Naturally Recovering Autism with Karen Thomas

Histamine and Mast Cell Triggers with Dr. Beth O’Hara

What are histamines and mast cells?

Close to 100% of children with autism have histamine intolerance and mast cell activation. Histamines are released by the digestive tract and the brain in defense as an allergic reaction. The DAO enzyme helps the body break down excess histamines, but commonly, this enzyme is defective in children with autism. In histamine intolerance the body is over producing histamines and there are too many for the body to break down. This stress type response is a trigger for mast cell activation which creates a strong inflammatory response in the body.

Mast cells are our front line defenders helping the immune system recognize pathogens of all kinds, including electromagnetic field radiation. Mast cells help regulate the immune system, and protect us from environmental toxins. Histamine is a mast cell mediator. Too much histamine released causes histamine intolerance which causes mast cell activation. When this happens our protective mechanisms are broken down and we become hypersensitive to things we ingest or that are in our environment.

What are histamines and mast cells?

Close to 100% of children with autism have histamine intolerance and mast cell activation. Histamines are released by the digestive tract and the brain in defense as an allergic reaction. The DAO enzyme helps the body break down excess histamines, but commonly, this enzyme is defective in children with autism. In histamine intolerance the body is over producing histamines and there are too many for the body to break down. This stress type response is a trigger for mast cell activation which creates a strong inflammatory response in the body.

Mast cells are our front line defenders helping the immune system recognize pathogens of all kinds, including electromagnetic field radiation. Mast cells help regulate the immune system, and protect us from environmental toxins. Histamine is a mast cell mediator. Too much histamine released causes histamine intolerance which causes mast cell activation. When this happens our protective mechanisms are broken down and we become hypersensitive to things we ingest or that are in our environment.

Dr. Beth O’Hara’s biography

Beth O’Hara is a Functional Naturopath, specializing in complex chronic immune conditions related to Mast Cell Activation Syndrome and Histamine Intolerance. She is the founder and owner of Mast Cell 360, a Functional Naturopathy Practice designed to look at all factors surrounding health conditions – genetic, epigenetic biochemical, physiological, environmental, and emotional. Her subspecialties are Mold Toxicity and Genetic Analysis in the area of Mast Cell Activation and Histamine Intolerance.

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/86

EMDR Eye Movement Therapy for Overcoming Anxiety, Stress and Trauma with Dr. Amy Hopkins

E.M.D.R stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It is a gentle, non invasive therapy based on bilateral stimulation, (right, left), of the nervous system. It is often done through visual stimulation. However, E.M.D.R. is also effective by stimulating other parts of the body such as through hearing from right to left with sounds in headphones, or in the hands through tapping or hand held stimulators.

E.M.D.R. helps to free trapped emotions in the nervous system due to past or present emotional experiences being withheld. These can range from traumatic to seemingly uneventful times in our lives, but continue to effect our reactions to current life experiences, even decades later. Generally speaking, six or more sessions are needed as the layers are removed and replaced with more positive feelings.

Dr. Amy Hopkins
Dr. Amy Hopkins is a Licensed Psychologist with a doctorate in Psychology. Her doctoral project was entitled: An Exploration of the Impact of Childhood Trauma on Adult Mental Health. Dr. Hopkins
works with adults and teens and has a private practice in Newport Beach, California. She has certificates in EMDR, Alcoholism and Chemical Dependency, and Complementary and Alternative
Medicine. Dr. Hopkins has extensive experience working with trauma, grief, depression, anxiety, addiction, parenting, and interpersonal relationships.

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/85

Brain Imaging with Neuroquant with Dr. Jodie Dashore

Neuroquant is a technically advanced way to scan the brain for images that can offer valuable information on specific areas of the brain’s volume. This can show where the brain in smaller and more deficient so we’re able to work to enhance these areas.

Inflammation and coinfections of autism, such as mold biotoxins, and PANS, PANDAS/strep, can cause many brain abnormalities which we are able to assess with the Neuroquant scan. The neuroquant brain scan can offer information to tell us a bit more about how the brain is functioning and why certain behaviors may exist.

Nutritional support for the brain is incredibly important, so I offer you a quick reference guide on the top foods to avoid,  but sometimes the brain needs some additional assistance to build neurotransmitters, or brain messengers, which can also come from natural brain support supplementation.

Further resources:

Please listen to radio show #83, where Dr. Jodie Dashore and I discuss the benefits of the Neuroquant brain imaging.

Find a Neuroquant practitioner near you here.

Additional radio show interviews on the coinfections of autism can all be found HERE:

• Radio Show #2 is on the comorbid symptoms.
• Radio Shows #7 and #34 are on mold biotoxins.
• Radio Show #11, 15, and 18 are focused on Lyme Disease.

Also watch, Mold Biotoxins and Your Health [Podcast]

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/83

Nutritional Support for the Brain

 

FOODS THAT FEED THE BRAIN

In the 1970s, when the book Orthomolecular Psychiatry by the Nobel Prize-winner Linus Pualing, was released, it showed that mental illness on any level could be affected by nutrition as well as medication. At that time, the medical profession, especially psychiatry, disclaimed this knowledge that nutrition was helpful to health, especially emotional health or the functioning of the brain. Today, the information in that book has become elemental in treating chemical and physical disorders that lead to brain dysfunction as well as mental illness.

Medication and supplements are not enough. In order to build the proper levels of neurotransmitters in the brain, certain nutritional needs must be met. Chemical balance relies on enough of the good coming in and the bad being greatly limited.

Hypoglycemia should be avoided at all cost. Hypoglycemia is low blood sugar caused by a drop in blood glucose levels. This can also cause diabetes. It is caused by eating too many refined carbohydrates, such as foods and beverages with white sugar like soda, refined cereals, pastries, etc.

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/82

Natural Brain Supplementation: Quick Guide for Autism and Other Neurological Disorders

Most children with autism and other neurological imbalances can become calmer, happier, have better focus, and retain information far better with the use of natural supplementation to assist their brain. Healing the biology from toxins, inflammation and infections is critical. Please see my free webinar to learn about each of these, and how it can be done safely, and naturally. The following are informational examples of options for assisting  brain function with natural supplementation.

First, let’s learn a little bit about neurotransmitters.

Serotonin

Serotonin is a key brain chemical that is been identified in the physiological abnormalities in ASD and AD/HD.  Serotonin is made from tryptophan with the help of vitamin C, folate, iron, calcium and vitamin B6.  Tryptophan is an amino acid, which is a building block of protein.  Children with developmental disorders often show amino acid deficiency including tryptophan.  They also have an inability to effectively convert B6 to its active form P5P.

Serotonin is responsible for regulating:

Learning

Memory

Sensory Perception

Noise sensitivity

Mood

Behaviour

Sleep

Appetite

The natural supplement 5HTP builds serotonin.

Gut dysbiosis, as well as heavy metals can also effect levels of serotonin and dopamine.

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/81

The Brain and Behaviors in Autism with

It’s important to know why your child may be behaving in certain ways or have difficulty either getting motivated or calming down. 

Scientists have found that gut bacteria produce neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine and GABA. Up to 95% of serotonin is made in the gut.-mood, sleep appetite. Listen to radio show #76 for more on neurotransmitters.

Additional infections and toxins that affect the gut (and therefore, the brain):

The gut lining becomes damaged due to factors such as an intense inflammatory response that leads to persistent inflammation (often the case after vaccinations due to mercury or viral exposure), mold biotoxins, lyme disease, PANDAS/strep infections, overgrowth of bad bacteria such as Candida, invasion of parasites, contaminated food and beverages, chemicals in processed food, dyes, preservatives, bad fats, enzyme deficiency, NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen), prescription corticosteroids (e.g. Prednisone or hydrocortisone), a diet of highly refined carbohydrates, such as cookies, candy, soda, white bread, molds, and fungus from stored grains, fruit, and refined carbohydrates, pesticides, viruses, GI disease, chemotherapy, and radiation treatments due to the harmful impact on the immune system. All of these things are contributing factors to what is known as “leaky gut.”

PHYSICAL EFFECTS OF GLUTEN AND CASEIN

Gluten and casein create opiates in the body. These opiate receptors caused damage to the protective lining of the gut. Therefore, we need to recover the health of the lining so it can do its job of blocking out toxic materials and absorbing nutrients from the foods we eat.

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/80

Autoimmunity PANS and Streptococcal Infections in Autism with Dr. Medeleine

PANDAS or PANS is an acronym that stands for Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Associated with Streptococcal Infections). In 2010, PANDAS became PANS, which is the current proper term for it, so you may hear both.

Autoimmunity is a common problem in autism. In the case of PANS the immune system will attack the brain. It is common when there has been an external stressor in life or an internal one such as an infection that there will be a PANS “flare-up”. This term is used when the infection becomes prominent causing many physical and behavioral issues.

Some symptoms of PANS include, Strep throat, flu-like symptoms, tiks, a reduction in language and speech, aggression, or a sudden onset of OCD, or anxiety. Other infections that are known to trigger PANS can be Lyme disease, and mold biotoxins due to the inflammation.

Proper antibody screening can help to detect PANS. Dr. Madeleine Cunningham has developed a test panel to determine the extent of a PANS infection. In this radio show #79, interview we will discuss autoimmunity, PANDAS and autism. How all of this effects a child (immune system, behaviors, neurotransmitters, etc) and the “Cunningham Panel” for screening.

Medeleine Cunningham, PhD

Madeleine Cunningham, PhD is the George Lynn Cross Research Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and the Presbyterian Health Foundation Presidential Professor of Microbiology and Immunology and for the past 20 years has been the Director of the NIAID funded Immunology Training Program at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/79

At Home Fun To Help Calm Sensory Needs with Lindsey Biel

During the Coronavirus outbreak there were so many parents at home with their sensory overloaded kids who needed help. One wrote in telling me her child with autism had a PANS/strep outbreak because of the stress of being “shut in” for so long.

We all need outlets for our energy but people with sensory overload need real tools to calm, whereas, some need more stimulation. There was a great need to provide help for parents, so I wanted to share my favorite at-home sensory calming gym with those who need something like it right now.

I also decided it was a perfect time to bring in a sensory processing expert to help further. Please listen to my radio show interview with Lindsey Biel, OTR/L, a pediatric occupational therapist and learn how you can entertain your child at home with fun games that also help calm sensory needs. It’s show #78.

Lindsey Biel, M.A., OTR/L

Lindsey Biel, is a pediatric occupational therapist with a private practice in New York City where she evaluates and treats children, adolescents, and young adults with sensory processing issues, developmental delays, autism spectrum disorders, and other challenges.

 

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/78

Auditory Disorders and Interventions for Children with Autism Margaret Peggy Glenney

Children with autism exhibit many issues with hearing and balance including sensitivities to loud noises, dizziness, unsteady gait, speech and language development and more. Please join me for this interview with auditory specialist, Margaret “Peggy” Glenney.

 

Some of the topics we will discuss:

What are the risk factors for auditory/vestibular developmental delays?

 

What are some red flags of auditory developmental delays?

 

It’s important to find these kids early. With traditional peripheral hearing loss, the importance of early intervention and identification is well known, courtesy of Marion Downs, who is sometimes referred to as the founding mother of pediatric audiology. Margaret “Peggy” Glenney, advocates for central auditory delays and disorders. Parents will benefit greatly from early identification.

Please listen to my radio show interview with Margaret “Peggy” Glenney. It’s episode  #84.

Margaret “Peggy” Glenney MA, CCC-A, F-AA

Margaret “Peggy” Glenney is a developmental audiologist. Since 1984, Margaret Glenney, has worked as an audiologist working in hospitals and universities throughout the U.S, as both an instructor and trainer for the Certified Occupational Hearing Conservationist (COHC), program. She has provided clinical supervision for graduate students in both Speech Pathology and Audiology and taught graduate level courses in Industrial Audiology. Margaret has her teacher’s certification in English 6-12th grade, ELL K-12, and Speech Communication.

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/84

Swimming Pool Health Challenges With Autism (Water Resources Part 2) with with Robert Slovak

Drinking and bathing in contaminated water is bad enough but when we add more chemicals to the water, in hopes of making it safer, we actually add more problems to it. Swimming pools have multiple health challenges related to them. In this post and podcast, we will go over these issues and what guidelines you need to know.

 

The main three water contaminants

First, there are bacterial pathogens which are many, including MRSA. In swimming pools there are the even more due to what others carry on their body, and from outside sources in the air and from the city water.

 

Second, are the cysts, or protozoans. These include such organisms as giardia.

 

Third, there are viruses.

 

The three common dangerous chemicals added to water

Chlorine is added to water but its harmful effects are worsened when it reacts with other chemicals, organic vegetation and is detrimental to humans.

 

In my podcast interview with water expert, Robert Slovak, we discuss in further detail the solutions around these problems and how you can protect your family best from them.

 

Robert Slovak’s Biography:   

Robert Slovak is a degreed Mechanical and Astronautical engineer, best known as the co-founder, with his brother Jack, of Water Factory Systems in the early 1970’s. He is recognized as one of the key developers of Reverse Osmosis (RO) technology and its numerous applications.

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https://naturallyrecoveringautism.com/92