Autism -- Treated Effectively, Using Holistic Methods of Treatment
by Dr. Randy Martin
Autism is a problem affecting more and more young people. The theories
surrounding it's cause are many. Another, much lesser version of autism is
called Asperger's Disease. A young adult might be functioning pretty well
with Asperger's, yet have social phobias or an inability to succeed at work
or school. ADD or ADHD also may play a role.
The following article was sent to me by the company I often use to perform the hair mineral analysis tests for my patients. It's a particularly
interesting case, given the difficulty we normally think of in treating
autism.
This case history shows how hair analysis is successful at diagnosing and
suggesting treatments for autism. Along with this, I would also always use
amino acid therapy, after performing a saliva and urine test to see the
deficiencies in the neurotransmitters in the brain.
Additionally, homeopathic medicine has proven successful time and time again at treating a wide variety of behavioral problems, including Autism.
I hope you enjoy this case history from the Analytical Research
Laboratories:
Autism - A Case History
Joey, age 3, was diagnosed autistic. He did not speak or interact well
with anyone, threw tantrums daily and was severely constipated. His first
hair mineral analysis showed a calcium level of 66 mg% (ideal is 40),
magnesium of 5 mg% (ideal is 6), sodium of 4 mg% (ideal is 25) and potassium of 16 mg% (ideal is 10.
Vital Ratios
The hair calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium levels indicate a
mild slow oxidizer pattern. This is a tendency for somewhat underactive
thyroid and adrenal glandular activity. This is uncommon for a
three-year-old as most children of this age are fast oxidizers. It indicates
some degree of adrenal exhaustion, even at the age of three.
Joey¹s calcium/magnesium ratio was slightly high, which is an
indication that Joey was overeating on carbohydrate foods. The
sodium/ potassium ratio was very low at 0.4:1. This indicates excessive
tissue breakdown and is also associated with chronic infections, glucose
intolerance, kidney and liver stress, and feelings of frustration,
resentment and hostility.
Manganese
Joey had a severely elevated manganese level at 0.123 mg% (ideal is
0.04). High manganese levels are often associated with behavioral problems. ?Manganese madness¹ is a term used to describe the toxicity condition seen in manganese miners.
Aluminum
Joey¹s aluminum was also quite high at 3.66 mg% (ideal is 0.05 or
less). Aluminum has been implicated in Alzheimer¹s disease and perhaps other dementias. However, we find that aluminum can affect mental functioning even in children.
In our experience, aluminum, iron and manganese toxicity are often
found together. If any one of these are elevated on a hair mineral analysis, the other two are also present in excess, even if they are hidden. These three minerals are also often eliminated together on nutritional balancing programs.
Lead And Zinc
Joey also had an extremely elevated lead level at 1.54 mg% (ideal is
0.1 or less). Lead toxicity is associated with over 100 symptoms. Prominent among these are hyperactivity, lowered IQ and emotional and behavioral abnormalities. Lead interferes with calcium metabolism, blood formation and a number of critical enzyme systems.
Joey also had a zinc level of 8 mg%. This is very low, with the ideal being 20 mg%. Zinc is critical for over 50 functions. Low zinc is associated with emotional instability, delayed development, slow growth, impaired
digestion, skin problems and impaired protein synthesis.
A Corrective Program
The daily nutrient program for Joey included two divided doses of a
multivitamin for slow oxidizers, as well as 10 mg of zinc, 1 mg of copper
and about 3 mg manganese to help correct his low sodium/potassium ratio.
Let us discuss giving manganese when the level is this high. Some
authorities believe that manganese supplements should not be given when
manganese is elevated on a hair mineral analysis. However, we consistently find that giving bioavailable manganese will help the hair manganese level return to normal, as occurred with Joey. His elevated manganese is in a biounavailable form. Giving available manganese is helpful in these cases to raise the sodium level and perhaps to provide needed bioavailable manganese as well.
Joey¹s daily nutrients also included about 200 mg of calcium and 200 mg
magnesium. Calcium is an excellent lead antagonist, and both calcium and
magnesium are sedative minerals that can improve hyperactive behavior.
Magnesium is helpful for many cases of constipation. Joey also took a small amount of vitamin C and E to help raise his sodium level. Vitamin C can help as a chelator of excessive metals.
Dosing Children
These dosages of minerals may seem large for a three-year-old child.
However, we find that often children do well on and sometimes require
somewhat larger doses than one would calculate for a child based simply on weight or age. This is an important principle for obtaining the best results with young children.
Results
Joey¹s parents made sure he ate well and took his supplements. He
improved dramatically. Within four months on a nutritional balancing program he began to speak, his temper tantrums were greatly reduced and he now interacts with people. He will be able to attend a regular kindergarten and is also no longer constipated.
Often the process of correction takes longer, up to several years, and it is often less dramatic. In this case, the chemistry shifted quickly and results followed. We never know which mineral imbalance or other factor is most important and when the body will address that factor. Also in some cases emotional difficulties at home can significantly slow down progress in
rebalancing body chemistry.
Retest Mineral Analysis
A retest mineral analysis after Joey was on supplements for four months
showed some surprising changes. The electrolyte pattern looked worse in some ways! Calcium was 56 mg%, magnesium was 31 mg%, sodium was 16 mg% and potassium rose to 59 mg%.
Joey became a mixed oxidizer with a fast thyroid ratio (calcium to
potassium ratio less than 4:1). A faster oxidation rate means Joey¹s energy level improved. This is excellent for general healing. In hyperkinetic children, however, more energy at times means more acting out behavior because more energy is available to the body. This was not the case with Joey, however, as his behavior calmed down.
The calcium/magnesium ratio became extremely low at 1.8:1. This is often due to a magnesium loss. It could have been an elimination of
magnesium that for some reason could not be used by the body. This type of change looks worse, but usually resolves itself on later tests.
The Sodium/potassium Ratio
Joey¹s sodium/potassium ratio also became much more imbalanced at about 0.27:1. This is extremely low and usually indicates severe protein breakdown or catabolism. Joey showed a pattern we call a double inversion. This is a low ratio of calcium to magnesium combined with a low ratio of sodium to potassium. The double inversion pattern reinforces the low sodium/potassium ratio pattern, associated with excessive tissue breakdown, chronic infections, liver and kidney stress, glucose intolerance and feelings of frustration, resentment and hostility.
In this regard, we have found that on a corrective program, at times the body must go through a stage of breaking down poor quality tissue. This
is tissue that may contain toxic metals or toxic chemicals, or tissues infected with bacteria or viruses.
When cells are broken down, potassium and magnesium are released, as these are the primary intracellular minerals. This release is associated with temporary higher hair readings of these two minerals. This in turn can cause a lower sodium/potassium ratio and a lower calcium/magnesium ratio as well.
Other Changes
On the retest, Joey¹s lead level was about half of the level on the first test at .84 mg% and aluminum was about 1/3 of his previous test at 1.10 mg%. Manganese was down to 0.078, which is still slightly elevated but
much better. These are all excellent changes.
The Zinc Mystery
Joey¹s zinc level did not change from the first test to the second. In both cases, the reading was a very low 8 mg%. This occurred in spite of Joey
taking a substantial amount of zinc for four months. How can this be?
There are several explanations. First, we know that our bodies will often keep the tissue zinc level low to help raise the tissue sodium level. In Joey¹s case, the sodium/potassium ratio was extremely low. The body may not have absorbed the zinc he took to keep the sodium level up, which in turn helps maintain the sodium/potassium ratio. Dr. Eck called this phenomenon a defender. That is, zinc stayed low to defend the
sodium/potassium ratio.
Another possibility is that zinc was simply not well-absorbed during this period of time for other reasons. Alternatively, zinc was absorbed, but
used up as fast as it was being given.
Finally, we know that zinc is a vital mineral that replaces toxic metals in enzyme binding sites during healing. The zinc level in the hair may have remained low because the zinc Joey took was absorbed and incorporated into the tissues to replace toxic metals that were eliminated. Thus, no extra zinc found its way into Joey¹s hair.
By persisting in providing Joey with supplemental zinc in the correct amount, eventually the hair level will rise in our experience. This will
mean he is re-establishing his normal tissue stores of zinc.
Does Mercury Cause Autism?
Some health authorities claim that mercury toxicity is the cause of autism. Joey¹s mercury level was a very low 0.002 mg% on the first test. It
increased five times to 0.01 on the second test. This is still very low
reading.
We know that many toxic metals are not revealed on the first hair
mineral analysis. They are revealed later as they are mobilized from storage sites deep within the body. Time will tell if Joey will start to eliminate more mercury on future retests.
However, it is clear that other toxic minerals such as lead and aluminum, or vital minerals in excess including manganese, probably played
important roles in his behavioral problems. Deficiencies in vital minerals
such as zinc also most likely contributed to Joey¹s symptoms. In our experience, it is usually incorrect to blame symptoms on just one metal, as most people have combinations of imbalances.
Conclusion
This case illustrates so many principles that it bears reading a number of times. Perhaps most important, it suggests that autism is not simply an
incurable or ?genetic¹ conditions requiring years of therapy to control the
symptoms. A hair mineral analysis showed severe mineral imbalances. By
following the principles of test interpretation and program design based on
the brilliant work of Dr. Paul C. Eck, results were most gratifying.
Although in some ways the retest hair analysis looked worse, another
principle is always to ask the patient (or parents in this instance) about
symptomatic improvements. In this case, these changes were amazing,
reminding us that mineral analysis results may not always correlate with
symptoms. Each test uncovers deeper layers of imbalances, and at times the picture may not correlate with how the patient feels. The test results can lag symptomatic changes, or at times test results can anticipate symptom changes as well.
Copyright © 2006 Analytical Research Laboratories, Inc.
This material is for educational purposes only
2225 W. Alice Avenue Phoenix, Arizona 85021 (602) 995-1580
www.arltma.comFrom:
Randy Martin, OMD, PhD, QME, CCH, LAc
Doctor of Oriental Medicine
Certified Classical Homeopath
Nutrition - Herbs - Acupuncture
Women's Health - Pain Control - Pediatrics
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