Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Hyderabad
Tackling autism
|
Although little is known about the cause of autism, doctors say proper and informed care can bring about a speedy recovery
|
ON THE OFFENSE William Shaw says the only way to combat autism is with aggressive self-education Photo: Murali Kumar K.
The Berlin Film festival opened with the bittersweet movie Snow Cake with Sigourney Weaver playing an autistic woman coping with the loss of her daughter in an accident. Screenwriter Angela Pell drew from her experiences with her autistic son Johnny.
There are a lot of myths and beliefs about autism from popular culture. In the film one of the characters says: "I know about autism; I saw the film."
According to William Shaw, however, the best way to tackle autism is by "aggressive self-education". Dr. Shaw, Director of the Great Plains Laboratory for Health Metabolism and Nutrition in Lenexa, was in the city for a seminar on biomedical treatment for persons with autism. Described as a brain disorder that affects children before the age of three, the cause for the neurological illness has never been pinpointed nor has the prognosis been very good.
Dr. Shaw, who wrote the best-selling Biological Treatments for Autism and PDD (1997), says: "There is hope for reversal. Knowledge is the best way. The net is a good resource. There are nutrition-based treatments. We have seen that children with autism cannot digest wheat and diary products. If we keep these children away from these products, the results are dramatic even within a week."
Mercury factor
The causes for autism, which affects crucial areas of development like communication, social interaction and creative play, "are multi-factorial. The excessive mercury in vaccination plays a role. And to the question why only some children are autistic when all are vaccinated, I can only say that some children have the genetic makeup to be vulnerable to mercury."
The reason why boys are more vulnerable to autism as compared to girls could also be genetic. "Girls have an extra X chromosome which acts as a backup. The other thing is mercury binds to testosterone while oestrogen protects the brain from mercury. In the U.S., there was a movement to remove mercury from vaccinations and now there are vaccines without mercury and there is a significant dip in the cases of autism."
Lori Knowles was devastated when her youngest child, Daniel, began displaying autistic symptoms. "I realised that I could no longer live in denial about Daniel's condition. I read Dr. Shaw's book and that enthused me to try everything I could to help Daniel. I discovered an 85 per cent improvement once wheat and diary products were removed from his diet. I believe recovery is possible. The younger the child is when you start, the better are the chances of recovery." She also subscribes to the theory of mercury in vaccinations being dangerous. "Vaccinations need to be safer."
The seminar was organised by the Rotary Bangalore West and Academy for Severe Handicaps and Autism (ASHA). Rotary Bangalore West is in the process of setting up an information and resource centre to help people with autism with Sharada Peetam of Sringeri and ASHA. For more information log on to www.greatplainslaboratory.com, www.autismindia.com or email info@ashaforautism.com
MINI-ANTHIKAD CHHIBBER
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Hyderabad
|
