Help With Autism

Mercury poisoning, particularly from fish, is on most people’s radars nowadays, but not everyone knows the signs of overexposure to the toxin. Mercury vapor can cause severe respiratory problems that can progress to pulmonary edema and, eventually, death. Mercury poisoning can also cause renal failure, temporary tubular dysfunction, and tubular necrosis and nephritic syndrome.

Other mercury poisoning symptoms include cardiovascular and problems. People suffering from mercury poisoning may have abnormal blood pressure and heart rate, as well as unusual spikes in cholesterol. Food sensitivity, cramping, and diarrhea have also been reported as symptoms.

Last week, officials in the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene issued a warning about skin creams that contain mercury. Crema Aguamary has been linked to one case of mercury poisoning in the state. The cream in question was purchased in Mexico. The FDA prohibits the sale of bleaching creams that use mercury.

Consumers who are unsure of whether or not they have been exposed to mercury poisoning through skin creams should read labels carefully. If the ingredient list includes mercury, mercurio, mercuric, mercurous, or calomel, the cream should not be used. Seal the whole jar in a bag and toss the cream immediately. Even if the cream cost you a bundle, it’s a small price compared to lasting health damage.

Mercury poisoning is not something most people actively think about, but the truth is most of us are exposed to mercury in our everyday lives. Factories spew mercury into the air and into the water. This can affect the food that we consume, especially fish, which can in turn raise the levels of mercury in our bodies.

The effects of mercury poisoning can be devastating to the body’s nervous system, kidneys, skin, blood pressure, and digestive tract. Fetuses, infants, and children are particularly susceptible to mercury poisoning. As a result, parents need to be careful about what their children are exposed to, both in terms of where they live and what they feed their children.

Conventional scientific institutes do not recognize the link between chelation and improvement in an autistic child’s behavior. Still, many parents opt for chelation therapy as a means of aiding their autistic children. There is some self-reported evidence that chelation can lead to improvements.

Since 1967 The Autism Research Institute has collected “Parent Ratings of behavioral Effects of Biomedical Interventions.” Over 24,000 responses have been logged thus far. Chelation therapy was recently added to the list of biomedical interventions, and of the 470 parents who reported their children using chelation, 75 percent reported “good” results. That’s fairly strong evidence in the apy corner.

The National Institutes of Health are currently studying whether or not chelation therapy can improve coronary heart disease. The main theory suggested is that EDTA chelation could work by directly removing calcium found in fatty, artery clogging plaques. Scientists are hoping that chelation could be a safe way to break up the plaque, thus lowering the risks associated with heart disease.

Another theory suggests that chelation could reduce the damage caused by oxygen ions on the walls of blood vessels. By reducing oxidative stress, inflammation would be lessened and blood vessel function would improve. At this point in time, there have not been enough scientific studies conducted to test the efficacy of either of the theories.

The autism advocacy hierarchy is dominated by parents and researchers. Often those who are on the autism spectrum are not included in conversations. Yes, many autistic individuals are unable to communicate, but there are also high functioning individuals who want to speak for themselves. Five years ago, some of those individuals formed the Autistic Self Advocacy Network.

Ari Ne’eman, founder of the network, said “Discussing treatment and research priorities without listening to those with autism would be like allowing men to run the women’s rights movement.” Among the issues they advocate for are support services for adults with autism. According to Ne’eman’s group, less than one percent of research funds go to support services. (Most research funds are spent on finding the causes of autism and looking for cures and therapies).

There are several steps that need to be taken to optimize a Candida cleanse. First off, ready your body for a cleanse by eating high fiber foods, raw vegetables, flaxseeds, and herbs. Fruit, bread, and any other high sugar, high yeast containing foods should be avoided.

For the next three months of the Candida cleanse, you should alternate between two weeks of antifungals and two weeks of probiotics. Chew all food thoroughly to ease digestion because undigested food can increase Candida. Incorporate unsweetened yogurt, kefir, and apple cider into your diet, as these foods are rich in healthy bacteria.

Were you aware that if one-seventieth of a teaspoon of mercury enters a lake every year that is enough to raise mercury levels in fish? In the meantime, coal-fired plants – the largest producer of unregulated mercury emissions in the U.S. – have pumped 48 tons of mercury into the atmosphere each year. The technology exists to filter mercury and other toxins, but many big corporations refuse to do the responsible thing: clean up their act.

What are some of the dangers of mercury pollution? Exposure to mercury in utero can cause major birth defects. These birth defects mercury poisoning include neurological and developmental disorders, cerebral palsy, and learning disabilities, to name a few. Until the government enforces the changes they have been promising, parents need to remain vigilant about looking for warning signs of mercury poisoning in themselves and their children.

There are currently multiple approaches to treating autism. Figuring out which treatment will work best for a child is largely a matter of trial and error. Researchers from Vanderbilt have been studying the effects of certain autism treatments.

The researchers concluded that several early intervention models, like the UCLA/Lovaas approach and Early Start Denver, showed dramatic responses from some children. Yet, for every tale of vast improvement is a tale of disappointment for another child. Until there is a cure, researchers need to continue researching how to match children with the most effective autism treatments.