Zinc Deficiency and Autism?

Could zinc play a role in Autism? THIS article from Psychology Today suggests that this be another area studied. I know from experience how prevalent zinc deficiency can be. While working a conference for New Beginnings we would often do our zinc challenge. You have a solution with zinc and a little water. The person takes it into their mouths and usually you can tell instantly if they are adequate on their zinc. The taste is pretty bad, very metallic/sour and it can be hard to get that taste out of your mouth. Those we are zinc deficient however have no such reaction and remark that it tastes just like water. I can tell you from a quick counting standpoint, there were more who thought it tasted like water than those who tasted the zinc. And this was adults, not children. When I give my son his liquid ionic zinc from New Beginnings he also reports no taste.

As the article states, zinc is incredibly important to many functions, including immune function. So why couldn't it be involved in some way with Autism. The story has yet to fully unravel and yet for every individual impacted by Autism there will be unique circumstances to look at. But, looking at a zinc supplement (or making sure your child's multi-vitamin/multi-mineral has adequate zinc levels) can be a wise move in many cases.


Credits:

Psychology Today
Evolutionary Psychiatry

The hunt for evolutionary solutions to contemporary mental health problems.

by Emily Deans, M.D. 

Battling back to school bugs

It's the most wonderful time......of the year!! That's right, back to school time is just around the corner. Literally for us, school starts Thursday!! What does that mean other than a bit more sanity in the house? The sharing of new and exciting germs.....ah the downside. Well, I am going to share a little tip that I am going to try. It is called Allimax from New Beginnings. Here is the info:

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Guaranteed pure and highly effective
Allimax Liquid contains 100% pure stabilized Allisure™ allicin extract, the most important and active constituent found in garlic. Allisure™ allicin is extracted from fresh garlic using a completely natural process - without the use of solvents – to produce the most stable, pure and potent liquid allicin extract available. Most garlic supplements available contain less than 5% allicin or can provide only unstable “allicin potential” which oftentimes cannot survive the stomach acid, preventing it’s conversion to true allicin. Allimax Liquid, however, contains 100% stable Allisure™ allicin that is able to survive the digestive process and needs no conversion by the body before going to work.

Scientific studies have shown the multiple benefits of allicin which includes supporting a healthy cardiovascular, immune and digestive system due to its anti-fungal, anti-biotic and anti-viral properties. Each drop of Allimax Liquid delivers the amount of allicin contained in 40 cloves of garlic without containing all the other compounds that cause a garlic scent to come through the skin and breath. As a result, the fresh garlic taste quickly dissipates after ingestion and does not leave a lingering garlic taste in your mouth.
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And here is what Dr. McFadzean, the consulting Naturopath for New Beginnings has to say about it as well:

Garlic, or allium sativum as it is known in the plant world, has many medicinal properties and has been used for years as a healing remedy. We are proud to be carrying Allimax Liquid, a potent, stable form of garlic with a multitude of uses and benefits, including immune supportive, antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial properties. Allimax Liquid can help balance digestive function, ward off colds and flu's, and promote healthy hearts.Garlic, or allium sativum as it is known in the plant world, has many medicinal properties and has been used for years as a healing remedy. We are proud to be carrying Allimax Liquid, a potent, stable form of garlic with a multitude of uses and benefits, including immune supportive, antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial properties. Allimax Liquid can help balance digestive function, ward off colds and flu's, and promote healthy hearts.Allimax Liquid contains 100% pure stabilized Allisure allicin extract, the most important and active constituent found in garlic. Therefore you can be assured that this liquid gives you the highest quality and potency. Many garlic remedies have low levels of actual allicin, less than 5%, which renders them not very potent - one drop of Allimax Liquid contains the equivalent amount of allicin as 40 cloves of garlic. Many garlic remedies also leave a lot to be desired in terms of residual odor. Allimax Liquid, being so concentrated and with the high levels of isolated allicin extract, omits many of the constituents of regular garlic that cause that smell. Further, because Allimax Liquid is stabilized, it resists breakdown by the stomach acids and can make its way into the intestines, balancing dysbiotic flora, and being absorbed into the blood stream where it can influence cardiovascular and immune function, to name just a few.One of Allimax's key uses is as an antimicrobial. If we look at garlic in nature, the cloves are odor-free until they are crushed or permeated in some way. At that point, there is a reaction between one of its chemical compounds, alliin, and an enzyme called allinase, which results in the formation of allicin. So in nature, if a "predator" such as a fungus in the soil, permeates the garlic bulb, allicin will be created which inactivates the invader. This mechanism is activated in a very small location for a very limited amount of time, leaving the rest of the plant available to mount an attack of its own should the need arise. So you can see that garlic is well designed in nature as an antimicrobial.The list of microbes which allicin has been shown to be effective against is extensive - bacteria such as Escherichia, Salmonella, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Klebsiella, Proteus, Bacillus and Clostridium. These are microbes that I frequently see testing positive on children's stool tests. Allicin also combats H pylori, a bacteria that can cause gastric ulcers, as well as symptoms such as burping, heartburn, reflux, feeling like food just sits in the stomach, nausea etc. Many people are put on antacid medications and such as Nexium and Tagamet for reflux that is actually caused by the H. pylori bacteria. Allicin has been effectively used for methicillin-resistant staph aureus (MRSA) as well as other drug-resistant bacterial strains. One of the greatest benefits of Allimax is that it can be used directly in the ears to combat ear infections. I believe that ear infections in children, and the subsequent antibiotic regimens given, are one of the largest contributing factors to yeast overgrowth, which then has such a significant impact on behavior. Having a natural option for treating ear infections is so beneficial in preventing that whole cascade.Allicin is also a very effective compound in combating yeast and fungal overgrowth. Fungus in the soil is very common and garlic is well designed in nature to resist it. Therefore we see huge clinical application for Allimax Liquid in intestinal candida.What is also nice about using a natural product such as Allimax over pharmaceutical anti-fungals, is that the Allimax has "accessory benefits" such as combating any bacteria and parasites that may be present. Anti-fungal medications are more specific for yeast and do not provide that broad-spectrum benefit.Garlic is well known as an immune enhancing remedy. It is known that allicin enhances phagocytosis, which is the term given when an immune cells engulfs and destroys an invader (such as a bacteria). It also enhances natural killer (NK) cell activity. It is antiviral, and can reduce the occurrence of the common cold as well as the duration of colds.The biological capability of allicin is related to its antioxidant capabilities, immune enhancing capabilities and antimicrobial activity. It can easily penetrate the cell membranes getting into the cells where it can work most effectively.Allimax Liquid has a high safety level. As garlic can potentially act as a blood thinner (advantageous in cardiovascular health in general), it is recommended that those on anticoagulants or about to undergo surgery advise their medical team before starting any garlic supplement. Very occasionally an individual may have an allergic reaction to garlic. I recommend people who have tested positive to garlic on IgG food allergy testing to avoid supplementation of it also.Allimax Liquid is a high potency, high quality extract of allicin, the active constituent of garlic. Being a liquid it is very easy to take, and drops should be first mixed into liquid or cool food. The taste of garlic dissipates considerably when added to water and there is not a lingering garlic smell, nor should there be odor from the pores of the skin later. It is a great immune boosting remedy, while acting as a natural antibiotic, antifungal, and antiviral remedy. If your child has a weakened immune system, evidenced by recurrent colds and flu's, viral infections, or if they have intestinal yeast and dysbiosis, Allimax Liquid may be a beneficial remedy to integrate into their protocol.
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My awesome co-worker Lisa told me at the USAAA show that when she starts to feel rundown and about to get sick she will take some and it makes her feel better. Now THIS I have got to try. I have known about the wonderful properties of garlic but you need to get RAW garlic in. I am not a big fan of munching on raw garlic (or the odorous after effects either) and my kids won't touch the raw stuff. This is the best of both worlds, the potency of garlic without the potent smell! I am placing my order today, and its on SALE!! Normally $32, on sale for $25.60. Just in time! Let me know if you need help placing an order with New Beginnings, and don't forget to tell them you heard about it from me! ;)

Antiviral therapy for Autism Treatment

We are onto the stage in my son's treatment that I was most hopeful about, antivirals! Given our family history of viruses, specifically Herpes strain, I have always had a hunch that this was a big piece of the puzzle. Given that my son has had chicken pox twice (6 months and 3 years of age), I am hopeful that this leg of our treatment will bring big gains. We are 14 days in as of today. He is on both Valtrex for the actual viral issues and Diflucan for the subsequent yeast overgrowth that can come from treating viruses. If you are doing any sort of antiviral approach (including natural remedies like olive leaf extract, Virastop, Oil of Oregano, etc) you should always add in an antifungal component as the dead viruses usually become food for the yeast so you can have a yeast flare. We have seen some improvements already in usage of new words (like "meanwhile") and recall of people/places/events and more engaged, prolonged conversation with our hab worker at one point~he sat talking with her for over AN HOUR recalling details of the class he used to be in where she was one of the teachers. He was even recalling people SHE had forgotten about! But, we've also seen the regression that often accompanies these new therapies like more meltdowns, higher escalation over small things, aggression, and perseverations are back to an extent. We've been doing a combo of bumping up natural antifungals like Grapefruit seed extract (GSE) and doing activated charcoal to 1) kill the yeast and 2) mop up the toxins that can produce these negative behavioral aspects. We noticed a big change yesterday after doing charcoal Friday night. Friday was filled with screaming meltdowns, not the most fun times of my life. But, I am hopeful that this is going to end up bringing us good gains so we keep pressing on. Yesterday morning I forgot that my husband was going for an early morning bike ride. My son came into my room and he asked where his dad was, I told him he must be downstairs. He headed off downstairs only to come back into my room to say "sorry mom, but my father isn't downstairs". Wow, that is a great way to wake up, hearing a sentence like that! So the gains are happening and I know this journey is a marathon, not a sprint, so we keep plugging along. I also understand that doing an antiviral approach can also be a good chelator as well. My son did not really show very high metals except for aluminum. We have never done chelation but I certainly think anything that will increase his detox pathways is a good thing. Speaking of, if you know of anyone with a Heavenly Heat FIR sauna that they are wanting to sell, please contact me. I would love to pick up a gently used one for increased detox for my son. Time to run, my son just woke up and said he's "especially hungry" this morning. The day is already giving us some wonderful new gains!! I hope you all had a great 4th of July!

Ibuprofen for use in gut inflammation and.or yeast treatment

Last week there was lots of discussion on the Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) Yahoo group about high dose Ibuprofen for treatment of gut inflammation. One parent posted their treatment protocol from their Defeat Autism Now! (DAN!) doctor. It called for 20 mg/kg of Ibuprofen dosed for 10 days and then off for 20 days. This parent reported lots of success, in addition to use of LDN for immune modulation and reduction of inflammation.

Then yesterday I get another email from another parent giving a link to an abstract with research showing Ibuprofen is actually effective both with and without Diflucan. Evidently it interferes with the integrity of the cell membrane and that alone can lead to the death of the yeast and/or with Diflucan can kill it as well.

I logged on to Autism Action Plan and posted a question to Dr. Woeller about this. He responded this morning and thought this was interesting research and followed up with his own blog, which can be read here. He links to the original study that I sent him so I will not link to that too, you can find it on his blog. This is just his blog, not even what he has on Autism Action Plan. I will say it again, if you are trying to battle Autism and need some additional help from an AWESOME doctor, click the banner at the top of my blog and join Autism Action Plan. The cost is very small in comparison to what you get. I get to ask questions 24/7 and he responds very quickly. I can share research like this on Ibuprofen and then he can take that to the next level by following up in a way I cannot. He has access to other DAN! doctors and lots of other sources. He has so much info on Autism Action Plan and then you add in the twice weekly live chats, that is a lot of information at your fingertips. I brag about how well my son is doing and it is largely due to the guidance we get from Dr. Woeller.

Quality supplements

Tiffany asked a great question, how do you find good quality supplements. That can be a tricky navigation. Here is an article about how supplements are regulated:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/herbal-supplements/SA00044

If you are asking what we do, then here is my answer. First off, my son's specialist recommends a certain company, New Beginnings Nutritionals http://www.nbnus.com/ and that is where we buy most of his supplements. They deal with only reputable companies who can provide certificates of purity, etc. These folks specialize in the Autism spectrum so you are going to get supplements free of wheat, dairy, corn, soy and yeast most commonly as those present challenges to children on the spectrum. However, there are several supplements we can't get through those companies and here's what I do. I head to our local health food store (like Whole Foods, Sprouts, Henry's, Wild Oats). There you are presented with a plethora of options. Ask for the manager of the vitamin/supplement department. They are usually very knowledgeable about the brands they stock. As them for their recommendation. If that doesn't work, I look for brands that I know and trust and that have the USP endorsement. I also look for supplements without a lot of extra "stuff". For example, Tiffany you mentioned Wal-Mart. We started using Aloe Vera juice as a digestive support for our whole family. I found a brand, George's, that is pure aloe vera. But, if you look at a brand wal-mart carries it has citric acid and I think sodium benzoate. Now, from a previous post you would know that both ingredients are undesirable, especially in a supplement. But, the combo is AWFUL. Citric Acid + Sodium Benzoate = Benzene which is a carcinogen (cancer causing agent) that our body only excretes VERY VERY slowly. GREAATT. So, you've got this cancer causing agent that now is floating around in your body for a long time because your body can't get rid of it quickly. Yeah, sign me up! Not. The same holds true for ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and sodium benzoate. When you see those 2 combined, run far away. Check your Sprite can....and many sodas actually. Good times, good times....

Supplements are tricky, I totally get that. I look for bottles with purity statements, the USP endorsement and basically JUST the herbs you want and the cellulose capsule as ingredients. I don't buy supps at Wal-Mart so I don't even know the deal there. My guess is not high quality. Naturopaths can also point you in the right direction for good brands and many even stock supplements in their office (at least ours do). I feel that a good quality supplement can go along way towards preserving your good health. Pharmaceuticals generally have many side effects. Take Lipitor for example. My husband was on that for about a decade. We started seeing a chiropractor and he was the first to tell us all the side effects (as opposed to the doctors who put my husband on it in the first place). Lipitor can weaken muscles. Well, the heart IS a muscle. So when you look at what Lipitor is for, reducing cholesterol to avoid a heart attack, you are reducing the risk of heart attack from one problem (cholesterol) but increasing it due to another (weakened heart). Seems rather counterproductive. We started seeing a naturopath who recommended Niacin, one of the B vitamins. You have to look at the upside and downside to pharmaceutical treatments. These changes are not for everybody.

Now on to your question of how to get your husband on board. Wow, if I had a quarter for every wife/mom who asked me that. Even with dietary changes for Autism, men seem so much more reluctant. I am lucky, my husband knows I am a research freak, if I say it is safe that means I have researched and researched and researched again and feel comfortable, which means a lot for me. He is on board. I have actually MADE him read studies/data instead of just going along with my suggestions which he is inclined to do. I feel that if someone reads the data and understands WHY we choose these changes, they will stick with it. With my son's diet, my husband sees what happens when my son gets something he is intolerant of, he becomes a lunatic, screaming and melting down at the drop of a hat (my son, not my husband, lol). The extra work of his diet is worth it, I'd rather spend that time cooking/shopping than dealing with meltdowns all day. For some people (and I know many) they don't buy it. I don't know your husband so it is hard to give any input there. I guess it depends on what you are trying to change. If it is supplements, maybe ask for a trial period. You try something for a time and then evaluate how effective you think it was, no harm, no foul. Supplements are not like pharmaceuticals, they take longer to work so several weeks may be warranted. And, if your body is heavily polluted with toxins from poor diet, pharmaceutical use/etc., some natural remedies like homeopathy won't seem effective at all. Many people blow them off because they "don't work for me" when in reality if they had cleaned their body a bit they would find effectiveness. When you body comes to rely on pharmaceuticals, that is what it will need. But, if you clean it up, it will respond to more natural remedies.

I just heard a mainstream doctor talking this morning about the common cold lasting 1 1/2 weeks. Friday I felt a cold coming on. No surprise, I have a child in preschool and am around a lot of kids coughing and sneezing, plus therapy clinics, social groups, etc. Germs are plentiful. Add to that I have been partaking in some pre-Valentine's day treats, running full speed, staying up too late, etc. I started pumping the Vit. C, olive leaf extract and going to bed early. I took advantage of yesterday and took it easy, lots of vit c, supplements, epsom salt baths with eucalyptus oil, and rest. I feel better today and if I don't push it, I bet by tomorrow it will be practically gone. This is only my 2nd tiny cold this season. Not bad considering I have friends battling the same cold for weeks, even needing steroids and a nebulizer, YIKES. Can I get hit with that? Absolutely. I am just as likely to come down with the flu as anyone, it all depends on the strength of your immune system. Listening to your body and pumping it full of stuff that helps fight off viruses and bacteria will go along way in preventing you from getting sick and healing you faster if you do. And loading your body with toxins (poor diet, soda's, etc) means more work for your immune system which then takes away its ability to fight cold and flu viruses.

I hope that helps. And I appreciate your questions, you don't learn if you don't ask!!!

More immune boosters

There are so many things I forgot in my very looong post about immune system boosters. A few more natural, remedies, antivirals and antibacterials are:

1) High dose Vitamin C - like grams, keep dosing until bowels start to loosen
2) Olive Leaf extract - very good antiviral, here is more info on it:
http://www.regenerativenutrition.com/content.asp?id=373
3) Vitamin D - get out into the sunlight. 15 minutes in prime daylight (10 am - 2 pm) can go a long way to boosting your immune system.
4) Elderberry syrup - very effective against the flu, 1 tsp up to 6 times per day
5) Vitamin A - very good for respiratory issues (and also skin issues like eczema). However, vitamin A is fat soluble which means you need a doctor to recommend dosages because you CAN get too much. And it is recommended that you have an accurate amount of vitamin D with Vitamin A. Getting a good quality Cod Liver Oil - like Carlson's brand - is a GREAT start. It has the right ratios of D to A plus all the awesome Omega's your body/brain needs!!
6) Epsom salt soaks - if you have swollen lymph nodes in your throat/neck, soaking JUST your feet in epsom salts will draw the toxins down and relieve the backlog in your higher nodes and keeps things flowing, relieving some of the discomfort and releasing those toxins and clearing them out. Regular soaks in epsom salts is a GREAT way to detox your body everyday and increase your sulfation.

These are safe, no worries about over dose (except Vit A), and readily available (cheap too!!).

Nutrients for ADHD and the role of sulfation & glutathione in Autism

While at the DAN! conference in San Diego last October, we heard data that said supplementation with iron was AS EFFECTIVE as Ritalin if the child had low iron. Wouldn't it be great to test your child for iron deficiency and supplement as needed and not give your child a prescription that has all sorts of negative health effects? Why aren't most doctors looking at these levels prior to prescribing drugs?

Another great supplement is called pycnogenol. This is an anti-allergy, helps glutathione (major detoxifier/anti-oxident) and helps with iron.

If you have a child on the spectrum (and yes, this includes ADHD/ADD, they are at the far end) you should really understand the role of glutathione. Glutathione plays a primary role in detoxification in the body. It is a great anti-oxidant. Glutathione can be severly depleted in children on the spectrum and that is a very bad thing. Increasing your child's methylation (through methyl B-12 injections) can help that cycle but you can also get glutathione supplements (IV, transdermal and liquid). I just found out why high oxalates are a really bad thing. My son had the highest oxalate levels our nutritionist, Julie Matthews, had ever seen. When you have a child with poor sulfation, the cells will take in excess oxalates instead of the sulfate (because it is not there). So instead of getting sulfate and then going on to do its thing, the cell oxidizes because the oxalates don't function like sulfates and there is a lack of glutathione to counteract it. Oxidation is basically rust for lack of a better term. Oxidative stress is also very common in children on the spectrum. I also just learned on an Autism Action Plan live video conference that eating sulfate rich food (broccoli for example) actually helps the poor sulfation.

And if you have a child with poor sulfation, oxidative stress, and Autism, maybe you too should look at these supplements. I read an email from Susan Owens who is a doctor specializing in sulfation problems. She wrote about the role of sulfation in the production of oxytocin which not only sparks our labor and milk production in child birth but also controls the center of the brain for bonding and recognition. Maybe this faulty sulfation is part of the reason some parents with children with Autism report that they seem to be just another piece of furniture to their child, their child does not recognize them as a person or have any emotional attachment. Anyways, she discussed her own faulty sulfation when her labor did not progress, her uterus did not clamp back down after delivery and her milk took two weeks to come in. As I read this to my husband he thought this was MY OWN account of my son's birth.....hmmmm....note to self, order nasal B-12 or talk to naturopath about methyl B-12 injections AND start eating a lot of broccoli!

As I say again, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. I think that our kiddos have a certain predisposition that for whatever reason got "turned on" through vaccines, environmental toxins, etc. Why it didn't happen with us I will never know but some of the same issues my son faces to the extreme, I and my husband probably also have. We always seem to put ourselves last, especially while healing our children with Autism. But, I think it is worthwhile to take some time and maybe even have some of the same tests run on ourselves and assess our methylation and detoxification processes. We could probably ALL benefit from some of these things that are helping our kiddos!

PS - if you think you or your child has faulty sulfation - AVOID TYLENOL products!!! And by the way, many kids on the spectrum have faulty sulfation - wish I knew that years ago...

Gastrointestinal support for Autism - Aloe Vera Juice & Slippery Elm

So a hot topic on Dr. Woeller's parent chat forum was about slippery elm and aloe being good digestive supports. In case you don't already know about Autism Action Plan, click here and find out



Anyways, a few parents were talking about digestive healing/support which is huge for most children with autism. But, as I did research on Aloe Vera juice, I realized we could ALL benefit from it. Now the key is to find pure aloe vera juice and find the ones without citric acid and/or sodium benzoate. We like George's brand that we buy from Sprouts or Azure Standard. I also read that aloe vera juice, if given with supplements, increases the digestion of the supplements something crazy, like 2000%. So off we went to try aloe vera juice and slippery elm. Slippery elm gives added moisture to the stool so it is easier to pass. Within 3 days of trying these my son was pooping on the toilet! Hurray! That was huge for us since he was very resistant to any sort of discussion of this. He would scream bloody murder if we tried to get him to sit on the toilet to poop. Now he hasn't looked back. I posted a query on Autism Action Plan about whether the two could have contributed to either his awareness (since we know with sensory issues that my son has often he cannot feel that he has to urinate or defecate, we struggled with that aspect for a long time) or consistency of stool. Obviously harder stools means pain in passing and a resistance to going. Plus there is the general fear that goes into that level of potty training. Dr. Woeller responded on the board to say that it could have been the consistency issue and also a general toning of nerves by the supplements that also helped his accomplishment. The aloe vera juice we give with 2 doses of supplements so he gets about 2 ounces per day. The slippery elm we've kind of slipped on since it has to be given between meals and it is harder to work into the schedule given school and therapy.

So, if you suffer from any digestive complaint, you may think about 1) removing foods that you seem sensitive to and 2) adding in some digestive support like slippery elm and aloe vera juice. From what I read, aloe very juice gives your food "an exit plan" which is always a good thing! But, as with everything I post on here, this is what I read and reasearched, I am passing that on with the hopes that you too do your own research. And, if you find any additional info out, please share it! In the meantime, do a shot of aloe vera juice, it just may do you some good!

Charcoal, it is not just for BBQ-ing anymore.

From the annals of "betcha didn't know this" comes an article on Activated Charcoal. We've used activated charcoal for yeast die off, iffy dietary infractions, etc. If we think there is a back log of junk trying to get out of M's system we will do some activated charcoal along with mag citrate (charcoal can be constipating so the mag helps keep things moving). However, I just read an article in the New Beginnings newsletter that expounds on the wonders of activated charcoal. Did you know that it can help with stomach flu, food poisoning and diarrhea?? Me either but I am glad I do now! Evidently it absorbs the toxins released from the bugs that cause these ailments and quickly helps resolve the problems. "Its the most awful time of year" for illness so if these yucky bugs hit your house, you may want to have some activated charcoal on hand.

The way activated charcoal works is when it is "activated" that process creates tiny holes or caves in the charcoal. These holes appear to have electrostatic properties and when they come into contact with noxious chemicals (toxins) they are drawn up into the spaces and bound which makes them less harmful to the individual. Pretty cool, huh? I see a big difference in M when he needs the charcoal and we give it to him. The next day he is SO much better. But, it can absorb supplements so you want to do it 2 hours away from supplements. We usually give at bedtime and we have to break it open and syringe it in. It is black and we make sure we have water handy for him to rinse his mouth since his teeth will be black after, even after mixing with water or juice. I can't recall M's dosage but this article states 2 caps (260 mg per cap) 3 times daily for an adult, more in the case of poisoning. It won't work for everything (like strong acids, alkalis, alcohol and petroleum type substances). And this is not an everyday kind of supplement. We use it once in a while, as needed and again, with mag citrate to avoid constipation! It can also be used in a poultice for bites and stings to take the sting and itch out, disinfect and deoderize wounds, it can even absorb the poison from spider and snake bites. So, I hope that helps, I hear the stomach bug is going around so it may be well worth it to you to keep this little gem in your medicine cabinet!

The ironies of life

After graduating high school, I knew what my collegiate educational path was to be, Pre Med. I chose UC Riverside for its (at the time) very high reputation for their Biomedical Sciences program. I applied and even though it was one of the toughest majors to be accepted in, I made it! So off I went to Riverside, only to really dislike the city, living away from friends and family, and dorm life. And in the meantime, going through a bout of depression, I also convinced myself that Biomed was not for me, seeing as how I was not so great at math or physics which were kind of important to my major. I switched my major to Psychology and the rest, as they say, is history. And yet today I find myself inevitably drawn back into the life of biomed, specifically as we intervene with Matthew's Autism diagnosis. It is funny how life works. I guess after all of that, I DID end up with a major in Biomed, only from the school of life and motherhood, not a university.

Here's Matthew's daily regime:

Cal/Mag citrate (2 capsules) and Sonic Cholesterol (2 capsules) with breakfast
Nystatin (1 tsp) after breakfast
Theanine (2 capsules), GABA (2 capsules) and Folinic Acid (2 capsules) in the later morning.
Culturelle (1 capsule) in the late morning
Cal/Mag citrate (2 capsules) and Sonic Cholesterol (2 capsules) with lunch
Nystatin (1 tsp) after lunch
VSL #3 (1 capsule) in the afternoon
Theanine (2 capsules) and GABA (2 capsules) in the later afternoon.
Cal/Mag citrate (2 capsules) and Sonic Cholesterol (2 capsules) with dinner
Nystatin (1 tsp) after dinner
Cod Liver Oil (1 tsp) after dinner
Culturelle (1 capsule) at bedtime

The capsules we pull apart and dissolve in juice and administer with a syringe so basically the poor guy gets doses of chalky juice several times per day. But he's a trooper. He's working on a virus right now but I hesitate to add any other supplements since his immune system is working hard to bolster itself with the help of all the probiotics and other supplements above.

However, I too have been a bit under the weather and have been able to fight it off with high dose Vit. C, liquid Vit. A (great for respiratory issues) and Olive Leaf Extract (great for fighting viruses). I thought I had it licked but after a very restless night, I woke again with a sore throat. I reached for the Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE). What is GSE? I consider it one of those miracle supplements that is a must have in our house. It really helps sore throats, upset stomachs, parasites (can clean impure drinking water and help with "montezuma's revenge" while traveling), yeast control, bladder infections, it can clean your fruits and veggies (most commerical "natural" fruit and veggie cleaners contain this), provide a natural solution to disinfecting your cutting boards and kitchen counters and the list goes on. It is safe for kids too! Here's a link for more info:

http://www.nutriteam.com/index2.html#strep

It seemed pretty pricey (to me) at about $11.99 for a very small bottle (a few ounces). It is in a glycerine base and seriously, you use just DROPS for effective treatment. We've been using the same bottle for a couple of years now and just need a new one now, pretty cost effective if you ask me! It is also a great general immune booster. And don't let the name scare you, if you are on statin drugs or any others that have contraindications for grapefruits or other citrus fruits, this is totally safe to take!! It is made from the SEED, not the actual fruit so it will not interfere. Although at the risk of offending, I would encourage anyone on a statin drug to try other means for controlling high cholesterol. Statins weaken muscles. One reason you need to lower cholesterol is for heart health. Well, the heart is a muscle. But that is a whole other discussion.

So, check out GSE, especially with school starting back up, sore throats, strep and tummy bugs coming our way. This is precious in our house and hopefully you will find it helpful in yours!