What is one of the first things a parent can do to help by boosting the immune system of a child with autism?
According to Dr. Kurt Woeller, the answer lies in the digestive tract. He says taking a holistic approach to medicine is the smartest choice, which he would choose to do if he were treating his very own son.
How does he suggest parents do this? He says that the two most important things a parent can do is to alter their child's diet to find the right kind of diet that suits the needs of their child, and also to give the child supplements like probiotics to help replace and colonize good bacteria in the colon. He suggests that bacteria communicate with the immune system, so if the colon is communicating that it is "healthy," then the body will respond accordingly which will affect the entire immune system.
How can a parent determine if their child needs their diet modified or supplements added into their diet? That's a good question. Woeller suggests that a parent get their child tested for chemical deficiencies or excesses in the body. One example of this could be a total immunoglobulin profile, which analyzes proteins in the body like IGG, IGM, and IGA. Imbalances in these specific proteins can give a parents insight into the health of their child, which will help guide the treatment process.
For instance, in the intestinal tract, the protein IGA is what triggers the immune system response in the entire body. So, if you increase immunity in the intestine, then the protein will end up sending different signals to the body. After finding a successful treatment, the body will be be interpreting signals of health rather than sickeness, which should increase the well-being of a person as a result.
What Therapies Can Assist In Improving Digestive Health Other Than Probiotics?
One type of a natural product that aids the immune system is something called colostrum, which is produced by cows before they begin producing milk. Some people call it "liquid gold," because they believe it to be so beneficial. Sometimes, people have an overgrowth of bad bacteria and yeast in the colon, which a beneficial type of yeast called saccharomyces boulardii can help counteract and will encourage proper immune functioning. Even spices can be extremely beneficial and stimulate the immune system in the colon - like cayenne pepper.
In general a parent should seek testing in order to determine if their child needs immunological support. Then, a parent can try modifying their children's diet and giving their child different supplements.
