I am a family nurser practitioner trained in traditional medicine. A few months ago I came to the excruciating realization that my son, 3 1/2, had autism spectrum disorder. My first inclination was to learn everything I could about ASD. I recalled Jenny McCarthy working with autism awareness a few years ago, but it was Jenny McCarthey, not a pediatrician. I spent hours searching through articles in well-renowned medical journals. They were all the same - the signs, how to diagnose, early treatment (referral to speech therapy and applied behavior therapy.) Yet, only 15% of autistic people will ever live independently. Every hope and dream I ever had for my precious son was ripped from me. This is what every parent will tell you.
Then, I typed the name "Jenny McCarthy" into a Google search. God Bless You, Jenny McCarthy. I ordered her 3 books, read them all in a weekend and unlike my medical journals, I was given hope. Started GF/CF diet 2 weeks later. Within days, my son's stimming ended. Not slowed, ENDED. When he's had any gluten, stimming will start before he's even left the table. I brought him to a biomedical dr a month later (soonest we could get in), with this book in hand, well-informed. We started a probiotic and fish oil. Within days, he could answer a question for the first time in his life. (He is also getting speech therapy which is not to be discounted.)
Although the layout of the book (the interview form) is kind of cheesy, this is a must-read/must-own book for any parent of a child with ASD. Dr. Kartzinel gives wonderful explanations, in layman's terms, of how damage was done to your child's body resulting in ASD symptoms and how to treat them. It's not expensive, so PLEASE, please give it a try. Your child is worth it. Your dreams for your child are worth it. Healing and recovering are possible.