| with a significant amount of research and studies | | | | diagnosis of children with neurological diseases like |
| being conducted examining the connection | | | | autism. |
| between mercury and autism, many people still | | | | Is there a Treatment? |
| do not fully understand this connection, or | | | | There is a new form of autism treatment that is |
| whether a connection even exists at all. This is | | | | currently gaining a lot of momentum. Known as |
| due to the highly conflicting nature of these | | | | biomedical treatment, this method attempts to |
| studies and published information. This article will | | | | solve autism by rectifying the root of the |
| attempt to clarify the treating mercury poisoning | | | | problem – the physical condition of the |
| autism link. | | | | nervous system. This is contrary to the common |
| Before we can truly understand the connection | | | | opinion of experts that autism is a psychological |
| between mercury and autistic children, it is | | | | disorder, because the outwardly visible symptoms |
| important to clarify what exactly autism is. | | | | all indicate as much. However, the theorists in |
| Without delving into too much detail, let’s | | | | support of biomedical treatment argue that these |
| just classify autism. In that case we’ll say | | | | symptoms are simply a by-product of an |
| that, like ADD and ADHD, autism is a neurological | | | | unhealthy nervous system, making autism a |
| disorder, or ND. Essentially this means that autism | | | | physical disorder. |
| is a disorder affecting the nervous system. This | | | | The ultimate goal of biomedical treatment, then, is |
| becomes important when we learn that one of | | | | to rid a child’s body of toxic substances, |
| the main causes of neurological disorders is | | | | and to begin to mend already-existing harm done |
| believed to be heavy metal poisoning, such as | | | | by toxins. However, this method of treatment is |
| that from mercury and aluminum. | | | | not universally considered an effective medical |
| In recent years, the number of children being | | | | treatment. Despite this, there are many popular |
| diagnosed with autism and other neurological | | | | treatment programs based upon the biomedical |
| disorders has rapidly increased. And while the | | | | treatment school of thought. And while slightly |
| reason for this is hotly debated in academic | | | | different in their approach, the goal of each is to |
| circles, one theory claims that the increase is due | | | | rid the body of unwanted toxins, and to increase |
| to significantly more exposure to heavy metals | | | | levels of healthy nutrients. |
| such as mercury for today’s children. The | | | | Once again, this treatment method is not |
| claim is that there are increased levels of mercury | | | | universally accepted in medical circles. But, it is |
| in our food, water, and air. | | | | gaining momentum, and a good chunk of the |
| But can mercury really be targeted as a cause | | | | supporters are parents who claim to have seen |
| for autism? To many people, the answer is an | | | | positive results in their child as a result of |
| unequivocal yes. They believe that an increased | | | | treatment. Because of this, the treating mercury |
| exposure to such heavy metals at a very young | | | | poisoning autism link may very well be worth |
| age is what is causing this recent spike in the | | | | looking into. |