Parents
often say that their children seemed normal until
about one to one and a half years of age at which
time they began regressing. This is also the time
that children begin to consume a much wider variety
of foods. If Spleen qi is deficient, a child will
tend to digest foods poorly and will have a
propensity to develop phlegm. Many of the behaviors
associated with autism are due to phlegm
accumulation. One of the primary pathways for phlegm
development is deficiency of Spleen qi.
Diet
is of paramount importance in the aetiology of
autism. All foods that weaken the Spleen and create
phlegm are implicated in the development of autism.
These include dairy, wheat, raw and cold foods and
excessively sweet food. There is controversy
surrounding the link between autism and diet in the
western community, but CM recognizes diet as an
important contributing factor. Food sensitivities
and allergies in Chinese medicine may be due to fire
toxins in the Small Intestine. This relates to
lingering pathogenic factors.
Treatment:
It is
essential to eliminate foods that induce dampness
and phlegm. By eliminating foods that produce
dampness it is possible to strengthen the Spleen qi.
A child diagnosed with phlegm heat harassing the
Heart, must also eliminate foods that are hot in
nature and eat warming foods that have been lightly
cooked or steamed. Foods that are considered
tonifying or warming include vegetables
(particularly root vegetables), legumes, grains and
small amounts of animal protein.
Some
suggested vegetables include: acorn squash,
spaghetti squash, butternut squash, pumpkins, kale,
spinach, Swiss chard, collard greens, mustard
greens, sweet potatoes, yams, turnips, radishes,
carrots, button mushrooms, scallions (spring
onions), brown rice, white rice, amaranth, millet,
barley, quinoa and beans, including lima, navy,
adzuki, kidney and lentil beans. Eliminate cold and
raw foods this includes foods that are cold
physically and cold energetically. Cold foods
physically would refer to frozen foods such as
popsicles (frozen ice lollies), ice cream and drinks
that are heavily iced. Foods that are energetically
cold include soy products, dairy, tomatoes and most
fruits. Eliminate damp producing
foods: Foods that produce dampness include dairy,
sugar, peanuts or peanut butter, fruit, eggs, fried
or greasy foods, chilled or frozen foods, wheat and
excessive amounts of soy.
Eliminate
heat producing foods: Foods that create heat are
spicy, hot foods, food additives and preservatives,
caffeine and sugar.
Andrea Gurciullo, LAC, MTOM, Dr of Acupuncture studied
Traditional Chinese Medicine in San Diego ,
California and earned the degree of Master of
Traditional Oriental Medicine (MTOM) in 1998. Andrea
is nationally certified in both Acupuncture and
Chinese Herbology by the NCCAOM as well as being
state licensed in NY, NJ and Rhode Island.
In
addition to owning her own private practice in
Garden City NY since 1999 she was an adjunct
Professor at the Pacific College of Oriental
Medicine in NY.
She also owned Nutrihost and herbal
development company that created and distributed new
herbal product lines that combined both Western and
Chinese Herbs.
Dr
Gurciullo can treat a wide variety of disorders
including chronic pain of any etiology, Infertility,
gastro intestinal disorders, respiratory disorders,
chronic fatigue, smoking and addiction, weight loss
and even undiagnosable conditions just to name a
few.
Dr Gurciullo welcomes your phone
calls and questions you can call her directly on her
cell @ 516-425-4575. And she is now seeing clients at Atlantic Wellness 422
Atlantic Ave, East Rockaway, NY to book an
appointment call 516-568-7788.
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