MAO-A, The Tree of Life!
When a tree is not thriving, the closer the treatment is to the root of the tree, the quicker the tree responds by returning to good health. I once had an apricot tree that required far more attention than I knew how to give. I should've just chopped it down and used it for kindling, because it was so dry and brittle on the outside. But I hoped that by pruning it, I could bring it back to life. Many days and hours of work later, I had a tree that was in a beautiful shape, and I waited for spring to bring green leaves and fruit. I was rewarded with some of each, but the trunk of the tree still looked like a good windstorm would snap it in half. My husband was convinced that if we started scattering the ashes from our fireplace around the base of the tree, it would make all the difference, and the tree would thrive once again, but that didn't help either. Next, I sprayed for insects, convinced that they were leaching the life out of the limbs. Then I began clipping off all of the dead and dying twigs thinking that at least they would no longer be pulling nourishment from the branches of the tree, which I thought needed it more in order to produce healthier twigs. Ultimately, we spent a lot of money having a very large tree- that was overshadowing our small apricot tree- heavily pruned back to allow more sunlight, all to no avail. The years and treatments progressed with little benefit, and finally we moved to a new home. Years later and many trees wiser, I now know that instead of trying to bring a sick tree back to a healthy state by pruning twigs and branches, and spraying for insect infestation, I should first focus my attention on the roots by nourishing them with water, fertilizer, and good soil.
When you begin looking at how MAO-A (Monoamine Oxidase A is an enzyme at the cellular level that helps to maintain neuron firing rates throughout the body) is at the root of so many neurodegenerative diseases as well as aging, you'll see that it can be compared to the roots of a tree. Let's look at the diagram of the MAO-A Tree of Life and compare this to how the cells function in your body- at the most basic level as the science is far deeper and more intricate. As you go up the tree, with MAO-A being the roots, MAO-A activity is required for the ATP (an energy molecule, or the 'trunk') production to run all of the chemical reactions (direct 'branches') in the body. These chemical reactions are Liver Detoxification, Norepinephrine Utilization, Serotonin Utilization, and Histamine2 Production. Each of these chemical reactions stimulate further functions ('twigs') of the body like Memory & Social Recognition, Fine & Gross Motor Skills, Sensory Integration & Discrimination, and Concentration/Focus to name a few. You will see some twigs on more than one branch, indicating that more than one branch stimulates those functions.
Take a look at Histamine2, which is shown at the top of the tree because it is needed for SO much! It is involved in all of the higher functions; Gastric Function, Digestive Enzymes, Thyroid Function, Hypothalamus Function, Heat Stress, Oxytocin Utilization, Eye Contact, Language Learning, Circadian Rhythms, and SO much more!
The body can actually have adequate production of MAO-A, but its activity can be inhibited, kind of like having its hands tied- it's there, but it can't do anything.
Things that Inhibit MAO-A Activity :
(Note that autistic patients are sensitive to all of these)
High Estrogen such as Soy, tea tree oil (this is why soy should be avoided)
EFA supplements
Many, many Herbal Supplements
Stress
Heavy Metals such as aluminum, mercury, cadmium
High copper levels
High phenols
High amounts of fat soluble vitamins A, D, E, K
Parasites and other Pathogens (interfere with the production of MAO-A)
Lipid peroxidation (this is why the EFA supplements should be avoided)
High levels of alanine (an amino acid- we have far too much alanine and glutamine in our bodies, which is the result of eating too many calories and not having the activity to burn them off. The body stores the excess calories as alanine, and alanine inhibits MAO-A).
Stress is probably the biggest inhibitor on MAO-A. Everything we put into the body, the body is required to do something with, and this just puts more stress on the body. You may have had a difficult decision in choosing Respen-A™ over fish oil, but let me ask you this- if fish oil was working for your child, why were you looking for something else? Perhaps because fish oil causes lipid peroxidation, which causes MAO-A activity to be inhibited, which then shuts down ATP production, which shuts down the rest of the branches and twigs on the tree, which results in all of the symptoms you are seeing in your autistic child.
We have found that those who don’t take any supplements other than the calcium skin lotion we provide with the Respen-A™, and 5-HTP and/or inositol if you don’t eat meat or are on a gluten free diet, do the best on the Respen-A™. Instead of worrying that you still need to fix the twigs by supplementing with vitamins, herbs and medications for individual symptoms, get to the root, or cause, of the issue and let Respen-A™ stimulate the activity of MAO-A to do the job of fixing everything for you.
Respen-A™ increases the activity of MAO-A, or unties its hands, which allows the entire body to function and be healthy again. The newest research shows that MAO-A is one of the greatest detoxifiers in the liver (toxins, drugs, metals, chemicals). If you get the MAO-A production healthy again by increasing its activity, then the liver can do its job of detoxification. This applies to every branch on the tree, like norepinephrine. Without MAO-A activity, the norepinephrine can't get converted into its active neurotransmitter, which means that norepinephrine can't be utilized. This results in every twig on the norepinephrine branch reacting in chaos.
There are many supplements that inhibit MAO-A and many that have not been tested for such inhibition, like herbs. As for homeopathic products, homeopathic frequencies are like music notes; some notes can be put together, such as in a chord, and it enriches their sound, but one wrong note in a chord ruins the sound- which means it will negate the Respen-A™. The only way to determine whether or not something enhances or inhibits the effects of the Respen-A™ is by stopping all other supplements. Then, see how you respond to the Respen-A™ and get to baseline on it. If you want to add back one of the supplements after a month or so on just the Respen-A™, add one at a time and monitor it for two weeks to see if it helps or negates it. If it doesn't negate the Respen-A™, and you see no added benefit, you probably don't need it.
Supplements give us such high amounts of nutrients that it is easy to get too much. If the volume is too high, we can reach toxic levels- even too much water can be toxic! It is best to pull the nutrients we need out of the foods we eat. As long as we are eating a balanced diet and getting plenty of whole and organic foods, our body will pull out exactly what it needs in terms of vitamins, and flush out the rest. This is the same for gluten.
Gluten stimulates the release of serotonin into the nerve synapse. A child with autism has trouble converting the serotonin in the nerve synapse into its active neurotransmitter because the MAO-A activity is deficient. This causes the serotonin to build up in the nerve synapse triggering a shutdown and negative feedback on other systems such as the Oxytocin system. Prior to Respen-A™, if a child with autism ate gluten it would just cause more serotonin to build up. With the Respen-A™, the child is able to convert the serotonin- therefore avoiding a build up of serotonin- which means that gluten is now tolerated.
You've got to have a balance of serotonin production, serotonin release, and serotonin turnover. Otherwise you'll end up with a buildup of serotonin, which shuts systems down, or a depletion of serotonin, which creates the same symptoms (shuts systems down). It's much easier to balance this if you don't restrict gluten. Just let your child have whatever in their diet, in moderation, and the body will handle this balancing act. This is a lot simpler than counting crackers/pretzels and making sure they are getting gluten every two hours. You are just better off to let the body do its own regulation of the balancing system- it will let you know what it needs with cravings.
Back to the MAO-A Tree of Life. Think about how much simpler- and less expensive- life will be when you get to the root of the issues/symptoms and let MAO-A fix everything! You won't need a drug for focus (Ritalin, Risperdal, Focalin, Adderall,) which will only fix the twig- the Norepinephrine branch has that covered. You won't need supplements for digestive or sleep issues- Histamine2 Production and Serotonin Utilization take care of those. You won't need herbs or medications for allergies- the MAO-A converts histamine in the body to H2 instead of H1 (the allergy histamine). You'll save money on detox treatments when the liver has its hands untied and can do that for you for free. You won't have to worry about fixing the twigs when MAO-A is the active root it was designed to be!
...Instead of working out on a branch, get to the root...
Be prepared to evaluate how you are doing every six months or so. If you've lost ground or if things are pretty much the same, what you are doing is not working. If it is only helping one thing, and nothing else is better, then you are working on a twig instead of the root of the issue. There are several other factors that can tie the hands of MAO-A: inability to convert L-tryptophan to 5-HTP, not enough gluten consumption to convert serotonin into its active neurotransmitter, poor calcium absorption, and impeding the active docking sites on the MAO-A. If you see no change in symptoms, or a return of symptoms, please contact us! Elaine is brilliant at pinpointing the problem. Our deepest desire is for you or your loved one to return to good health through the MAO-A Tree of LIFE, with the use of Respen-A™
(article submitted by Kerri McCormick)
Gluten, Serotonin and 5-HTP
Perhaps the most difficult- and easiest- decision I've had to make this past year was to use Respen-A™...on myself. Easy, because I've been telling people for years that it helps with gut issues, and after decades of trying everything possible to resolve mine, I wanted results for myself. Difficult, because I didn't want to go backwards. I hadn't eaten gluten for 9 years, and was dreadfully aware of just how crippling one spec of it would be to my body.
In addition to gluten, after an elimination process, I'd been off of nuts, most oils, dairy, eggs, most meats, vegetables and fruits for the past three years. Consequently, I'd been eating a combination of only 7 food items- the few I'd found that didn't cause a multitude of issues. How I longed to eat a real meal again, to not be limited to cold snacks, to have the freedom to sit in a restaurant and order, indiscriminately, off a menu, and finally, to enjoy a hot meal without any fear of repercussions!
I started Respen-A™ in May of 2018. While I could tell immediately that things were different, I waited a couple of weeks before I tried gluten- my biggest nemesis. While I waited, I began gaining weight, because my body was finally absorbing nutrients from the foods I was eating. It sounds awful, but I put on 23 lbs in 3 weeks! This was fine with me as I'd become scarecrow thin over the years, since I hadn't been able to keep weight on. Now, people tell me how much healthier I look.
Testing the gluten began a few crackers at a time, and soon evolved into ordering gluten items off the menu at restaurants, and even eating slices of pizza! Honestly, what shocked me most was how bad all of the processed 'foods' tasted- cookies, Danish pastries, candy bars I'd once enjoyed, even Taco Bell...which was a real treat when I was a starving college student sick of Top Ramen. So, it was super easy to maintain my new weight; I'd been without processed foods for nearly a decade, and wasn't willing to eat anything that tasted bad.
As a mom with a son diagnosed with autism, reintroducing gluten for him (back in 2009) was even more frightening. One spec for Tyler resulted in a meltdown that lasted 10 1/2 hours. But, after her first reformulation of Respen-A™, Elaine said it 'should work' for gut issues- and someone had to be the pioneer (guinea pig?). Elaine says that it works by activating MAO-A to convert Histamine to Histamine2. Histamine2 stimulates the production of gastric acid and digestive enzymes, and corrects the pH balance of the stomach and intestines. Click on the link below to see a video of Tyler the morning after we had a big pizza party- with no meltdowns from gluten! Back then, we had to increase the Respen-A Disc by half a disc, but now you don't.
Gluten has come under attack, from everybody. Going gluten-free has become not only a fad for the general public, but a necessity for most kids with autism. However, according to Elaine, gluten isn't the problem. It is just a protein that our body doesn't make. But it is not a pathogenic protein, so it presents no threat to our body. Because of this, the immune system would normally just ignore it. But, when MAO-A (monoamine oxidase-A) is inhibited, such as by stress (environmental toxins, financial worries, working three jobs), this causes our Mast cells to become neurotic, and our immune system goes nuts.
Mast cells are the first line of defense for the body- they are the alarm system for the immune system. The lungs, gut, and skin are portals of entry that a pathogen could use to get into the body. These organs are loaded with Mast cells. Mast cells go into high alert when MAO-A is under attack and suppressed. As a result, a person experiences a full blown, immune inflammatory response to gluten.
As far as autism goes, the reason the gluten-free diet has helped these children is because gluten releases the serotonin in the gut. With low MAO-A activity, the serotonin builds up and is not able to be converted into its active neurotransmitter. Behaviors get better when gluten is restricted because you are avoiding the build up of serotonin. However, gluten isn't the culprit. Instead, whatever is inhibiting the MAO-A is.
Things that Inhibit MAO-A Activity :
(Note that autistic patients are sensitive to all of these)
High Estrogen such as Soy, tea tree oil (this is why soy should be avoided)
EFA supplements
Many, many Herbal Supplements
Stress
Heavy Metals such as aluminum, mercury, cadmium
High copper levels
High phenols
High amounts of fat soluble vitamins A, D, E, K
Parasites and other Pathogens (interfere with the production of MAO-A)
Lipid peroxidation (this is why the EFA supplements should be avoided)
High levels of alanine (an amino acid- we have far too much alanine and glutamine in our bodies, which is the result of eating too many calories and not having the activity to burn them off. The body stores the excess calories as alanine, and alanine inhibits MAO-A).
Prior to Respen-A™, if a child with autism ate gluten, it would just cause more serotonin to build up. With the Respen-A™ disc, the child is able to convert the serotonin- therefore avoiding a build up of serotonin- which means that gluten is now tolerated.
Some children on a gluten free diet have seen a return of symptoms after seeing good improvement on the Respen-A™ Disc, and some children have seen no results, or even a worsening of their symptoms, when starting the Respen-A™ Disc. Elaine thought that this was due to a depletion of their serotonin by the Respen-A™, so she recommended that they take 5-HTP or L-Tryptophan to replenish the serotonin. Several of the parents reported that this made no difference, but one parent noticed that if her child had a small amount of gluten, the symptoms resolved. A few more parents have reported the same findings after incorporating some gluten back in their child’s diet.
Researching the scientific rationale for this, Elaine discovered that L-Tryptophan produces 5-HTP, and 5-HTP increases the production of serotonin. This newly synthesized serotonin is put into storage vesicles in the cells. The stored serotonin then needs to be released into the synapse (the junction between nerves), so that the Respen-A™ Disc can stimulate its conversion into the active aldehyde (active neurotransmitter). Research shows that gluten (and inositol 500 - 700 mg once per day, 15 minutes after applying the Respen-A™ Disc) will stimulate the release of serotonin from the storage vesicles. The Respen-A™ Disc activates MAO-A, which then stimulates the turnover/conversion of the serotonin in the synapse into the active aldehyde (active neurotransmitter) so the body can utilize it.
Without Respen-A™, MAO-A activity is decreased, which is what causes the buildup of serotonin in the nerve synapses, triggering a shutdown and negative feedback on other systems, such as the Oxytocin system, which results in other systems shutting down. When you start Respen-A™, you have the ability to immediately turn the stored serotonin over into its active neurotransmitter so the body can utilize it, however you need gluten to release it from the storage vesicles into the nerve synapse.
You've got to have a balance of serotonin production, serotonin release, and serotonin turnover. Otherwise you'll end up with a buildup of serotonin, which shuts systems down, or a depletion of serotonin, which creates the same symptoms. It's much easier to balance this if you don't restrict gluten. I want to encourage you to let your child have whatever in their diet, in moderation, and the body will handle this balancing act. This is a lot simpler than counting crackers/pretzels and making sure they are getting gluten every two hours. You are just better off to let the body do its own regulation of the balancing system- it will let you know what it needs with cravings.
If your child is on a gluten-free diet due to food intolerance, these should be resolved when using the Respen-A™ Disc. However, there is no carryover, so if you have to stop the Respen-A™ Disc, PLEASE be aware of this as you will need to return to your previous gluten restriction.
If your child is on a gluten-free diet due to allergies, you will need to supplement with inositol to release the serotonin from the storage vesicles, so that the Respen-A™ Disc can stimulate its conversion into the active aldehyde. In most cases, 500 mg to 700 mg daily of inositol supplementation has been adequate in the release of serotonin to keep up with the turnover stimulated by Respen-A™ Disc.
(article submitted by Kerri McCormick)
Link Video of Tyler after eating Gluten
How Developmental Milestones can bring your child up to their chronological age...
Developmental milestones are a set of functional skills or age-specific tasks that most children can do at a certain age range. Your pediatrician uses milestones to help check how your child is developing. Although each milestone has an age level, the actual age when a normally developing child reaches that milestone can vary quite a bit. Every child is unique! At least, this is what the general rule is, which is why a diagnosis of autism can be difficult for a pediatrician to acknowledge. Mine told me that my son was doing just fine, that I had nothing to worry about even though life at home proved otherwise, and she looked at me like I was crazy to have accepted an offer to enroll my 4 year old in an autism study.
Now that my son has been free from the trap of autism for 9 years because of Respen-A™, I've learned, through Elaine, that children cannot skip developmental milestones- every human being must experience them! When your child became trapped in autism, he/she stopped experiencing these milestones, and they need to be revisited. This will bring him/her up to chronological age responses and behavior quickly, in a profound way.
Child development refers to how a child becomes able to do more complex things as they get older. Development is different from growth. Growth only refers to the child getting bigger in size. When we talk about normal development, we are talking about developing skills like:
Gross motor skills: using large groups of muscles to sit, stand, walk, run, etc., keeping balance and changing positions
Fine motor skills: using hands to be able to eat, draw, dress, play, write, and do many other things
Language skills: speaking, using body language and gestures, communicating, and understanding what others say
Cognitive skills: thinking skills including learning, understanding, problem-solving, reasoning, and remembering
Social skills: interacting with others, having relationships with family, friends, and teachers, cooperating and responding to the feelings of others.
With autism, clearly there is a disconnect, and some missing pieces. Think of childhood like putting together a puzzle in the brain. The pieces prior to autism are in place, and more begin to be laid when your child is set free from the trap, but not quickly, and most are missing from the developmental milestone years (age 0 - 5 years). Parents often comment, "he's doing better in all of these areas, but he still behaves like a six year old in many ways!"
Put it to the test. Ask your child to crawl. Does he/she do it correctly? The right hand should move forward at the same time as the left knee, then left hand with right knee. You will likely see a right hand with right knee, then left hand with left knee approach- which is wrong. Why does this matter? Milestones lay the foundation for the brain to function correctly. Chaos disappears with use of the Respen-A™, but then you'll need to prepare an environment for life and learning by putting the missing puzzle pieces into place, in the brain, and this can only happen by doing the developmental milestones. These will set your child up for success, both now and in the future.
For general ranges on what developmental milestones are often expected at various ages, check out the guides by following the link below. However, not knowing where your child stopped experiencing them, I suggest beginning with age 0 - 3 months when you revisit them, and work up from there. Then, think outside the box to turn these milestones into a game that your child will be acquiescent to 'play'. Following are some examples:
Thumb sucking : blindfold your child, then dip their thumb into one of three smooth substances, eg; melted chocolate, melted marshmallow, peanut butter. They must put their entire thumb in their mouth and suck it clean (no licking allowed) before guessing what the substance is.
Reaching and grasping : have your child lay on their back. Stand over them and swing a pencil or pen- that has been tied to a string- back and forth, just within reach, and challenge them to reach and grasp hold of it.
Turning eyes from bright light : take your child into a small room with no windows. Turn the lights out. Turn on a flashlight that you have aimed straight into their eyes. If they don't look away instantly but instead squint at you, teach them the correct response and explain why. Then, repeat the process several times till you are certain they've learned.
You won't need to revisit all of the milestones- at some point while working through them your child's body and brain will naturally take over, but you do need to get the process started. Here's to your success!
(submitted by Kerri McCormick)
Website Link for Developmental Milestones
Why You'll Need to Teach Your Child How to 'Act' Their Age...
"My 8 year-old son is now free from the trap of autism through the use of Respen-A™, and sometimes he still acts like a 3 year-old! What's up with that?!"
As part of Team Respen-A™, I talk with parents about many issues, and this is a simple concern that, through Elaine's wisdom, I was able to understand and address with my own son, Tyler, who's been on Respen-A™ for 9 years.
Just because you've started using Respen-A™ doesn't mean that your child is going to instantly behave beautifully in all situations. Responding with meltdowns and tantrums is what they are familiar with- it was their 'normal' behavior, perhaps one of the only ways they knew to 'connect' with you if they were non-verbal before they started using Respen-A™. However, to fit into a mainstream classroom, or to behave politely and properly when out in public, your child will need to learn what they missed when they were trapped in autism.
Your child missed all of your teaching moments while they were 'trapped' in autism, which is why, now that they are free, you'll want to teach them again- only this time, they'll actually be learning and retaining the information because their brain is functioning at a far higher capability (see before and after Respen-A™ EEG images through the link below).
Here's an example that one mother shared with me. Within her son's first two weeks on Respen-A™, she brought him to his classroom, and several of his new friends happily ran up to him, wanting to play. He responded, "go away! I don't like you!" His mom was horrified- he had been making so many gains, and this was like taking ten giant steps backwards! This was actually a teaching moment in learning to use the right words. Hopefully next time, when her son is not wanting to play as soon as he steps into the classroom, he can say, "I want to play, but not right now".
Teaching moments can help your kiddo learn how to use the right words instead of throwing a tantrum or having a meltdown. Help your child by preparing them for life, teach them, then set them free!
*Another great tool for bringing your child up to speed on age-appropriate behavior is to work through the Developmental Milestones with them.
Watch for teaching moments- your child is going through a metamorphosis, and you've got to help them become a butterfly... help to set them FREE!
(article submitted by Kerri McCormick)
