Autism Biomedical Treatment

Biomedical treatment for Autism refers to the process of redressing the anomalies in the patient's Biochemistry through the use of specific nutrients. It is based on the pioneering work of Nobel Prize winner Linus Pauling who demonstrated that substances naturally occurring in the body (vitamins and micronutrients) can have a profound impact on health and body functions, thereby sprouting a discipline called Orthomolecular Medicine. Despite its self-evident truth and a wealth of scientific evidence,  mainstream Medicine driven by Pharmaceutical interests has resisted  this nutritional approach. The mainstream view has been that we get adequate nutrients from our diet and that supplementation is futile. No drug can replace nutrient deficiencies and repair cells suffering from cellular malnutrition and toxic damage. If we persist in looking solely at drug treatment, we may continue to have the prevailing view that Autism is a lifelong disorder and is not treatable.

The medical model can move slowly to accept changes
For decades, medical students were taught a simple rule: "no acid, no ulcer." It was an article of faith that stress and an executive lifestyle contributed to acid-induced stomach ulcers. In 1982, Australian gastroenterologist Barry Marshall, M.D., and pathologist Robin Warren, M.D., showed that a bacterial infection (Helicobacter pylori) led to the development of gastritis and ulcers. It took years before the medical establishment accepted the idea that ulcers could be caused by infection. It was not until 1995 that the medical community accepted treatment with antibiotics for Helicobacter pylori as standard. In October 2005, Drs. Marshall and Warren were awarded the highest honor a researcher can receive: the Nobel Prize in medicine. Two  lessons can be taken from the Helicobacter-ulcer story. The first is that bacterial infection and resulting inflammation might lie behind other chronic conditions. There is now emerging evidence of inflammation involved in Autism. Second, that it takes a very long time for medicine to accept even well researched medical discoveries, let alone non-medical ones, no matter how scientifically valid.

The mainstream medical model responds very slowly to "scientific" advances. For example, despite years of scientific evidence, it's only recently that mainstream Medical journals have published papers recommending nutrients such as Vitamin E and Fish oils in the prevention and treatment of Cardiovascular disease. There are good reasons for being cautious when dealing with toxic drugs with potentially dangerous side-effects. However, this caution may be less warranted when dealing with sensible administration of diet and nutrient supplements.

Scientists, Including Microbiologist Dr. Henry Butt at Bioscreen Medical, Jacques Duff and Dr. Joe Nastasi at the Behavioural Neurotherapy Clinic are actively looking for the microbial agents that might trigger Irritable Bowel Syndrome  (diarrhea, constipation and abdominal pain and discomfort). We are also researching which bacteria are involved in the intestinal dysbiosis (abnormal comensal bacteria distribution in the Gut) seen in Autism. Our preliminary findings, which were pooled with those of clinics from Sydney and Queensland, were presented by Dr Butt and treatment options presented by Jacques Duff at the Autism Victoria annual Conference in July 2005.

Expected Key Benefits of Biomedical treatment for Autism

• Improvements in immune function, resulting in much healthier children who seem to be very resistant to coughs, colds, runny noses, ear infections and who seem to get over  viral infections quicker than the rest of the family.
• Improvements in Gut and Bowel function. More normal stool frequency and consistency; reduction or elimination of lower abdominal pain or discomfort; reduction or elimination of loose stools or diarrhea.
• Children who are seen to thrive.
• Improved appetite and a wider variety of foods tried and consumed
• Better socialisation and initiation of communication with family members and at school; more normal social interactions and social play.
• Improved cognitive function; improved vocabulary and sentence structure; improved higher order functions.

See our Links web page on supporting evidence in the research literature that indicate that all of these gains are genuinely reported across numerous studies.

Treatment effects

There are many studies reporting improvements in Autistic behaviours and cognitive improvements using individual  (mono) therapies.  We have combined these research findings and mono therapies into a scientific model that explains Autistic behaviours and which enables us to methodically apply a  treatment protocol combining these therapies. Their synergy gives better treatment outcomes than seen individually.