A Look at Both Sides of the Chelation and Autism Debate

[Guest guest]

Perhaps one of the hardest aspects of an autism diagnosis is the uncertainty

over the cause and the lack of a guaranteed cure. As a result there are many

theories regarding the cause and one theory that seems to have taken hold is

autism may be the result of heavy metal poisoning or the body's inability to

process eliminate heavy metals effectively. This theory has lead to many debates

about the effective of Chelation and autism symptom improvements.

Because of the belief that excess heavy metals in the body may contribute to

autism symptoms, a process called Chelation, which removes excess toxic metals

from the body, has gained in popularity.

Chelation is carried out using a series of drugs that aim to cleanse the body of

excess metals in the hope that this will lead to an improvement in symptoms and

in some cases, reverse the effects of autism. This process has it's detractors

who argue that it is a flawed theory that does not work, and even worse, that

there can be many harmful side effects when carried out.

In 2005 a child near Pittsburgh, PA died at age five as a result of an injection

of EDTA (ethylenediamminetetraacetate), as part of the Chelation process. The

official cause of death was cardiac arrest after this drug was administered. The

doctor involved was charged with involuntary manslaughter earlier this year.

This has raised some red flags to those wondering if Chelation is safe and

effective.

Chelation is not a recognized treatment for autistic children and adults. Though

the US Food and Drug Administration have approved Chelation for heavy metal

poisonings, it has not been officially approved as a treatment for autism. This

therapy option supports the belief that mercury is the reason for autism.

On the flip side of the coin, there are many who say that Chelation has been

effective in reducing their children's autism symptoms and they remain convinced

that heavy metal poisoning is the root cause of autism in their child.

Though Chelation can be carried out intravenously, as was the case with the

child who died, most practitioners chose to use oral doses or a cream that can

be rubbed into the skin. 2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (SMSA) and is taken orally

and is the drug of choice in America for heavy metal poisoning offering the best

safety and effectiveness record.

The drugs used in the process wrap around the excess metals in the body and they

are then excreted. Due to their sulfurous nature the urine generally has an

unpleasant smell. There are also some potential side effects including nausea,

vomiting, diarrhea and skin rashes. There is also the risk of liver or bone

marrow damage from prolonged treatment so careful monitoring is required.

This is a procedure that works well for heavy metal poisoning, but until it is

not yet been studied and approved as a treatment to tackle autism. If you are

interested in knowing more about Chelation and autism speak to your doctor for a

referral to a medical professional experienced in this procedure.

Critical Information To Maximize the Potential of Someone With Autism:

http://autismgd.cjb.net/