In 1911, a Swiss psychiatrist named Eigen Bleuler was the first to describe autism as a medical disorder. However, he was talking about adults, and the condition he was describing is now known as schizophrenia. Thirty years later, in 1943, Dr. Leo Kanner of Johns Hopkins University redefined autism to what it now means. Dr. Kanner based his evaluation on 6 years of observing the behavior of 11 children with the condition. According to his reports, all of the children had withdrawn from human contact and displayed very similar behaviors.
The term “autism” translates to the Greek word for “self.” People with autism commonly become self-absorbed and withdraw from human contact.
Autism is now at epidemic levels, and is on the rise. According to a University of California study published in the journal Epidemiology, in 1990, around 6.2 out of every ten thousand children under age five were diagnosed with autism. In 2001, the study found that the rate of autism diagnosis for children under age five had risen to 42.5 out of every ten thousand. This is clearly an epidemic-level increase.
Scientists have given several explanations for this increase, including mercury and other environmental toxins. Irva Hertz-Picciotto, lead author of the above study and epidemiology professor at the University of California, concluded that, “It’s time to start looking for the environmental culprits responsible for the remarkable increase in the rate of autism in California.”
In 2000, Dr. Bernard Rimland, founder of the Autism Research Institute, testified before the House of Representatives, stating that the rise in autism was directly linked to the use of triple vaccines. Dr. Robin P. Clarke disagrees with this theory, drawing a correlation between the autism increase and a switch in the type of amalgam used in dental fillings. In the 1970s, the type of amalgam switched to non-gamma-2 which emits 30 to 50 times more mercury vapor.
According to renowned natural health physician Dr. Joseph Mercola of Mercola.com, they’re both right. He explains that the mercury in vaccines, which is in the form of a compound known as thimerosal, is 50 times more toxic than regular mercury. Silver fillings are 50 percent mercury and are extremely toxic, and the American Dental Association has created a “code of ethics” that forbids dentists from revealing the truth about mercury toxicity to their patients or recommending the removal of mercury-based amalgams for health reasons.
Not only are amalgams and vaccines filled with mercury, mercury is an environmental pollutant present in fish, the air, and drinking water. A 2008 study conducted by the Texas Health Science Center demonstrates a significant link between rising autism rates and distance from power generation plants that release mercury into the air.
How to Treat Autism with Orthomolecular Medicine
Orthomolecular medicine, or the practice of treating or preventing disease by creating a biochemical balance in the body, holds that it is vital for people with autism to have balanced levels of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. When treating autism with orthomolecular medicine, a practitioner would examine nutritional deficiencies, as well as environmental factors, such as overexposure to toxic substances. If the cause is suspected to be food allergies, the practitioner would most likely take a detailed food history and place the patient on a diet that eliminated suspected foods. If the cause is suspected to be environmental toxins such as mercury, a practitioner might prescribe substances that detoxify the body.
To detoxify mercury from the body, Dr. Mercola recommends taking beneficial bacteria, chlorella, MSM, vitamins C and E, and a mineral replacement supplement that includes selenium and zinc, which are particularly important in mercury detoxification.
Dr. Abram Hoffer, founder of the Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine, explains that food allergies are a major factor in the development of autism. Suspected triggers include allergies to dairy products, wheat, and other staple foods. In this case, the patient would be put on an elimination diet to discover which of these foods are the triggers.
According to the Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine, practitioners may also make use of the following supplements in the treatment of autism:
Magnesium Vitamin D Vitamin A Vitamin B6 Vitamin B Complex