds. And a fever during the first round. I am not sure what the signifigance of this is - but I didn't treat with any medication. I did get to teach him how to blow his nose! I did use a warm wet washcloth across his nose. The heat helps get that stuff moving. He was fine.
The new DAN protocol says that if the gut isn't treated before or at the same time as chelation, then if your child has Candida, like many of the kids, then the chelation products will flare it up and it may even "mask" his progress, in a sense.
What strikes me about your son's nasal congestion is that a friend of mine has had sinus problems for two years now. And she has tried everything. I've been reading up on Candida and all the negative effects it can have with autism (destructive behavior, aggression, hyperactivity, etc.) and I came across something about sinuses and Candida. I sent it to her and she is treating herself for it now because it sounded so much like her situation.
Luckily, my son did not have regression in behavior or any form of regression . He is just congested and can't sleep because his nose is stuffed up. He has been cranky from lack of sleep (and so have I)! I am sure it is from the DMSA. I have read many other posts about congestion from first round of DMSA. I will not do another round until he clears up. I hope that it will not be too long. BTW, I am giving him probiotics, acidophilous, and other form of gut treatments. Vicky
Does it have anything to do with the chelation? He was vitamin and mineral deficient before chelation, and so we are upping the amount of supplements on the off days, but we may need to go in for an IV. Anyway, I was wondering if eating a lot more was a result of the chelation.
has been eating a lot more. Not a larger variety but definately more volume! Maybe it is because their bodies are beginning to heal! One can hope!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have heard many parents comment on the fact that their child's appetite improves with chelation. I know my son wants to try new foods, too. This is something else that seems to be pretty common. Now I have to watch him because he will try to sneak a roll off his sister's plate. Before he would have never tried this. Was very very limited with his diet and has been GFCF for 1 1/2 years fairly easy because he didn't want anything other than what he was used to. LOL I have to laugh because before chelation he never noticed that his sister even had a plate much less what was on it.
I know. When people ask if we all have to be on the diet, I just...
by
explain that we can eat whatever we want AS LONG AS it isn't something Logan used to like that he can't have now, like pizza. No more pizza deliveries! But Logan never liked ice cream, so we just eat it in front of him. If what you're saying happens is going to happen to us, we are in BIG trouble!
If your child has indications of mercury , does everyone believe that you HAVE to chelate?
by Judy
I'm just looking for opinions because I'm getting nervous about starting soon. Guess I need some encouragement or someone to confirm that you HAVE to get the mercury out. Thanks!
I would prefer to call what I experienced panic - on the verge of full fledged terror.
I sat up all night long waiting for my baby to have a seizure or throw up or something. I mean after my confidence has been totally shattered by the so called physicians who made him this way (and I am totally convinced of that) it was very hard to trust another doctor telling me that this is unexplored territory but must be done to rid the mercury.
Well...He didn't have a seizure. He slept like a hibernating bear all through the night and each night throughout the entire round. Me on the other hand, I was exhausted from no sleep and chasing his well rested body the next day.
It is a very scary thing to decide to take on. This chelation therapy, I mean. But the only regret I can say that I have is that I didn't do it sooner. My son has made such huge strides since beginning chelation that I can't believe I had doubts almost to the point of not doing it at all. But I did. And I know how nervous you must be. It's only because you are a good mother and you love your child and you won't let anyone ever hurt him ever again. Right? I thought so.
As far as the mercury staying where it's at...It continues to wreak havoc on the entire system. It doesn't lose it's strength. If anything it snowballs. It tends to pick on each organ creating just enough chaos to cause everything else to be totally out of whack. Our bodies are miraculous creations. Each organ depends on another organ to do it's job. For instance, if the digestive tract doesn't absorb correctly then the blood does not have the proper nutrition to disperse to the cells. Then the cells aren't able to regenerate. Say the liver cells can't replace themselves, this will overload the whole detoxification of the body. This may overburden the kidneys. Now they are unable to play their part. Eventually everything is struggling just to stay alive. Forget language and socialization. Our kids are struggling just to function in a world they don't understand because their little brains were never allowed to develop properly. Maybe it was because the brain was bombarded by toxins or mercury or both. Maybe it just didn't receive the proper nutrients. I don't know. That's one I'll leave up to the scientist.
This will be a decision you will make on your own. There are risks. They are minimal from what I am told. And less than that compared to the damage mercury can do. Just keep in mind that proper supplementation must be maintained. That is very important. Testing is essential to track the system needs. And should you decide to take it on we will be here to help any way we can. We aren't experts, just good moms like you.
I needed all this encouragement. I will see the dr Wednesday. Is anyone using Chemet and is it gfcf? I was going to ask for this so my insurance would at least cover the medicine. I hope to start on June 9th. Did you see frequent urination during chelation? He will still have school on the 11th (last day)and I don't want any problems there. But I don't want to wait any longer!! Thanks for just the nudge I needed! All your experiences help so much. Hopefully I can add mine SOON.
Yes, it is recommended that DMSA be given at equal intervals throughout the day. If you are giving 3 doses per day then you will need to stick as close to the 8 hour schedule as possible. This allows the DMSA to pull at a consecutive rate. Some argue that the half life of DMSA is 4 hours so that leaves mercury to settle back into the cells before another dose is given. Everyone seems to have their own theory. I say nobody knows your child like you do. So watch closely, take notes and make necessary adjustments accordingly. I don't think any two people are following the exact same protocol with identical supplementation. Our children are each unique in his/her own way. This holds true even when therapies and treatments are to be considered. What one child may respond to with favorable results the next child may experience a bad reaction. I am sure you will make all the best choices any good mother would make. I mean you must be a really good mom or you would not have persevered to this extent, huh?
I had a feeling it should probably be given at equal intervals, but my husband thought if it was true, the Dr. would have specified. I'm going to call the Dr. today and ask about the 4 hour lifespan. Thanks a bunch for your help.
My 3 year old son is currently going through chelation for mercury and his DAN doctor also instructed me to administer DMSA (100 mg)3x daily on days 1-3 of the 14 day cycle. I also read somewhere about the spacing dosing at 4 hour intervals and was doing so but my son seemed to be sleeping a lot. I questioned his doctor who said that 4 hour dosing schedule should not be followed. He advised that DMSA should be given at breakfast, again in the afternoon and then at bedtime. The DAN protocol called for the same amount of DMSA over the course of one day but at 150mg, 2x 8 hours apart. Otherwise if I followed the 4 hour dosing schedule, my son would have been getting 300mg/day in a 12 hour period. The DAN protocol called for 300mg/day in a 16 hour period. Indeed, you most definitely know your child best. However, DMSA can have serious consequences and I would follow your doctor's instructions on administration of it or question your doctor if you have further concerns.
We saw results after 2 rounds. But she said not to expect major gains until after 8 rounds. I think she was doing her own little "study" to see if improvements were consistent in the other children she treats. I kinda felt like she may have wanted us to not expect something right away so that the sudden improvements would be irrefutable...Do I make sense here? And as far as chelating myself, I felt better immediately.
the 3 days on are what I would consider "the round". So when my son finishes his 3 days on I say he has completed another round regardless of whether the off time (11 days) has lapsed. Some do 4 days on, 4 days off. That is considered a "round" for them. You will hear of many different protocols and schedules. But most all consider one complete cycle a "round". Sounds as if we are doing the same schedule. 3/11 is usually preferred by Dr. Amy. Are you using her also?
There is a great place here in Oklahoma called Infusion Specialists. It is run by Debra Wootan. It's the same place I get all of Logan's testing done and where we've tried everything from secretin to DNZ. They sort of specialize in this field. I'm lucky to have found them and I'm surprised they're here at all. It's hard to find open minded people here. Were do you live?
that you found someone to listen and chelate a child. Here in south Alabama I found some that would do chelation but not on a child. My son turned 3 in April. He was around 2.6 when I started looking for a doctor. I also searched the whole state, the panhandle of Florida, Mississippi and Georgia. Dr. Edelson is in Georgia but geez, who can afford him? So we make the drive to see Dr. Holmes. And I have never regretted it once.
I had heard of Pink disease but never knew what it was or how it manifested itself. If you didn't check out the survey portion of the website you must go back and do so. The questions sent chills up my spine. They certainly have it pegged. No doubt. Especially the section on stress, I believe it was section L or M.
I just got my sons hair results back and his level of Bismuth was off the charts. I've done some research on what it is used in and he doesn't use any of the products. I'm at a loss. Has anyone else had these results?
Antimony was a little on the high side(.035). Bismuth was 0.6926. All of his nutrients were low except for Molybdenum(0.063), Selenium(0.94), and Sulfur, which was high at 53,599. If you would like me to list all his results, let me know.
analasis, but I'm not sure what the reference range is. There is a part on here under "Ratio" that has something like that so I'll put that down and maybe you'll understand it.
to get back with you. It's been a rather hectic week at work and home.
Anyway, I really like how you can access lab reports at this site. That is cool.
Do you have a password? I can't gain access without it. Sorry. I've posted the "Counting Rules". Maybe they will help you.
"The Counting Rules"
Written by Andy Cutler
INTRODUCTION: WHY HAVE "COUNTING RULES"
Mercury is taken up by the body tissues and held for longer or shorter times. The blood holds on to it for a few months, the brain forever, and the rest of the tissues are in between.
Thus in chronic poisoning, or long after an exposure (such as from vaccines) some tissues have very little mercury in them. Other tissues may still have plenty and be well poisoned.
Unfortunately, most medical tests sample tissues that don't hold on to mercury very long. Because of this, measuring mercury in blood, urine, hair or feces is often not helpful in determining whether a person is poisoned.
The way to tell if a person is poisoned when mercury doesn't show up in the readily accessible things people will let the doc have some of is to test those accessible tissues for the biochemical abberations mercury causes. Since mercury impairs mineral transport, examining hair for the level of many essential elements lets us determine if mercury has left its signature in the hair's biochemistry even if the mercury itself doesn't show up.
ABOUT TEST RESULTS, IN GENERAL
Medical laboratory tests are standardized by testing a bunch of normal, healthy people and determining "normal ranges" where 1 person in 40, on average, is above them and 1 in 40 below, for a total of 2 in 40 or 1 in 20 who do not fall "within normal limits."
Of course, with this statistical definition, this means that if you do eight gazillion tests in some mondo test panel, some of them are expected to randomly be out of range. The Doctor's Data hair element analysis is in effect one of those mondo test panels, like a "chem 25" blood test panel. While it is extremely difficult to go look at the myriad interrelationships of all the things on these panels (and in practice nobody does it), it is possible to use statistical methods to turn the whole panel into "one test" that is either "within normal limits" or "abnormal." I have done this and generated the following rules to interpret the DDI "essential and other" elements portion of their test which includes 23 elements. For tests including a number of elements different than 23, the rules have to be rederived.
HOW TO READ A HAIR TEST FROM DDI
If any of the following rules are met, the test is "abnormal" for mineral transport and suggests heavy metal toxicity. These rules are ONLY for the Doctor's Data test - tests by other companies need different rules. I highly recommend using the DDI test.
Count the number of results that are above "average," that is above the 50th percentile line in the middle of the page and the bar extends to the right instead of to the left.
Count the number of results that are all the way to either edge of the page, "very elevated" or "very low."
Count the number of results that are in the middle band of the page, with a short bar, and are neither "elevated" nor "low."
The result is abnormal and suggests heavy metal intoxication if any of the following criteria are met:
The number of essential elements "very elevated" and "very low" is 4 or more.
The number of essential elements entirely inside the middle band is 14 or less.
The number of essential elements above average is EITHER 5 or less OR it is 18 or more.
If any ONE of these criteria is met, the test result is abnormal.
If any one (or more) of these criteria are met, there is a 1 in 44 chance that it happened randomly and a 43 in 44 chance that something is wrong. Of course, the chances that it is random diminish rapidly as the deviation departs from the minimum listed number, just as the chance that a result on a blood test, say for the liver enzyme ALT means something if it is 300 points above normal instead of 3 points above normal. (since you can't count, say, 5 and a half tests out of 23 doing it this way I couldn't make it exactly 1 in 40 so I made it as close as I could).
ADDITIONAL PATTERNS WHICH ARE CHARACTERISTIC OF MERCURY TOXICITY
There are some characteristic nonstatistical findings, too, in mercury toxic people that I thought I would mention. These are probably caused by more heavy metals than just mercury, but are NOT caused by COPPER toxicity - copper toxic people with nothing else going on have very normal looking hair analyses except for very elevated copper. Not everyone has these but they are reasonably common:
Typically, the calcium is vastly elevated. Usually the lithium is very low, too.
Sometimes there is a really characteristic pattern of Ca and Mg very high with Na and K very low. This isn't present in many cases but is common enough to mention since it is strongly diagnostic.
The most important finding is a bit difficult to describe, but if you look at the hair analyses of some "normal" people it is quite obvious by eye - mercury toxic people have their essential elements much more scattered than well people. Lots of highs and lows.
HOW TO READ A HAIR TEST FROM GREAT SMOKIES
The GSDL hair element analysis is interpreted by counting the number of "abnormal" highs and lows (way at the edges of the little bell curves on the test result sheet) for the nutrient elements + the additional elements. This gives 21 elements considered.
The number of results above "average" is also counted by drawing a line down the middle of the column with a ruler since there is no appropriate marking on the page. Do this carefully.
If the number of abnormal highs plus abnormal lows is 3 or more the test result is overall abnormal for mineral transport (and positive for mercury or other poisoning).
If the number of elements that are above average (above the line you drew down the middle) is not between 6 and 15 (that is, if it is either less than 6 or greater than 15) then the test result is overall abnormal for mineral transport (and positive for mercury or other poisoning).
This information is provided so you can interpret the GSDL hair test if you happened to get one. If you are considering getting a test the Doctor's Data test is presented in such a way that it is more useful, and it is also less expensive. Thus the DDI test is a better choice if you are offered one. But if you already had the test, or don't have a choice this is how to interpret the GSDL hair elements test.
APPENDIX
For those who like numbers and equations, the way I did this is pretty simple.
The probability of a given number of event "A" and event "B" where "B" is "not A" out of n tries is:
Pa ^ Na * Pb ^ Nb * 23CNb
(23CNa = 23CNb since Na + Nb = 23)
where Na is the number of events A and Nb is the number of events B, and Pa and Pb are the probabilities of events A and B. Pa + Pb = 1.
So I could calculate this for all Na and sum the probabilities up from, say, zero to some number. What I did was calculate probabilities and add them up so the total probability of satisfying the counting rules given above is 0.023 (2.3%) and all the the 3 different things I check have similar probabilities of occurrence.
The probability, Pa, of something being "very elevated" or "very low" is defined by the "normal limits" of a medical test as 0.05.
The probability, Pa, of something being within one standard deviation of average (in the middle band on the DDI test report) is defined by statistics as 2/3.
The probability, Pa, of something being greater than average, is of course 0.5 or 50%.
Yes, my son's was off the charts as well. The only thing I could come up with is that my make-up has bismuth in it. I wore it while I was pregnant with Noah and I continued until about 2-weeks ago. That is when I realized it was in my make-up. I think maybe it is absorbed through the skin. Noah is always climbing on me and puts his face on my face when I hold him while he is watching videos or playing the computer. I hope this may help. Let me know what you come up with.
Laura
I never even thought about what I might be getting into. I rarely wear makeup though, but Logan does rub on peoples faces a lot and his teachers might be the source. I see the Dr. again tomorrow and plan on asking her about it. Thanks!!
Wow - this sounds somewhat similar to my son. He is just over 3 and was diagnosed with PDD about 1 1/2 yrs ago. We just got back the analysis of his hair sample: His aluminum and potassium levels are off the charts and he has very high levels of antimony, silver, sodium, vanadium, bismuth, manganese and zinc. His mercury and lead levels are normal.
We are looking into chelation now. Any thoughts. Thanks.
Talks about mercury and toxicity. The x-ray of the guy who intentionally swallowed the mercury ...you've got to see. I was wondering if this could be picked up by an MRI. Say like of the brain???
but I did have some problems with it. They again stated that amalgams have not been known to cause problems - well that's um (ya'll know the word!).
As for the MRI, since mercury is a metal, you would think that it would be seen. I have heard of children with Autism having an MRI and something showed on the scan - could it be?
Here's what I find interesting if you will tolerate my rambling for a few minutes...
Cody's MRI showed flow voids in the basilar and both carotid arteries of the brain. After much research I discovered this is mostly due to calcium deposits, usually found in elderly individuals. Now...
How did he get calcium buildup in his 2yo brain so badly that it causes lack of blood flow? Hmmmm - Further research reveals this...
>Heavy metals can also increase the acidity of the blood. The body draws calcium from the bones to help restore the proper blood pH. Further, toxic metals set up conditions that lead to inflammation in arteries and tissues, causing more calcium to be drawn to the area as a buffer. The calcium coats the inflamed areas in the blood vessels like a bandage, patching up one problem but creating another, namely the hardening of the artery walls and progressive blockage of the arteries. Without replenishment of calcium, the constant removal of this important mineral from the bones will result in osteoporosis (loss of bone density leading to brittle bones). <
I am sure there are more scientific studies detailing the effects of heavy metal on the processing of essential minerals (calcium, zinc, magnesium, etc.). But this one seems to explain it in a language that I understand. I have read on the A-M list several threads about how mercury dramatically affects the calcium and I feel that I have proof positive with Cody's MRI.
On a side note...
I had to be very, very sneaky to even get a copy of the results of his MRI. They never mentioned it or tried to explain the flow voids to me...but then again we parents are so ignorant, why should they waste their precious time? Makes me want to go back to school, work hard, become the surgeon general and fire their asses.
Is that even possible? LOL Well it felt good anyway. Aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh.
Thank you for sharing all this information. I'll have to read it about 3 more times. (lol) But I am interested in knowing if it picks up mercury. I don't see why it wouldn't after that one article. Also, X-rays pick up batteries and mercury is in them, right? I find this fascinating.
It's my understanding that chelation will help solve this problem as many adults use chelation to treat calcified plaque/heart disease. Or at least that's a conclusion I came to through my own research. When we first began chelation the warning was given that seizures may occur if too much calcium was displaced inside the brain during the initial rounds. (This reaction has never been documented but it is theoretically possible.) So DMSA must affect calcium to some degree. I have tried to console myself with the idea that since many use chelation for arterial plaque then surely it will displace some of the calcium causing the lack of blood flow in my baby's brain. That's not an educated theory either. Just my own thoughts. In other words I don't have a degree to back that up...yet. Tee-Hee
THE AUTISM RESEARCH INSTITUTE "Research That Makes a Difference"
The Autism Research Institute (ARI) has been in the forefront of research on the causes and treatment of autism since its founding in 1967. In that era, autism was considered to be a psychological disorder caused by the mother's emotional rejection of the child. Bernard Rimland, Ph.D., the founder of the ARI (as well as the founder of the Autism Society of America), is credited with destroying the "blame the mother" theory and setting autism research on its present course of seeking answers in the biomedical domain.
The ARI's Defeat Autism Now! (DAN!) project, initiated in 1995, is ARI's response to the abysmally slow rate of progress in autism research. ARI has enlisted a consortium of cutting-edge scientists and physicians from around the world to seek answers at an accelerated pace. The Mercury Detoxification Position Paper is one of many ARI/DAN! initiatives directed toward defeating autism as quickly as possible.
ARI depends upon the generosity of concerned individuals and organizations. Your help will speed the day when the horror of autism fades into history.
All donations are tax-deductible and are acknowledged.
ARI is a 501(c)(3) organization. Federal ID No. 95-2548452.
Autism Research Institute - 4182 Adams Ave., San Diego, CA 92116 - www. autismresearchinstitute.com Fax: 619-563-6840
TI& project was supported in part by a grant from: Kirkman Laboratories 1-888-KIRKMAN www.ldrkmaniabs.com "A Full Line of Products for the Autistic Child"
7....... Position Paper on Mercury Detoxification
~
TABLE OF CONTENTS
3....... Backgromd and Introduction
18 ...... Appendix A: Detoxification Regirnen
20 ...... Appendix B: Treating Gut Dysbiosis
22 ...... References
25 ...... Follow-Up Research: Treatment Evaluation Form
THE AUTISM RESEARCH INSTITUTE "Research That Makes a Difference"
The Autism Research Institute (ARI) has been in the forefront of research on the causes and treatment of autism since its founding in 1967. In that era, autism was considered to be a psychological disorder caused by the mother's emotional rejection of the child. Bernard Rimland, Ph.D., the founder of the ARI (as well as the founder of the Autism Society of America), is credited with destroying the "blame the mother" theory and setting autism research on its present course of seeking answers in the biomedical domain.
The ARI's Defeat Autism Now! (DAN!) project, initiated in 1995, is ARI's response to the abysmally slow rate of progress in autism research. ARI has enlisted a consortium of cutting-edge scientists and physicians from around the world to seek answers at an accelerated pace. The Mercury Detoxification Position Paper is one of many ARI/DAN! initiatives directed toward defeating autism as quickly as possible.
ARI depends upon the generosity of concerned individuals and organizations. Your help will speed the day when the horror of autism fades into history.
All donations are tax-deductible and are acknowledged.
ARI is a 501(c)(3) organization. Federal ID No. 95-2548452.
Autism Research Institute - 4182 Adams Ave., San Diego, CA 92116 - www. autismresearchinstitute.COM Fax: 619-563-6840
General Disclaimer
This monograph is not intended as medical advice. Its intention is solely informational and educational. Please consult a qualified medical or health professional if you wish to pursue the ideas presented.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in this monograph is a complete and accurate representation of a consensus opinion of the listed contributors. However, neither the authors, contributors not the sponsoring organization, The Autism Research Institute, is engaged in rendering professional advice or services to the individual reader. The ideas, procedures and suggestions contained in this monograph are not intended as a substitute for consulting with your physician and obtaining medical supervision as to any activity, procedure or suggestion that might affect your health. Neither the authors, nor contributors, nor the sponsoring organization shall be liable or responsible for any loss, injury or damage allegedly arising from any information or suggestion in this monograph.
-The Consensus Position Paper-
This consensus position paper represents the current views of the undersigned physicians and research scientists. The consensus process was initiated at a conference convened for this purpose by the Autism Research Institute on February 9-11, 2001 in Dallas, Texas. The participants continued their discussions by telephone, fax, e-rnail and, in some cases, in-person discussions. The final version was approved on April 20, 2001. James R. Laidler, M.D. guided the consensus through nine vigorously debated drafts with exemplary patience, skill and tact.
No one is more aware than the undersigned that this document represents merely a beginning step in our long-term efforts to solve an exceedingly difficult problem. We have much to learn.
Sidney M. Baker, M.D. Weston, Connecticut
Teresa C. Binstock Estes Park, Colorado
Kenneth Bock, M.D. Rhinebeck, New York
Marvin Boris, M.D. (a) Woodbury, New York
Jeff Bradstreet, M.D. Palm Bearh, Florida
Stephanie Cave, M.D. Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Stephen M. Edelson, Ph.D. Salem, Oregon
Jane El-Dahr, M.D. New Orleans, Louisiana
~
Carol Englender, M.D. Newton Highlands, Massachusetts
Frank George, M.D. Sun City, Arizona
John Green, M.D. Canby, Oregon
Boyd E. Haley, Ph.D. Lexington, Kentucky
Stephanie Hoener, N.D. (a) Palm Bay, Florida
Amy Holmes, M.D. Baton Rouge, Louisiana
John Kucera, M.D. Colorado Springs, Colorado
James R. Laidler, M.D. Portland, Oregon
Michael Lyon, M.D. (a) Vancouver Island, Canada
Maureen H. McDonnell, R.N. (b) Pennington, New Jersey
a: Not present at Dallas conference
b: Conference coordinator
Background and Introduction to the Position Paper of the Consensus Conference On The Mercury Detoxification of Autistic Children
Bernard Riniland, Ph.D., Director Autism Research Institute
An enormous, alarming, and unexplained increase in the prevalence of autism is being reported, on an almost daily basis, in the U.S., the U.K., and elsewhere. California maintains what is probably the world's best and most systematic database on autism and other developmental disabilities. In California the reported increase in the prevalence of autism over a 20-year period is over one thousand percent. Similar enormous increases have been reported from studies in New Jersey and elsewhere in the U.S., in the U.K., in the Middle East, and in Asia.
While the reality of the increase is beyond doubt, there is great controversy over the cause. Many experts believe the primary cause is the increase in the number of vaccines given to children from birth to age two, which has risen from 8 in 1980 to 22 in the year 2001.
The increased number of vaccines has brought with it an increased exposure of young infants to mercury intoxication. The preservative thimerosal, which is used in many vaccines, consists of approximately 50% mercury. In 1998 the Food and Drug Administration requested the vaccine manufacturers to begin the process of removing thimerosal from the vaccines. Thimerosal- containing vaccines are still being used in 2001.
Mercury is highly toxic in even very small doses, and some individuals are exquisitely sensitive to mercury. Some infants have been given, in one day, as much as 100 times the maximum dosage of mercury permitted by the Environmental Protection Agency's standards, based on the weight of an adult. An infant's system is much less capable of dealing with toxins than an adult's.
During the late 1960s, my then graduate,-student assistant, Dale Meyer, became interested in the fact that mercury poisoning mimicked many of the symptoms of autism. She wrote a research paper on the subject which is no doubt still somewhere in my files. She wrote that acrodynia and pink disease were puzzling ailments which caused numerous symptoms, including those of autism, that had baffled medical investigators for many decades, until the cause, mercury in teething lotions and diaper powders, was discovered. "Interesting," I remember thinking. "Another mystery solved. But only of historical interest." How wrong I was!
I had assumed, very naively as it turned out, that the FDA and the drug manufacturers would thenceforth scrupulously avoid using mercury. I was aware that minute amounts of mercury, along with other toxins, such as aluminum and formaldehyde, were used as preservatives in vaccines, but, after all, I assumed, since everyone now knew that these substances are extremely toxic, those highly sophisticated vaccine-makers would not possibly use amounts which even approach dangerous levels. Bad guess!
In early 2000, parent Sallie Bernard and several other concerned and inquisitive parents began looking into the mercury issue. They learned that thimerosal was used in most vaccines at levels that greatly exceeded the upper limits decreed safe by the US Environmental Protection Agency
In her testimony before the US House of Representatives in July, 2000, Sallie, the primary author of the report, testified: "The symptoms which are diagnostic of or strongly associated with autism itself are found to arise from mercury exposure, as described in available literature on past cases of mercury poisoning."
"These similarities," she testified, "include the defining characteristics of autism - and they include traits strongly associated with autism and found in nearly all cases of the disorder - sensory disturbances such as numbness in the extremities and mouth, aversion to touch, and unusual response to noise; movement disorders like toe-walking, hand flapping, clumsiness, and choreiform movements; and cognitive impairments in specific domains like short-term, verbal and auditory memory and in understanding abstract ideas." In addition, she noted, mercury poisoning can cause many of the same biological abnormalities as are seen in autism, including immune system dysfunction and anomalies in the cerebellum, amygdala, and hippocampus.
Bernard noted that the growing prevalence rate of autism closely matches the introduction and spread of thimerosal-containing vaccines and that autistic symptoms generally emerge at the time the child is given these vaccines. She added "Our group has also documented a number of cases of autistic children with toxic levels of mercury in hair, urine and blood." In addition, she noted, mercury is more toxic to males than to females, and the male-to-female ratio in autism is 4 to 1.
Noting that low doses of mercury tend to harm genetically susceptible individuals, Bernard pointed out that "autism has been recognized as one of the most heritable of all neurological disorders and is strongly associated with familial autoimmune disorders."
Bernard and her colleagues called for an immediate ban on thimerosal-containing childhood vaccines.
In October 2000 1 attended a meeting called by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, on the possible role of mercury in the causation of autism. The meeting was attended by a number of physicians and scientists. One of the physicians, Dr. Stephanie Cave of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, told the group that in her experience over a number of years in treating over 400 autistic children with various modalities, she had found no modality which was more effective in a great many autistic children than mercury detoxification. Other physicians who also had experience with mercury detoxification in autistic children, including several who were themselves parents of autistic children, strongly supported Dr. Cave's remarks.
I was very much aware that there was a great deal of disagreement among physicians as to the most appropriate procedures for mercury detoxification and decided that it would be highly desirable to call a consensus conference - a think tank - of experienced physicians and scientists to review the available evidence and come up with a position paper presenting the safest and most effective methods of treating autistic children for mercury intoxication.
A few weeks later, while attending an autism conference in Portland, Oregon, I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Jim Laidler, the father of two autistic boys, both of whom he had treated for mercury toxicity, with excellent results. I learned that Jim had maintained a strong interest in metal toxicity ever since his college-student days, and had continued to study the subject during his medical training. I also learned that he was writing a paper on mercury detoxification, and already had read over 700 articles!
I asked if he would be willing to help coordinate the writing of our position paper for the Consensus Conference on the Detoxification of Autistic Children, and he agreed. In the following pages you will see the fruits of his highly competent and diligent efforts.
The Autism Research Institute convened a weekend Consensus Conference on the Detoxification of Autistic Children in Dallas, Texas in February, 2001. The attendees were 25 carefully selected physicians and scientists knowledgeable about mercury and mercury detoxification. The 15 physicians present included 7 who were parents of autistic children and who had detoxified their own children with good results. The physician attendees present had treated well over 3,000 patients for heavy metal poisoning, about 1,500 of them being autistic children. The chemists, toxicologists and other scientists present had a combined total of almost 90 years of experience in research on the toxicology of mercury.
The purpose of the meeting was to arrive at a consensus document that would delineate the safest and most effective methods of detoxifying autistic children. Nine candidate detoxification protocols, including five submitted by non-attendees, were considered in detail by the conferees.
The meeting was an outstanding success. Despite my initial concern that the various areas of disagreement would prove divisive, the participants discussed the controversial issues harmoniously and agreed that it would be feasible to arrive at the consensus position that was hoped for.
During the next six weeks Jim Laidler and the other participants were deluged with e-mails, faxes and phone calls as the conferees discussed, rediscussed, thrashed out, modified, reviewed and revised each and every aspect of the proposed position paper. Finally, the last details were agreed upon - with the clear understanding on everyone's part that there is much more to be learned.
Jim Laidler has done a marvelous job of coordinating and organizing the disparate ideas and points of information provided by the various contributors.
It is a tribute to Jim Laidler's skill, as well as to the reasonable open-mindedness of the other conferees, that only two of the attendees demurred from signing the report. One of those who demurred was a chemist, a world-authority on mercury poisoning, who did not sign the Consensus Report because he felt that as a chemist he should not be commenting on the most appropriate ways of dealing with patients. However, he wrote, "I was very impressed with the people I met at the Dallas meeting. I learned a great deal. If I had an autistic child, I would rush him or her to the physicians I met in Dallas."
The other attendee who demurred was also a chemist, but his reason was quite different. He sees the problem in a different light than everyone else, and is working on a new and innovative approach toward solving it. I have a great deal of respect for this scientist, and am looking forward, with great anticipation, to learning more about his new ideas and procedures, when he is ready to share them with us. Albert Szent-Gyorgy once said, "Genius is the ability to look at what others have looked at, and see what they have not seen." When our chemist friend is ready to make his ideas public, we will present them in the Autism Research Review International. He just may be right. I hope so!
I should mention several topics, discussed at the Dallas conference and in subsequent communications, that did not reach consensus status but nevertheless commanded a significant
degree of attention and support. These topics, which will be raised again at future consensus meetings, include:
the use of intravenous vitamin C as a detoxicant
improving pancreatic function through the use of secretin and by normalizing body acidity with weak acids such as lemon juice or vinegar finding ways of using DMPS more safely
causing transdermat excretion of toxins by saunas or epson salt baths
Any clinician with data or experience to share on these or related topics is encouraged to communicate with us.
In the meantime, however, I am confident that the document on the following pages, even though it is best described as still a "working paper," provides the best information available at the present time.
As the parent of an autistic adult son, and as a worker in the field of autism research for over 40 years, I feel privileged to have been a part of the Consensus Committee that produced the following "Position Paper on the Detoxification of Autistic Children."
MERCURY DETOXIFICATION OF AUTISTIC CHILDREN: CONSENSUS POSITION PAPER
James R. Laidler, M.D.
Purpose
A few years ago, several people began to explore the possibility that at least some of the children with autism are manifesting a type of mercury poisoning. A landmark monograph written by Sallie Bernard, Albert Enayati, B.S, Ch.E, M.S.M.E., Heidi Roger, Theresa Binstock, Lyn Redwood, R.N, M.S.N, C.R.N.P., and Woody McGinnis, M.D. served as a call to action. Acting on this theory, several practitioners began treating autistic patients with'a variety of detoxifying regimens to remove the mercury and try to reverse the damage. Although no outcome studies have yet been published, the clinical experience of a number of practitioners has been extremely encouraging.
Unfortunately, there are more autistic children who might benefit from this therapy than any of the practitioners currently engaged in mercury detoxification therapy could treat in their lifetim
Moria
Tee-Hee