Heavy metal toxicity is a key component in many children suffering with autistic-spectrum disorders. Whether through exposure via environmental factors such as contaminated food or water, or vaccinations these toxins are detrimental to your child’s health. The detection of toxicity levels of heavy metals is challenging and sometimes difficult to quantify. Tests such as hair analysis (Great Plains or Doctor’s Data) are a good place to start and can give some useful information with regards to the potential of heavy metal poisoning. However, it is important to realize that hair testing is a screening tool and further diagnostics may be necessary to qualify heavy metal toxicity.
Dr. Nicola approaches heavy metal toxicity as a serious problem that needs to be addressed with many children. However, she recommends that parents do not automatically pursue heavy metal chelation with the use of DMSA or DMPS as a first line treatment for their child. The reason is that many children with these metals need to have other areas of their bodies strong and healthy before the chelation process should be attempted, ie. gut function, nutrient support, cellular energy. Otherwise, the chelation process may have mixed or even detrimental results.
Dr. Nicola uses a wide variety of treatments for heavy metal chelation including oral DMSA or DMPS, Transdermal DMPS, EDTA, RNA products, homeopathic medicines, and supplement regimes that are specific for supporting the body before, during, and after the chelation and detoxification process. She individualizes her programs for each child to best meet their needs and to reduce any adverse effects. If done appropriately, heavy metal chelation and detoxification therapy is a safe and an effective way of improving your child’s health.