Comments on: On the biomedical understanding of autism

By: Homemade Remedies

Homemade Remedies — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 07:12:22 +0000

[...] visibly miffed; that was the next-to-final reason I decided it was high time to stop pursuing the whole biomedical thing). The DAN!’s office sold BrainChild (only available through them, they told me) and the [...]

By: Kristina Chew, PhD

Kristina Chew, PhD — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 22:02:13 +0000

@M, Fortunately, educational programs have proved very effective for my son, who’s doing fabulous. Very best—–

By: M

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 18:52:07 +0000

Yes; and your experience reflects the overall experience that medicine has had in its attempts to treat all neuropsychiatric disorders. Inconsistency. There is no magic bullet for any neuropyschiatric disorder. The same inconsistent results have been found treating schizophrenic patients with anti-psychotics and depressives with anti-depressives, and epileptics with anti-seizure medication.

Our knowledge of the brian is limited, but luckily, growing by leaps and bounds. I hope that one day in my lifetime I will see more effective and reliable treatments for brain disorders.

By: Kristina Chew, PhD

Kristina Chew, PhD — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 17:33:44 +0000

Thanks much; I’ve been following the information provided by the Autism Research Institute since my son was diagnosed in 1999—-have tried, as I wrote, a number of biomedical treatments and, while seeing immediate results, have not found these to last. My son isn’t hyperactive and has a bit of an unusual diet for an 11-year-old American boy—-lots of vegetables, fruits, sushi, no junk food with the exception of McDonalds (which he turned down the last time we asked him about it), carbs, more. (Actually, our household has anything but a “typical American diet.”)

My main concern about biomedical and “alternative” treatments is that parents sometimes put a bit too much store in them, and the results seem to vary, just as different educational approaches work for different children.

By: M

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 17:23:33 +0000

Thank you for asking. I hope it was a sincere inquiry rather than a sarcastic insinuation that the science must not exist. Dr. Michael Chez, the Neurologist who authored the first study is a world-renowned Neurologist. He is currently using steroid treatments for autism and is studying the properties of curcumin, an ingredient in tumeric known for its natual anti-inflammatory properties.

Chez, Michael G. (2002) “Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of L-Carnosine Supplementation in Children With Autistic Spectrum Disorders.”
[u]Journal of Child Neurology[/u], Vol. 17, No. 11, 833-837.

Amminger, Paul G. et al. (2007) “Omega-3 Fatty Acids Supplementation in Children with Autism: A Double-blind Randomized, Placebo-controlled Pilot Study.” [u] Biological Psychiatry [/u] Vol. 61, Issue 4. p 551-553.

(one vitamin C/antioxidant study)

Ming, X et al. (2005) “Increased Excretion of a Lipid Peroxidation Biomarker in Autism.” Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids, Volume 73, p.379-384

Martinaeu, J. et al. (1985) “Vitamin B6, magnesium, and combined B6-Mg: therapeutic effects in childhood autism”. [u]Biological Psychiatry.[/u] 20(5):467-78

Here is a list of all studies positive and negative on B6: http://www.autismwebsite.com/aRI/treatment/b6studies.htm

Here is another fact you may be unaware of: the Feingold Diet works for hyperactivity. Science has demonstrated it. For 30 years pediatricians have told parents that the Feingold diet does not work, and for 30 years they have been wrong. And not just wrong- wrong without reason. Simply prejudiced to the idea that the Feingold diet could work, and so dismissive of the idea with no evidence.

Go to ScienceDaily.com and search for this article, “A Trial of Removing Food Additives Should be Considered for Hyperactive Children, Experts Say”. It will link you to all of the science on this issue.

We all assume that because the scientific method is objective the reporting and public consumption of news related to science is objective. It is not. It is politicized. The real scientific environment is much more “alternative” then most people realize, because science requires an open mind. The general pediatrician is far removed from scientific trends. It takes time for new information to be assimilated by the medical establishment. It also take funding for research to be done. The public good does not always prevail in issues of research funding.

By: Kristina Chew, PhD

Kristina Chew, PhD — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 15:42:04 +0000

Thanks; could you provide the references for those studies?

By: M

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 14:11:19 +0000

I have never understood the black and white approach that most people take to biomedical treatments for autism. It seems that recognizing some treatments are based on bad science immediately discredits any other approach that integrates the health of the body and the health of the brain. That is not a smart approach.

I have seen people with such rigid and extreme views on biomedical tratements that they could not recognize the value of something as standard as Omega-3 fatty acid supplements for their children. That is a mistake. I wish people would carefully research each approach and cautiously try the ones that are not potentially dangerous (i.e., chelation) and try to measure any progress objectively. Fish oil objectively enhances brain development. L-Carnosine and zinc has been demonstrated to improve language in autistic children in a double-blind, placebo controlled study done by a leading neurologist. There are positive scientific studies on Vitamin C and Vitamin B6. Etc. There is a difference between being smart and careful and being closed-minded.

By: Dr. BA N.D.

Dr. BA N.D. — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 15:28:13 +0000

In my experience as a Naturopathic doctor is that each person is an individual. Disease is a name for a group of symptoms not one single answer. If a headache or a backache can come from different reasons for each person why not any other disease. There isn’t one carved out answer for each case. Maybe we aren’t hitting the nail on the head because there are multiple heads. One thing is for sure when looking at brain problems is that there are receptor cites in the gut that compete for the same chemicals that are used in the brain. Since food primarily goes into the gut checking IgG and IgE levels of different foods in the blood can help to give us a better picture as to what is going on from inflammatory response factors that can influence brain receptors. What affects the bowel affects the brain. It is sad that most doctors don’t check IgG levels of food because in my practice that seems to be the biggest culprit for most disease problems. It’s inflammation that can interfere with the many processes that the body does. What is causing the inflammation is at question. Keep searching your case is unique . This is my gut feeling. Simple home test kits are available to check for IgG blood levels. http://www.beyondhealthtowellness.com

By: The Great Autism Rip-off?

The Great Autism Rip-off? — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 02:04:09 +0000

[...] great autism rip-off is a story in the May 31st Daily Mail about the numerous alternative medicine/biomedical treatments that parents of autistic children turn to—-and how this has become a “huge [...]

By: Bonnie Sayers

Bonnie Sayers — Sun, 04 May 2008 20:44:27 +0000

I remember reading in a post recently that you did cranial sacral therapy. There was no link taking to a post so I wonder if you ever wrote about it. I will try a search as I am curious to this.

Also any info or feedback on NAET? I have the book (never read it) on say good-bye to allergy-related autism. Maybe I will read that one soon. I also have Doris Rapp’s books that I need to read. I do think the Amazon Kindle will allow me with ease to read more than one book and go back and forth with them instead of having to lug these all over the place when waiting at school and appts., etc.