My sister was talking to a friend of hers whose son has classic Autism. She swears by using magnesium and recommended I use it on my aspie son.
Question is what does it do for the child and what risks does it cause, if any?
A very good opinion Leanne. I'm unsure of using much of anything, I really would prefer it if my boy managed to get thru this without drugs etc. I had heard that magnesium is supposed to make them sleep so your ideas compared to those seem way to far apart.
Unless I hear some very good reason to use it I think I'll be skipping this one...
I have read that the magnesium helps lower natural levels of some happy enzyme (endorphins, maybe?) in autistic people. Supposedly, when a social animal interacts with another social animal, a gland somewhere produces a spike of endorphins. This causes pleasure, so thus, people or dogs or monkeys feel pleasure around others and seek socialization to make them happy.
The theory goes that autistic people are unusually happy campers. Their natural pleasure hormones are so high, that when this spike comes along, its not a big deal...maybe a tiny little swell, if that. It is not that they are anti social, they are just happy all by themselves. Magnesium is supposed to zap the production of this happy enzyme, so the social spike in the pleasure zone makes them more social.
Interestingly, I have read that some doctors who prescribe the megadoses of magnesium and other stuff coincidentally own some of the supplement stores. I have read this - do not know it for a fact.
Now, sometimes people are not overly social because of sensory issues, or frustration over communication, the fear of unpredictable actions (why kids on the spectrum may be social with adults - predictable - versus wild thang children). So, lowering their background happy juice wouldn't do much.
I have no idea the risks, but think a multi vitamin (my opinion) suffices. People swear by magnesium, but they also swear by palm readers and horoscopes and crystals, etc. Am not implying your friend is off base, its just that kids in general DO IMPROVE over time, and to nonscientifically claim that it is love potion #9 that's bringing about the improvement is not sound. It gives one hope, but it may be entirely coincidental.
Also, when you are paying attention to your child's speech and socialization etc (like, looking to see if the stuff is working) you accidentally pay more attention to the child. You start initiating more conversation (just to see how the kid is reacting to the potion), and presto - over time, he does improve. How do you know it is not your extra focus? the cumulative effects of school? cold and flu season is finally over and he feels good consistently? that waggily and distracting tooth finally came out?
I was a scientist for 20 years and have a decent understanding of cause-effect. When one does not have scientific training, it is very easy to jump to seemingly sound conclusions, but you have to analyze all changing parameters before you can prove A caused B.
Do listen to the parents here, but talk to your doctor and read up on PubMed, one of the medical sites, before giving your kid anything other than Flintstones. JUST MY OPINION, please do not swat me anybody!
Wow, I never heard that people with autism are unusually happy! I would not use that term about my son - not that he's miserable or anything, but certainly not overly happy!Magnesium needs to be taken in conjunction with other supplements.
Magnesium also causes diarrhoea if taken in excess. My son tends to drink the bathwater and if there is epsom salts in it (MgSO4) then on comes the diarrhoea.
He has Ca/Mg powder and there is some Mg in his multivitamin but it needs to be managed. If your child has an xray and faecal matter is impacted throughout the intestine (as it is for many of these kids), MgO is the easiest and gentlest way to get things moving.
For sleep, melatonin is useful and that can be found naturally in the concentrated cherry juice. We can get it here in NZ so I would think it can be gotten everywhere.
aries - concentrated cherry juice? I hadn't heard that.. D has been on melatonin for a while and it's script only here in Aus so can be expensive (especially as the government doesn't help cover it's cost) If I could get a "supply" of it so easily that would be great! Could you tell me more? Also he seems to have the opposite problem with fecal matter especially atm. He only eats yoghurt, sultanas, Nutella Sandwhichs and hot chips atm so I'm assuming it's a combination of these causing it. Magnesium causing diarrhoea would NOT be a good thing now
I have heard the unusually happy comment too snoopywoman. Odd I thought too
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