March 2008

Dear Parent,

About 2 years ago, our oldest son (who was almost 3 yrs old at the time) was diagnosed with Asperger Syndome and PDD-NOS by 2 separate neurologists. At the time, we were more concerned about his speech delay than anything else, so when we received these diagnoses, we were devastated. We were told that our son would probably never be able to attend a regular school and that his intellect would be far below average.

We were in denial for a long time and focused instead on improving his speech (since he also had Verbal Apraxia). We gave him fish oil supplements for 8 months and took him to speech therapy twice a week (in addition to his speech therapy at school). His speech improved tremendously due to the fish oil and intensive therapy, but his behavior continued to deteriorate. He didn't show any interest in playing with his peers, showed no interest in toys, he had frequent tantrums and he had severe trouble sleeping (waking up in the middle of the night).

Because of our interest in herbal remedies, we developed an herbal based supplement for our son. The supplement needed to be safe and easy to administer. We have tested this supplement for a year now and we have seen amazing improvements in our son's behavior and speech. Our son initiates play, shows interest in his toys, has much fewer and much less intensive tantrums and sleeps better. He is entering regular kindergarten this September.

Enrollment for testing of our supplement has closed. We can notify you when this supplement becomes available. Simply fill in your name and email address below.

What is autism?

Autism is a brain development disorder that impairs a child's social abilities and communication with others.

Parents frequently become concerned when their child does not begin to talk and does not show interest in playing with peers. Children with autism usually do not develop speech normally and may appear deaf, although hearing test are usually normal.

Autism tends to run in families which could mean that genetics has a role. However, scientific evidence suggests that environmental factors play a major role in the development of autism. These environmental factors include but are not limited to: heavy metals such as mercury, solvents, PCBs, chemicals contained in plastic products, brominated flame retardants (such as in carpets), pesticides and certain food ingredients. Additional probable causes such as childhood vaccines remain controversial and no definite scientific proof exists.

The incidence of autism is about 1 in 150 births in the US and that number has increased dramatically since the 1980s. Because the incidence of autism is rising so rapidly, genetic factors cannot be the sole cause of autism.

The severity of autism symptoms varies greatly among children with autism, with some children needing assistance in all aspects of their lives, while others are able to function at a high level. It is important to remember that autism is not considered a mental condition and is certainly not caused by bad parenting or problems in the home.

What are the symptoms of autism?

All children with autism have difficulties with social interactions and forming relationships with peers and adults. Children with autism often show signs of repetitive behavior. Additional symptoms include: stereotypic behavior, such as hand flapping and body rocking, compulsive behavior, such as lining up toys and restrictive behavior such as the preoccupation with a single activity or watching the same show on television.

It has long been suggested that improper bowel function and inflammation in the gut are partly responsible for the behavioral symptoms of autism (White 2003, Jyonouchi et al., 2005, Parracho et al., 2005).

Many children with autism spectrum disorders have disturbed sleep patterns, which include difficulty falling asleep, nocturnal and early morning awakenings.

Many children with autism show increased levels of anxiety combined with high frustration levels, both of which could interfere with social behavior.

How is autism treated?

Since autism is a multi-factorial condition, the best results are achieved by using a combination of various therapies. It is important to note however, that the sooner therapy begins, the better the outcome.

Treatment plans will vary greatly from child to child, since every child is unique and has it's own special needs. Treatments may include occupational therapy, behavioral therapy, speech therapy, art therapy and music therapy.

Since dietary intervention has been so beneficial for many children with autism, it has been suggested that autistic symptoms could be the result of malabsorption of or intolerance to certain food ingredients. Many parents have seen great improvements after following a special diet, in which gluten, casein and food colorings were eliminated. It is important to consult a nutritionist about this to ensure that your child's diet contains the proper balance of nutrients that can compensate for the elimination of certain food ingredients.

Natural autism treatments can be very effective and can be integrated very well into an overall treatment plan. If your child is taking prescription medications, it is recommended to consult your child's doctor before starting a natural treatment.

Jyonouchi, H., Geng, L., Ruby, A. and Zimmerman-Bier, B. (2005) Dysregulated innate immune responses in young children with autism spectrum disorders: their relationship to gastrointestinal symptoms and dietary intervention. Neuropsychobiol. 51: 77-85.

Parracho, H.M., Bingham, M.O., Gibson, G.R. and McCartney, A.L. (2005) Differences between the gut microflora of children with autistic spectrum disorders and that of healthy children. J. Med. Microbiol. 54: 987-91.

White, J.F. (2003) Intestinal pathophysiology in autism. Exp. Biol. Med. 228: 639-49.

Disclaimer: The above information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to substitute medical advice or care. Always consult a health care professional about any health problems or illnesses that you or your child may have.