If you've been researching biomedical approaches to autism, you've probably encountered the phrase “toxic burden.” You may have also encountered a confusing collection of subjects: Mercury. Lead. Pesticides. Environmental toxins. Hair testing. Gut health. Nutrition. Methylation. Detoxification. Chelation.

At first, these can seem like completely separate topics. They're not necessarily separate subjects in the way they are often presented online. They can become part of the same investigation when you're trying to understand your child's overall health and whether environmental or biological factors could be contributing to the problems you're seeing. 

So what does toxic burden actually mean?

If you're researching gut health and autism, you've probably encountered the subject of Candida and chronic yeast overgrowth. 

You may have heard parents talk about constipation, diarrhea, bloating, food cravings, diaper rash, thrush, changes in behavior, sleep problems, or symptoms that seem to come and go.

You may also have heard that yeast can become a problem after antibiotics, that diet can play a role, or that yeast symptoms can change during biomedical treatment.

So what are parents actually talking about when they say “yeast overgrowth”?

If you've been researching mercury, heavy metals, chelation, or biomedical approaches for autism, you've probably encountered the name Andy Cutler.
Andrew Hall Cutler, Ph.D., P.E. developed a specific approach to oral chelation that became known as the Andy Cutler Frequent-Dose Chelation Protocol.

If you're new to it, the terminology can be confusing:
ALA. DMSA. DMPS. Half-life. Redistribution. Hair testing. Chelation rounds.
The good news is that the basic idea isn't difficult to understand once you know what those terms mean.

This article explains what the Cutler protocol is, why frequent dosing is central to it, how the different chelating agents fit in, how hair testing and challenge testing are viewed, and what makes this approach different from other chelation methods.

The detailed practical information, including preparation, supplements, dosing, and implementation is covered in Fight Autism and Win.

This article is educational in nature and is not medical advice. Chelation involves medications and potential risks. Discuss your child's individual circumstances with an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

If you've started researching autism, environmental health, or biomedical approaches, you've probably encountered the subject of heavy metals.
Mercury. Lead. Arsenic. Cadmium.

You may also have encountered very different opinions about exposure, testing, hair analysis, detoxification, and chelation. For a parent who is new to the subject, it can be difficult to know what is actually important.

What are heavy metals? Where can children be exposed? How do you test for them? What does a hair test tell you? And why does chelation enter the conversation?

This article gives you a starting point for understanding those questions and explains how heavy metals fit into the biomedical approach discussed in Fight Autism and Win.

This article is educational and is not medical advice. Known or suspected heavy-metal exposure should be discussed with an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.