This blog is a way of sharing the information and resources that have helped me to recover my son Roo from an Autism Spectrum Disorder. What I have learned is to view our symptoms as the results of underlying biological cause, which can be identified and healed. I say "our symptoms" because I also have a neuro-immune disorder called Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.

And, of course, I am not a doctor (although I have been known to impersonate one while doing imaginative play with my son)- this is just our story and information that has been helpful or interesting to us. I hope it is helpful and interesting to you!


Site Map

I have organized the posts from this blog to make the information easier to access.  If there is no link yet for a topic, that means the post hasn't been written yet but is on it's way.

Our Story
     -Welcome to Our World
     -Springtime in More Ways Than One
     -Life as an Extreme Sport
     -Roo Meet Mercury, Mercury Meet Roo
     -Our Diet Intervention Experience
     -The Viral Piece
     -Early Reading, A Great Idea?
     -Some Random Musical Pieces
     -A Day in the Life 4/13/11
     -Redefining the Role of the Patient
     -Why I Never Mourned for Roo
     -Sensory Activities for Roo
     -SPEAK Supplement From NourishLife
     -New Syndrome of Verbal Apraxia with Dietary Components
     -The View From Recovery Land
     -Emotional Fallout
     -Why Comments Have Been Disabled
   
Commentary and Politics
     -My Response to "don't Mourn for us" by Jim Sinclair
     -The Most Harmful Myths About Autism
     -Should We Cure Autism?
     -The Loaded Language of Autism Treatment
     -Autism Awareness Month
     -The Semantics of Autism and the "Buffet Analogy"
     -Voices From the Spectrum
     -The Autism Family
     -The Canary Party- Political Action to Address Our Failing Health
     -Early Reading, A Great Idea?
     -How Can We Unite the Autism Community?
     -Jeremy Sicile-Kira's Amazing and Inspiring Graduation Speech
     -You Know You're a Biomed Family When....
     -Resources and Information About Giftedness in Children and Adults
     -
Drug Prices
     -The Global Impact of Pharmaceutical Profiteering and Corruption
     -The Corrupting Influence of Money in Medicine

Thoughts on Health, Healing, and the Medical System
     -Connecting the Dots
     -Sometimes Humor Gets the Point Across Best...
     -Treating Illness or Over-Riding Healing?
     -Redefining the Role of the Patient
     -Weighing the Risks and Benefits of Medical Intervention
     -A Change of Paradigm
     -New Discoveries Highlight How Little is Known of the Immune System
     -What People Who Are Chronically Ill Appreciate Hearing
     -The Loaded Language of Autism Treatment
     -Rampant Ethics Violations Undermine Credibility in Scientific and Clinical Research
     -Is the American Healthcare System Really the Best? (spoiler- no)
     -The Realities of Living with Serious Disease
     -Outbreak of Acute Unexplained Hepatitis in Children in 2022
     -Living with and Overcoming Brain and Neurological Injury
     -The Realities of Living with Serious Disease

General Sources of Information and Resources
     -The Book Shelf
     -The Movie Shelf
     -D.I.Y. Home Remedies
     -How to Make a DIY Home HEPA Air Filter
     -Where to Order Biomed Supplements and Supplies
     -Online Resources for Medical Research
     -Online Resources Including Webinars and Podcasts
     -Financial Help For Therapy
     -Resources for Advanced Medical Care and Travel
     -Advocacy and Support Organizations 
     -Medical Dream Team
     -ME/CFS information and resources

What Are the Underlying Medical Causes of ME/CFS, Fibromyalgia, Autism, and Related Conditions?
     -Many of the Diseases on the Rise Now seem to be Interconnected
     -Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, or ME/CFS

          -New Criteria For Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
          -Medical Problems that can Cause or Contribute to ME/CFS
          -Affects of M.E. on the Brain
               -Is There a Connection Between Sleep Problems and Myalgic Pain?
               -Autism and ME/CFS- Twins Separated at Birth?
     -Identifying Potential Biomarkers for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
     -Biomarkers Have Been Found for Multiple Chemical Sensitivity and Electro-Hypersensitivity
     -Understanding the Hypothalamus/Pituitary/Adrenal Axis
     -Neuroinflammation
          -Autoimmune Encephalitis (including PANDAS/PANS)
          -PANDAS/PANS
               -Dr Susan Swedo on PANDAS
               -The Neurological Basis of PANDAS/PANS
               -Additional Notes from Dr Trifilleti's Presentation Slides on PANDAS/PANS
               -How the Auto Antibodies in PANDAS Get into the Brain
     -Insulin and Blood Sugar
     -Mitochondrial Dysfunction
          -Mitochondria: Up Close and Personal
          -Mitochondria Are Involved in Many Diseases and Disorders
          -Oxalates Impair Mitochondrial Function
          -Mito Toxins
     -Chronic infections
          -Parasites Can Alter the Behavior of Their Hosts        
          -Infections Can Alter Our Genetic Expression
          -Yeast and Mold
               -Oxalates and Fungal Infection
          -Treating Yeast
          -Viruses (The Viral Piece)
               -HHV6 and Other Herpes Viruses
               -HHV6 and the Amygdala
               -Herpes Viruses in the Brain and Nervous System
     -Dysautonomia
     -Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Other Connective Tissue Disorders
     -Mast Cell Disease
          -Mast Cell Activation in the Brain and Neurological Disorders
          -Kounis Syndrome (Allergic Heart Attack)
          -Anaphylaxis
          -Mast Cells and the Endocrine System    
          -Anesthesia and Surgery with Mast Cell Disease
          -Gleevec (Imatinib)
          -Mast Cells in the Brain and Autism
          -Mast Cell Activation in the Brain and Neurological Disorders (especially autism)
          -Mast Cells and the Brain with Dr Theoharides (and the autism connection)
          -Infections can Activate Mast Cells and Increase Histamine Release
          -Mast Cell Disease and COVID 19
          -Treatment for Allergies and Other Atopic Diseases
     -Related Conditions and Issues
          -Allergy and Hypersensitivity Symptoms, Conditions, and Diseases
          -Serotonin Syndrome (aka Serotonin Toxicity or Serotonin Storm)
          -Kounis Syndrome (Allergic Heart Attack)
          -Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy
          -Central Sensitization Syndrome (and chronic pain)
          -Migraines
          -Celiac Disease
          -Habba Syndrome
          -Narcolepsy
          -The Methylation Pathway
               -The Basics of the Methylation Pathway
               -Methylation and Neurotransmitters
               -Autism, Methylation, and Dopamine
  -The Gut and Digestion
          -The Gastrointestinal/Digestive System- Relevant Symptoms, Conditions, and Disorders
          -Are We Allergic to Food or What's Been Done to it?
          -New Syndrome of Verbal Apraxia With Dietary Components
          -Research Regarding Gut Flora and Health
          -The Microbiome
               -Gut Dysbiosis in Autism
          -Probiotic Supplements
               -Making Sense of Probiotics
          -The Importance of the Gallbladder and Bile
          -Gallbladder Disease- the Connection Between MTHFR, methylation, and digestion
          -MALS and SMAS: Two Very Rare Syndromes to Consider When Eating Becomes Unbearable
  -Toxicity
          -Environmental Toxicity
          -Carbon Monoxide Brain Injury
          -Environmental Sources of Toxic Metals
          -The Toxicity of Aluminum
          -The Toxicity of Aluminum in Allergy Shots
          -Melanin, Mercury, and Neurological Disorders
          -Studies Suggesting a Link Between Vaccines and Autism
               -Dr Bernadine Healy, former head of the NIH, speaks about the potential link between vaccines and autism

Other Basic Health Topics
     -The Cardiovascular System (and Blood)- Relevant Symptoms, Conditions, and Disorders
     -The Neurological System- Relevant Symptoms, Conditions, and Disorders
     - Acute Intermittent Porphyria (AIP)
     -Vision and Eye Health  
     -Oral and Dental Health

Childhood Stress and Trauma Sets the Stage for Health Throughout Our Lifetime
     -Trauma and PTSD
     -Managing Complex PTSD (C-PTSD)
     -Epigenetics and the Stress Response
     -Stress (Cortisol and Adrenaline)
     -Eating Disorders
 
Mental Health
     -Psychiatric and Mental Health Disorders and Symptoms
     -Skills and Tools for Coping with Mental Illness
     -Integrative Medicine for Mental Health
     -Psychedelics as Mental Health Treatment
     -How Do Ayahuasca and Other Psychedelics Affect the Brain?

What the Scientific Evidence Tells Us About The Causes of Autism
     -Medical Comorbidities in Autism Spectrum Disorder (this is somewhat general)
     -Epigenetics, or Why The Question Isn't "Environment OR Genetics"
     -The Somali Autism Mystery
     -The Underlying Biological Causes of Sensory Processing Issues
     -Mito Dysfunction in autism
     -Autism and the Gut Connection: The Science
     -Studies Linking Autism to Toxic Exposures
     -Immune Dysregulation
          -Critique of the NYT Article "An Immune Disorder at the Root of Autism"
          -Autism and Immunity
               -Vertical Viral Transmission as Pathogenesis in Autism?
               -Autoimmunity
                    -Celiac Disease
                    -Cerebral Folate Deficiency
                    -Could Autism be Related to an Auto-immune Reaction to Mitochondria?  
  -Neurology and Brain Research and Autism
          -The Biochemistry of the "Critical Period" Concept in Neurological Development
          -Neurological Comorbidities in Autism Spectrum Disorder
          -Seizures in Autism- How Common Are They?
          -Autism and the Brain- Oxidative Stress
          -PANDAS/PANS- Immunity in the Brain Gone Haywire
                -Dr Susan Swedo on PANDAS
               -The Neurological Basis of PANDAS/PANS
               -Additional Notes from Dr Trifilleti's Presentation Slides on PANDAS/PANS
               -How the Auto Antibodies in PANDAS Get into the Brain

What Can We Do About it?  Treatment and Resources
The Basics Of the Biomed Approach to Healing
     -The Basics of Biomed for Autism
     -Laboratory Testing in Autism and Related Disorders
     -Myelin Repair
     -Regenerative Medicine
     -Supplements, Herbs, and Nutrient Deficiencies
          -General Supplement Notes
          -Supplement Notes (Vitamins)
          -Supplement Notes (Minerals)
          -Supplements for Connective Tissue, Soft Tissue, and Muscle Health and Support
          -Diseases Caused by Nutrient Deficiencies
          -The Amino Acids Lysine and Arginine and Herpes Reactivation
          -NAC and Glutathione
          -The Basics of Pyroluria
          -Signs of Zinc Deficiency
          -Signs of B6 Deficiency
          -SPEAK Supplement From NourishLife
     -Probiotics for Specific Conditions
     -Orthomolecular Medicine
          -The Basics of Pyroluria
     -Dr Yasko's Work
          -SNP Testing
          -SNP Resources by Gene and by Disorder
     -MTHFR Variance
          -Interview with Dr Lynch About the MTHFR Gene Mutation
          -Dr Rawlins on MTHFR
          -Dr Ben Lynch on MTHFR Genetic Variance and Methylation

Non-Biomed Treatment Modalities
     -Physical and Manual Therapies
     -Meditation, Mindfulness, and Breath-work
     -Essential Oils
     -Homeopathic Remedies
     -EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique)
     -Sound Healing

Medications and Medical Treatments
      -Notes for Pharmaceutical Drugs and Treatments
      -Pharma Meds for Allergy, Asthma, and Mast Cell Disease
      -Mito Cocktail (Treatment for mitochondrial disease and dysfunction)
      -Low-Dose Naltrexone (LDN)
      -Water and Hydration
      -Electrolytes
      -Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition (Feeding by Tube or IV)
           -The Issue of Lipid (Fat) Sources for TPN (IV nutrition)
      -Helpful Medical and Therapeutic Products
      -Organizing, Managing, and Traveling with Medical Supplies
      -Unconventional Cancer Treatments
      -Breakthroughs in Treating Cancer
      -Teriparatide Treatment for Osteoporosis (Forteo and Tymlos)

Recovery From Autism Spectrum Disorders
     -More Stories of Recovery From Autism
     -NIMH Study Validates the Possibility of Recovery From Autism

Special Diets and Nutrition
     -Kitchen Help and Cooking Skills
     -Exploring New Ingredients for Cooking
     -The Risks of Gluten for Everyone
     -Harm and Toxicity Concerns of the US Food Supply    
     -Implementing Dietary Changes with Children
     -Making Food Fun
     -Inspiring Food Blogs
     -Recipes for Medicinal Foods
     -The Brain in the Gut (and the Importance of Cooking Our Food)
     -The Healing Power of Food
          -Medicinal Herbs, Plants, and Other Foods
          -Camel's Milk
               -The Specific Nutritional Benefits of Camel's Milk
          -Brain Food
          -Feeding Your Mitochondria to Heal Neurological Disease
          -Addressing ADHD with Dietary Changes
          -Fermented Foods
          -So, What IS an Optimal Human Diet
     -Implementing Special Diets
          -Products for Special Diets and Clean Eating and Where to Get Them
          -Food Substitutions for Allergies and Special Diets
          -How to Make Your Own "Ingredients"
          -Special Diet Resources and Food Lists
          -Health and Holidays
          -Salicylates, Phenols, and Faulty Sulfation
          -Dietary Lectins
          -Dietary Free Glutamate and Excitotoxins
               -Glutamate in Food and Excitotoxicity
          -Corn and Celiac Disease
          -Arginine and Lysine for Herpes Management
     -Specific Special Diets
          -The GAPS Diet, Our Biggest Miracle
               -GAPS Diet Success Stories
                -Recipes Useful for Paleo, SCD, or GAPS
                -Fermented Foods
          -Oxalates and the Low Oxalate Diet
               -Oxalate Levels of Foods
               -Oxalate Levels of Grains and Starches
               -Further Reading About Oxalates
          -The Low Histamine Diet
               -Resources for Eating Low Histamine
          -The Ketogenic Diet
               -Basics of the Ketogenic Diet
               -Keto Recipes and Food Ideas
          -The Basics of the Paleolithic Diet (with Mark Sisson)
          - Intermittent Fasting

  Recipes
          -Recipes for Cooking From Scratch
          -Favorite Online Recipes
          -Favorite Ways to Cook Eggs
          -Simple Breakfast Recipes and Ideas
          -How to Make Hemp Milk
          -Sesame Sauce Recipe
          -Nomato Sauce (like tomato sauce but made without tomatoes)
          -Cheez Sauce (Dairy Free)
          -Ketchup Recipe
          -Pesto Recipe
          -Warm Arugula Artichoke Dip
          -Simple Vegetable Sides and Salads
          -Simple Breads and Baked Goods
          -Simple Grain and Starch Sides
          -How to Cook Rice and Other Grains
          -Simple Savory Snacks  
          -Simple Sweet Snacks
          -Dairy-free Flan (Spanish custard)
          -Simple Fruit Desserts
          -Simple Chocolate Desserts
          -Frozen Desserts
          -Techniques, Tips, and Tricks for Making Fun Sweet Treats (Cakes, Candies, etc.)
          -Working with Chocolate
          -Frosting Recipes

   Interviews, Podcasts and Presentations
     -Childhood Stress and Trauma Sets the Stage for Health Throughout Our Lifetime
     -Get Your Body to Heal Itself (regenerative medicine) by Anthony Galea, MD
     -Are We Allergic to Food or What's Been Done to it? TED talk with Robyn O'Brien
     -Donna Gates on Healing the Liver
     -Gut Health Interview with SCD LifeStyle
     -Dr Kharrazian on the Gut/Brain Axis
     -Identifying and Treating H. Pylori Infection with Dr Kalish
     -The Basics of the Paleolithic Diet According to Mark Sisson
     -Healing Skin Problems by Healing the Gut with Kris Kresser
     -Dr Russell Blaylock on Glutamate and Other Excitotoxins
     -Salicylates, Phenols, and Faulty Sulfation with Julie Matthews
     -Dr Jack Kruse on Overcoming Leptin Resistance
     -Nora Gedgaudas on Adrenal Dysfunction, Hypoglycemia, and Chronic Infection
     -Interview with Dr Lynch About the MTHFR Gene Mutation
     -Dr Rawlins on MTHFR
     -Dr Ben Lynch on MTHFR Genetic Variance and Methylation
     -Methylation and Hormone Balance with Andrew Rostenberg, DC
     -Dr Richard Deth on Autism, Methylation, and Dopamine
     -Integrative Medicine For Mental Health with James Greenblatt, MD
     -Medical Comorbidities in Autism Spectrum Disorder with Dr Bauman MD
     -Neurological Comorbidities in Autism Spectrum Disorder with Dr Bauman MD
     -Dr Bernadine Healy, former head of the NIH, speaks about the potential link between vaccines and autism
     -Etiology of Auto-Immunity and ASIA (Autoimmune Syndrome Induced by Adjuvants)
     -Autoimmune Encephalitis (including PANDAS/PANS)
     -Dr Susan Swedo Presenting at the 2014 West Coast PANDAS Symposium
     -The Neurological Basis of PANDAS/PANS presentation by Dr Trifilleti
     -Additional Notes from Dr Trifilleti's Presentation Slides on PANDAS/PANS
     -Mast Cell Activation in the Brain and Neurological Disorders (especially autism)
          (Also by Dr Theoharides, similar to the one above it but goes into much more detail)
     -From the lecture series The Science of Sleep
          -The Neuroanatomy and Neurochemistry of Sleep
          -The Neurophysiology of sleep
          -Narcolepsy
          -More Sleep Notes
     -Synesthesia- A Window Into the Brain?
     -Pelvic Floor Health

Vaccination
     -Basic Vaccine Information
     -A Note on Perceived Bias in the Vaccine Debate
     -Vaccine Safety Research and Parental Trust
     -Where to Begin Learning About Vaccines (guest post)
     -Dr Bernadine Healy, former head of the NIH, speaks about the potential link between vaccines and autism
Vaccine Safety Considerations- Looking to the Science
     -Problems with Clinical Research and Peer Review
     -Are Vaccines Necessary, Safe and Effective?
     -Is Vaccine Policy Based on Evidence?
     -Studies Show That Individual Responses to Vaccination Vary Widely
     -Shedding From Live Virus Vaccines
     -Contaminants in Vaccines
     -Etiology of Auto-Immunity and ASIA (Autoimmune Syndrome Induced by Adjuvants)
     -Studies Suggesting a Link Between Vaccines and Autism
     -Studies Supporting a Link Between Vaccinations and Diseases and Disorders Other Than ASD
     -Studies Showing the Toxicity of Mercury and Thimerosal
     -Studies Showing the Toxicity of Aluminum in Vaccines
     -Peter Aaby and Long-Term Vaccination Effects
          -Notes for The Vaccine Detectives, Part 1 (BBC broadcast)
          -Notes for The Vaccine Detectives, Part 2
     -The Federal Vaccine Injury Compensation Program
          -How to Report an Adverse Vaccine Reaction
          -The Federal VICP Has Awarded Damages For Autism Caused by Vaccines

Dr Andrew Wakefield
     -An Autism One Interview with Dr Wakefield and Others
     -A Response to the BMJ's Claim of Fraud in Wakefield's Work
     -Rupert Murdoch and the GMC Hearing of Dr Wakefield