AUTISM’s ALARMING FACTS:

• Autism affects nearly 1.5 million Americans.
• A new case of autism is diagnosed nearly every 20 minutes
• Autism occurs in 1 out of every 150 births (By comparison: Leukemia 1 in 25,000, Muscular Dystrophy 1 in 20,000, Cystic Fibrosis 1 in 5,000, Juvenile Diabetes 1 in 500)
• Autism is the fastest-growing developmental disability in the U.S. and is growing nearly 17% (24,000 new cases) every single year.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control estimates that 500,000 children in the United States have autism.

Autism knows no racial, ethnic, social boundaries, family income, lifestyle, or educational levels and can affect any family, and any child. And although the overall incidence of autism is consistent around the globe, it is four times more prevalent in boys than in girls.

What is Autism?

Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and is the result of a neurological disorder that affects the normal functioning of the brain, impacting development in the areas of social interaction and communication skills. Both children and adults with autism typically show difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions, and leisure or play activities.

What Causes Autism?

There is no known single cause for autism, but it is generally accepted that it is caused by abnormalities in brain structure or function. Brain scans show differences in the shape and structure of the brain in autistic versus non-autistic children. Researchers are investigating a number of theories, including the link between heredity, genetics and medical problems. In many families, there appears to be a pattern of autism or related disabilities, further supporting a genetic basis to the disorder. While no one gene has been identified as causing autism, researchers are searching for irregular segments of genetic code that autistic children may have inherited. It also appears that some children are born with a susceptibility to autism, but researchers have not yet identified a single "trigger" that causes autism to develop.

Of course, there are many theories as to the cause of Autism, such as abnormal cerebral blood flow to areas of the brain, high fevers, birth trauma, brain injury, infections, reactions to vaccines (some reports implicate MMR which is a combined vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella), or lack of oxygen before, during or after delivery. Other theories suggest mineral deficiencies such as calcium, iron and zinc either in utero or after birth or fat and protein deficiencies.

Autism is now understood as a multi-functional disorder that may, among other things, involve:

• Heavy metal damage to brain cells
• Autoimmune damage to the brain cells
• Intestinal inflammation
• Persistent yeast, viral and bacterial infections
• Cellular energy processing dysfunction (Kreb Cycle dysfunction)

Recent peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies by Nataf et al. (2006) and by Geier and Geier (2006) indicate that many children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) may have unusually high levels of mercury in their brains. By age two, American children have received 237 micrograms of mercury through vaccines alone, which far exceeds the current EPA "safe" levels of .1 mcg/kg per day. (That's one-tenth of a microgram, not one microgram!) The cause is a mercury- based preservative called “Thimerosal” used in these vaccines.

Sadly, in a 1991 memo, Dr. Maurice Hilleman, one of the “fathers” of Merck's vaccination programs, warned management that 6-month-old children who, when administered the shots on schedule, would suffer mercury exposures 87 times the government safety standards. He recommended that Thimerosal be discontinued and complained that the US Food and Drug Administration, which has a notoriously close relationship with the pharmaceutical industry, could not be counted on to take appropriate action, as did the European regulating counterpart. Merck ignored Hilleman's warning, and for eight years government officials added seven more shots for children containing Thimerosal.

Drug makers wary of liability have reduced the level of Thimerosal in most children's vaccines in recent years, but the preservative remains in flu shots, tetanus boosters, and some over-thecounter drugs.

Thimerosal is 50% mercury by weight. In October 1998, more than 7 years after Dr. Hillman raised the alarm about mercury in the Merk vaccines, the FDA finally banned the use of Thimerosal in over the counter medications. But the F.D.A. allowed it to still used in most children’s vaccines. Before the FDA ban, mercury had been added to eye drops, contact lens preparations, nasal sprays, contraceptive creams, hemmhoroid creams, lubricating gels, allergy injections, and antiseptics such as Mercurochrome® and merthiolate.

Three days in particular may be singled out as spectacularly toxic for infants. These figures are calculated for an infant's average weight in kilograms for each age:

Day of birth: hepatitis B-12 mcg mercury. This is 30 x the safe level.
At 4 months: DTaP and HiB on same day, which is 50 mcg mercury. This is 60 x the safe level.
At 6 months: Hep B, Polio which adds an additional 62.5 mcg mercury to the body. This is 78 x the safe level.
At 15 months: the child receives another 50 mcg of mercury when the booster shot is administered. This is 41 x the safe level.

These one-day blasts of mercury are called "bolus doses". Although they far exceed "safe" levels, there has never been any research conducted on the toxicity of such bolus doses of mercury given to infants all these years.

Mercury is a known brain poison. Historically, the toxicity of mercury has been known for more than a century. The Mad Hatter was more than a fantasy character from Alice in Wonderland. Mad Hatter's disease became well known in England in the mid-1800s, when hat-makers were subject to inhaling the vapors from the mercury-based stiffening compound they used on felt to make top hats. There is the distinct possibility that this one factor alone could be responsible for damaging the brains of young children and could be the reason for the increase in autism cases.

However, the government and the pharmaceutical complex has made the case that since no direct connection has been scientifically determined between mercury and autism, that such a connection cannot be in fact “true”. This is a ridiculous argument. It is like saying that we know lead is toxic, lead is used in bullets, and bullets can kill, that we cannot establish that it is the lead that killed someone when they were shot by a bullet. This is not what many researchers are saying. Rather, we know that mercury is a poison and mercury is used in children’s vaccinations therefore it is entirely possible that this same mercury could be causing physiological damage to children.

Fortunately a number of U.S. pharmaceutical manufacturers have reduced or replaced Thimerosal as a preservative in vaccines. However, as the chart above identifies, there are still vaccines on the market given to children (and adults) that contain this toxic substance, which should be avoided.

The Controversy:

Autism is a debilitating disease. The fact that it affects children makes the impact even more heartbreaking. As we have seen, there is a considerable controversy as to isolating what the root cause is and how to address the problem. Some professionals claim it is merely a genetic propensity and while we can identify genes that might be the cause, we do not have the ability to alter those genes and stop them from manifesting the disease.

Others believe strongly that there is nutritional component, or rather, a lack of nutrition component. Malnutrition due to poor eating habits certainly appears to play a major role in many of today’s childhood diseases including diabetes and ADHD. None should wonder that eating foods rich in carbohydrates, preservatives and other chemicals, and not eating adequate amounts of fresh vegetables and fruits containing natural vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, digestive enzymes, etc. will have a profound affect on a growing fetus.

With the rise of childhood obesity, and the lack of nutrition in most prepared foods that form the basis of a child’s diet in the U.S. today, the brain, which requires a major share of nutrition consumed each day, will undoubtedly become starved of the very energy nutrients to maintain proper health.

As we have explained, at the root is efficient energy production. The brain’s 100 billion brain cells (neurons), and about ten times that many, or one trillion, support cells (glia) all require oxygen on a second-by-second basis. Poor nutrition affects the body’s ability to process oxygen as well as to control the natural by-product of energy production we call R.O.S. or “reactive oxygen species”. (Another term for R.O.S. is “free radicals”.) Free radicals, it is believed, can damage DNA. Therefore, poor nutrition, and the body’s increased inability to deal with free radicals, may also have an adverse affect on the brain and exacerbate autism’s symptoms.

As we have explained, early childhood immunizations are not, in themselves, possible coconspirators in permitting this disease to establish a foothold in the brains of children. However, it is clear that the levels of mercury present in the vaccines is high enough to present a cytotoxic response that may temporarily or permanently damage brain cells. Why the F.D.A. and the medical community have not shown greater concern about this is a mystery. Conspiracy theorists can make all sorts of claims about profiteering from the pharmaceutical and medical community, though there is no proof that this is true. Yet, the manufacturers of these vaccines are aware of the toxic side effects of mercury.

Here is what the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has published about the dangers of mercury poisoning:

“The nervous system is very sensitive to all forms of mercury. Methylmercury and metallic mercury vapors are more harmful than other forms, because more mercury in these forms reaches the brain. Exposure to high levels of metallic, inorganic, or organic mercury will permanently damage the brain, kidneys, and developing fetus. Effects on brain functioning may result in irritability, shyness, tremors, changes in vision or hearing, and memory problems. Short-term exposure to high levels of metallic mercury vapors may cause effects including lung damage, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, increases in blood pressure or heart rate, skin rashes, and eye irritation.

“How does mercury affect children? Very young children are more sensitive to mercury than adults. Mercury in the mother's body passes to the fetus and may accumulate there. It can also pass to a nursing infant through breast milk. However, the benefits of breast feeding may be greater than the possible adverse effects of mercury in breast milk. Mercury's harmful effects that may be passed from the mother to the fetus include brain damage, mental retardation, incoordination, blindness, seizures, and inability to speak. Children poisoned by mercury may develop problems of their nervous and digestive systems, and kidney damage.” (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 1825 Century Blvd, Atlanta, GA 30345 CDC Contact Center: 800-CDC-INFO)

It only seems logical that if infants are going to be immunized with vaccines laden with mercury to prevent possible future diseases, that every effort should be made to help detoxify the infants brain of this mercury.

Many “experts” argue vehemently that oxygen will cause more damage to the brain. This is a silly argument. The brain requires more than one forth of the oxygen we breathe. It is the body’s inability to efficiently neutralize metabolic wastes that may cause problems. Supplementing a child’s diet with plant vitamins, plant minerals, essential amino acids, natural enzymes and healthy foods will minimize any possible damage. In fact, nutritional supplementation in combination with oxygen therapies may become the catalysts for substantial positive outcomes. Certainly the initial clinical research bears some truth to this combined approach.

Dr. Gary W. Goldstein, president and CEO of the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, which specializes in children's developmental problems, agrees: “Here there is no scientific rationale, and there's actually a school of thought developing that ... breathing in too much oxygen can actually damage brain tissue.”

Kirsten Scharnberg, writing in the Baltimore Sun, added: “In the case of children with autism, considered the fastest-growing developmental disability in the U.S. today, advocates claim some stunning results: transforming nonverbal children into fluent speakers; helping children hypersensitive to outside stimuli become calm enough to attend public schools; changing kids once adverse to any personal interaction or touching into affectionate toddlers." (‘Oxygen therapy for kids with autism debated’. Originally published April 27, 2007 ")

"Oxygen is needed in the body. We can be without food and water for a lengthy time.
We can be without oxygen only for a few seconds...it is the spark of life."
Dr. Charles H. Farr, M.D., Ph.D.: O2 Therapies

"Oxidation is the source of life.
Its lack causes impaired health or disease; its cessation, death."
Dr. Eugene Blass, Ph.D.: Oxygen Therapy: Its Foundation, Aim & Result

"All chronic pain, suffering and diseases are caused from a lack of oxygen at the cell level."
Dr. Arthur C. Guyton, M.D.: The Textbook on Medical Physiology

"Oxygen plays a pivotal role in the proper functioning of the immune system."
Dr. Parris M. Kidd, Ph.D.: Antioxidant Adaptation

Oxygen plays a vital role in proper metabolic functions, blood circulation, the assimilation of nutrients, digestion and the elimination of cellular and metabolic wastes.

Sufficient oxygen helps the body in its ability to rebuild itself and maintain a strong and healthy immune system. You know how important water, vitamins, minerals and enzymes are to your health and vitality. Although you can actually exist without food for about 40 days, and water for about seven days, without oxygen, life ceases to exist in only minutes.

ASO® is: