Today, most people believe Autism Spectrum Disorder is a genetic brain disorder. Well, this could be partially true but not completely! Every child with autism has unique causes and triggers. It is not usually one thing but a collection of toxins and deficiencies piled on susceptible genetics that leads to a series of autistic symptoms in these children. Because every child in the spectrum is different, I do not focus on the diagnosis but on the biochemical and physiological abnormalities in each individual.
Step 1: Discover the Root Cause
You might probably be searching for "natural remedies for autism", "supplements for autism" or "holistic approach to autism" on Google before reading this blog. Most of us search for articles and reviews to find out what's working or not, which is great to help filter all the poor-quality products. When it comes to treatments for your child with autism, what's best before clicking the "Buy Now" button is asking if this would be suitable for your child. As parents, we would sacrifice our time and money to find the best treatment for our kids because we love them. However, we are also human and we would get exhausted and heartbreaking after all these failed trials. Your child is unique and special, and learning what's best specifically for your child is so important. This is why the first step to take is to discover the root cause but not focus on the diagnosis - Autism.
What are the common factors associated with Autism?
Heavy Metals
Food Sensitivity
Gut Microbiome Imbalances
Overgrowth Of Bacteria, Yeast, and Fungal
Mold Toxicity
Nutritional Deficiency
Mitochondria Dysfunction
Impaired Methylation Pathway
Autoimmunity
Oxidative Stress
Step 2: Identify the Abnormal Biomarkers
Functional lab tests help to identify the root cause and triggers of the symptoms. It is also an important step to take to assist in creating a personalized treatment protocol.
Imagine cutting off all the dairy (common trigger) in your child's diet and giving oat milk as an alternative for a long period of time without noticing your child could be fine with the dairy but sensitive to the oat milk.
Imagine giving your child B12 supplements daily but not realizing your child's methylation pathway is impaired and cannot absorb the B12 supplement.
Functional lab tests would be helpful in pinpointing specific problem areas and eliminating all unnecessary treatment trials.
What are the common functional lab tests?
Heavy Metals Testing
Food Sensitivity Testing (IgG/IgA)
Organic Acid Test (OAT)
Comprehensive Stool Analysis
Micronutrient Panel
MycoTOX
DNA Methylation Pathway
Wheat Zoomer
Neurotransmitter Panel
GPL-TOX
Glyphosate Test
Step 3: Clean Out Toxins and Eliminate Triggers
Based on the abnormal findings on the functional lab tests, you clean out the excess toxins in your child's body and eliminate the food items that your child is sensitive to. Removing the toxin load is a crucial step to take before implementing good nutrients into the body. Without removing toxins, your child's methylation pathway, detoxification system, immune system, digestion system, etc. may not work properly and the nutrients entering the body may not be absorbed.
What are the common toxins in the body?
Bacteria
Yeast, and fungal, esp mold and candida
Parasites
Heavy metals, such as lead and mercury
Glyphosate
Non-metal chemicals, such as phthalates, benzene
What you can do to help your child remove toxins?
Epsom salt bath
Identify and kill the mold in the house
Avoid processed food, artificial sweetener, and sugary food in your child's diet
Use non-toxic house cleaning products
Use a water filter system
Replace plastic food containers with glass, silicon, or stainless steel
In my practice, I use different modalities to help children remove toxins in their bodies, this includes antimicrobial/antifungal herbal formulas, binders, chelation, dietary recommendation, IV therapy, ozone therapy, etc.
Step 4: Replace the Missing Nutrients
When the toxin load is reduced, the body is able to function more properly. This is the time when you can start replenishing missing nutrients.
What are the common nutritional deficiencies in children with ASD?
Vitamin D
Vitamin B (esp B6, folate, and B12)
Zinc
Magnesium
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Step 5: Detoxification and Repair Body System
Once the toxins are removed and foundational nutrients are replenished, we can start on detoxification and repairment of the body system.
Aren't detoxification and removing toxins the same thing? Not really! Removing toxins from the body could be part of the detoxification process. However, with loads of toxins in the body, the detoxification system could be impaired. Therefore, when we were talking about removing toxins we focus more on external support. And here, we focus on supporting the body's detoxification system to function properly and capable of reducing oxidative stress.
How to support the detoxification system?
Support the liver
Reduce inflammation
Heal the gut
Improve nutrients
What you can do to support your child's detoxification system?
Make sure your child eats a healthy balanced diet
Juicing (Ingredients suggestions: Apple, ginger, turmeric, kales, celery, lemon, cucumber)
Let your child spend more time playing outside during daytime
Develop a regular bedtime routine
What are the common supplements to support detoxification and repair the body system?
Antioxidants (eg. glutathione)
Liver support herbs (eg. milk thistle)
Anti-inflammatory (eg. curcumin)
Probiotics
Amino acids (eg. L-glutamine)
Alpha Care Program
AlphaPed offers a care program designed for children with autistic or other behavioral symptoms. Our naturopathic doctors will work with you and your child to identify and treat the root cause of your child's autistic symptoms. Our goal is to guide you and your child through their healing process and release your burden on searching for treatment methods. If you are interested in learning more, book now for a 15-min discovery call.
Disclaimer: As a Naturopathic Medical doctor, it is my intent to seek out and present many approaches to health and recommend what is best for my patients on an individual basis. All materials on this website are provided for information and educational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your healthcare professional or physician.
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