Posted: 07 June 2010 at 9:22am | IP Logged
Based on the findings from brain spect, autism is caused by neuroinflammation that blocks circulation of the brain tissue and malnutrition of the nerve cells. Where does the inflammation come from? There are two possible reasons that lead to neuroinflammation. One is neurotoxins such as heavy metals; the other is autoimmune responses. These two factors are closely related. Neural affinity of the heavy metals such as mercury may be the reason that causes autoimmune response. There have been enough evidences that support the above claim.
In addition to neurotoxins, malfunction of the digestive system has also been observed from majority of the autism cases. It believes that Candida, parasite and viral infections play important role in toxin accumulation and increased inflammation level in the body, which makes neuroinflammation and malnutrition worse.
Most of the autism children have a family history of either allergies or autoimmune diseases. Meanwhile, many of them also have mutations in one or more genes that participate in liver detox functions. The malfunction of the immune system and slow liver detox function plus over vaccination early in life can be a deadly combination that pushes the body into autism
Popular Biomedical therapies for autism focus on the toxin issue. Detoxifying nervous and digestive system is the optimal goal of the therapy. However, some autism children do not respond to detox therapy well because of server allergies or Candida/viral infections. Although some of them respond well with antifungal and antiviral medications, most of them canâ€™t maintain the good result after the medication is removed.
To solve this problem, immune system has to be carefully examined. There are two T Helper cell responses after a pathogen/allergen is detected. TH1 response is a cell-mediated immunity that involves Macrophages and Natural Killer cells for the invasion of intracellular antigen/allergens. TH2 response is an antibody-mediated immunity that involves B cell, antibodies, Mast cells, Basophils and Eosinophils and is an extracellular antigen/allergen driven process. Imbalance of the two responses causes many immune related diseases. Over expression of the TH1 function is the bases for Crohnâ€™s disease and psoriasis, while over expression of the TH2 response causes allergies, asthma and eczema etc. Evidence suggests that autism belongs to the autoimmune condition that involves over producing TH2 antibodies. It is consistent with the finding that autism is strongly associated with asthma, allergy and eczema.
Over expression of the TH2 response is always associated with the under expression of the TH1 response. The result is inability to fight for the infection of the intracellular pathogens such as virus, mycoplasma and borrelia (Lyme) bacteria. Therefore, allergies, swollen tonsils, â€śhigh viral loadâ€ť and â€śalways gets sickâ€ť belong to the same package of the autism, and have to be treated as well.
Imbalance of the TH1 and TH2 response is a result of the imbalance of the messenger molecules called cytokines, which are the immune modulators such as interleukins and growth factors. Cytokines together with hormones, neurotransmitters and their receptors form cellular communication system in the body. Many chronic diseases including autism, cancer, allergies and autoimmune conditions are result of malfunction of the communication network.
Allergy and autoimmune response is a result of the imbalance of the cytokines, and becomes a vicious circle to cause further damage to the cellular communication system as well. Without addressing this issue, allergies, autoimmune responses and infections always lead to chaos in the body and neurological detoxification never happens.
Unfortunately conventional Western medicine does not provide any solutions for the malfunction of the cellular communications. Common therapies such as replacement and supplementation may not help this situation either. On the other hand, some alternative therapies such as homeopathy, allergy desensitization and Immune System Reprogramming show promising results toward this condition. Immune System Reprogramming is a technique combining homeopathy and acupuncture (non-invasive). It signals the body to balance the communication system with energetic approach. It helps to desensitize allergy as well.
Harry Hong Ph.D L.Ac.
Healing Highly Sensitive Body and Mind in Chicagoland