At the risk of stating the obvious, the brain controls the entire body! And when there’s inflammation in the brain, it can cause a number of unwelcome symptoms. So let’s talk about symptoms and root causes of brain inflammation, as well as what we can do to help it.
Symptoms of Inflammation in the Brain
Inflammation can change brain function, causing a wide variety of symptoms, including:
- Neurotransmitter dysfunction
- Dysfunction in sensation and perception
- Diminished ability to communicate
- Seizures
- Stimming (self-stimulatory behavior)
- Gastrointestinal issues (constipation, diarrhea, gas, or bloating)
- Poor sleep
Brain inflammation also can contribute to our autistic kids missing developmental milestones.
Immune Response and Brain Inflammation
There’s a growing body of research indicating that autistic kids have hyper-reactive or over-reactive immune responses, causing inflammation that does not subside as quickly as it would for their neurotypical peers. When kids are stuck in a hightened immune response, the chronic inflammation can cause tissue damage. In other words, our autistic children have a higher risk of consistent brain inflammation.
What Can We Do to Help?
Maybe you’ve heard this from me before: We need to get to the root cause. Testing can help identify what’s causing the inflammation. From there, lifestyle adjustments (movement, diet, sleep) can make a big difference, and you can layer in supplements and medication as well.
A Word on “Fancy” Treatments
Some parents are tempted to try unusual treatments like stem cell therapy, hyperbaric oxygen, and even stool transplants. These things can help! But first you need to get the basics right. Don’t start with expensive, fancy, niche treatments. You can’t “out-supplement” a bad diet or bad sleep.
Focusing on the basics–the “Essential Five”–is why I created the Your Autism Game Plan Course. Join me as I walk you through functional medicine techniques you can apply right at home to see relief in your child’s symptoms.
Be gentle with yourself. You’re doing a great job.
I hope this information has been helpful to you as part of creating Your Autism Game Plan.
Do you have questions or requests for future videos? Email me at joya@yourautismgameplan.com
Get the Course!
The Your Autism Game Plan Course is all about using functional medicine techniques to identify and address the root causes of your child’s troublesome autism symptoms. These are techniques you can use right at home, starting today! Click the button above to access a step-by-step guide to to my “Essential Five” and get the relief that your child (and your family) deserves.
