Living Healthy in a Toxic World
Talk about a nation of poisoned minds has reached consensus status: doctors know conclusively now that toxic pollution is linked with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder and autism. One of the commonest exposures to your teen is with organophosphate chemical pesticides, which are frequently not only found on foods such as fresh produce but also are used around schools to eradicate insect pests. These pesticides known as chlorpyrifos, malathion, and diazinon, are widely recognized as neurotoxins that interfere with nerve impulses.
In the May 17, 2010 online edition of Pediatrics, in an article titled, “Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Urinary Metabolites of Organophosphate Pesticides,” Harvard University researchers showed the association between urinary concentrationsof dialkyl phosphate metabolites of organophosphates and attention-deficit/hyperactivitydisorder (ADHD) in children 8 to 15 years of age.[i]
One-hundred nineteen children met the diagnostic criteria forADHD. Children with higher urinary dialkyl phosphate concentrations,especially dimethyl alkylphosphate (DMAP) concentrations, weremore likely to be diagnosed as having ADHD. A 10-fold increasein DMAP concentration was associated with an odds ratio of 1.55, with adjustmentfor gender, age, race/ethnicity, poverty/income ratio, fastingduration, and urinary creatinine concentration. For the most-commonlydetected DMAP metabolite, dimethyl thiophosphate, children withlevels higher than the median of detectable concentrations hadtwice the odds of ADHD (adjusted odds ratio: 1.93), compared with children with undetectablelevels.
“These findings support the hypothesis that organophosphate exposure,at levels common among US children, may contribute to ADHD prevalence.Prospective studies are needed to establish whether this associationis causal.”
New Type of Chemical Poisoning
This is the first inkling of a new type of poisoning infiltrating children and being detected from exceptional low level exposures to pesticides. And most doctors dealing with kids with ADHD or autism would not even think of measuring for organophosphate pesticides or heavy metals or know what to do if the levels were high. The challenge for parents who are trying to help their kids or for an adult patient is that this is all very new science and a different approach.
In April 2010 Alternative Medicine Review, Dr. J.J. Bradstreet and co-investigators included toxic metal poisoning and other newly recognized markers important to look at when dealing with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), another childhood behavioral and cognitive disorder that has long baffled scientists, as well as ADHD.
But, finally, scientists are beginning to see that although children may have genetic susceptibilities for these conditions, environmental factors are what pull the trigger, so finding these exposures and oxidative stressors as true markers for either causing the condition or contributing become of paramount importance
.[ii] The patient is as much the detective as the doctor. Perhaps more so.
These are markers that can only be obtained by testing. So testing is important to the patient. The researchers noted that limited production of glutathione is a marker; glutathione helps the body to detoxify chemical toxins; mitochondrial dysfunction could be linked with toxic exposures; intestinal dysbiosis almost always goes with increased toxicity since beneficial bacteria are so essential to reducing and detoxifying toxins from the environment; increased toxic metal burden is always being linked with behavioral and neurological problems; immune dysregulation, characterized by a unique inflammatory bowel disease and immune activation of neuroglial cells; and ongoing brain hypoperfusion. Many of these same problems are common features in children with ADHD, says the Bradstreet team. “These medical conditions, whether co-morbidities or etiopathogenic, would be expected to have synergistically negative effects on the development, cognition, focus, and attention of affected children. It is likely these biological abnormalities contribute significantly to the behavioral symptoms intrinsic in these diagnoses. However, treatment for these underlying medical disorders is clinically justified, even if no clear immediate behavioral improvements are observed.
“The use of these biomarkers is of great importance in young children with ADHD or individuals of any age with ASD, because typically they cannot adequately communicate regarding their symptoms.”
For this condition many different approaches are necessary. We’ve discussed these throughout these pages in this issue as we have focused on detoxification with features or short articles on humifulvate and chlorella as well as infrared sauna and Turbosonic.
Testing is critical. You need to have your levels checked for organophosphates as well as for lead and mercury. These are all logical contributors to the co-morbidity of these behavioral disorders.
Once you and your doctor have gone over these results, your doctor may well suggest chelation therapy. Detoxification is important. Intravenous chelation can be costly, though, and might not be the right approach for you. Especially for children, but adults, too, drugs such as DMSA are not always well tolerated, either.
So you might want to try something gentle detoxification with another proven approach called PCA-Rx, which is a big favorite in the ASD and ADHD communities because of its cost effectiveness and safety when compared with intravenous chelation therapy either with EDTA or penicilliamine.
PCA-Rx is the premiere formulation because of its ability to deal with both organophosphate and heavy metal toxins. The use of PCA-Rx is much like how we use bacteria to clean up an oil spill. The bacteria produce the very peptides needed to digest and consume and breakdown the oil. Bacterial peptides have also been shown to help detoxify many other types of chemical toxins, produced both environmentally and endogenously within the body (autoimmune poisoning, a not so uncommon feature of ASD). That is why staging a healthy bacterial population is a surefire sign that the therapy is working.
Working with PCA-Rx and its companion probiotic formula
Probiotics Rx is one of the best ways of addressing the toxicity issue within these communities.
PCA-Rx is the first preparation that distills the powerful peptides associated with strains of bacteria known for helping the body to detoxify toxins. It delivers these in a buccally absorbed spray that we prefer to the more toxic medications such as penicillamine and related compounds. It is easier on the children. This approach is one of the better ones for dealing with toxicity. Other approaches include use of vibrational therapy to help release chemical toxins.
Maxam Labs incorporates a patented process known as micro-activation. Working in conjunction with a brilliant chemist, they have developed over 400 microbial fermentations, which have the ability to work in harmony with the body and help in the removal of all accumulated toxins, unwanted bacteria, plaque, heavy metals, viruses, and other contaminants. Their PCA-Rx has been around now for nearly twenty years. These products virtually ‘empty the glass,’ which assists the body with the rebuilding process, on a cellular level. Through over twenty years of research, their products have been developed to help detoxify the body, provide immune system support and enhance life.
Adding in Probiotics Rx provides excellent support for promoting beneficial bacterial populations, another critical factor in detoxification. But when working with yourself or children, be sure to include a whole food diet without gluten and other additives, and consider use of a multivitamin and oxidative stress fighter (antioxidants). Resources
Find PCA-Rx at health food stores, natural pharmacies, and from health and medical professionals. Visit
www.maxamlabs.com or call 800-800-9119 for more information.
