by Simon Yu, MD
Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by social impairments, communication difficulties, and repetitive or stereotyped patterns of behavior. Autism is considered the most severe form of ASD. Milder forms are known as Asperger syndrome and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS).
The causes of autism/ASD are unknown and controversial. Is it possible as a hypothetical question that parasite infections might be linked to autism? Let me explain my position for a parasite hypothesis based on my limited clinical experience.
Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are clinical diagnoses based on complex behavioral and neuro-developmental disorders without specific bio-markers. There are no blood tests, brain scans, or genetic tests to define and diagnose autism or ASD. The American Psychiatric Association redefined the definition of autism in DSM V (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual) in late 2012.
One of the most significant changes is that the separate diagnostic labels of Autism Disorder, Asperger’s Disorder, and PDD-NOS will be replaced under one umbrella term, Autism Spectrum Disorder with levels 1, 2 and 3.
Both genetics and environment seem to play a role for autism/ASD without a specific trigger. One of the theories is that, during early brain development, there are defects in genes that regulate how brain cells communicate with each other. These defects are possibly due to the influence of environmental factors on gene regulation (Epigenetics).
Although, there are no known causes for autism/ASD according to current scientific medical authorities, there are many theories, speculations, and hypotheses. Based on Dr. Andrew Wakefield’s study from England and published in Lancet, one of the speculations links MMR vaccinations exposure to autism. His study has been retracted in controversy. Another controversy is mercury (Thimerosal) in vaccines which has been linked to autism, as championed by Boyd Haley, Ph.D. from Kentucky.
In my medical practice, as an Internist, most of my patients are usually adults. However, beginning in 2012, I have been seeing more autistic children. I’d like to share my clinical observations on autistic children. The Autism/ASD community has been using MMS (Miracle Mineral Supplement per Jim Humble) for parasites with moderate success and has been looking for a physician who has experience in treating parasites.
Basically, they were searching for an alternative parasite doctor. I have no formal training on parasitology except basic parasitology lectures in medical school and attendance at specialized parasitology conferences. I also had a rather unique experience for parasite treatments as a US Army medical officer in Bolivia. I have written many articles on parasites for unexplainable medical problems and described unexpected cures using parasite medications. I published a book, Accidental Cure, in 2010 which goes into more detail on my experiences with parasites and illnesses.
Every autistic patient comes with a unique story to tell. Some parents tell me a specific event such as when their child was 18 months old, they had MMR or DtaP vaccination, then their child developed a high fever and sudden change in behavior and withdrew into their own world showing classic autism/ASD behavior. For most children, the changes are gradual and often parents recognize the problems when somebody points out the possibility of autism/ASD.
There are no diagnostic biomarkers for autism. Diagnosis is solely based on a clinical evaluation and assessment. In my practice, I try not to focus on symptoms, syndromes, or diagnosis but evaluate the patient based on Acupuncture Meridian Assessment (AMA). I have previously covered many articles on AMA (available on my web site).
ASD children often have frequent gut related and environmental problems, especially food allergies. Like a pattern signature for adults suffering from parasites, often large intestine, small intestine, gallbladder/liver/stomach, or allergy meridians in different degrees of combinations show up as the primary disturbed meridians for these children.
Parasites and allergies have been well known to cause behavioral problems and mental illness. Autistic children are relatively new for me but I recognized that they have similar patterns of meridian disturbances to adult patients except dental related problems. They seem too young to develop dental related medical problems.
As an example, the gallbladder meridian not only regulates gallbladder function, it also influences our nervous system from mesencephalon including center of sleep and waking rhythm, diencephalon sleep center for deep sleep, cranial nerves involving optic nerve and trigeminal nerve, parasympathetic nervous system including ciliary optic ganglion, vagus nerve in the medulla oblongata, and the cranial part of the sympathetic nervous system. (Per Dr. Voll’s German Electro-acupuncture Reference Manual).
When the gallbladder meridian is out of balance, you may have headache, concentration problem, eye problems, neck pain, indigestion, nausea, abdominal pain, hip or knee pain, and/or leg or ankle pain. Autistic children often have multiple GI complaints in addition to behavioral and neuro-developmental disorders.
I do not want to add any unrealistic expectations or confusions. However, since I began treating autistic children with parasite medications to re-balance the meridians, parents are telling other parents how their children’s behaviors are improving. They become more communicative, more social, and easier to manage. Some of the most common parasite medications I use include Ivermectin, pyrantel pamoate, praziquantel, albendazole, mebendazole, tinadazole, and alinia with herbal and homeopathic parasite remedies. Is there a connection with autism and parasites?
I believe vaccines may play a role for particular children when the parents say, “my child developed high fever after MMR and then withdrew into his own world.” But the scientific community says these are isolated events and are not statistically significant. Should we ignore the actual events and their commonality? From the point of view of the parents of each of those children, the vaccine with mercury was the cause of the autism regardless of the statistics. These cases should not be ignored.
It is too early to tell but definitely some autistic children seem to respond to parasite medications. Is it possible that parasite treatment might play a role in the management of autism/ASD? Parasites might be one of many overlooked environmental epigenetic triggers. Parasites and their effects can pass on from one generation to the next generation (Trans-Generations) along with environmental toxins.
When treating these children with correct parasite medications based on acupuncture meridian assessment, their total body burden for viral, bacterial, and fungal loads also drops. Dysbiosis and leaky gut begin to repair, they are less allergic to foods, can absorb nutrients more effectively, respond to nutritional supplements, release more toxins from their bodies, and begin to repair their health to a greater degree than previously thought possible.
Autism and ASD were rare disorders 50 years ago. The latest statistics show one out of 50 children are currently diagnosed with ASD in the USA. This should be totally unacceptable to the medical community and everyone else. We need to ask the question again, “What is Autism?”
New environmental factors bring new health threats. There might be 10,000 new environmental toxins and stressors including genetically modified foods and electro-magnetic disturbances poisoning our planet for the last several generations. We are witnessing new and mysterious toxins and infectious agents rapidly spreading around the world and ready to strike this new and vulnerable trans-generation of children.
Autism/ASD are not mysterious medical problems with a global pharmaceutical medical conspiracy cover up. Autism/ASD are epigenetic problems. Let’s explore the possible role of parasites on autism as one of the environmental epigenetic triggers, not based on general statistics, but based on individual case studies. This is just a medical hypothesis.
Dr. Simon Yu, M.D. is a Board Certified Internist. He practices Internal Medicine with an emphasis on Alternative Medicine to use the best each has to offer. For more articles and information about alternative medicine as well as patient success stories, and Dr. Yu’s revolutionary health book Accidental Cure: Extraordinary Medicine for Extraordinary Patients, visit his web site at www.PreventionAndHealing.com or call Prevention and Healing, Inc., 314-432-7802. You can also attend a free monthly presentation and discussion by Dr. Yu on Alternative Medicine at his office on the second Tuesday each month at 6:30 pm. Call to verify the date. Seating is limited, arrive early.