Autism Treatment | Biofilm the Slime Monster Exists

What is biofilm? A biofilm is a group of microorganisms that group together and stick together on a surface. These may include fungi and bacteria. Together, they produce a slimy lining that prevents the growth of normal flora. In patients with a leaky gut, a biofilm acts as a shield for the yeast that's building up in the gastrointestinal tract. As a result, anti-fungal medicine becomes ineffective. Take Daniel's case -- a patient with autism and leaky gut.

What Is Biofilm? | Leaky Gut and Autism Treatment!

In this Article:

• Daniel and His Autism
• Leaky Gut Syndrome Diagnosis
• How Does Leaky Gut Happen?
• The Treatment Starts
• Biofilm and Its Occurrence
• Biofilm Treatment

Daniel and his Autism!

We learned Daniel had autism treatment before his 3rd birthday in 2008. Looking back, all the signs were there from the beginning. The typical behavioral signs were there. Medical symptoms such as insomnia, athlete's foot, chronic ear infections, and colic were present, as well. The most associative irregular bowel movements were there, too.

Daniel may have had one solid poop during the first three years of his life. He had BMS 2-3 times a day, and not just a little here and there. I’m talking about large, stinky excreta that varied from mashed potatoes to soft, like served ice cream. Many children with autism battle with constipation, but Daniel's was quite the opposite. I knew this couldn’t be normal. When I questioned his pediatrician, it was dismissed as being merely an underdeveloped GI tract, and that it will work itself out through autism treatment.

Leaky Gut Syndrome Diagnosis!

One of the new instincts we, mothers, get when we have children is that of a mother bear - the need to protect our children at all cost. So, when I heard about the work of the DAN Organization with children with autism, I jumped at the chance. I thought that if it worked for one kid, I’d try it, and I'd not let this "condition" take my son from me. So, along with environmental pollutants, heavy metal overload, and many food allergies, his labs also showed he had a leaky gut syndrome. A leaky gut is the term used when the GI tract allows substances that it shouldn’t pass from the intestines into the bloodstream.

How Does Leaky Gut Happen?

There are a lot of factors that contribute to a leaky gut. One of them is called Candida, a troublesome yeast that lives in the GI tract. Daniel had four times the amount of yeast a normal person should have. My question, of course, was "He’s 3 years old, how can this happen?" As mentioned before, Daniel had several ear infections during his first year, and of course, the conventional "band-aid" of antibiotics was issued. Antibiotics disrupt the natural balance of good bacteria that live in the GI tract. Good bacteria keep the bad yeast in check, and when wiped out by antibiotics, the yeast is free to flourish in autism treatment.

The Treatment Starts!

By eliminating food allergies, greening our house, switching to a yeast-controlled diet called SCD, adding supplements, and applying the anti-fungal medication, we started the road to recovery. His behavior improved immediately upon diet change. His bowel improved, but not completely. He was having smaller and less frequent BMS, but diarrhea persisted. Eventually, he started going 2-3 days without any BMS at all.

Biofilm and its Occurrence!

For almost a year, we threw antifungals at him along with the SCD. We hit a plateau. That’s when I found out that the slime monster does exist, and not only on the same scale as seen on TV! The yeast in Daniel's GI tract had built up a protective layer of film over itself shielding it from antifungals. To get the antifungals to the yeast, we had to break up this biofilm formation.

Biofilm Treatment!

The treatment to destroy a biofilm lasts about a month and consists of a strict regimen of antifungals and supplements. My doctor warned me that it can be tough on kids and that we would see some changes during it that might not be so pleasant. I wanted to do it anyways. I felt like this could possibly be the only chance we had to fix his poor little gut in autism treatment.

On the first week of the treatment, we didn’t see any change in his behavior, but he immediately started having solid bowel movements. My doctor warned me that when the film starts to break up, it would release toxins into the body. Although we gave him something for the toxins to bind it to, it still affected him. In the second week, his behavior set in. He became fatigued, very irritable, had increased tantrums, and lost his appetite. And of course, we saw some regression.

There was a point when I asked myself, "What am I doing to this poor kid?" and wanted to bag the whole thing. Not only did his behavior stink but also his poop. The saying, "Something crawled up there and died," took on a whole new meaning. I cannot begin to describe the smell we had to endure. But, it was worth it because, in the third week, he began to change back to normal. His behavior normalized, and his cognition actually improved! He had solid bowel movements every day, and best of all, he started talking more than he had ever done. On the fourth week, the smell wasn’t so bad, and he acted like a new kid. On a scale of 1-10, I give the autism treatment a 10!

Today, Daniel is still doing well, and his bowel seems to be still functioning normally. Now and then, we have occasional setbacks, usually to do something he eats. It seems like, in autism, there is always a battle we have to fight, but as parents, that is our job for autism treatment.

Daniel's case is an eye-opener, especially for families with a loved one who has the same situation. The condition is not easy, but with the right treatment and moral support from the family, the patient may achieve great progress.

What's your take on this biofilm treatment for children with autism? Let us know in the comments below.

Up Next: Lymphedema and Mercury | Lymphedema Treatments

Editor’s Note – This post was originally published on November 29, 2014, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. None of the nutritional products mentioned is intended to Diagnose, Treat, Cure or Prevent Any Disease.

Thank You, Dr. Smith, for all your help.
Natalie Sparks
Richland, WA