The Physical Aspects of Asperger's Syndrome
7. Heavy Metals and Other Toxins
Mercury and Lead
Heavy metals and what to do with them in the autistic body can be a subject of controversy at times. Therefore, I will not issue any opinion on this subject, nor will I try to persuade you one way or the other. I will just let you know what some sources say about it, and let you know what some options are. I will give you only a brief overview of the topic here. If you are interested in learning more, this will be enough to help you begin your research.
Autistic individuals seem to usually have a higher content of toxic heavy metals in their bodies than others. There are many theories as to why this might be. The main two theories, and it's possible that both are true, is that these people are exposed to more heavy metals, and/or that their bodies are unable to process and remove those heavy metals out of their body in a normal way.
The main metals we are referring to are mercury and lead. They are the most common, and do the most harm to the body. Both metals poison and harm the body in many ways. Mercury, for example, strips myelin (the protective sheath) away from nerve endings, rendering those nerves useless. These metals can come from a variety of sources, the most common sources are mercury dental amalgam fillings; vaccinations, especially those with thimerosal, a mercury based preservative; eating mercury tainted fish; lead paint; and pesticides. If you or those in your family are susceptible to autism spectrum disorders, it might be wise to avoid these products and keep them away from your body.
The etiology (cause) of autism is to be different for everyone, so it is unknown whether any specific individual became autistic as a result of exposure to metals. All we know is that it appears to be the cause for some people. Again, as I mentioned in Section 2, there are subgroups in autism. Some might be affected by metal, others may not. And still others might have had safe levels of metal exposure, however, their bodies are unable to process and remove it. Others might have normal metal and might have autism due to an entirely different etiology. The theory that some autistics might not be able to remove metal from their bodies comes from observation of hair samples of autistic and non-autistic children. The normal children excreted more heavy metals out of their body (and therefore into their hair, and also probably through other excretory channels) than the autistic children did. This led scientists to theorize that the problem lies in getting the body to remove the heavy metal efficiently. This also further backs the theory that autism is caused by metallothionein protein disorder in which the body doesn't process, transport, and regulate metals appropriately.
What Can Be Done About It
For some people, merely avoiding heavy metal exposure in the future might be enough to allow maximum health potential. However, if you are interested in removing the heavy metals, there is a process available called chelation. Chelation is usually only performed by doctors, because it can be dangerous if not done properly. In chelation, safe compounds are added to the body which can bind with the heavy metals, allowing them to let go of their position in the body and be excreted in the body's waste. Doctors might use oral or IV chelation using EDTA, glutathione, or other products. The IV versions are usually stronger in dosage. Allow me to reiterate that I am neither for nor against chelation with a doctor, I am just letting you know that the option exists.
There is also a natural version of chelation that is milder and available without a doctor. Glutathione can be purchased over the internet, and is used as a natural chelator and a great antioxidant. It is something that is naturally made in the body, and can be found in most tissues. Autistic people tend to be low on this natural antioxidant. Symptoms of being low in glutathione are seen in the nervous system and include tremors, balance and coordination problems, and mood problems. A deficiency in this antioxidant can be caused by many chronic disorders like asthma, arthritis, or injury. Supplementing with glutathione can alleviate the symptoms of low quantities of the chemical, and help the body to rid itself of metals, toxins, and oxidants.
If you'd like to buy over-the-counter glutathione, you can find it at Kirkman Labs, http://www.kirkmanlabs.com. There are also other companies from which this supplement is available.
Detoxification
When taking glutathione, you will be detoxifying the body from unwanted metals and other toxins. Extra maintenance will be needed to help the body then rid itself of these separated toxins. During this time, be sure to drink a lot of water! You will know that you need extra water because suddenly drinking normal amounts of water won't be enough to prevent you from becoming dehydrated and possibly having sore muscles. The toxins get freed from their place in the body and need sufficient water to move all the way out of your body. Without water, the toxins won't be able to continue their journey out of the body, and will reattach somewhere within the body, usually in the muscles. Massages and epsom salt or sea salt baths are also very useful in helping the toxins move out of the body. I take a salt bath about every three days now; if I don't, I begin to feel tired and moody, being full of toxins. It's normal to feel bad some days when detoxing. With proper water intake and proper waste patterns, it will soon go away. Massages, baths, and lots of water to drink help me to feel cleaned out and much better than I felt before detoxification.
Likewise, getting off of offending foods can have a similar detoxing effect. You may feel worse for the first few days or weeks. This is normal. It means your body is taking that opportunity to cleanse those foods and toxins out of your body. When your body is working to remove metals, toxins, and bad food from the body, symptoms will appear that will mimic the worse that symptoms were when on that chemical. They will subside when you're cleaned out. Just be patient and stay on the diet. Once cleaned out, the person will feel better than they ever have before.
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