constipation and chelation

[Guest guest]

I asked this a little while back and never saw an answer. Andy, I think you

said that ALA and DMSA doesn't hold on to mercury a long time before releasing.

Correct me if I wrong. So my question is that if my son has constipation and

his stools move slowly, will the chelator let go before it comes out?

Diane

[Guest guest]

>

> I asked this a little while back and never saw an answer. Andy, I

think you said that ALA and DMSA doesn't hold on to mercury a long

time before releasing. Correct me if I wrong.

You are right.

>So my question is that if my son has constipation and his stools move

slowly, will the chelator let go before it comes out?

The chelator doesn't have to be holding on to it in the gut for it to

be excreted. Reabsorption from the gut is low. Once the mercury gets

there it does mostly make it the rest of the way out on its own.

Andy . . .. . .

>

> Diane

>

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been rem

[Guest guest]

Like it says below, most ASD kids have bowel issues. I believe this is

symptomatic of heavy metal toxicity.

It's also true that most ASD kids will respond positively to a GFCF diet. Andy

says that mercury and other metals inhibit the body from producing the needed

enzymes to digest certain foods.

Once again, a symptom of heavy metal toxicity.

So, the ultimate solution is chelation. This takes care of the root cause. We

found much improvement with our boys' gut and bowels after about six months of

chelation.

That said, you need to have the bowels moving in the meantime for comfort and

good health. We found a few things that helped:

- Digestive enzymes

- Magnesium and Vit. C (dont't overdo the mag, it can cause cramping)

- Fiber, we use oganic acacia. Fruit is the best if your child will eat it.

- Drink lots of fluids, water if they will drink it.

- Probiotics, capsule or there are lots of cool kefirs and stuff that people

talk about. We use caps.

- Last resort, use miralax, just to clear things out. Many are against this

because of leaky gut issues, but we have had good success with our younger boy

who is chronically constipated without it.

Try the different things on yourself to get first hand knowledge.

TJ

________________________________

From: mercurybabies2 <mercurybabies2@...>

Sent: Thu, January 6, 2011 8:40:21 PM

Subject: [ ] Re: Constipation and Chelation

 

Maybe something in here will help.....

This file was put together in an effort to save parents time. I've tried to

provide as much information as possible to help parents understand their child's

constipation but do know that I'm not an expert, only a mom. I've tried to

address what might cause constipation, what might address constipation, what

parents might want to avoid, and where parents might go for more information. I

have organized the bulk of the information by possible solutions, and, when I

was able to find the information, the specific problems they might address. The

solutions are in no particular order. I have used the male pronoun when

referring to children. This is not accidental—constipation problems are far

more

common among boys than girls, although this may hold true in the autistic

community.

If you have comments, see misinformation in this file, or have some information

you'd like to see added, please contact Anita by email

(mysuperteach@...)

Background information

Constipation is defined as the condition in which bowel movements happen less

frequently than is normal for the particular individual, or the stool is small,

hard, and difficult or painful to pass. Please do not focus only the " small,

hard " stool part of this definition. Many of our kids are constipated and pass

liquid stools (diarrhea) or soft stools. These kids can still be constipated.

It has become increasingly clear to me in my reading of the listserves, that

many of our ASD children are impacted. A bowel impaction can only be reliably

diagnosed by an x-ray looking specifically for that problem. It can NOT always

or even often be felt because contrary to popular belief, the impacted stool is

not always hardened. Some kids who have been shown to be impacted on an x-ray

had flat bellies and formed bm's each day. If a parent has any suspicions at

all, it is my opinion that they should demand an x-ray for their child, if only

to rule out impaction.

The elusive trophy poop: A normal bowel movement should be formed, some shade of

brown, shaped like a sausage or banana, and relatively soft. It should be smooth

in texture and sink gently down into the water of the toilet.

Good Resources

A good resource is Dana's site http://www.danasview.net/constip.htm

Another place to learn about bm's and related topics is 's site

http://www.enzymestuff.com/rtstools.htm where you can learn how to interpret the

appearance of a bm.

The site below covers a lot of the basics of constipation and possibilities for

treatment, although some treatments they recommend are certainly not what many

parents would recommend (Miralax for example)

http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/internet/pediatrics/patients/tutorials/cons\

tipation/treatcon.cfm

This site also provides a very helpful list of signs of chronic constipation

and encopresis that all ASD parents should be aware of:

http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/internet/pediatrics/patients/tutorials/cons\

tipation/symptoms.cfm

The following is an interesting and detailed look at the digestive system,

written by Enig of the Weston A Price Foundation (WAPF) that is both

informative yet easy to read

http://www.westonaprice.org/moderndiseases/digestion_primer.html

One possible solution offered by doctors that parents on the boards often learn

to avoid is Miralax (or Glycolax). There is a group that talks about the

possible complications of this product and offers safer alternatives and lot of

very good information miralax/

Possible Solutions to Constipation

* Deal with the thyroid problem It is well-accepted that a malfunctioning

thyroid, specifically hypothyroidism, can cause constipation. Many doctors do

not know how to test properly for thyroid function, if they test at all. You

need to have free t3, free t4 and TSH and then you need to interpret the results

against the right pediatric ranges for your child. Thyroid problems are not

uncommon in children with metal toxicity and are not always apparent just from

observing a child.

* Get more exercise If a child exercises more, particularly high energy

activities such as bouncing on a trampoline, this may improve gut motility and

help to resolve constipation. See here for a good explanation of gut motility

http://www.aboutgimotility.org/normal.html

* Drink more water This is a commonly offered solution to constipation but would

only be pertinent if your child was dehydrated. A well hydrated child will not

stop being constipated with the addition of more water. Do note that some people

recommend against drinking water with a meal as that can lower stomach acid and

some of our children may already suffer from decreased stomach acid.

* Remove foods that are not tolerated This, of course, is easier said than done

because what constipates one child will not constipate another. Common offenders

are pasteurized milk, rice, sugar (because of the yeast connection), fried

foods. But some kids can be constipated by cooked carrots, apples, and bananas,

so it would seem that almost any food can be the culprit. Of course, a child's

diet may need a complete overhaul and parents may want to consider something

like Specific Carbohydrate Diet http://www.pecanbread.com/, the Body Ecology

Diet http://www.bodyecologydiet.com/ or Gluten Free Casein Free diet

http://www.gfcfdiet.com

* Deal with the yeast Many ASD parents believe yeast to be a primary cause of

constipation for lots of our kids. Antifungals are of course important; however,

the main component of treating yeast may be introducing bacteria into the gut.

Sally Fallon of the Weston A Price foundation points out that some cultures like

the Inuit had a traditional diet virtually devoid of fibre but were not

constipated and she attributes part of this to the consumption of cultured

foods. Probiotics and cultured foods like kefir likely play a very important

role in constipation relieving constipation. See the Body Ecology Diet website

for more information or the Weston A Price website http://www.westonaprice.org/

* Use enzymes Some parents have reported good results with the use of enzymes to

ensure that food is properly digested. 's website offers information on

everything enzymes http://www.enzymestuff.com/

* Raise stomach acid levels Constipation may be a result of food that is poorly

digested because of low levels of stomach acid. A sign that a child may have low

stomach acid is undigested food in the stool. Stomach acid levels can be raised

by using things such as lemon juice, betaine (TMG) or ascorbic acid (unbuffered

vitamin C)

* Check butyric acid levels Constipation can be a result of low butyric acid.

This can be verified by testing the stool. Butyric acid (butyrate) is found in

butter, but can also be supplemented in the form of butyric cal-mag (here is one

product recommended by a parent:

http://www.bioticsresearch.com/butyriccalmag.php)

* Remove/modify certain supplements/medications Some supplements or medications

can be constipating. Common offenders are spirolactonane, which many parents

have found cause constipation. If a child is biotin-deficient, adding biotin may

cause constipation and require larger doses of magnesium than usual. Olive leaf

extract can have an impact on smooth muscle function and cause a susceptible

child to become constipated. Calcium, particularly in the carbonate form, can be

constipating. If your child has become recently constipated, do consider the

most recent supplements or medications you've added. As with foods, it seems

that almost all supplements and medications can cause some few kids to become

constipated.

* Consider adding certain supplements Many constipated children will be helped

by the addition of vitamin C although many ASD kids have such a need for

antioxidants that high doses of C do nothing to bm's. Keep in mind that the

buffered C will not raise stomach acid. Many parents have good luck with

magnesium. Generally DAN! Doctors recommend trying magnesium citrate first, but

if that doesn't work some recommend glycinate, or malate. The oxide form can be

constipating according to some, although you will notice that Oxypowder is made

from oxygenated magnesium oxide—this product works very well and should not be

confused with plain magnesium oxide. Some parents have found that with the

addition of amino acids, particularly l-carnitine, a child's ability to push out

the stool is much improved (in all likelihood, gut motility is being improved).

Other parents have found that using aloe vera is helpful. 's is a brand

that is tasteless. Cat's Claw (Samento) is also considered by naturopaths to be

a good supplement for constipation. There are many lesser known alternative

treatments to constipation which I have not seen mentioned on autism lists. Some

of these are mentioned at this link:

http://www.jigsawhealth.com/nat.aspx? & chunkiid=21590 Some people have found that

adding good fats will help resolve constipation. The WAPF would recommend a good

cod liver oil with natural Vitamin D as opposed to just any fish oil, believing

that the Vitamin D plays an important role. Vitamin A also plays an important

role in healing leaky gut, so choosing a high quality CLO may be best. Virgin

coconut oil is also recommended for different reasons. Some doctors will

prescribe Lactulose, which is a kind of sugar our bodies cannot use and will

soften the stool. This may be useful if your child has learned from experience

that passing a stool hurts and therefore refuses to have a bowel movement. There

are some drawbacks to lactulose however, including cramping, possible

dependence, and the fact that it does cross the GI tract. Some people choose to

use mineral oil, which is not digested and therefore acts as a lubricant;

however, it is not recommended at all for children under 6 and I would encourage

anyone to read this information before choosing to use it

http://www.drugs.com/cdi/mineral_oil_liquid.html

* Oxypowder A relatively new product, Oxypowder is a highly recommended by both

doctors and parents for constipation. You can read about it here

http://www.oxypowder.com/ and can order from there too although you may find

better prices if you look around. Some parents have used Oxypowder very

successfully to deal with impactions.

* Enemas can be useful as a kind of last resort, since most children and parents

find them very stressful (in spite of some yogis who will tell you that enemas

are as natural as brushing your teeth!). Some parents do use enemas for a short

period to help deal with impactions.

* Glycerine suppositories can be purchased at any pharmacy and can help if the

child is struggling to pass a hard stool. Some people prefer the glycerine

enemas (Babylax). These are considered quite safe; however, some children may

find them very stressful, they don't address the core issue, and therefore they

don't always work.

* Fiber can be a double-edged sword for people with constipation and it is

important that parents understand how it works. A sudden increase in fibre by

using supplements can cause gas and abdominal pain. Also, diets that have too

much fibre can reduce the absorption of certain minerals including zinc and

calcium, which might be problematic for many of our kids.

There are two types of fiber. Soluble fiber are found mainly in plant cells.

Common sources are oat bran, oatmeal, fruit, vegetables, psyllium and

supplements like Benefibre. Soluble fiber will absorb water and act like a gel.

It is imperative that if you supplement fiber (as opposed to, for example,

eating it in fruit where it comes with its own water supply) you give extra

water. If you do not give extra water, the insoluble fiber will absorb water

from the intestine and your child will become MORE constipated, not less.

Insoluble fibre comes from the structural parts of plant cell walls. Good

sources are wheat bran, the skin of fruit and vegetables, nuts, seeds, and whole

grain foods. Insoluble fibre adds bulk to stool and therefore can be helpful in

preventing constipation.

Often it is recommended that you have about a 50/50 ratio of soluble to

insoluble fiber. Flax seed (you can grind it yourself to avoid it going rancid)

is about this ratio.

Some parents have found that something as simple as prune juice, which is fairly

easy to introduce and high in fiber (although it also contains a special sugar

that acts as a laxative), is enough to resolve the problem; however, most

parents find that resolving constipation is more complex than simply dealing

with fiber in spite of what most mainstream medical professionals and websites

will tell you.

* Consider chiropractic Some parents have reported good success using a

chiropractor to deal with constipation. Some children seem to have a signaling

problem that chiropractic can deal with. Other children seem to have a lazy

ileocecal valve which can be massaged. This massage, which takes only a minute

or so and can be learned by a parent, can improve the transit of the stool and

prevent it from hardening.

* Improve gut motility Some parents have used Bethanecol to improve gut

motility. Increased exercise may help. Increased fibre may speed up transit

time, but see section on fibre to consider all aspects of this treatment. It

would seem that HBOT's positive effect on many constipated children has

something to do with gut motility. Improvements you may see from HBOT are not

always permanent. Serotonin plays some role in gut motility; in fact, 95% of our

body store of serotonin is found in the gut. However, I was unable to find any

practical treatments that might pertain. Perhaps a DAN! doctor would know more.

* Use behavioral approaches Try to encourage your child to go to the toilet as

soon as he feels like having a bm. If the child does not feel it, set aside

special times during the day for trying. If the child uses a toilet, a small

bench under his feet may help him feel comfortable. If the child is in diapers

or on the toilet, be sure to give him privacy if they seem to want it. Try to

make having a bm as stress-free as possible. If your child has had an impaction,

there is a good chance that his colon has been stretched and will take some time

to return to normal. It is very important during this period to have your child

try to poop regularly as he may not feel the urge as he should. It can take up

to a year for full function to return.

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the great info. I have been planning on doing the AC protocol for a

while but didn't feel like I had everything under control enough to do it, and

didn't want to make things worse.  He has such stomach issues and chronic

constipation. Doctors said Miralax or Milk of magnesia. The miralax always seems

to be followed by a kidney problem, so we are giving 1 gram of vitamin c and a

combination of mag. citrate and glycinate. The first time he has had a daily

bowel movement in more than 10 years. If he doesn't he has a really bad smell. I

presume this is some kind of toxins building up in his body.

 

D.

From: TJ Werth <tj_werth@...>

Subject: Re: [ ] Re: Constipation and Chelation

Date: Friday, January 7, 2011, 1:38 PM

 

Like it says below, most ASD kids have bowel issues. I believe this is

symptomatic of heavy metal toxicity.

It's also true that most ASD kids will respond positively to a GFCF diet. Andy

says that mercury and other metals inhibit the body from producing the needed

enzymes to digest certain foods.

Once again, a symptom of heavy metal toxicity.

So, the ultimate solution is chelation. This takes care of the root cause. We

found much improvement with our boys' gut and bowels after about six months of

chelation.

That said, you need to have the bowels moving in the meantime for comfort and

good health. We found a few things that helped:

- Digestive enzymes

- Magnesium and Vit. C (dont't overdo the mag, it can cause cramping)

- Fiber, we use oganic acacia. Fruit is the best if your child will eat it.

- Drink lots of fluids, water if they will drink it.

- Probiotics, capsule or there are lots of cool kefirs and stuff that people

talk about. We use caps.

- Last resort, use miralax, just to clear things out. Many are against this

because of leaky gut issues, but we have had good success with our younger boy

who is chronically constipated without it.

Try the different things on yourself to get first hand knowledge.

TJ

________________________________

From: mercurybabies2 <mercurybabies2@...>

Sent: Thu, January 6, 2011 8:40:21 PM

Subject: [ ] Re: Constipation and Chelation

 

Maybe something in here will help.....

This file was put together in an effort to save parents time. I've tried to

provide as much information as possible to help parents understand their child's

constipation but do know that I'm not an expert, only a mom. I've tried to

address what might cause constipation, what might address constipation, what

parents might want to avoid, and where parents might go for more information. I

have organized the bulk of the information by possible solutions, and, when I

was able to find the information, the specific problems they might address. The

solutions are in no particular order. I have used the male pronoun when

referring to children. This is not accidental—constipation problems are far

more

common among boys than girls, although this may hold true in the autistic

community.

If you have comments, see misinformation in this file, or have some information

you'd like to see added, please contact Anita by email

(mysuperteach@...)

Background information

Constipation is defined as the condition in which bowel movements happen less

frequently than is normal for the particular individual, or the stool is small,

hard, and difficult or painful to pass. Please do not focus only the " small,

hard " stool part of this definition. Many of our kids are constipated and pass

liquid stools (diarrhea) or soft stools. These kids can still be constipated.

It has become increasingly clear to me in my reading of the listserves, that

many of our ASD children are impacted. A bowel impaction can only be reliably

diagnosed by an x-ray looking specifically for that problem. It can NOT always

or even often be felt because contrary to popular belief, the impacted stool is

not always hardened. Some kids who have been shown to be impacted on an x-ray

had flat bellies and formed bm's each day. If a parent has any suspicions at

all, it is my opinion that they should demand an x-ray for their child, if only

to rule out impaction.

The elusive trophy poop: A normal bowel movement should be formed, some shade of

brown, shaped like a sausage or banana, and relatively soft. It should be smooth

in texture and sink gently down into the water of the toilet.

Good Resources

A good resource is Dana's site http://www.danasview.net/constip.htm

Another place to learn about bm's and related topics is 's site

http://www.enzymestuff.com/rtstools.htm where you can learn how to interpret the

appearance of a bm.

The site below covers a lot of the basics of constipation and possibilities for

treatment, although some treatments they recommend are certainly not what many

parents would recommend (Miralax for example)

http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/internet/pediatrics/patients/tutorials/cons\

tipation/treatcon.cfm

This site also provides a very helpful list of signs of chronic constipation

and encopresis that all ASD parents should be aware of:

http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/internet/pediatrics/patients/tutorials/cons\

tipation/symptoms.cfm

The following is an interesting and detailed look at the digestive system,

written by Enig of the Weston A Price Foundation (WAPF) that is both

informative yet easy to read

http://www.westonaprice.org/moderndiseases/digestion_primer.html

One possible solution offered by doctors that parents on the boards often learn

to avoid is Miralax (or Glycolax). There is a group that talks about the

possible complications of this product and offers safer alternatives and lot of

very good information miralax/

Possible Solutions to Constipation

* Deal with the thyroid problem It is well-accepted that a malfunctioning

thyroid, specifically hypothyroidism, can cause constipation. Many doctors do

not know how to test properly for thyroid function, if they test at all. You

need to have free t3, free t4 and TSH and then you need to interpret the results

against the right pediatric ranges for your child. Thyroid problems are not

uncommon in children with metal toxicity and are not always apparent just from

observing a child.

* Get more exercise If a child exercises more, particularly high energy

activities such as bouncing on a trampoline, this may improve gut motility and

help to resolve constipation. See here for a good explanation of gut motility

http://www.aboutgimotility.org/normal.html

* Drink more water This is a commonly offered solution to constipation but would

only be pertinent if your child was dehydrated. A well hydrated child will not

stop being constipated with the addition of more water. Do note that some people

recommend against drinking water with a meal as that can lower stomach acid and

some of our children may already suffer from decreased stomach acid.

* Remove foods that are not tolerated This, of course, is easier said than done

because what constipates one child will not constipate another. Common offenders

are pasteurized milk, rice, sugar (because of the yeast connection), fried

foods. But some kids can be constipated by cooked carrots, apples, and bananas,

so it would seem that almost any food can be the culprit. Of course, a child's

diet may need a complete overhaul and parents may want to consider something

like Specific Carbohydrate Diet http://www.pecanbread.com/, the Body Ecology

Diet http://www.bodyecologydiet.com/ or Gluten Free Casein Free diet

http://www.gfcfdiet.com

* Deal with the yeast Many ASD parents believe yeast to be a primary cause of

constipation for lots of our kids. Antifungals are of course important; however,

the main component of treating yeast may be introducing bacteria into the gut.

Sally Fallon of the Weston A Price foundation points out that some cultures like

the Inuit had a traditional diet virtually devoid of fibre but were not

constipated and she attributes part of this to the consumption of cultured

foods. Probiotics and cultured foods like kefir likely play a very important

role in constipation relieving constipation. See the Body Ecology Diet website

for more information or the Weston A Price website http://www.westonaprice.org/

* Use enzymes Some parents have reported good results with the use of enzymes to

ensure that food is properly digested. 's website offers information on

everything enzymes http://www.enzymestuff.com/

* Raise stomach acid levels Constipation may be a result of food that is poorly

digested because of low levels of stomach acid. A sign that a child may have low

stomach acid is undigested food in the stool. Stomach acid levels can be raised

by using things such as lemon juice, betaine (TMG) or ascorbic acid (unbuffered

vitamin C)

* Check butyric acid levels Constipation can be a result of low butyric acid.

This can be verified by testing the stool. Butyric acid (butyrate) is found in

butter, but can also be supplemented in the form of butyric cal-mag (here is one

product recommended by a parent:

http://www.bioticsresearch.com/butyriccalmag.php)

* Remove/modify certain supplements/medications Some supplements or medications

can be constipating. Common offenders are spirolactonane, which many parents

have found cause constipation. If a child is biotin-deficient, adding biotin may

cause constipation and require larger doses of magnesium than usual. Olive leaf

extract can have an impact on smooth muscle function and cause a susceptible

child to become constipated. Calcium, particularly in the carbonate form, can be

constipating. If your child has become recently constipated, do consider the

most recent supplements or medications you've added. As with foods, it seems

that almost all supplements and medications can cause some few kids to become

constipated.

* Consider adding certain supplements Many constipated children will be helped

by the addition of vitamin C although many ASD kids have such a need for

antioxidants that high doses of C do nothing to bm's. Keep in mind that the

buffered C will not raise stomach acid. Many parents have good luck with

magnesium. Generally DAN! Doctors recommend trying magnesium citrate first, but

if that doesn't work some recommend glycinate, or malate. The oxide form can be

constipating according to some, although you will notice that Oxypowder is made

from oxygenated magnesium oxide—this product works very well and should not be

confused with plain magnesium oxide. Some parents have found that with the

addition of amino acids, particularly l-carnitine, a child's ability to push out

the stool is much improved (in all likelihood, gut motility is being improved).

Other parents have found that using aloe vera is helpful. 's is a brand

that is tasteless. Cat's Claw (Samento) is also considered by naturopaths to be

a good supplement for constipation. There are many lesser known alternative

treatments to constipation which I have not seen mentioned on autism lists. Some

of these are mentioned at this link:

http://www.jigsawhealth.com/nat.aspx? & chunkiid=21590 Some people have found that

adding good fats will help resolve constipation. The WAPF would recommend a good

cod liver oil with natural Vitamin D as opposed to just any fish oil, believing

that the Vitamin D plays an important role. Vitamin A also plays an important

role in healing leaky gut, so choosing a high quality CLO may be best. Virgin

coconut oil is also recommended for different reasons. Some doctors will

prescribe Lactulose, which is a kind of sugar our bodies cannot use and will

soften the stool. This may be useful if your child has learned from experience

that passing a stool hurts and therefore refuses to have a bowel movement. There

are some drawbacks to lactulose however, including cramping, possible

dependence, and the fact that it does cross the GI tract. Some people choose to

use mineral oil, which is not digested and therefore acts as a lubricant;

however, it is not recommended at all for children under 6 and I would encourage

anyone to read this information before choosing to use it

http://www.drugs.com/cdi/mineral_oil_liquid.html

* Oxypowder A relatively new product, Oxypowder is a highly recommended by both

doctors and parents for constipation. You can read about it here

http://www.oxypowder.com/ and can order from there too although you may find

better prices if you look around. Some parents have used Oxypowder very

successfully to deal with impactions.

* Enemas can be useful as a kind of last resort, since most children and parents

find them very stressful (in spite of some yogis who will tell you that enemas

are as natural as brushing your teeth!). Some parents do use enemas for a short

period to help deal with impactions.

* Glycerine suppositories can be purchased at any pharmacy and can help if the

child is struggling to pass a hard stool. Some people prefer the glycerine

enemas (Babylax). These are considered quite safe; however, some children may

find them very stressful, they don't address the core issue, and therefore they

don't always work.

* Fiber can be a double-edged sword for people with constipation and it is

important that parents understand how it works. A sudden increase in fibre by

using supplements can cause gas and abdominal pain. Also, diets that have too

much fibre can reduce the absorption of certain minerals including zinc and

calcium, which might be problematic for many of our kids.

There are two types of fiber. Soluble fiber are found mainly in plant cells.

Common sources are oat bran, oatmeal, fruit, vegetables, psyllium and

supplements like Benefibre. Soluble fiber will absorb water and act like a gel.

It is imperative that if you supplement fiber (as opposed to, for example,

eating it in fruit where it comes with its own water supply) you give extra

water. If you do not give extra water, the insoluble fiber will absorb water

from the intestine and your child will become MORE constipated, not less.

Insoluble fibre comes from the structural parts of plant cell walls. Good

sources are wheat bran, the skin of fruit and vegetables, nuts, seeds, and whole

grain foods. Insoluble fibre adds bulk to stool and therefore can be helpful in

preventing constipation.

Often it is recommended that you have about a 50/50 ratio of soluble to

insoluble fiber. Flax seed (you can grind it yourself to avoid it going rancid)

is about this ratio.

Some parents have found that something as simple as prune juice, which is fairly

easy to introduce and high in fiber (although it also contains a special sugar

that acts as a laxative), is enough to resolve the problem; however, most

parents find that resolving constipation is more complex than simply dealing

with fiber in spite of what most mainstream medical professionals and websites

will tell you.

* Consider chiropractic Some parents have reported good success using a

chiropractor to deal with constipation. Some children seem to have a signaling

problem that chiropractic can deal with. Other children seem to have a lazy

ileocecal valve which can be massaged. This massage, which takes only a minute

or so and can be learned by a parent, can improve the transit of the stool and

prevent it from hardening.

* Improve gut motility Some parents have used Bethanecol to improve gut

motility. Increased exercise may help. Increased fibre may speed up transit

time, but see section on fibre to consider all aspects of this treatment. It

would seem that HBOT's positive effect on many constipated children has

something to do with gut motility. Improvements you may see from HBOT are not

always permanent. Serotonin plays some role in gut motility; in fact, 95% of our

body store of serotonin is found in the gut. However, I was unable to find any

practical treatments that might pertain. Perhaps a DAN! doctor would know more.

* Use behavioral approaches Try to encourage your child to go to the toilet as

soon as he feels like having a bm. If the child does not feel it, set aside

special times during the day for trying. If the child uses a toilet, a small

bench under his feet may help him feel comfortable. If the child is in diapers

or on the toilet, be sure to give him privacy if they seem to want it. Try to

make having a bm as stress-free as possible. If your child has had an impaction,

there is a good chance that his colon has been stretched and will take some time

to return to normal. It is very important during this period to have your child

try to poop regularly as he may not feel the urge as he should. It can take up

to a year for full function to return.

[Guest guest]

My son had endured about four years of painful constipation. After three rounds

of chelation, the constipation vanished. That was almost seven years ago and

his gut has been working fine since then.

>

> Like it says below, most ASD kids have bowel issues. I believe this is

> symptomatic of heavy metal toxicity.

> It's also true that most ASD kids will respond positively to a GFCF diet. Andy

> says that mercury and other metals inhibit the body from producing the needed

> enzymes to digest certain foods.

> Once again, a symptom of heavy metal toxicity.

> So, the ultimate solution is chelation. This takes care of the root cause. We

> found much improvement with our boys' gut and bowels after about six months of

> chelation.

> That said, you need to have the bowels moving in the meantime for comfort and

> good health. We found a few things that helped:

> - Digestive enzymes

> - Magnesium and Vit. C (dont't overdo the mag, it can cause cramping)

> - Fiber, we use oganic acacia. Fruit is the best if your child will eat it.

> - Drink lots of fluids, water if they will drink it.

> - Probiotics, capsule or there are lots of cool kefirs and stuff that people

> talk about. We use caps.

> - Last resort, use miralax, just to clear things out. Many are against this

> because of leaky gut issues, but we have had good success with our younger boy

> who is chronically constipated without it.

>

> Try the different things on yourself to get first hand knowledge.

> TJ

>

>

> ________________________________

> From: mercurybabies2 <mercurybabies2@...>

>

> Sent: Thu, January 6, 2011 8:40:21 PM

> Subject: [ ] Re: Constipation and Chelation

>

>  

> Maybe something in here will help.....

>

> This file was put together in an effort to save parents time. I've tried to

> provide as much information as possible to help parents understand their

child's

> constipation but do know that I'm not an expert, only a mom. I've tried to

> address what might cause constipation, what might address constipation, what

> parents might want to avoid, and where parents might go for more information.

I

> have organized the bulk of the information by possible solutions, and, when I

> was able to find the information, the specific problems they might address.

The

> solutions are in no particular order. I have used the male pronoun when

> referring to children. This is not accidental†" constipation problems are far

more

> common among boys than girls, although this may hold true in the autistic

> community.

>

> If you have comments, see misinformation in this file, or have some

information

> you'd like to see added, please contact Anita by email

> (mysuperteach@...)

>

> Background information

>

>

> Constipation is defined as the condition in which bowel movements happen less

> frequently than is normal for the particular individual, or the stool is

small,

> hard, and difficult or painful to pass. Please do not focus only the " small,

> hard " stool part of this definition. Many of our kids are constipated and pass

> liquid stools (diarrhea) or soft stools. These kids can still be constipated.

>

> It has become increasingly clear to me in my reading of the listserves, that

> many of our ASD children are impacted. A bowel impaction can only be reliably

> diagnosed by an x-ray looking specifically for that problem. It can NOT always

> or even often be felt because contrary to popular belief, the impacted stool

is

> not always hardened. Some kids who have been shown to be impacted on an x-ray

> had flat bellies and formed bm's each day. If a parent has any suspicions at

> all, it is my opinion that they should demand an x-ray for their child, if

only

> to rule out impaction.

>

>

> The elusive trophy poop: A normal bowel movement should be formed, some shade

of

> brown, shaped like a sausage or banana, and relatively soft. It should be

smooth

> in texture and sink gently down into the water of the toilet.

>

>

>

> Good Resources

> A good resource is Dana's site http://www.danasview.net/constip.htm

>

> Another place to learn about bm's and related topics is 's site

> http://www.enzymestuff.com/rtstools.htm where you can learn how to interpret

the

> appearance of a bm.

>

> The site below covers a lot of the basics of constipation and possibilities

for

> treatment, although some treatments they recommend are certainly not what many

> parents would recommend (Miralax for example)

>

http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/internet/pediatrics/patients/tutorials/cons\

tipation/treatcon.cfm

> This site also provides a very helpful list of signs of chronic constipation

> and encopresis that all ASD parents should be aware of:

>

http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/internet/pediatrics/patients/tutorials/cons\

tipation/symptoms.cfm

>

>

> The following is an interesting and detailed look at the digestive system,

> written by Enig of the Weston A Price Foundation (WAPF) that is both

> informative yet easy to read

> http://www.westonaprice.org/moderndiseases/digestion_primer.html

>

>

> One possible solution offered by doctors that parents on the boards often

learn

> to avoid is Miralax (or Glycolax). There is a group that talks about the

> possible complications of this product and offers safer alternatives and lot

of

> very good information miralax/

>

>

> Possible Solutions to Constipation

>

> * Deal with the thyroid problem It is well-accepted that a malfunctioning

> thyroid, specifically hypothyroidism, can cause constipation. Many doctors do

> not know how to test properly for thyroid function, if they test at all. You

> need to have free t3, free t4 and TSH and then you need to interpret the

results

> against the right pediatric ranges for your child. Thyroid problems are not

> uncommon in children with metal toxicity and are not always apparent just from

> observing a child.

>

> * Get more exercise If a child exercises more, particularly high energy

> activities such as bouncing on a trampoline, this may improve gut motility and

> help to resolve constipation. See here for a good explanation of gut motility

> http://www.aboutgimotility.org/normal.html

>

>

> * Drink more water This is a commonly offered solution to constipation but

would

> only be pertinent if your child was dehydrated. A well hydrated child will not

> stop being constipated with the addition of more water. Do note that some

people

> recommend against drinking water with a meal as that can lower stomach acid

and

> some of our children may already suffer from decreased stomach acid.

>

> * Remove foods that are not tolerated This, of course, is easier said than

done

> because what constipates one child will not constipate another. Common

offenders

> are pasteurized milk, rice, sugar (because of the yeast connection), fried

> foods. But some kids can be constipated by cooked carrots, apples, and

bananas,

> so it would seem that almost any food can be the culprit. Of course, a child's

> diet may need a complete overhaul and parents may want to consider something

> like Specific Carbohydrate Diet http://www.pecanbread.com/, the Body Ecology

> Diet http://www.bodyecologydiet.com/ or Gluten Free Casein Free diet

> http://www.gfcfdiet.com

>

> * Deal with the yeast Many ASD parents believe yeast to be a primary cause of

> constipation for lots of our kids. Antifungals are of course important;

however,

> the main component of treating yeast may be introducing bacteria into the gut.

> Sally Fallon of the Weston A Price foundation points out that some cultures

like

> the Inuit had a traditional diet virtually devoid of fibre but were not

> constipated and she attributes part of this to the consumption of cultured

> foods. Probiotics and cultured foods like kefir likely play a very important

> role in constipation relieving constipation. See the Body Ecology Diet website

> for more information or the Weston A Price website

http://www.westonaprice.org/

>

> * Use enzymes Some parents have reported good results with the use of enzymes

to

> ensure that food is properly digested. 's website offers information on

> everything enzymes http://www.enzymestuff.com/

>

> * Raise stomach acid levels Constipation may be a result of food that is

poorly

> digested because of low levels of stomach acid. A sign that a child may have

low

> stomach acid is undigested food in the stool. Stomach acid levels can be

raised

> by using things such as lemon juice, betaine (TMG) or ascorbic acid

(unbuffered

> vitamin C)

>

> * Check butyric acid levels Constipation can be a result of low butyric acid.

> This can be verified by testing the stool. Butyric acid (butyrate) is found in

> butter, but can also be supplemented in the form of butyric cal-mag (here is

one

> product recommended by a parent:

> http://www.bioticsresearch.com/butyriccalmag.php)

>

> * Remove/modify certain supplements/medications Some supplements or

medications

> can be constipating. Common offenders are spirolactonane, which many parents

> have found cause constipation. If a child is biotin-deficient, adding biotin

may

> cause constipation and require larger doses of magnesium than usual. Olive

leaf

> extract can have an impact on smooth muscle function and cause a susceptible

> child to become constipated. Calcium, particularly in the carbonate form, can

be

> constipating. If your child has become recently constipated, do consider the

> most recent supplements or medications you've added. As with foods, it seems

> that almost all supplements and medications can cause some few kids to become

> constipated.

>

> * Consider adding certain supplements Many constipated children will be helped

> by the addition of vitamin C although many ASD kids have such a need for

> antioxidants that high doses of C do nothing to bm's. Keep in mind that the

> buffered C will not raise stomach acid. Many parents have good luck with

> magnesium. Generally DAN! Doctors recommend trying magnesium citrate first,

but

> if that doesn't work some recommend glycinate, or malate. The oxide form can

be

> constipating according to some, although you will notice that Oxypowder is

made

> from oxygenated magnesium oxide†" this product works very well and should not

be

> confused with plain magnesium oxide. Some parents have found that with the

> addition of amino acids, particularly l-carnitine, a child's ability to push

out

> the stool is much improved (in all likelihood, gut motility is being

improved).

> Other parents have found that using aloe vera is helpful. 's is a brand

> that is tasteless. Cat's Claw (Samento) is also considered by naturopaths to

be

> a good supplement for constipation. There are many lesser known alternative

> treatments to constipation which I have not seen mentioned on autism lists.

Some

> of these are mentioned at this link:

> http://www.jigsawhealth.com/nat.aspx? & chunkiid=21590 Some people have found

that

> adding good fats will help resolve constipation. The WAPF would recommend a

good

> cod liver oil with natural Vitamin D as opposed to just any fish oil,

believing

> that the Vitamin D plays an important role. Vitamin A also plays an important

> role in healing leaky gut, so choosing a high quality CLO may be best. Virgin

> coconut oil is also recommended for different reasons. Some doctors will

> prescribe Lactulose, which is a kind of sugar our bodies cannot use and will

> soften the stool. This may be useful if your child has learned from experience

> that passing a stool hurts and therefore refuses to have a bowel movement.

There

> are some drawbacks to lactulose however, including cramping, possible

> dependence, and the fact that it does cross the GI tract. Some people choose

to

> use mineral oil, which is not digested and therefore acts as a lubricant;

> however, it is not recommended at all for children under 6 and I would

encourage

> anyone to read this information before choosing to use it

> http://www.drugs.com/cdi/mineral_oil_liquid.html

>

> * Oxypowder A relatively new product, Oxypowder is a highly recommended by

both

> doctors and parents for constipation. You can read about it here

> http://www.oxypowder.com/ and can order from there too although you may find

> better prices if you look around. Some parents have used Oxypowder very

> successfully to deal with impactions.

>

>

> * Enemas can be useful as a kind of last resort, since most children and

parents

> find them very stressful (in spite of some yogis who will tell you that enemas

> are as natural as brushing your teeth!). Some parents do use enemas for a

short

> period to help deal with impactions.

>

>

>

> * Glycerine suppositories can be purchased at any pharmacy and can help if the

> child is struggling to pass a hard stool. Some people prefer the glycerine

> enemas (Babylax). These are considered quite safe; however, some children may

> find them very stressful, they don't address the core issue, and therefore

they

> don't always work.

>

> * Fiber can be a double-edged sword for people with constipation and it is

> important that parents understand how it works. A sudden increase in fibre by

> using supplements can cause gas and abdominal pain. Also, diets that have too

> much fibre can reduce the absorption of certain minerals including zinc and

> calcium, which might be problematic for many of our kids.

>

>

>

> There are two types of fiber. Soluble fiber are found mainly in plant cells.

> Common sources are oat bran, oatmeal, fruit, vegetables, psyllium and

> supplements like Benefibre. Soluble fiber will absorb water and act like a

gel.

> It is imperative that if you supplement fiber (as opposed to, for example,

> eating it in fruit where it comes with its own water supply) you give extra

> water. If you do not give extra water, the insoluble fiber will absorb water

> from the intestine and your child will become MORE constipated, not less.

>

>

> Insoluble fibre comes from the structural parts of plant cell walls. Good

> sources are wheat bran, the skin of fruit and vegetables, nuts, seeds, and

whole

> grain foods. Insoluble fibre adds bulk to stool and therefore can be helpful

in

> preventing constipation.

>

> Often it is recommended that you have about a 50/50 ratio of soluble to

> insoluble fiber. Flax seed (you can grind it yourself to avoid it going

rancid)

> is about this ratio.

>

>

> Some parents have found that something as simple as prune juice, which is

fairly

> easy to introduce and high in fiber (although it also contains a special sugar

> that acts as a laxative), is enough to resolve the problem; however, most

> parents find that resolving constipation is more complex than simply dealing

> with fiber in spite of what most mainstream medical professionals and websites

> will tell you.

>

> * Consider chiropractic Some parents have reported good success using a

> chiropractor to deal with constipation. Some children seem to have a signaling

> problem that chiropractic can deal with. Other children seem to have a lazy

> ileocecal valve which can be massaged. This massage, which takes only a minute

> or so and can be learned by a parent, can improve the transit of the stool and

> prevent it from hardening.

>

> * Improve gut motility Some parents have used Bethanecol to improve gut

> motility. Increased exercise may help. Increased fibre may speed up transit

> time, but see section on fibre to consider all aspects of this treatment. It

> would seem that HBOT's positive effect on many constipated children has

> something to do with gut motility. Improvements you may see from HBOT are not

> always permanent. Serotonin plays some role in gut motility; in fact, 95% of

our

> body store of serotonin is found in the gut. However, I was unable to find any

> practical treatments that might pertain. Perhaps a DAN! doctor would know

more.

>

>

> * Use behavioral approaches Try to encourage your child to go to the toilet as

> soon as he feels like having a bm. If the child does not feel it, set aside

> special times during the day for trying. If the child uses a toilet, a small

> bench under his feet may help him feel comfortable. If the child is in diapers

> or on the toilet, be sure to give him privacy if they seem to want it. Try to

> make having a bm as stress-free as possible. If your child has had an

impaction,

> there is a good chance that his colon has been stretched and will take some

time

> to return to normal. It is very important during this period to have your

child

> try to poop regularly as he may not feel the urge as he should. It can take up

> to a year for full function to return.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for your story, and not giving up on this group, and being for the right

kind of moderation for the help people need and the kind of people we want and

need in this world

No. I'm not finished thanking people yet, Etc. Give me time

Glavic

Volunteer

> >

> > Like it says below, most ASD kids have bowel issues. I believe this is

> > symptomatic of heavy metal toxicity.

> > It's also true that most ASD kids will respond positively to a GFCF diet.

Andy

> > says that mercury and other metals inhibit the body from producing the

needed

> > enzymes to digest certain foods.

> > Once again, a symptom of heavy metal toxicity.

> > So, the ultimate solution is chelation. This takes care of the root cause.

We

> > found much improvement with our boys' gut and bowels after about six months

of

> > chelation.

> > That said, you need to have the bowels moving in the meantime for comfort

and

> > good health. We found a few things that helped:

> > - Digestive enzymes

> > - Magnesium and Vit. C (dont't overdo the mag, it can cause cramping)

> > - Fiber, we use oganic acacia. Fruit is the best if your child will eat it.

> > - Drink lots of fluids, water if they will drink it.

> > - Probiotics, capsule or there are lots of cool kefirs and stuff that people

> > talk about. We use caps.

> > - Last resort, use miralax, just to clear things out. Many are against this

> > because of leaky gut issues, but we have had good success with our younger

boy

> > who is chronically constipated without it.

> >

> > Try the different things on yourself to get first hand knowledge.

> > TJ

> >

> >

> > ________________________________

> > From: mercurybabies2 <mercurybabies2@>

> >

> > Sent: Thu, January 6, 2011 8:40:21 PM

> > Subject: [ ] Re: Constipation and Chelation

> >

> >  

> > Maybe something in here will help.....

> >

> > This file was put together in an effort to save parents time. I've tried to

> > provide as much information as possible to help parents understand their

child's

> > constipation but do know that I'm not an expert, only a mom. I've tried to

> > address what might cause constipation, what might address constipation, what

> > parents might want to avoid, and where parents might go for more

information. I

> > have organized the bulk of the information by possible solutions, and, when

I

> > was able to find the information, the specific problems they might address.

The

> > solutions are in no particular order. I have used the male pronoun when

> > referring to children. This is not accidental†" constipation problems are

far more

> > common among boys than girls, although this may hold true in the autistic

> > community.

> >

> > If you have comments, see misinformation in this file, or have some

information

> > you'd like to see added, please contact Anita by email

> > (mysuperteach@)

> >

> > Background information

> >

> >

> > Constipation is defined as the condition in which bowel movements happen

less

> > frequently than is normal for the particular individual, or the stool is

small,

> > hard, and difficult or painful to pass. Please do not focus only the " small,

> > hard " stool part of this definition. Many of our kids are constipated and

pass

> > liquid stools (diarrhea) or soft stools. These kids can still be

constipated.

> >

> > It has become increasingly clear to me in my reading of the listserves, that

> > many of our ASD children are impacted. A bowel impaction can only be

reliably

> > diagnosed by an x-ray looking specifically for that problem. It can NOT

always

> > or even often be felt because contrary to popular belief, the impacted stool

is

> > not always hardened. Some kids who have been shown to be impacted on an

x-ray

> > had flat bellies and formed bm's each day. If a parent has any suspicions at

> > all, it is my opinion that they should demand an x-ray for their child, if

only

> > to rule out impaction.

> >

> >

> > The elusive trophy poop: A normal bowel movement should be formed, some

shade of

> > brown, shaped like a sausage or banana, and relatively soft. It should be

smooth

> > in texture and sink gently down into the water of the toilet.

> >

> >

> >

> > Good Resources

> > A good resource is Dana's site http://www.danasview.net/constip.htm

> >

> > Another place to learn about bm's and related topics is 's site

> > http://www.enzymestuff.com/rtstools.htm where you can learn how to interpret

the

> > appearance of a bm.

> >

> > The site below covers a lot of the basics of constipation and possibilities

for

> > treatment, although some treatments they recommend are certainly not what

many

> > parents would recommend (Miralax for example)

> >

http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/internet/pediatrics/patients/tutorials/cons\

tipation/treatcon.cfm

> > This site also provides a very helpful list of signs of chronic

constipation

> > and encopresis that all ASD parents should be aware of:

> >

http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/internet/pediatrics/patients/tutorials/cons\

tipation/symptoms.cfm

> >

> >

> > The following is an interesting and detailed look at the digestive system,

> > written by Enig of the Weston A Price Foundation (WAPF) that is both

> > informative yet easy to read

> > http://www.westonaprice.org/moderndiseases/digestion_primer.html

> >

> >

> > One possible solution offered by doctors that parents on the boards often

learn

> > to avoid is Miralax (or Glycolax). There is a group that talks about

the

> > possible complications of this product and offers safer alternatives and lot

of

> > very good information miralax/

> >

> >

> > Possible Solutions to Constipation

> >

> > * Deal with the thyroid problem It is well-accepted that a malfunctioning

> > thyroid, specifically hypothyroidism, can cause constipation. Many doctors

do

> > not know how to test properly for thyroid function, if they test at all. You

> > need to have free t3, free t4 and TSH and then you need to interpret the

results

> > against the right pediatric ranges for your child. Thyroid problems are not

> > uncommon in children with metal toxicity and are not always apparent just

from

> > observing a child.

> >

> > * Get more exercise If a child exercises more, particularly high energy

> > activities such as bouncing on a trampoline, this may improve gut motility

and

> > help to resolve constipation. See here for a good explanation of gut

motility

> > http://www.aboutgimotility.org/normal.html

> >

> >

> > * Drink more water This is a commonly offered solution to constipation but

would

> > only be pertinent if your child was dehydrated. A well hydrated child will

not

> > stop being constipated with the addition of more water. Do note that some

people

> > recommend against drinking water with a meal as that can lower stomach acid

and

> > some of our children may already suffer from decreased stomach acid.

> >

> > * Remove foods that are not tolerated This, of course, is easier said than

done

> > because what constipates one child will not constipate another. Common

offenders

> > are pasteurized milk, rice, sugar (because of the yeast connection), fried

> > foods. But some kids can be constipated by cooked carrots, apples, and

bananas,

> > so it would seem that almost any food can be the culprit. Of course, a

child's

> > diet may need a complete overhaul and parents may want to consider something

> > like Specific Carbohydrate Diet http://www.pecanbread.com/, the Body Ecology

> > Diet http://www.bodyecologydiet.com/ or Gluten Free Casein Free diet

> > http://www.gfcfdiet.com

> >

> > * Deal with the yeast Many ASD parents believe yeast to be a primary cause

of

> > constipation for lots of our kids. Antifungals are of course important;

however,

> > the main component of treating yeast may be introducing bacteria into the

gut.

> > Sally Fallon of the Weston A Price foundation points out that some cultures

like

> > the Inuit had a traditional diet virtually devoid of fibre but were not

> > constipated and she attributes part of this to the consumption of cultured

> > foods. Probiotics and cultured foods like kefir likely play a very important

> > role in constipation relieving constipation. See the Body Ecology Diet

website

> > for more information or the Weston A Price website

http://www.westonaprice.org/

> >

> > * Use enzymes Some parents have reported good results with the use of

enzymes to

> > ensure that food is properly digested. 's website offers information on

> > everything enzymes http://www.enzymestuff.com/

> >

> > * Raise stomach acid levels Constipation may be a result of food that is

poorly

> > digested because of low levels of stomach acid. A sign that a child may have

low

> > stomach acid is undigested food in the stool. Stomach acid levels can be

raised

> > by using things such as lemon juice, betaine (TMG) or ascorbic acid

(unbuffered

> > vitamin C)

> >

> > * Check butyric acid levels Constipation can be a result of low butyric

acid.

> > This can be verified by testing the stool. Butyric acid (butyrate) is found

in

> > butter, but can also be supplemented in the form of butyric cal-mag (here is

one

> > product recommended by a parent:

> > http://www.bioticsresearch.com/butyriccalmag.php)

> >

> > * Remove/modify certain supplements/medications Some supplements or

medications

> > can be constipating. Common offenders are spirolactonane, which many parents

> > have found cause constipation. If a child is biotin-deficient, adding biotin

may

> > cause constipation and require larger doses of magnesium than usual. Olive

leaf

> > extract can have an impact on smooth muscle function and cause a susceptible

> > child to become constipated. Calcium, particularly in the carbonate form,

can be

> > constipating. If your child has become recently constipated, do consider the

> > most recent supplements or medications you've added. As with foods, it seems

> > that almost all supplements and medications can cause some few kids to

become

> > constipated.

> >

> > * Consider adding certain supplements Many constipated children will be

helped

> > by the addition of vitamin C although many ASD kids have such a need for

> > antioxidants that high doses of C do nothing to bm's. Keep in mind that the

> > buffered C will not raise stomach acid. Many parents have good luck with

> > magnesium. Generally DAN! Doctors recommend trying magnesium citrate first,

but

> > if that doesn't work some recommend glycinate, or malate. The oxide form can

be

> > constipating according to some, although you will notice that Oxypowder is

made

> > from oxygenated magnesium oxide†" this product works very well and should

not be

> > confused with plain magnesium oxide. Some parents have found that with the

> > addition of amino acids, particularly l-carnitine, a child's ability to push

out

> > the stool is much improved (in all likelihood, gut motility is being

improved).

> > Other parents have found that using aloe vera is helpful. 's is a

brand

> > that is tasteless. Cat's Claw (Samento) is also considered by naturopaths to

be

> > a good supplement for constipation. There are many lesser known alternative

> > treatments to constipation which I have not seen mentioned on autism lists.

Some

> > of these are mentioned at this link:

> > http://www.jigsawhealth.com/nat.aspx? & chunkiid=21590 Some people have found

that

> > adding good fats will help resolve constipation. The WAPF would recommend a

good

> > cod liver oil with natural Vitamin D as opposed to just any fish oil,

believing

> > that the Vitamin D plays an important role. Vitamin A also plays an

important

> > role in healing leaky gut, so choosing a high quality CLO may be best.

Virgin

> > coconut oil is also recommended for different reasons. Some doctors will

> > prescribe Lactulose, which is a kind of sugar our bodies cannot use and will

> > soften the stool. This may be useful if your child has learned from

experience

> > that passing a stool hurts and therefore refuses to have a bowel movement.

There

> > are some drawbacks to lactulose however, including cramping, possible

> > dependence, and the fact that it does cross the GI tract. Some people choose

to

> > use mineral oil, which is not digested and therefore acts as a lubricant;

> > however, it is not recommended at all for children under 6 and I would

encourage

> > anyone to read this information before choosing to use it

> > http://www.drugs.com/cdi/mineral_oil_liquid.html

> >

> > * Oxypowder A relatively new product, Oxypowder is a highly recommended by

both

> > doctors and parents for constipation. You can read about it here

> > http://www.oxypowder.com/ and can order from there too although you may find

> > better prices if you look around. Some parents have used Oxypowder very

> > successfully to deal with impactions.

> >

> >

> > * Enemas can be useful as a kind of last resort, since most children and

parents

> > find them very stressful (in spite of some yogis who will tell you that

enemas

> > are as natural as brushing your teeth!). Some parents do use enemas for a

short

> > period to help deal with impactions.

> >

> >

> >

> > * Glycerine suppositories can be purchased at any pharmacy and can help if

the

> > child is struggling to pass a hard stool. Some people prefer the glycerine

> > enemas (Babylax). These are considered quite safe; however, some children

may

> > find them very stressful, they don't address the core issue, and therefore

they

> > don't always work.

> >

> > * Fiber can be a double-edged sword for people with constipation and it is

> > important that parents understand how it works. A sudden increase in fibre

by

> > using supplements can cause gas and abdominal pain. Also, diets that have

too

> > much fibre can reduce the absorption of certain minerals including zinc and

> > calcium, which might be problematic for many of our kids.

> >

> >

> >

> > There are two types of fiber. Soluble fiber are found mainly in plant cells.

> > Common sources are oat bran, oatmeal, fruit, vegetables, psyllium and

> > supplements like Benefibre. Soluble fiber will absorb water and act like a

gel.

> > It is imperative that if you supplement fiber (as opposed to, for example,

> > eating it in fruit where it comes with its own water supply) you give extra

> > water. If you do not give extra water, the insoluble fiber will absorb water

> > from the intestine and your child will become MORE constipated, not less.

> >

> >

> > Insoluble fibre comes from the structural parts of plant cell walls. Good

> > sources are wheat bran, the skin of fruit and vegetables, nuts, seeds, and

whole

> > grain foods. Insoluble fibre adds bulk to stool and therefore can be helpful

in

> > preventing constipation.

> >

> > Often it is recommended that you have about a 50/50 ratio of soluble to

> > insoluble fiber. Flax seed (you can grind it yourself to avoid it going

rancid)

> > is about this ratio.

> >

> >

> > Some parents have found that something as simple as prune juice, which is

fairly

> > easy to introduce and high in fiber (although it also contains a special

sugar

> > that acts as a laxative), is enough to resolve the problem; however, most

> > parents find that resolving constipation is more complex than simply dealing

> > with fiber in spite of what most mainstream medical professionals and

websites

> > will tell you.

> >

> > * Consider chiropractic Some parents have reported good success using a

> > chiropractor to deal with constipation. Some children seem to have a

signaling

> > problem that chiropractic can deal with. Other children seem to have a lazy

> > ileocecal valve which can be massaged. This massage, which takes only a

minute

> > or so and can be learned by a parent, can improve the transit of the stool

and

> > prevent it from hardening.

> >

> > * Improve gut motility Some parents have used Bethanecol to improve gut

> > motility. Increased exercise may help. Increased fibre may speed up transit

> > time, but see section on fibre to consider all aspects of this treatment. It

> > would seem that HBOT's positive effect on many constipated children has

> > something to do with gut motility. Improvements you may see from HBOT are

not

> > always permanent. Serotonin plays some role in gut motility; in fact, 95% of

our

> > body store of serotonin is found in the gut. However, I was unable to find

any

> > practical treatments that might pertain. Perhaps a DAN! doctor would know

more.

> >

> >

> > * Use behavioral approaches Try to encourage your child to go to the toilet

as

> > soon as he feels like having a bm. If the child does not feel it, set aside

> > special times during the day for trying. If the child uses a toilet, a small

> > bench under his feet may help him feel comfortable. If the child is in

diapers

> > or on the toilet, be sure to give him privacy if they seem to want it. Try

to

> > make having a bm as stress-free as possible. If your child has had an

impaction,

> > there is a good chance that his colon has been stretched and will take some

time

> > to return to normal. It is very important during this period to have your

child

> > try to poop regularly as he may not feel the urge as he should. It can take

up

> > to a year for full function to return.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >