Probiotics are an essential tool in your Autism arsenal. Most, if not all Autistic children, have digestive issues, and allergies/sensitivities. If you’ve been researching it for a while, you’ve probably come to the conclusion, like a lot of us, that Autism is a gut, not a brain disorder. What is little known, is that there is a second brain in the gut. It produces neurotransmitters, just like the one upstairs. Now, i’m not saying that there aren’t things going wrong in the upstairs brain, but we need to fix the ‘gutbrain’ first. When you think about a drunk person you can get your head around it. Are they walking funny, and talking loud and slurring their words because of something that has happened to their brain? Yes, they are, but it didn’t start in the brain. The behaviour is a direct result of something they put in their mouth, that went through the liver and digestive system, then altered the way the brain perceives the world around it and the way they behave. The input altered the output. If you use that analogy with Autism, you can see why it’s so important to fix the gut first.
So probiotic basics. There are many different strains of probiotics available and they all do very different things. At the moment, I am treating Fraser for high histamine, so this is my focus at the this point. Below is a list of different probiotic strains with what they do, and whether or not they raise histamine, lower histamine or are neutral. If you give a probiotic that raises histamine to a histadelic child, then even with the best of intentions, you are going to make it worse.
Before I give you the info, I must make the point, that giving probiotics should not be taken lightly. You must start slowly and build up slowly over time. Children, especially Autistic children are very sensitive, and you can cause major die off symptoms such as eczema, rashes, diarrhoea, vomiting and flu like symptoms, so slow and steady dear friends!
HISTAMINE LOWERING PROBIOTICS
L. Plantarum
| Produces natural antibiotic Lactolin, synthesizes L-lysine which is antiviral. Can preserve nutrients, vitamins and antioxidants. Eliminate toxins, including S.aureus (golden staff) from foods. |
B. Infantis
| Stimulates production of immunomodulating agents such as cytokines. Bacteriocidal activity in Clostridia, Salmonella and Shigella. |
B. Longum
| Plays a role in preventing colonization of invading pathogenic bacteria by attaching to the intestinal wall and crowding out unfriendly bacteria and yeast. Produces lactic and acetic acids to lower the intestinal pH and inhibit undesirable bacteria. Reduces gastro issues from antibiotics. |
HISTAMINE NEUTRAL PROBIOTICS
L. Acidophilus
| Natural antibiotic, enhance immunity, antimicrobial against strep, s. aureus, salmonella, E. coli and candida albicans. |
L. Rhamnosus
| Helpful in preventing Urinary Tract Infections, protects agains strep and clostridia. Helpful for those with lactose intolerance. Down regulates hypersensitive reactions and intestinal inflammation in people with eczema and food sensitivities
|
HISTAMINE RAISING PROBIOTICS
L. Bulgaricus
L. Casei
L. Reuteri
There are many other probiotics and I know Culterelle is a very popular probiotic, but after much searching I am unable to determine at this stage if it, or other strains are raising, lowering or neutral. I will of course keep searching.
The products I am using at the moment are :
Jarrow Formulas – Ideal Bowel Support. Gluten free L. Plantarum 10 billion live organisms. From iherb. Use my code FUR941 for a discount on your order.
Nutrition Care – Lactobac. B. Longum 750 million organisms and L. Rhamnosus 14.25 billion organisms. (Must be posted and kept refrigerated, so leave an esky at your front door with a note for the postman if you’re not going to be home). From Kingsway Compounding Pharmacy in Sydney.
I truly hope this helps someone out there. For my part, I feel great getting it out of my head and onto a blog where it might do somebody some good.
Good luck on your own quest, and i’ll keep you posted 🙂
Kitty. xx
Link to my app – https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/emotion-fonts/id779305002?mt=8
AUTnotISM 
Thank you very much: it helped a lot!
Natasha, thank you so much for your comment. I am so happy the information was helpful to you, and I wish you all the best.