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Autism is a developmental disorder that begins at birth or within the first three years of life. Physical symptoms include inflammation, neurological abnormalities, and abnormal immune response. Inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract reduces or prevents normal digestion and absorption of food. Inflammation in the brain reduces blood flow (oxygen delivery) to the functioning and developing neurons in the brain. An abnormal immune response may be characterized by the body either reacting to things it should not, such as food, or over/underreacting to viruses and bacteria.
HBOT stands at the forefront as an exciting conjunctive treatment to assist the body in healing these disease processes. As Dr. Paul Harch states in Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: Why the Controversy? "Hyperbaric oxygen treats or counteracts disease processes such as inflammation, swelling, low oxygen, and low blood flow and hence treats the diseases [in reference to treating autism, cerebral palsy, etc.]." HBOT may improve blood flow, reduce profound neuro-inflammation, correct virus induced auto-immune response, increase oxygen flow to brain tissue, aid in cell detoxification, and decimate viral infections. The effectiveness of HBOT in children with autism, like those with cerebral palsy, is most likely a manifestation of the enhanced function of previously damaged neurons. These neurons, called “idling neurons,” are still alive, but have been damaged to the extent that their function is compromised. Parents of children with autism are reporting that HBOT seems to be a powerful tool in reducing some of the causes of their children’s ongoing symptomology.
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