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Do you notice your ASD children improving whenever they are fighting a cold, or that their traits reduce when you give them an antiviral medicine? There could be important information in those observations.
The Cold and Flu seasons of 2022 and 2023 have been hard on children. During the COVID-19 pandemic home-learning interrupted social interactions, which led to a weakening of their immune systems because they weren’t being exposed to viruses. As a healthcare provider, I gained a better appreciation for building natural immunity through exposure.
It also sharpened the naturopathic treatments that can reduce the duration, severity and frequency of colds and flus despite children being back in class. Here are some of those considerations;
A) Eat a whole foods diet as much as possible, and avoid sugars in foods and snacks. (Note: risk of a child catching a cold will increase after holidays like Christmas, Chanukah, and Eid as well as Hallowe’en and Easter when consumption of candy and sugars increases).
B) Minimize or reduce dairy, wheat, bananas and oranges (or orange juice) – these are mucus-forming foods that will increase congestion, which traps viruses and bacteria.
C) Get proper sleep and rest. If your child has any sleep problems, consult with Dr. Clack for advice on natural treatments like melatonin, L-Theanine, 5-HTP or herbs like Chamomile, Passionflower, California poppy and Valerian. Many homeopathic medicines can be helpful too.
D) Vitamin A is an antiviral treatment and boosts white blood cell activity. Give as beta-carotene, or as Vitamin A from cod-liver oil (with the advice of a doctor).
E) Zinc deficiency develops with slow-healing infections. Give Zinc as lozenges 3-4 times a day. Some combination cold & flu formulas include zinc.
F) Vitamin C is the best know vitamin to boost white blood cell activity, but you do have to give it as a supplement – we can’t eat enough fruit and veggies per day to get the doses we need.
G) Herbal medicines with antiviral activity include Elderberry (Sambucus), Echinacea, Licorice, Lemon balm, and Olive Leaf.
The reduction of ASD traits while fighting a cold or using antiviral treatments might be unmasking a stealth virus infection. The infections can be in the fluid surrounding the brain, and won’t show up on standard blood white blood cell counts. Once the acute infection is over, ASD traits tend to return. If this happens, viral titer testing should be done to identify a subacute infection and prompt more antiviral treatment.
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