Children with Starving Brains: A Medical Treatment Guide for Autism Spectrum Disorder [Paperback]

Jaquelyn McCandless (Author), Jack Zimmerman (Contributor), Teresa Binstock (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2009 | ISBN-10: 1883647177 | ISBN-13: 978-1883647179 | Edition: 4th Updated

Children With Starving Brains is a message of hope in the midst of a worldwide epidemic of autism, ADD and ADHD. This is the first book written by an experienced clinician that gives a step-by-step treatment guide for parents and doctors based on the understanding that ASD is a complex biomedical illness resulting in significant brain malnutrition. Genetic susceptibility activated by "triggers" such as pesticides and heavy metals in vaccines can lead to immune system impairment, gut dysfunction, and pathogen invasion such as yeast and viruses in many children. Dr. McCandless, whose grandchild with autism has inspired her "broad spectrum approach," describes important diagnostic tools needed to select appropriate treatment programs. Her book explains major therapies newly available and identifies safe and effective options for parents and physicians working together to improve the health of these special children.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jacquelyn McCandless received her M.D. from the University of Illinois College of Medicine and is certified as a Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Since the early 1990s, her interest in women's issues and sexuality has led to an alternative medicine practice with a focus on anti-aging, brain nutrition, and natural hormone therapy. In 1996, after her granddaughter was diagnosed with autism, she returned even more to basic medicine and began working with biomedical aspects of developmentally delayed children. She now utilizes the knowledge she gained searching for treatments for her grandchild to help other ASD children.

Product Details

• Paperback: 428 pages
• Publisher: Bramble Books; 4th Updated edition (February 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1883647177
• ISBN-13: 978-1883647179
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.9 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (100 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #180,776 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #58 in Books > Medical Books > Allied Health Professions > Diet Therapy

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

210 of 215 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Parents and Practitioners: The help you are seeking is here. May 11, 2003

By cmw

Format:Paperback

Please do yourself, your child, or your patients the monumental favor of reading, living, and practicing this book. Children with Starving Brains is an easy to read and comprehensive guide to the painfully complex issues surounding the causation, gastrointestinal pathology, toxicity, and evaluation process of working with children with Austism Spectrum Disorders.

The book then deals extensively with the steps involved in healing the injuries. Dr. McCandless walks the reader through gastrointestinal healing measures, removing heavy metals, restoring proper immune function, and healing the STARVING brain.

You will shake your head in amazement both at the amount of helpful and hopeful information in this book, as well as in absolute awe at the lack of comprehension that most medical, dental, and nursing practitioners have concerning the contemporary state of causation, pathology, and treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders.

I work in a practice that has successfully treated almost 100 children utilizing the principles outlined by Dr. McCandless. All the children have improved to varying degrees. Some have almost totally "recovered", others have shown islands of significant improvement, but ALL have responded positively.

This is good, progressive, modern health care. It is not "alternative" treatment. It is correct treatment to address an acute illness or "insult" to a child's entire brain, body, and self. These interventions have also proven tremendously helpful in our treatment of 200 adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

I especially appeal to my nursing colleagues: READ THIS BOOK. In so many situations, We are the professionals advising mothers about conception and prenatal care; administering immunizations; counseling parents about the use of antibiotics; teaching about dental care; providing care in pediatrician's offices, or in our own pediatric, psychiatric, and general health care practices. If we do not avail ourselves of this information, we are part of the problem, and NOT part of the answer. If we are ignorant of the issues surrounding vulnerbility and causation, we are directly contributing to the epidemic of Autism Spectrum Disorders.

In the future, we will look back on the pioneering work of Jaquelyn McCandless, and her colleagues such as Teresa Binstock, and the innovative professionals associated with DAN! and similar organizations,and know that this was indeed a turning point in the history of medicine and nursing.

We have purchased several dozen copies of this book and have distributed it to parents and professionals, and they have been amazed. Parents intuitively know there is much truth to be found in this book. Professionals who read it with an open mind often come around and start to pay attention to data rather than dogma.

Invest a few hours reading this book. It will change the life of someone you love, or someone with whose care and development you are entrusted.

76 of 76 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars I am an adult who is HFA December 12, 2007

By Tara Marshall

Format:Hardcover

High Functioning Autistic, for those who aren't yet familiar with the terminology. I have an adult diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome, despite the fact that echolalia was my primary form of communication until I was 8, and I couldn't form a sentence on my own until that age.

I enjoy being who I am, and I view autism as an essential part of my personality. I do not want to be "cured". That does not mean I do not want any of my symptoms to go away. I should add that this is more a review of the treatment approach recommended by the book than of the book itself.

I started experimenting with the biomedical approach to treating myself 5 years ago. I began with what is basically the Feingold Diet - removing all artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. I stopped having seizures (except for one time, when I accidentally had some Yellow #5 and began seizing about half an hour later, I went through everything I ate and drank that day two days later after staying in bed before finding the trigger). It helped me a lot with issues of emotional lability (sudden changes in mood). I also started to sleep a little bit better, and lost 15 pounds of the extra weight I had gained (I weighed 185 when I first started with biomedical approaches).

Fast forward two years. I was happy with what I had gained from Feingold, and read Lisa Lewis' book on GFCF diet and found myself. As a child, I had consumed a gallon or more of milk per day, and as an adult, still ate cheese or yoghurt on a daily basis. Giving up all milk products allowed me to start looking people in the eyes for the first time in my life, notice facial expressions (though not process what they mean), and removed a lot of the haziness I had always experienced.

Almost two years ago, I went gluten free as well. I didn't notice any major improvements... although I did start reading body language a little better. What I did notice is that about 3 months after I went gluten free I broke out all over my body, a good sign of toxin release in me... and that attempted reintroduction and later accidental exposure to gluten made me feel extremely ill. The last time I accidentally had some gluten, I broke out in open sores all over my body. The other thing is that all the vitamins I had been taking finally started to do me some good, probably because I was absorbing them for the first time ever. Due to my symptomology, I highly suspect I have had undiagnosed Celiac disease for my entire life...

About a year ago, I removed soy. I didn't notice any improvements from it, but when I tried to reintroduce any soy, found it caused severe intestinal problems. Accidental consumption of soy tends to lead to me spending the rest of the day in the bathroom. Incidentally, I dropped 15 pounds more.

I "accidentally" ended up removing eggs, then found out that they made me feel sick when I reintroduced them, and also caused some intestinal issues.

Another "accidental" removal - nuts. I just didn't feel like eating anything with nuts for a while, and when I had a product containing nuts a couple months later, I had some absence seizures the following day. Tried repeating it with a different nut several months ago, had the same side effect. I also lost 15 pounds.

I'm still working on getting the mercury amalgam out of my mouth, so I can't say too much about it.

However, I had SEVERE lead poisoning - to the point where I had to have my cataracts removed when I was 30. I underwent oral chelation with DMSA (supplemented with potassium, zinc, calcium, and magnesium, to help offset any possible negative effects), and had some definite increases in attention span and ability to sleep. These were temporary, but helpful at the time. I plan do another couple rounds of DMSA after I finish getting the amalgam fillings out of my mouth.

If I forget to take my EFAs I tend to stutter and ticque more. I take about 1500 mcgs of B12 every day, and have a hard time even getting out of bed without it. I take megadoses of several other vitamins, some mineral supplements, and etc., but those are the most obviously helpful.

My current weight is a relatively healthy 133 pounds, from a starting high of 185. Not a bad side-effect, though not one I was intending.

So, for those of you who discount the biomedical treatments, give them a truly serious try with your child before you blow it off. If nothing else, it can't hurt and might help, which is a lot better than what I can say about the psychiatric medications that are available. I admit to being fanatic enough that I even read the ingredient lists of my shampoos, soaps, toothpaste, lotion, and other "external" use products, but have found that gluten, soy, and artificial ingredients in these negatively affect my health. Good luck, and I sincerely hope your children don't have as many sensitivities as I do.

72 of 74 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must-Have For Parents of Children with Autism January 9, 2003

By Christine Chase Lamont

Format:Paperback

If you are a parent of a child with Autism this book is an absolute must-have! Dr. McCandless' book is the most up-to-date guide on treating children with Autism biomedically. Her book is easily understandable and well writtten. I have followed the recommendations within her book to a "T" with my 26 month old ASD daughter. My daughter's response to these interventions have been nothing short of miraculous. Dr. McCandless is an absolute God send! **Please remember that everyone is different and that each individual will respond differently to these interventions**, but because these are so safe and easily adaptable - it is definitely worth giving it a try! My only regret is not getting this book sooner!