Tag Archives: acupuncture
Does Tylenol Cause Autism?
A few weeks ago, The US government came out with guidance suggesting that pregnant women or young children not take Tylenol (acetaminophen) because of evidence that it may promote autism. This caused a bit of a stir in the media well, because including medical opinions today, everything becomes intertwined with politics.
Regardless of that, it’s worth looking at evidence to see if there really is a connection or not.
In a functional medicine approach to health and here at Functional Health & Acupuncture Institute, we are always looking for root causes of chronic health conditions. Over the last 7-10 years I have taken a number of certification courses in different functional medicine specialties, including an Autism Mastery course and Childhood Development Disorders. The idea that there is a connection between Tylenol use and autism is nothing new.
William Shaw, Director of Great Plains Laboratory (now Mosaic) wrote a paper in 2013 Journal of Restorative Medicine discussing the increased use of Tylenol starting in the 80s and the correlation with the rise in autism and asthma. Tylenol use increased when aspirin stopped being recommended for children due to a concern of another condition, Reye’s Syndrome. Doctors also would sometimes recommend giving children Tylenol before vaccines to mitigate any fever reactions after receiving the vaccines.
Correlation does not equal causation, but when there is a correlation, good science demands that this be considered by looking at available evidence. At that time, conclusions were that there is definitely a connection between increased use of Tylenol and the rise in both autism and asthma in children, but more research was needed to further understand this issue. While the rates of autism do appear to rise and fall with acetaminophen use, and some countries that do not have OTC availability of acetaminophen have very low rates of autism, this alone does not confirm causation.
Basically, the scientific findings about the metabolic effect of Tylenol indicate that vulnerable populations have defective detox pathways (called sulfation pathways). This defect causes the overproduction of toxic metabolites when there is overconsumption of acetaminophen that further impairs the body’s ability to clear toxic chemicals. So there may be a genetic predisposition to not handling acetaminophen and we know that some genetic tests can show an individual does not process this well. Acetaminophen also is known to deplete glutathione, our most important antioxidant and detoxifier. By depleting glutathione, acetaminophen weakens our ability to combat oxidative stress and free radicals which promote inflammation, including neuroinflammation. Together, this causes a negative impact on certain brain neurons that are associated with balance, autism, MS and other neurological disorders.
My conclusion is that in a vulnerable population, acetaminophen may be a problem. But without universal genetic testing, it can be challenging to know who is vulnerable. There is also a more well accepted connection between Tylenol use and rates of childhood asthma, but the mechanisms of impact are similar to those believed to be in play with autism.
For children, consider NOT giving Tylenol (or NSAIDS) prophylactically before vaccines. Children may be able to use ibuprofen safely, but for pregnant women this is more of a conundrum, as ibuprofen, and perhaps even aspirin, are not recommended during pregnancy. In these cases, consider acupuncture and relaxation techniques as good alternatives for pain management.
Michael Phelps Does Cupping, Should You?
In a typical cupping session, glass cups are warmed using a cotton ball which is soaked in alcohol, lit, then temporarily placed inside the cup to remove the oxygen, which creates a vacuum.The cup is turned upside-down and placed over a specific area. The vacuum created by the lack of oxygen anchors the cup to the skin and pulls it upward on the inside of the glass as the air inside the jar cools. Drawing up the skin is believed to open up the skin’s pores, which helps to stimulate the flow of blood, balances and realigns the flow of qi, breaks up obstructions, and creates an avenue for toxins to be drawn out of the body. The cups may be left in place for 5-10 minutes, or may be moved around with a technique called “sliding cupping”.
Is it safe?
While cupping is considered relatively safe it can cause some swelling and may result in small, circular bruises on the areas where the cups were applied. These bruises are usually painless, however, and disappear within a few days to a week of treatment.
Can I get cupping without acupuncture?
Specifically for those who may be nervous about acupuncture I offer a 60 minute Chinese Medical Cupping and Tui-Na Combination Therapy for $120. This therapy combines two of the most therapeutic non-acupuncture tools of the Chinese Medicine system for relieve muscle soreness and increasing flexibility.
In this treatment, cupping therapy is then followed with Tui-Na. This hands on treatment involves manipulation of myofascial tissue, incorporates acupressure, and helps to re-align muscles, tendons and ligaments. This strongly encourages a harmonious flow of qi through the muscles and meridians. This combined therapy loosens up tight, sore muscles, increases joint flexibility and will leave you feeling relaxed and invigorated. You can call our office or schedule this therapy online by clicking here: