The Steps We Took to Heal Autism

I get asked all the time, "What did you do to heal your son?" and let me be very clear: there isn't a simple, one-size-fits-all plan that everyone can follow. However, I'm going to share steps we took and that I personally feel would be beneficial for anyone trying to holistically solve behavioral issues as well as auto-immune issues. We've been at this for a little over six years now, so I do feel like I'm able to give a pretty solid opinion. With that said, this isn't medical advice and always discuss protocols, supplements and testing with your provider.  Lastly, the journey of healing is never ending and to find out why, please visit my "Is Autism a Genetic Disorder" post. 

​

Let's get to it:

• Seek out a holistic, natural minded doctor. This is a doctor that is willing to look at pharmaceuticals and vaccines that could be compounding issues, someone that is willing to hear you out on what you believe caused the issues, someone that is willing to order testing and is well versed in supplements, whole food and diet changes and alternative treatments and remedies. A Naturopathic Doctor is a good place to start looking. Good doctors are typically very expensive, and you'll want to ask the clinic how many patients this doctor sees and has healed/helped. Many doctors will do tele-meetings these days so if there isn't one local to you, don't hesitate to look elsewhere. We saw Dr. Shelese Pratt of the Pratt Clinics in Boulder, CO.
  
• Please know that there are a TON of people out there selling supplements that promise to be solutions to autism or they are selling books, protocols or tutorials on how to heal autism. I absolutely hate that healing autism as become a big business within the holistically minded community. Most of the supplements that are "magic cures" are nothing more than magnesium and no, most of them don't work. It takes more than a single pill to solve this issue. 
• Early intervention is key. The younger and sooner treatments, protocols and therapies are implemented, the more likely positive results and complete reversals will be seen. We started a little before our son was 1.5 years old, right when the self-harm started, and a lack of eye contact and verbal communication was present. Had we of waited until he was three or four, when many children are diagnosed, it would have been much harder. 
• Testing was key for us. Bloodwork to see where mineral and vitamin deficiencies were so we could take a very targeted approach and act quickly was very important. Stool and OATS testing as well as food allergy panels were recommended. I also recommend food sensitivity testing which can be done through Check My Body Health. It's very affordable and can be self-administered using just a few strands of hair that you mail in. Sensitivity testing is different than allergy testing, and it can be very enlightening to see which foods could be causing inflammation but aren't pulling up as an allergy. 
• Diet changes. The gut is our body's second brain. Inflammation in the gut can lead to so many issues in the rest of the body. Eating a clean, organic, whole food diet that is free of antibiotics, vaccines and GMO's will do wonders. You've got to remove foods that are causing issues in order to calm the inflammation so that body can work properly. Get back to basics... juice your own orange juice, drink raw milk, eat raw cheese, consume grassfed, small farm meat, make your own bread and avoid glyphosate crops, and avoid seed oils and instead, opt for raw butter or bacon fat. High protein foods and remove as much sugar as possible. Real bone broth and raw camel's milk can be very gut-healing (or if you have some, human breastmilk). 
• Parasite Cleansing is a normal in many countries but here in the USA, it's rarely talked about. Most doctors will shrug at the idea that parasites could be causing a majority of the issues we are facing and many of them don't even have the slightest idea as to how to remove them naturally. Making parasite cleansing part of your routine is crucial. I like to have everyone in the family do a parasite cleanse once or twice a year and yes, I've seen worms floating and in diapers. 
• Supplements are important but you've got to be taking high quality ones. DO NOT order from strange websites and I also don't like most of the supplements that are sold by social media autism gurus that promise their supplement is the holy grail of healing autism. Chances are, if you are a parent of a kiddo with autism, you probably get advertised to all the time about "an amazing supplement" that will heal your child. Chances are, it's a load of crap. 
• Heavy Metal Detoxing is key. We are constantly being bombarded by toxins and heavy metals. From cloud seeding to chemicals being sprayed in the air, to our clothing, beauty products, our beds, our vehicles, our food........... gosh, such a long list...... everyone needs to be detoxing heavy metals and toxins. The easiest and my favorite way is using a Zeolite spray from Results RNA. You can also eat or juice a lot of cilantro, known to bind to metals within the body so that we can easily secrete them. There are a few other ways like the Andy Cutler Chelation protocol. 
• Speech, Occupational and Physical Therapy is really important, at least it was for us. We still attend speech therapy as verbal apraxia is really intense and will probably always remain a challenge for our son. We took the private clinic route for therapies, but many public-school systems offer free services to residents that qualify. 
• Pray for healing. We pray every single day, sometimes multiple times, for healing. We need to be looking to our Lord and Savior to heal our bodies instead of solely relying on our own understanding.