Is Chelation Safe?
Little Pickel started chelation last week for his heavy metals, yeast, bacterial inbalances, and mineral and amino acid inbalances. We are doing this in the most natural way that we possibly can so as not to harm the liver or his damaged GI system.
However, the Mayo Clinic recently released a statement indicating that chelation is not effective.
There’s no scientific evidence that chelation therapy is an effective autism treatment.
In recent years, some doctors and parents have recommended chelation therapy as a potential treatment for autism. Proponents believe that autism is caused by mercury exposure, such as from childhood vaccines. Chelation therapy supposedly removes mercury from the body, which cures autism.
But extensive studies have revealed no evidence of a link between mercury exposure and autism. In addition, chelation therapy is not approved as an autism treatment and can be associated with serious side effects, including liver and kidney damage that can result in death.
There is no cure for autism. As a result, unproven alternative therapies are often suggested to parents who — frustrated by the lack of effective medical treatment for autism — are desperate to find something that will help their children. However, in clinical studies, these alternative therapies are usually found to be ineffective and sometimes harmful. Talk to your son’s doctor before starting any alternative autism treatment.
Although no cure for autism exists, early behavioral and educational interventions can help children with autism improve their communication and social skills.
What do you think?
Word Press, Technorati, Mayo clinic, autism, chelation, natural, therapy, heavy metals, yeast, Tags
June 13th, 2007 at 9:15 pm
Ahhhh, so you are actually here…you just chose to remain silent?
Talk to me. Tell me what you are thinking.
What are your opinions? What problems are you facing? What do YOU not have time to research that I can help YOU with?
June 30th, 2007 at 10:48 pm
Pickel, I read with interest your conversation with your ped. about chelation etc. When my son was evaluated(for 3 days) at the Sparks Center, one of the the dsys of testing was the Autism Clinic Research Study Team. They are in the middle of a 20 years clinical trial and have been following ASD children for yearsf. My son is now part of the ongoing study. I questioned them intensly about the Glutein/chelation etc. autism treatments and their comments closely mirrored your peds.They said while some parents strongly believed in these therapies and they have really tried to document real changes due to those diets and vitamen therapies,their testing and observations of these children just haven’t given the proof needed. So currently they are not endorcing or supporting those types of autism treatments.
They also voiced concerns about the very limited diets and it’s long term effects in regard to nutrition, normal eating patterns and being exposed to new foods as is normal and really does affect the psyche and socialization of these kids.They too have heard and talked to many in terms of anecdotal results, but hard science and real non refutable results are hard to come by.They found many of the kids becoming undernourished or kept to such a rigid diet that it comsumed much time, energy and actually in the long run contributed negatively to behavior and family dynamics.I have an autistic son, also adopted from Russia and while I would love for diet and vitamens to be the answer, I have found that their advice in terms of academic service, home environment and cues on treating behavore through consistancy and repetition and mostly, giving him the time to reach goals at his own pace to be very successful.To think of progress in terms of a year instead of months to be working great for us.Also to learn to accept and work around and with certain idiosyncracies instead of trying to “cure”it has also been very valuable advice.NOt to mention the money saved by trying a strict diet and supplements. He was also lactose intolerant. We gave him Soy, then lacto free then slowly introduced dairy and now he is just fine with diary. We also did this with other food items. The mindset was to help his body and texture/sensory issues gradually get used to these items instead of eliminating them from his diet. He has gone from a 3 year old with a very limiteed diet to an 8 year that can eat anything with no affect to his behavior or gastro system. I do not think that trying to keep these things out of his system for the past 5 years would have done near as much good as teaching his body to use them instead. Also while I thought at one time these food items may be contributing to other issues, I now think that it was easier to think that than to realise that time(and a lot of time) was the real answer to the issues. His growing up and maturing, consistant therapy and routing at school and home, our learning how to parent him better and him learning to self regulate was the magic. Which is just what the autism experts, our pediatrition and yours is saying. Just my own life experience.But when I read your conversation with your ped. It rang a bell as one I have also heard several times from several sources and unlike you, it was the one I also believed and what has worked for us.
July 6th, 2007 at 8:49 pm
Freemom, I did not forget about you.
We have been testing the waters with his foods lately. Some work, some don’t. (I hate the don’t nights)
He now loves and tolerates popsicles, some ice creams, Kosher hot dogs, his favorite crispy bars (which caused problems before) to name a few.
He is also able to handle environmental chemicals. He used to not be able to go to Sams Club or Home Depot because of the airborne chemicals.
So, things seem to be working! I am hoping it continues.
March 24th, 2009 at 8:33 pm
Hi, I have a two year old son with mild autism. We are trying chelation, a gradual dosage for children…I have been getting some mixed messages on the subject. He has tested med high for mercury in his body, so obviously we want to help his body get rid of it. His eye contact seems to better and he is picking up words now. What should I do? I don’t want to hurt my son, I want to help him, in any way I can.