Christopher Pick ND. DHH. DCN. DLT
Naturopath Physician
The statistics for serious diseases and disorders for
those on a Western-type diet has for the most
part, been a steep upward curve. Alarmingly,
some conditions such as tuberculosis, which were
thought to be eradicated, are reappearing. As an
example, women have a lifetime risk in the UK
(worse in the USA) of 1 in 11 of getting breast
cancer. The risk factor changes for the worse with
each passing year - 1 in 10 next year.
Approximately 4 out of 10,000 people in the USA
are diagnosed with autism. This equates to
around 100,000 sufferers in that country alone at
the present time. The statistics here, also are
becoming worse year by year.
Both allopathic and complementary medicine is
trying to stem a tidal wave of ill-health with only
marginal success. To illustrate this point I quote
Mark Winfield* ‘If current trends continue over
the next 7 years, (from 1994) approximately 35%
of all those who die before the age of 50 will die
of cancer, 30% of heart disease, 15% due to the
effects of diabetes and respiratory disorders and a
further 10% due to complex organ dysfunction
and breakdown. Based on current life expectancy,
less than 15% will make it past 60 and more than
half will suffer ongoing or terminal health
problems from the age of 30 years.’
The sad
reality for many will be to learn that for the
period leading up to their death, their immune
systems will have been rendered incompetent.
We think we ‘know’ what causes many diseases,
but this is only partially correct. For example we
really do know that high cholesterol, the inability
of the body to quench free radicals and excessive
homocysteine levels is a very strong indicator for
heart disease. So, we have drugs to counter some
of these symptomatic conditions. The problem is
that this type of treatment only addresses the
symptoms and in the case of cholesterol lowering
drugs make matters far worse as they are known
to be carcinogenic (cancer causing). In this
scenario, the immediate problem may well go
away but the cause remains. As an analogy, if the
low oil warning light in your car comes on, you
have two choices. You can cut the wire that feeds
the warning light and the immediate problem
goes away, only to manifest very quickly with
dire consequences. This is treatment of the
symptom. Or you can add more oil so the system
operates efficiently. This is treatment of the
cause.
There are many diseases and disorders that we
are not sure of the exact cause. We have clues
here and there and we find that different
treatments work for different individuals. Autism
fits into this category in my view. The fact that
different treatments work in autism and many
other diseases and disorders gives us or should
give important clues to the real nature of the
problems.
THE REAL NATURE OF THE
PROBLEM OF VIRTUALLY
ALL DISEASE.
The human body, so it is generally held, has
evolved over millions of years into an amazingly
complex and integrated whole. It had reached
this incredible level of sophistication by utilising
around 100 nutrients daily from around 225
different foods. Today, our average nutrient
intake is very low, coming as it does from around
18 foods. It is estimated that only 3% of the
Western population eat a healthy balanced diet
and even these lack many vital nutrients.
We eat to live, we do not live to eat! One of the
most important things to remember is that the
body is an enormously complex manufacturing
facility, producing tens of thousands of different
substances. It needs these substances to rebuild,
repair and sustain life. These substances should be
obtained from the food we eat, the water we
drink and the oxygen we breathe. In turn the
food chain has to obtain the nutrients it needs
and that we need from the soil. A hundred years
ago or so, these nutrients were still present in
much of our soil and the animals that grazed on
them, therefore they were passed on to the
body’s manufacturing unit and the maximum
health potential of the individual could be
sustained. Since the 1930s the ecology of the soil
has changed beyond recognition. It has also
become seriously deficient for instance, in
minerals. Prehistoric soil was rich in around 80+
colloidal minerals, today there are virtually no
minerals left in our soil. Plant processed minerals
are absolutely vital to health, they are required
for thousands of metabolic functions and as an
example, without them vitamins do not work.
TOXICITY OVERLOAD
RULES
You cannot remove even one or two raw
materials from a manufacturing unit without
suffering a consequence. It doesn’t matter if that
manufacturing facility makes cars, computers or
human bodies. There is no doubt in my mind that
the body has a huge margin for error built in. For
instance, if certain nutrients are lacking, it has
various mechanisms for making up the shortfall.
However, we have exceeded that margin for error
some time ago. Our bodies try and make do and
we are suffering the consequences. Minerals are
only part of the story; our Western diet also lacks
vitamins, essential fatty acids, antioxidants,
digestive enzymes, fibre etc. How can we possibly
expect to build a strong, disease resistant, long-living
body? If this wasn’t bad enough, it is only
part of the problem.
So, much of the life sustaining nutrients have
gone from the soil to be replaced with toxic
chemicals such as pesticides and insecticides. We
have processed much of the pitifully little
remaining nutrients out of our food and replaced
them with unnatural colourings, additives,
preservatives and a choice of E numbers. In fact,
over five thousand additives are licensed for use
in food products. Even our water supply is
polluted by various toxic chemicals and should
carry a health warning. This is sheer madness and
is motivated by profit. Even our oxygen supply is
seriously contaminated. Our bodies do their best
in coping with detoxifying this mass, but to
operate efficiently these mechanisms need to be
fuelled by a nutrient rich body - do you begin to
see the pattern? Toxicity overload rules.
The overuse of antibiotics has much to answer for.
These drugs, while extremely valuable in some
cases, are handed out like sweets. (The public who
demand them are as much to blame as the
doctors who prescribe without very good reason.)
Antibiotics kill the friendly bacteria in our gut,
allowing other unfriendly organisms such as
candida to rage out of control. Many children
have had countless courses of antibiotics by the
time they are two or three years old. Friendly gut
bacteria has many functions that are required for
health, including the synthesis of some B-vitamins.
With the depletion of them, another vital nutrient
manufacturing process is shut down.
The foregoing deals with the external factors of
introducing food and toxic substances into the
body, but of equal importance is the operation of
the internal factors, beginning with digestion.
Food is a poison to the body until acted on
correctly by all the digestive processes.
Hydrochloric acid (HCl) must be present in the
stomach in the correct amounts and is needed
initially to break down foods into smaller
components, a vitally important function. HCl is
also the first line of defence in the immune
system armoury as it has the ability to kill off
bacteria and certain other pathogens.
So, where does HCl come from? Well, it is
manufactured in the body. And the raw materials
that precede this manufacture? - you probably
guessed it - minerals among others. Insufficient
minerals equals insufficient stomach acid. Here,
the first stage of digestion has gone wrong. The
problem is that the symptoms of a lack of
stomach acid are exactly the same as an excess. It
must be said that very few people have an excess!
One of the most prescribed drugs are stomach
acid suppressants (remember symptoms are the
same) which further compounds a drastic
situation. I could go on, but enough on this!
In a correctly functioning digestive system, the
acidified food must be alkalised (neutralised) by a
flow of bicarbonate from the pancreas. This is
under the control of the hormone secretin. In
turn, secretin will only kick in if the food leaving
the stomach is sufficiently acid. As well as a flow
of bicarbonate, pancreatic enzymes are also
released to continue the digestive process,
together with bile from the gallbladder. We come
back to the situation where the body has to
manufacture both bicarbonate and sufficient
digestive and metabolic enzymes. Again, in most
cases the body does not have the raw materials it
needs. So, with a lack of HCl, we get little or no
secretin release and little or no bicarbonate and
enzyme release. The improperly or properly
digested food must be alkalised for the further
extraction of whatever nutrients are there. If it is
not, whatever nutrients are there cannot be
extracted. This snowball rolls on - less and less
nutrients are available. The final phase of
digestion is undertaken by the villi in the small
intestine which are equipped with their own
enzymes - that also have to be manufactured. I
am not going to say it! To recap:
SOME EXTERNAL
FACTORS
This leads to the growth of opportunist organisms
such as candida albicans - a fungal infection that
can mimic many other diseases. Viruses and
bacteria proliferate, parasites take up residence.
Worms, liver flukes and who knows what else are
allowed to flourish.
Note: It is of the utmost importance to find out if
systemic candida is present in children with
autism.
Improperly digested proteins cling to the gut wall
and putrefy. This putrefaction process, produces at
least thirty different poisons (as if there were not
enough already). One of these, octopamine, acts
as a false neurotransmitter and can seriously
affect cognitive function and brain function
generally. Eventually, the colon can become so
clogged with impacted faecal matter that
constipation rules and waste disposal which is also
vital to health, is minimal. If candida gets into the
gut it can change form, growing roots or tentacles
that penetrate the bowel wall. This leaves direct
access for toxins which includes partially digested
food, to enter the blood-stream and cause auto-toxicity
and severe immune reactions.
Under these conditions most adults and children
have an overloaded immune system that is
functioning well below maximum potential. For
others, it has reached a state of hyperactivity
reacting to just about everything in foods and the
environment.
A nutrient malnourished mother cannot produce
or ‘grow’ an extremely healthy baby - this is
obvious by now. The modern shift from breast to
bottle feeding merely perpetuates the problem.
With breast feeding, important disease antigens
are passed on to the baby to help its infantile
immune system cope. (Dog food literally has more
nutrients than any of the brands of mother’s milk
substitutes.) When the course of immunity
inoculations start - three at once (DTP MMR) an
enormous stress is placed on the immune system
that can cause further havoc, depending on the
strength or weakness of a particular child.
I am not saying that inoculations are the cause of
autism - they appear to be another link in the
chain. I feel that in most cases of autism the
problem has many differing causes. These revolve
around nutrient depletion, toxicity, digestive
factors (particularly proteins), candida (and other
types of infestation), toxic bowel and an
overloaded and/or hyperactive immune system. I
guess that most parents of autistic children will be
looking for a simple answer - but I am afraid that
I don’t think that it is that simple. A protocol for
health is relatively simple, but it does require a
learning curve. Secretin does seem to be a simple
answer, but my feeling is that it is bringing back a
body from the brink. This is not to demean its
worth in any way, it can produce wonderful
results. However, I feel that with an overall health
protocol the results with the use of secretin would
be even better. I utilise hydrochloric acid and a
specially prepared formula of plant based
digestive enzymes in a particular ratio, as my own
version of secretin. The full protocol will follow.
At this point I must mention the fact that secretin
is stabilised with cysteine hydrochloride. Cysteine
and its metabolite taurine (both are amino acids)
are both biologically active in the peripheral and
central nervous system. In the amounts given in
the secretin infusion, cysteine can have a
significant impact on behavioural and
immunological functions in children. Cysteine also
exhibits detoxification properties. As autistic
children have a problem with digestion,
particularly proteins (proteins are comprised of
amino acids) I wonder if a shortage of some or all
of the amino acids are contributing to the
problem? Also, I find it interesting that as
cysteine hydrochloride is an acid, I also wonder if
it can stimulate the release of any natural
secretin that may be in the body?
AUTISM - A COURSE OF ACTION
These topics need some research. It is of
considerable interest to note that many autistic
children respond to supplementation with
vitamin B6 and zinc. This has been known since
1970 and in April 1978 a positive study was
published in the American Journal of Psychiatry
(Vol. 135, page 474) and in Science News (Vol
113, 13 May, 1978).
There are many issues to address with any disease
including autism. Having studied this article you
will be aware of the underlying causes of most
diseases (genetic inheritance excepted). This
protocol endeavours to identify certain specific
problems and address them within the main
treatment protocol - a protocol that seeks to
detoxify and cleanse the body, return digestion,
absorption and metabolism to optimum
functional capability and supply high levels of
supplementation together with the best available
food and water. This regime allows the body to
activate its own healing and regeneration
capabilities and return to a state of homeostasis,
or normal operation.
I have to say that the use of organic foods whilst
absolutely necessary, does not in many cases
provide significantly more nutrients than non-organic
foods. Remember, that the nutrients have
to be in the soil in the first place! Organic
farmers are really not in a position to fully re-mineralise
the soil, for instance. There are several
reasons for this. Cost is one and lack of
availability of a full spectrum of minerals is
another, etc. However, organic foods sold under
the Soil Association banner has far less toxic
chemicals added to it than non-organic. Beware
though, they do allow food producers to add
some undesirable substances and still sell the
produce under the organic banner.
Note: Blood tests for candida cannot
differentiate between a current and past
infestation. So are of little use.
(Ammonium levels MUST be measured also, to
get an accurate measure of pH). Note: This test
can be incorporated with the test for Indican.
Note: With the urine analysis, Indican,
ammonium and pH are incorporated.
If required, any treatment that the main
protocol does not cover is based on findings.
Many foods can be juiced raw. With fruit and vegetables this retains the vitally important enzymes
that assist the digestion of all food in the body. Boiling or micro-waving depletes up to 80% of
nutrients. Steaming retains 80%! Frying and barbecuing foods produces many toxic and
carcinogenic substances. Grill or steam instead.
Where there are digestive problems with certain proteins such as gluten (from wheat) and casein
(from cows milk) - they obviously have to be excluded. Other proteins must be utilised to make up
any shortfall.
Do not use farmed fish such as trout, as they contain synthetic growth hormones and antibiotics in
many cases. Source organic white meat or fish instead. Keep red meat consumption to a minimum
or cut out altogether. Avoid stimulants such as tea and coffee.
Learn to read food labels so you can identify what the product actually contains, this is very
important. For instance, sugar can be called fructose, maltose, dextrin, glucose, etc. The first
ingredient listed on the label is the one the product contains the most of! Beware of such
statements such as ‘90% Fat Free’. This still leaves a 10% fat content - which is usually of the
saturated variety.
It is virtually impossible to overdose on food supplements. However, with the
‘blanket’ advice listed below, the supplements and levels thereof err on the side of
caution.
There is a huge difference in the quality and efficacy of the supplements that are
available. For instance, tablets are far inferior to capsules, many of the brands of
say multivitamins, in chemist stores, contain so little of the individual nutrients,
that they have virtually no effects. The ratios of one nutrient to another is very
often incorrect. Materials are chosen for their cost rather than their effect. To give
you an example, if the RDA for calcium is 1000mg and you buy a capsule
containing 1000mg of calcium ascorbate you would expect that your body would
get this amount. Wrong! Calcium citrate is only around 20% elemental calcium, so
that leaves you with 200mg of calcium. The body can only metabolise around 10%
of that, so you are left with around 20mg per 1000mg tablet or capsule. And so it
goes on. Within reason, the more you pay for supplements the better they should
be. Practitioners such as myself have access to much higher dose products,
particularly when a range is formulated by them and produced for them under
their own label. I found it necessary to follow this course, because I wanted the
best quality products that were available.
Supplements should be taken every day for a minimum of 6-12 months. After this
period it may be possible to go on to a maintenance dose. After supplementing for
some time - if it then becomes necessary to stop a particular nutrient(s), it/they
MUST be withdrawn slowly. Obviously, if there is any adverse reaction to a
supplement it must be stopped straight away.
Take two daily with each meal. Can be
sprinkled into water and drunk.
OR USE:
ECHINACEA LIQUID OR CAPSULES
You may think that this supplement regimen is
‘over the top’. I can assure you that it is not.
These are not drugs, they are some of the
nutrients that we all should be getting from
food. If you instigate this programme for your
autistic child and he or she is taking prescriptive
drugs; I suggest that you read the information
pertaining to the drugs and/or check with your
healthcare professional that there will be no
adverse inter-reactions. In the majority of cases,
there will be none.
*Mark Winfield - Surviving 2000 - Future Food Technologies Pty Ltd, Australia.
This article may seem long, but it is vitally
necessary to convey the magnitude of the
problems we all face, particularly children. We are
breeding weaker and weaker human beings, a
tragedy that can be avoided once we understand
the reasons at the back of it. Much of what I have
to say to convey my message is negative. But a
negative can only be turned into a positive once
it is recognised as so. There are so many positive
steps that can be taken. I therefore sincerely hope
that this article can help both children and indeed
adults, in that endeavour.
SOME INTERNAL
FACTORS
The result is a nutrient starved body that almost
imperceptibly gets worse on a daily basis.
Depending on genetic strength and weakness the
weakest part will fail first. This may take weeks,
months or years.
INITIAL TESTING
Stool analysis for the presence of candida &
parasites etc. Treatment dependent on what is
found.
Levels of Indican from 24hour urine sample - to
determine levels of protein putrefaction.
Treatment dependent on the levels found.
pH & ammonium test from 24 hour urine
sample - to determine tissue acid /alkaline
base. Treatment based on findings.
Optional tests: Comprehensive hair or urine
analysis to determine various nutritional
factors. If required any treatment that the main
protocol does not cover is based on findings.
Comprehensive digestive stool analysis - to look
at digestion, absorption, bacterial balance,
possible inflammation, metabolic activity and
immune function.
Note: Many other tests may be carried out
dependent on the individual child and the
progress under the protocol.
DIET
Dietary measures should revolve around as much organic food as possible. Plenty of fruit and
vegetables are a must. The ratio of daily food intake for a child should be approximately 15-20%
unsaturated fats, 15% protein and 65-70% carbohydrate. ‘Fast fix’ carbohydrates such as brown
and white sugar (in hundreds of products) should be avoided altogether. Saturated fat should be
kept to a minimum. All junk food should be eliminated, including junk drinks. Distilled, filtered or
bottled water should be consumed, around a litre a day for children if possible. Do not use tap
water. Avoid cows milk totally and substitute with goat or organic soya milk.
BASIC SUPPLEMENTATION PROGRAMME
In illness the need for supplementation can vary greatly from individual to
individual. I am sorry to say that it has become virtually impossible to obtain the
100 or so needed daily nutrients without supplementation. As a healthy individual
I take 12-15 differing supplements daily! My six-year-old son takes seven and has
done since the age of two years.
THE SUPPLEMENTS
LIVER CLEANSE (HERBAL)
Take half the adult recommended dose and
follow any other label instructions. Take for
one month.
DIGESTIVE ENZYMES
These should be of vegetable/plant origin. Do
not use bovine or porcine sources. Do not use
tablets.
Note: I utilise a non-encapsulated powdered
high-strength version of a specially formulated
enzyme mix. Its digestive and other beneficial
effects are far greater and it is far more
economical to buy, unit for unit. However, I
have this product manufactured for my clinical
use. Plant enzyme capsules are available at
some outlets and via some practitioners.
HCL (BETAINE HYDROCHLORIDE)
Take one capsule (around 200mg) with each
meal. Do not open capsule
Notes: If heartburn occurs (rare) drink plenty of
water and do not take more.
This product is usually only available from
practitioners.
COLLOIDAL MINERALS
(contains 70+ organic minerals & trace
elements) Take 1-2 500mg capsules two to
three times daily away from food. Take with
water only. Liquids - take as directed on label -
adult dose is fine.
Note: These products are freely available in the
USA. Very limited availability in the UK.
ORGANIC FLAX OIL CAPSULES
Take 2-3 1000mg capsules three times daily
with food. These are one of the finest sources
of essential fatty acids.
MULTIVITAMIN CAPSULES
Take as directed on the label.
VITAMIN C POWDER OR CAPSULES
Take 500mg four times daily.
ZINC CAPSULES (AMINO ACID CHELATE)
Take 20mg once daily with food.
VITAMIN B6 CAPSULES
Take 25mg daily with food.
YUCCA S EXTRACT LIQUID
For children, 5 drops daily in a liquid. The label
states 10 drops - this is for adults. This
wonderful product is antibacterial, antifungal
and antiviral. It stimulates immunity and
stimulates the pancreas. It also enhances the
growth of the friendly bacteria in the gut and
increases protein metabolism by around 33%.
Note: Having extolled Yucca’s benefits, I am
afraid that it is not generally available except
from one small source. I am endeavouring to
make sure that it becomes more generally
available in 2000.
Take as directed on the label. A herbal
‘antibiotic’ and immune stimulant.