Functional medicine is an approach to the treatment of a
disease or disorder which involves looking at the
underlying causes or contributing factors to a
condition, not just treating the symptoms. In the case
of autism spectrum disorders, ADHD, or other behavioral
or developmental disorders, the approach we use is to
initially ask the following two questions:
- Is this child’s/individual’s body and brain
getting everything they need to function optimally?
- Is something getting into this
child’s/individual’s body and brain which is
interfering with their ability to function
optimally?
A functional medicine approach, at its simplest,
involves giving the body and brain what they need and
getting rid of whatever may be interfering, in order to
allow the body and brain to function optimally. The
complexity and elegance of the functional medicine
approach is to then determine what each of these factors
are.
Nutrients which the body and brain may need to
function optimally include:
- Vitamins (such as vitamins A, C, D, E and B
vitamins)
- Minerals (such as zinc, magnesium, iron,
calcium)
- Essential fatty acids.
Things which may interfere with the body and brain’s
functioning include:
- Byproducts from incompletely digested foods
(so-called “food sensitivities”) - such as from
casein (the main product in dairy products) and
gluten (the main protein in wheat and other grains)
- Toxins - From a variety of different sources
including:
- Normal cellular metabolism
- External toxins (e.g., metals)
- Intestine (e.g., intestinal bacterial or yeast
if they are imbalanced or present in excessive
amounts)
- Foods (e.g., those containing phenols.,
additives, or preservatives)
- Histamine - From allergies or from inflamed cells
- Inflammation
Children with autism, as a group, may have problems or
differences in a number of biochemical pathways or
biomedical processes including, but not limited to:
- Digestion of foods
- Absorption of nutrients
- Clearance of toxins (both from internal and
external sources)
- Gastrointestinal function and balance
- Inflammation
- Immune regulation
Children with ADHD or other behavioral or
developmental disorders may have difficulties in similar
areas, though often not of the same degree or breadth as
children with autism spectrum disorders.
Diagnosis involves:
- An in-depth history which includes detailed
information regarding diet, nutrition, and physical
or behavioral symptoms.
- A thorough physical examination, looking both
for traditional medical conditions as well as
nutritional “clues” (such as findings in the skin,
hair or nails) which can indicate problems with
nutrition or intestinal function.
- Detailed laboratory testing which may includes
measures of:
- Nutrients
- Food sensitivities
- Gastrointestinal status: Digestion of foods,
absorption of nutrients, bacterial and yeast balance
- Detoxification ability
- Inflammation
- External toxins
Treatment is individualized based on your child’s
presenting symptoms and challenges and results of laboratory
testing. This helps us move from a more “generic” overall
approach to one that is more individualized. Most books and
articles discuss treatment of the generic child with autism
or ADHD. We have yet to see a “generic” child and we strive
to create treatment approaches which are individualized to
your child and your family. |
