By Dr. Matsen
Notes taken at the Autism Biennial Congress in Vancouver, March 1, 2009
The main speaker was: Dr. William Shaw, Ph.D.,
Director of The Great Plains Laboratory, Inc.
11813 West 77th Street, Lenexa, Kansas 66214
Tel.: (913) 341-8949
William Shaw began testing autistic children many decades ago with every test known, to try and identify the cause or causes of autism in children. His insights have been published in his book “Biological Treatments for Autism and PDD,” the third edition of which was published in 2008.
Notes from William Shaw’s lecture:
-Many of the causes of autism are known and treatments can be given, though complete reversals are more common in those under six years of age.
-There are environmental factors and genetic factors involved.
-Autism lab testing shows:
-abnormal byproducts of Candida yeast.
-abnormal byproducts of Clostridium bacteria.
-elevated levels of heavy metals.
-high antibodies to brain proteins.
-immune deficiencies.
-antibodies to the measles vaccine.
-high gamma interferon.
-reflux esophagitis.
-decreased digestive enzymes.
-reduced sulfation of biochemicals.
-increased copper to zinc ratio.
-increased exposure to environmental chemicals and pesticides.
-Lab testing also shows:
-elevated opiate peptides from wheat and milk.
-high antibodies to wheat, milk and soy.
-high or low levels of uric acid.
-low paraoxonase.
-high IgE antibodies.
-high homocysteine.
-elevated urine oxalates.
-low cholesterol.
-elevated phenylalanines (PKU).
-deficient omega-3 fatty acids.
-low lithium.
-Autism history shows:
-increased exposure to air pollution.
-increased exposure to pyrethrins—a common insecticide
used in pet shampoo. Exposure worst in 2nd trimester.
-exposure to organophosphate pesticides doubled risk.
-exposure to organochlorine pesticides rate 7x higher.
-autism higher in areas of toxic landfills.
-autism increases with exposure to mercury including vaccine mercury.
-measles vaccine weakens the immune system against candida yeast.
-Candida yeast increases with antibiotics.
-yeast thrives on high sugar diets.
-yeast makes oxalates which can form stones and bind nutrients.
-yeast makes tartaric acid which blocks malic acid, decreasing energy.
-yeast makes arabinose which cross-reacts, causing demyelination the
white matter of the brain.
-excessive antibiotics also create Clostridia bacteria overgrowths.
-Clostridia bacteria can turn phenylalanine into HPHPA.
-HPHPA can cause severe gastrointestinal, neurological and psychiatric
disorders.
-allergies commonly to gluten (grains), casein (dairy), soy, yeast,
sugar, citrus, peanuts, egg.
My interpretive summary of the information given by William Shaw.
-Early childhood oral antibiotics decimate a child’s intestinal flora allowing Candida yeast and Clostridia bacteria to dominate the intestine.
-Yeast thrives on a high sugar diet.
-Yeast and Clostridia bacteria toxins create “leaky gut syndrome” spilling more toxins into the blood.
-Yeast and Clostridia bacteria toxins weaken the immune system.
-The key liver enzymes that should filter and neutralize gut toxins are sulfur enzymes where heavy metals—such as mercury from vaccines and lead from the environment— accumulate, thereby decreasing the liver’s ability to detoxify.
-Poor liver function can be further aggravated by exposure to pesticides and other chemicals.
-Toxins in the blood can further aggravate digestion.
-Toxins in the blood can cause aggravation and damage to brain cells.
-Toxins in the blood can create allergies especially to wheat and dairy which in turn can aggravate mental function.
-Toxins in the blood can create autoimmune diseases.
Treatment of Autism
Most of this part of the seminar was given by Lori Knowles, mother of a recovered child and General Manager of New Beginnings Nutritionals,
7797 Quivira Road, Lenexa, Kansas 66215
Tel: (913) 754-0458
-treatment of autism should begin as early as possible to minimize brain damage and enhance brain function. Brain development slows dramatically after 6.
-a high sugar diet must be avoided.
-allergies must be avoided at the beginning especially wheat and dairy.
-withdrawal symptoms may be experienced going off sugar, wheat and dairy.
-withdrawal symptoms may be partially ameliorated by Alka-Seltzer Gold. Do not use other Alka-Seltzer!
-acidophilus bacteria need to be supplied to inhibit intestinal yeast.
-Lactobacillus GG (called Culturelle) and Sacharomyces Boulardi has been shown to inhibit Clostridia bacteria.
-calcium/magnesium, zinc, lithium and B vitamins, especially B6 and B12, are usually beneficial.
-vitamin D in the form of cod liver oil also supplies vitamin A for the immune system and omega 3 oils, EPA and DHA, which are important for brain function.
-amino acid supplements may need to be used until digestion improves.
-digestive support may be necessary at the start using digestive enzymes.
-cholesterol may be added in the pure form called Sonic, extracted from sheep wool.
-yeast should be killed, watch out for die-off reactions.
-metals should be chelated out of the body.
Lesson Learned
Most of the seminar involves the basic principles of Naturopathic Medicine—that diet, digestion and liver function are the keys to health. The one thing I learned was the role of Clostridia bacteria in the gut being a source of the extreme systemic toxicity in autism. We had probably already dealt with Clostridia in the past unknowingly, since the anti-yeast remedy we’ve used for 20 years is spore-forming bacteria called Bacillus laterosporus. These bacteria kill not only yeast, but bacteria as well, likely including Clostridia.
The one thing missing in the lecture is likely the true reason for the chronicity of the yeast in the gut. Though the lab work shows chemicals from yeast in the blood and antifungal medications give improvement to symptoms, the yeast are highly persistent though not necessarily seen in the colon.
My impression is that the explanation for this is that the yeast are actually in the small intestine where they aren’t so readily observed, they aren’t affected by the acid pH of the acidophilus bacteria and, because of the very active absorption in the small intestine, it only takes a small amount of yeast to put a big load on the liver.