The Importance of a Healthy Gut Biome in Autism
A 5-year old little boy walks into my clinic with his parents. He is unable to speak, socialize normally, or even hold eye contact with me for more than a second. He has been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. According to the CDC, about 1 in 68 children between the ages of 3-17 have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. (CDC, 2012) A newer and more astonishing survey conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics suggests that the number is now closer to 1 in 45 children. (Autism Speaks, 2015)
The total costs per year for children with ASD in the U.S. are estimated to be between $11.5 billion to $60.9 billion (2011 U.S. dollars). This large and variable estimation represents both direct and in-direct costs, including needs like medical care to special education, and even loss of parental productivity. (CDC, 2012)
The rate of autism seems to just be growing every year, which is why it is so important that we not only understand the disease, but that we find a way to treat the children affected with ADS and potentially find a cure.
One area of the body that greatly influences our cognitive ability is the gut. Our gut health is so important that many times it is referred to as the “second brain”. Research now shows that our gut health has such dramatic impact on our brain, including dementia, auto-immune issues, anxiety, ADD, autism and many more that some medical professionals are now referring to it as our first brain.
Most children with autism have sensitivities to numerous food items, environmental allergies, and prevalence for increased levels of “bad” bacteria in the gut. One particular species of bacteria commonly seen in more abundance in the gut of autism patients is the clostridial species, also known as C-diff. This species will cause a major disturbance in the balance of “good” vs. “bad” bacteria. Moreover, leaky gut is also a very common pattern among children with autism. (Perlmutter, 2015, p.127) Leaky gut, aka intestinal hyperpermeability, occurs when we have a malfunction in the junctions of our intestinal walls. This delicate wall is the barrier that is supposed to keep all toxins and bacteria in our intestines and away from the rest of our body. When the junctions in that wall malfunction and open they then allow these particles into the blood stream. In turn, our bodies respond with various responses from bloating, and food sensitivities, to inflammation and autoimmune responses just to name a few. Gluten has been a culprit in the development of leaky gut for some people. Inflammation from leaky gut is now being tied to what they call “leaky brain”. We once thought the brain-blood barrier protected the brain, but research shows that some substances like viruses, proteins, and bacteria can actually cross that barrier when a person develops leaky brain. This means that as your gut inflames and permeability of the lining becomes compromised, your brain can become more susceptible to these invaders. Dr. David Permutter explains that “not only is there increased gut permeability when the gut is exposed to gliadin, a protein found in gluten, but in fact the blood-brain barrier also becomes more permeable in response to gliadin exposure”. (Perlmutter, 2015, p.55)
A few ways to improve gut health and combat leaky gut is through supplements that provide good bacteria to combat the bad bacteria as well as dietary changes. A regimen of probiotics is very important in helping restore health. In addition, many autistic children are lacking a number of biomolecules that are essential for good brain function. Glutathione is an antioxidant in the brain that helps control damage and inflammation. Many children with autism are not only deficient in this antioxidant, but they also lack n-acetyl cysteine that can enhance glutathione production. L-carnitine and omega-3 oils are also good to supplement, as they are fundamental in helping with brain function. (Perlmutter, 2015, p.133)
High vegetable and fiber-based diets are more desirable for a healthy gut biome than a high fat diet, but what happens when even those foods that we see as “good” are still causing issues in the body? I have seen many patients that want to eat fruit, vegetables, and any number of other healthy foods in an attempt to heal their body, but they react negatively to these items. For many people, even eating an apple can cause inflammation in the gut, which in turn can manifest as skin irritations, asthma, etc. Their bodies see these foods as invaders and will mount an immune response that leads to poor nutrient absorption in addition to the inflammation. Just supplementing the body with food and vitamins is not always enough. It is important to make sure the body can utilize the good while keeping the inflammatory response to a minimum.
N.A.E.T. (Nambudripad’s Allergy Elimination Technique) is a treatment therapy based on the principles of East Asian medicine used to restore health. An allergy is an inappropriate immune response to an item. N.A.E.T. rebalances the body and brain so that it does not perceive that item to be a threat any longer. During a treatment the patient holds a sample of the item while the practitioner balances various acupuncture points. Activating these points while the patient holds the item will reset the body and brain to that particular item’s frequency. This process then balances the brain and body to the item so it will no longer see the item as an invader.
The patient holds the item for 20 minutes while receiving acupuncture. This process not only rebalances the body to the item, but helps rebalance the body’s organ systems as well. *
N.A.E.T has been an especially useful therapy in our clinic for desensitizing children with autism to foods, chemicals, and other items that cause a disruption in their gut-biome and interfere with brain and immune system balance.
A pilot study done by Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum, Dr. Devi Nambudripad, and the NARF Research Foundation was conducted in 2004 on the effects of N.A.E.T. on autism. Sixty eligible children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder that also exhibited allergy related symptoms to food and chemicals were accepted to the NAET trial. Thirty children received NAET treatments and thirty were in the control group that did not receive NAET. After receiving NAET treatments twice a week for one year the NAET-treated children showed a significant decrease by 68.4% in the mean total of all four AIR-ATEC (Autism Research Institute Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist) subtests measuring speech, language, communication, sociability, sensory & cognitive awareness, as well as health and physical behavior. Twenty-three of the NAET-treated children were able to function in regular classrooms after one year instead of special education classed. The children in the control group did not show any significant improvements and none were able to move out of the special education classes. (Integrative Medicine, Vol 10, No.5- Oct/Nov 2011)
From the East Asian medicine perspective, balancing the organ systems through acupuncture, or acupressure in many of these cases can help balance the body and digestive system. If the patient is highly emotional or erratic and unable to do a N.A.E.T. treatment it can be advantageous to stimulate points like Shen Men to calm the nervous system or light scalp massage. It is important to remember that children with autism might be fearful of acupuncture needles. The possibility of erratic behavior during a treatment is especially heightened in children with autism, and therefore could make it dangerous to the patient to attempt needle insertion. Acupressure can be a safer alternative in many circumstances.
As with any medicine there are no guarantees. If however you can improve the function of the gut and therefore the brain then chances are you will see your patients start to feel better.
If you are wondering about that little 5-year old boy, I can tell you some good news. When we started his N.A.E.T. treatments, he was not only non-verbal and could not hold eye contact, but his parents reported that he was sad and angry most of the time. He would cry a lot and was unable to sleep through the night very often due to asthma and insomnia. After about 6 months of N.A.E.T. treatments along with key probiotics and supplements, his parents report that he is a very happy child who can hold eye contact, sleep through the night, breathe better, and he can finally talk. I even heard him sing “Happy Birthday” to my office manager.
References:
1. Christensen, Deborah L. (31 Mar. 2016). “CDC Features.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov/features/new-autism-data/index.html.
2. Autism Speaks,“New Government Survey Pegs Autism Prevalence at 1 in 45.” (13 Nov. 2015). National Center for Health Statistics, www.autismspeaks.org/science/science-news/new-government-survey-pegs-autism-prevalence-1-45.
3- Perlmutter, D., 2015. Brain Maker. Little Brown & Company: New York, NY
4- Teitelbaum, J., [2011]-“Is NAET Effective for Autism” Integrative Medicine, Vol. 10, No. 5- Oct/Nov 2011
* To learn more about N.A.E.T go to www.NAET.com
BIO- Dr. Amanda M. Dunn, DACM, L.Ac., graduated from Texas A&M University and obtained her Masters in Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine from AOMA Graduate School of Integrative Medicine. Dr. Dunn then went on to earn her Doctorate in Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine from Pacific College of Health & Science. Dr. Dunn is a Certified N.A.E.T. Instructor and Practitioner. She owns Dunn Acupuncture & Allergy Center in Colleyville, Texas