IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN! PLEASE TAKE CARE

It's this time of year again when we go crazy when we see that big golden ball shining in the sky, albeit in my part of the world anyway and being of Celtic origin (I'm lucky not to have typical Celtic colouring) my kinsfolk like to take full advantage of lying in the sun. However the skin in the upper northern hemisphere has evolved such that does not have the same protection as those of who have evolved of living in sunnier climates. As a result it's not unusual here to see copious cases of sunburn. Some sun is beneficial to us and to understand what advantages and disadvantages the sun has you need to know how the largest organ in the body works.

HOW THE SKIN WORKS

The basics so you will understand how the skin works. The skin is comprised of 3 layers, the Epidermis the layer you can see, the Dermis the true skin and the subcutaneous. Cosmetics only work on the Epidermis and you can see how deep it is, if you have ever experienced a blister. A blister is caused when friction causes the Epidermis and the Dermis to separate and the fluid within the blister is lymph. The Epidermis has no nerve endings or blood supply that is why removing the top layer of a blister is not painful, not to be recommended though as it exposes the Dermis which is rich in nerves and a blood supply to infection.

The skin  has several functions to secrete sebum that oily substance on your skin, this is to help keep the skin moisturised by trapping moisture and forming a barrier together with sweat known as the 'Acid Mantle' The Acid Mantle is slightly acidic and acts as a Bacteriastat to inhibit bacteria. The skin secretes sebum via the sebaceous glands within the hair follicles and sweat via theEndocrine glands (there are another type of sweat glands know as Apocrineglands these are found in the axillary and pubic regions unlike Endocrine sweat bacteria act on Apocrine sweat quickly and this causes the characteristic Body Odour, these glands only become active after puberty and have a role to play inpheromones)

Our body temperature is regulated by the skin this is due to the  peripheral circulation either dilating to bring blood to the extremities of the body like the skin causing flushing to help loose some of the heat and also by sweating for as the sweat evaporates heat rises with it. The opposite happens when its cold the body conserves heat to vital organs more important than the skin, giving a more white/bluish appearance and may even induce shivering. At the base of everyhair follicle there is a tiny cilary muscle when its cold and we start to shiver this muscle contracts causing the hair to stand up trapping a layer of air next to the skin, giving the appearance of goosebumps. Within the Dermis there aresensory nerves that detect temperature. We also have an insulatory layer of fat in the subcutaneous. 

Our skin is waterproof so absorbs very little, the only things that can permeate the skin are medications, this includes patches such as Nicotine  and HRT and Essential oils (see Aromatherapy articles on Blog) COSMETICS CAN NOT.Do not believe the hype and sales talk ladies if it could be absorbed by the skin you you have to go to your Doctor for it and it would need to be licensed as a Medicine.

Our Skin is protected by sensory nerves that alert us to pain, pressure, touch, heat and cold, it is waterproof largely impermeable except to the substances above, fairly tough and it with its layer of fat below the dermis in the subcutaneous layer keeps us warm, protects our organs and bones, gives us shape. As fore mentioned the Acid Mantle helps protect from bacteria as bacterial growth is inhibited in its slightly acid environment. Melanocytesspecial little cells in the dermis increase as a result of UV light and give us tanning, the epidermis also thickens to help protect our skin. Also in the skin are mast cells and when they are damaged, they produce histomine, it gives the characteristic itching a weals associated by allergies, its function is to stimulate blood to the skin to repair and maintain it. However with allergies the body is hypersensitive producing this effect.

The skin also excretes some toxins through sweat but this is very very minimal, so do not believe the hype of some sales people who will suggest you have a detoxifying foot bath that will rid you of toxins as it changes the water to a dirty brown colour. Again this is sheer hype and nonsense for if ridding the body of toxins was that easy we wouldn't have a need for Dialysis Machines for those suffering kidney failure. It is the Liver, Kidneys and large Intestine that detoxify us.

Vitamin D is also formed in the skin as a result of the action of UV light acting on 7-dehydrocholesterol present in the skin, so everything in moderation we do need some sunlight.

SKIN CARE THE EFFECTS OF UV LIGHT

The effects of ultra-violet on the skin are a mixed blessing!

Some is beneficial, necessary for the formation of vitamin D, some is harmful. Much of what happens to the skin as a result of ultra-violet light is the result of the skin trying to protect itself and the body inside from the harmful effects of an excess of the rays; the skin is quite effective at preventing the rays penetrating deeply into the body.

The Stratum Corneum is a major factor in this prevention (see diagram below)

Reflection of rays by layers of the Stratum Corneum

The Stratum Corneum is maintained at such a thickness that with the ‘usual’ intensity of ultra-violet falling on it, very little passes through and no damage is caused to the live cells beneath. The Stratum Corneum of exposed parts of skin such as the face, neck and hands will be thicker than those parts normally covered by clothing.

However, exposure to higher than normal intensities of ultra-violet will allow sufficient rays to pass through the epidermis possibly to cause damage to the living cells underneath.

Penetration of Ultra-Violet Rays into the Skin

In a skin, which has active melanocytes producing melanin pigment granules, this extra ultra-violet will develop the colour of this melanin, resulting in a Tan.

But not everyone’s skin is in such a state of readiness; their melanocytes may be inactive, as a result damage will be caused to the live cells. The result reddening, discomfort, may be even blisters and peeling i.e. Sunburn.

Regardless, more UVB rays will penetrate to the Stratum Germinativum to stimulate its dividing cells into greater activity, this will produce new epidermal cells at a more rapid rate and this will eventually thicken the Stratum Corneum, thus helping to reflect UV rays.

The general increase in the skin’s metabolism reflects throughout the body in creating ‘a feeling of well-being’.

The physical, physiological and psychological effects of Ultra-Violet

Beneficial effects:

• Vitamin D production
• Stimulation of Metabolism
• Tonic Effect
• Has slight Germicidal effect on the skin
• Causes hyperkeratinisation (thickening described as above), which is thought to help with some skin conditions such as Acne Vulgaris and Psoriasis.

Screening responses against excess:

• Suntanning
• The irritant effect of sunburn
• The thickening effect of the Stratum Corneum

Damaging effects:

• Short term – Sunburn
• ***Long term – Premature aging, thickens the epidermis giving a ‘leathery’ appearance, irreversibly damages Collagen and Elastin fibres, causes dehydration, can cause allergic reactions, can produce dark pigmentation patches; Skin Cancer.

Vitamin D Production

A normal varied diet including dairy produce will supply all the vitamin D required; however through sunshine the vitamin may be made in the body with the help of ultra-violet.

In the body there are two substances, which can be converted into vitamin D, these precursor substances are 7-dehydrocholesterol and ergosterol. When vitamin D is required these substances are moved to exposed skin where using ultra-violet energy these substances are converted to Vitamin D.

The potential for making vitamin d in the skin is so enormous that merely exposing the face for less than an hour on an overcast December day will make all that is required for the day, the body is able to regulate this however so a days long sunbathing will not cause over production.

***How too much sun and UV light damages and ages the skin

So a little is good for us but too much has the opposite, sadly skin cancer is on the increase, we always think it won't happen to us, no matter what colour our skin is we can burn albeit the palest skins burn the easiest.

There are two types of skin cancer, a slower growing type often known as a rodent ulcer (basal cell carcinoma), this tends to be found across the cheek bones and under the eyes and on the nose and can be successfully treated since it is relatively slow growing. However the deadliest type of skin cancer is the malignant melanoma 

Types of malignant melanoma

Skin cancer is broadly classed as either non-melanoma, accounting for about 90 per cent of cases, or melanoma, which is generally faster-growing.

These cancers grow from the layer of melanocytes – cells that produce pigment that protects the body from sun damage – below the surface of the skin.

If not caught early, the cancerous cells can quickly grow deeper into the layers of the skin, and then into the blood vessels and lymph channels (tiny tubes that carry lymph fluid, part of the immune system, around the body).

At this point, melanoma cells may travel to other parts of the body, causing tumours elsewhere, known as metastasis. In the early stages, treatment involves surgery and sometimes radiotherapy. More than 90 per cent of these cases are curable. However, patients whose cancer has spread rarely survive longer than a year.

Symptoms of melanoma include moles growing bigger, having irregular edges, or changing shape. Lesions that bleed, itch, crust over or are pink should also be checked by a specialist, as should moles that have at least two different colours or grow darker.

Use the chart above and if you suspect any changes to you skin don't be afraid to go and see your doctor, it could save your life.

Above all treat the sun with respect and common sense, know your limits for your skin type and don't allow yourself to burn for it's better to be pale and interesting than leathery and deadly

Maggie Brown (Author)

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SEEING EYES

This is a phenomena that is very common to developing psychics and mediums, basically its the Universe's way of letting you know you have the potential to be clairvoyant. The commonest time to see "eyes" is when you are dropping off to sleep at night, sometimes this manifests of seeing eyes looking at you when you have closed yours or that you have a sensation that you are being watched and when you open your eyes you see eyes staring at you from the ceiling. It can be very disconcerting to see 'eyes', just relax you have been bestowed with a gift, the gift of clairvoyance. My advice would be to talk to an experienced Medium or join a development group to help you develop your psychic potential, there is nothing to fear.

Maggie Brown (Author)

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MEDITATION IMPROVES BRAIN WIRING IN JUST A MONTH

I saw this article in the Daily Mail today, I am surprised it taken them so long to realise this, those of us involved in holistic therapies have known this for decades and in fact Clinicians involved with heart disease saw the link and how valuable meditation helped reduce stress and thus lowered the increased risk stress has on the heart in causing heart attacks. There are many benefits to meditation, it induces a sense of peace and helps us focus on what is really important in life as well as the physical effects by instigating the reducing effects of stress by the parasympathetic nervous system. Where adrenaline and other stress hormones have a detrimental effect on the body. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE HOW STRESS AFFECTS THE BODY

Why meditation helps you focus: Mindfulness improves brain wiring in just a month

• Scientists saw improved brain connections after participants had just 11 hours of training

Just a month of meditation training alters brain wiring in ways that could open the door to new treatments for mental disorders, research has shown.
Scientists looked at the effects of integrative body-mind training (IBMT) on two groups of university students.
After just four weeks, or 11 hours, of training scans showed physical changes in the brains of the volunteers.

Becoming mindful: The study gives a much more detailed picture of what changes it is making in the brain

Nerve fibres, known as 'white matter', became denser, providing greater numbers of brain-signalling connections. At the same time there was an expansion of myelin, the protective fatty insulation surrounding nerve fibres.
The effects were seen in the anterior cingulate cortex region of the brain, which helps regulate behaviour.
Poor nerve activity in this part of the brain is associated with a range of mental problems, including attention deficit disorder, dementia, depression, and schizophrenia.
The study built on previous research based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans that first highlighted brain changes induced by IBMT.
Scientists revisited results from two 2010 studies, taking a closer look at what the scans revealed.


One involved 45 US students from the University of Oregon; the other 68 students from China's Dalian University of Technology.
The researchers found greater density of axons, or nerve fibres, after two weeks of IBMT training, but no change in myelin formation.
After a month both increases in axon density and myelin were seen.
Students undergoing IBMT also reported improvements in mood, experiencing reduced levels of anger, depression, anxiety and fatigue. They also had lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
Study leader Professor Michael Posner, from the University of Oregon, who carried out the original US research, said: 'This study gives us a much more detailed picture of what it is that is actually changing.
'We did confirm the exact locations of the white-matter changes that we had found previously. And now we show that both myelination and axon density are improving.
'The order of changes we found may be similar to changes found during brain development in early childhood, allowing a new way to reveal how such changes might influence emotional and cognitive development.'
The findings are reported in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
In their conclusions, the scientists wrote: 'This dynamic pattern of white matter change involving the anterior cingulate cortex, a part of the brain network related to self-regulation, could provide a means for intervention to improve or prevent mental disorders.'
Neuroscientist Dr Elena Antonova, from the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, said: 'The findings of this study are potentially good news for all of us. If as little as 11 hours of mindfulness training makes the brain wiring more prolific and better insulated, then simply by being mindful, which is accessible to anyone at any time, we might enjoy a lifetime of mental clarity and emotional stability.'
Dr Eva Cyhlarova, head of research at the Mental Health Foundation, said: 'This study is another example of brain neuroplasticity in adulthood and how with some simple techniques we can affect its structure as well as its function.
'Furthermore, these changes appear to lead to improvements in mood, which is consistent with self-regulation being a core feature of many mental health problems.
'If such a simple and cheap method of training shows positive results, there is hope for more people with mental health problems to be able to access support through affordable interventions.'

Maggie Brown (Author)

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COULD AUTISM BE TRIGGERED BY VERY LOW DOSES OF ANTI-DEPRESSANTS OR OTHER CHEMICALS FOUND IN THE WATER SUPPLY?

Since I have pasted a few articles on Autism on this blog in the past I came across this article from the Daily Mail. Fish obviously don't have the same genetic make up as humans but I feel not enough research is done into this condition so all avenues should be explored. I feel also because it develops in childhood it's almost as if its a second class condition and if this condition was to appear overnight in adults perhaps more attention would be paid to Autism.

Autism 'could be triggered by very low doses of anti-depressants or other chemicals found in water supply'

• Just traces of drugs appear to bring on disorder
• Scientists test fish swimming in water contaminated with low levels of medication
• Disorder appears to be combination of environmental and genetic factors

Autism in genetically vulnerable people could be triggered by very low levels of chemicals found in the water supply, researchers have discovered.
Experts from the University of Idaho in the US were 'astonished' to find that just traces of common medication such as anti-depressants can bring on the disorder.
They made the discovery by observing the changes in the genetic pathways of fish swimming in water contaminated with psychoactive drugs.

Flushed away: Traces of psychoactive drugs found in our water supply could trigger developmental disorders, scientists believe

Lead scientist Dr Michael Thomas said: 'While others have envisioned a causal role for psychotropic drugs in idiopathic autism, we were astonished to find evidence that this might occur at very low dosages, such as those found in aquatic systems.'


The fish were exposed to two kinds of anti-depressants - Prozac and venlafaxine - and a drug used to control seizures, called carbamazepine.
Concentrations were comparable with the highest estimated environmental levels.

Fascinating find: Scientists examined fish swimming in water contaminated with small doses of anti-depressants or anti-seizure drugs

They found patterns of gene activity in the fathead minnows that mimicked those seen in humans susceptible to the developmental disorder.

WHAT IS AUTISM AND HOW IS IT TREATED?

Autistic spectrum disorders begin in childhood and last through adulthood.
Symptoms include problems with social interaction, an impaired ability to communicate and unusual patterns of thought and physical behaviour.
There is no cure for ASD but a wide range of treatments can help improve symptoms.
The number of cases of ASD has increased over the past 20 years, but many believe this is due to improved rates of diagnosis.

The findings, published in the online journal Public Library of Science ONE, suggest a potential environmental trigger for autism in genetically vulnerable people, the authors of the study claim.
It could radically change treatment for the one in 100 children in England who have autism, improving doctors' understanding of how to prevent or treat the disorder.
The genetic pathways affected were the same as those associated with 'idiopathic' autism spectrum disorders, whose cause is unknown.
Experts suspect the disorders were brought about by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

Caroline Hattersley, Head of Information, Advice and Advocacy at The National Autistic Society, said: 'It’s important that we expand research into the causes of autism. We know that environmental and genetic factors have some role to play, but our understanding is still very limited as it’s such a complex disability.
'However, we need to be cautious when looking at these particular findings. There’s simply not enough evidence to draw any firm conclusions and so people should not be alarmed by this research.'

Maggie Brown (Author)

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RESEARCH INTO AUTISM WITH ANTIOXIDANTS

Another interesting article on Autism I have come across recently about how an antioxidant can lower irritability in children in children

Antioxidant supplement 'reduces irritability and repetitive behaviour in autistic children'

• Scientists believe N-Acetylcysteine, or NAC, could be an effective therapy for autistic children

An antioxidant supplement may be an effective therapy for autism, according to scientists.

The antioxidant - called N-Acetylcysteine, or NAC - lowers irritability in children with autism and also reduces their repetitive behaviour patterns.

Irritability affects 60 to 70 per cent of children with autism.

Future treatment? An antioxidant called N-Acetylcysteine, or NAC, lowers irritability in children with autism and also reduces their repetitive behaviour

Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital studied 31 children with the disorder.

Lead researcher Dr Antonio Hardan said: 'We're not talking about mild things - this is throwing, kicking, hitting, the child needing to be restrained.

'It can affect learning, vocational activities and the child's ability to participate in autism therapies.'

The study tested children with autism ages 3 to 12. They were physically healthy and were not planning any changes in their established autism treatments during the trial.

In a double-blind study design, children received NAC or a placebo for 12 weeks. 

The NAC used was a pharmaceutical-grade preparation donated by the neutraceutical manufacturer BioAdvantex Pharma.

Subjects were evaluated before the trial began and every four weeks during the study using several standardised surveys that measure problem behaviours, social behaviours, autistic preoccupations and drug side effects.

During the 12-week trial, NAC treatment decreased irritability scores from 13.1 to 7.2 on the Aberrant Behaviour Checklist, a widely used clinical scale for assessing irritability.

The change is not as large as that seen in children taking antipsychotics. 

'But this is still a potentially valuable tool to have before jumping on these big guns, Dr Hardan said.

'Today, in 2012, we have no effective medication to treat repetitive behaviour such as hand flapping or any other core features of autism'

In addition, according to two standardised measures of autism mannerisms and stereotypic behaviour, children taking NAC showed a decrease in repetitive and stereotyped behaviours.

Finding new medications to treat autism and its symptoms is a high priority for researchers.

Currently, irritability, mood swings and aggression, all of which are considered associated features of autism, are treated with second-generation antipsychotics.

But these drugs cause significant side effects, including weight gain, involuntary motor movements and metabolic syndrome, which increases diabetes risk.

By contrast, the side effects of NAC are generally mild, with gastrointestinal problems such as constipation, nausea, diarrhoea and decreased appetite being the most common.

The state of drug treatments for autism's core features, such as social deficits, language impairment and repetitive behaviours, is also a major problem.

Dr Hardan said: 'Today, in 2012, we have no effective medication to treat repetitive behaviour such as hand flapping or any other core features of autism.'

The researchers believe that NAC could be the first medication available to treat repetitive behaviour in autism - if the findings hold up when scrutinised further.

'One of the reasons I wanted to do this trial was that NAC is being used by community practitioners who focus on alternative, non-traditional therapies,' Hardan said.

'But there is no strong scientific evidence to support these interventions. Somebody needs to look at them.'

Dr Hardan cautioned that the NAC for sale as a dietary supplement at chemists differs in some important respects from the individually packaged doses of pharmaceutical-grade NAC used in the study, and that the over-the-counter version may not produce the same results.

He said: 'When you open the bottle from the drugstore and expose the pills to air and sunlight, it gets oxidised and becomes less effective.'

Although the study did not test how NAC works, the researchers speculated on two possible mechanisms of action. 

Firstly, NAC increases the capacity of the body's main antioxidant network, which some previous studies have suggested is deficient in autism.

In addition, other research has suggested that autism is related to an imbalance in excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters in the brain. NAC can modulate the glutamatergic family of excitatory neurotransmitters, which might be useful in autism.

The scientists are now applying for funding to conduct a large trial in which they hope to replicate their findings.

Dr Hardan said: 'This was a pilot study. Final conclusions cannot be made before we do a larger trial.'

Stanford University is filing a patent for the use of NAC in autism, and one of the study authors has a financial stake in a company that makes and sells the NAC used in the trial.

The researchers said that the findings must be confirmed in a larger trial before NAC can be recommended for children with autism.

The study appears in Biological Psychiatry.

Maggie Brown (Author)

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PERFECT A GREAT EXCUSE TO EAT CHOCOLATE

From the Daily Mail. One other fact about dark chocolate you may not know but one ounce of dark chocolate contains enough iron to meet your daily requirements, though remember it must be dark chocolate, milk chocolate does not.

Another excuse to eat chocolate: Dark variety can help heart-risk patients and cut diabetes

Lovers of dark chocolate have known for some time that their favourite treat can help protect them against high blood pressure and cut the risk of diabetes.

But now scientists say that it can even benefit those who are already at high risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Although regular chocolate eating doesn’t work quite as well as drugs, the researchers say it has virtually no side effects and, perhaps not surprisingly ‘high rates of compliance’.

Miracle food: Dark chocolate can benefit people who are already at high risk of heart attacks and strokes

A team of researchers from universities in Melbourne, Australia, used a mathematical model to predict the effects and cost effectiveness of daily dark chocolate consumption in 2,013 individuals at high risk of heart disease over a decade.

They all had metabolic syndrome – a mix of problems including raised blood pressure, obesity, high fat levels in the blood and an inability to control blood sugar levels – but no history of heart disease or diabetes and they were not on blood pressure drugs. 

Daily consumption of 100g of dark chocolate could potentially avert 70 non-fatal and 15 fatal cardiovascular events per 10,000 people treated over ten years, according to the study published on bmj.com.

This could be considered an effective intervention, said the researchers. It would be cost-effective too, costing £25 a year per head of population.

This would cover advertising and possible subsidising of dark chocolate for the less well-off.

The protective effects have been shown only for dark chocolate which is at least 60-70 per cent cocoa. Milk or white chocolate does have not provide the same benefits.

It is rich in flavonoids which are known to have heart protecting effects.

Sceptics say the high calorie content of chocolate tends to offset the benefits.

Previous research shows eating chocolate reduces blood pressure and improves insulin sensitivity, reducing the risk of diabetes.

Maggie Brown (Author)

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ALLERGY RELATED AUTISM

Copyright prevents me from reproducing the whole of this paper but you can view this report into Autism here


Improving communication skills in children With 
allergy-related autism Using nambudripad’s allergy 
elimination Techniques: a Pilot study
Jacob Teitelbaum, MD; Devi S. Nambudripad, MD, PhD, DC, LAc; Yvonne Tyson, MD; Ming Chen, MD; Robert
Prince, MD; Mala M. Moosad, RN, LAc, PhD; Laurie Teitelbaum, MS

Interesting the link with allergens. Not autism but when my eldest child was a little girl she began life as a crying baby, suffered colic, didn't sleep, she progressed to a difficult toddler and I was at my wits end with her persistent crying and non sleeping. Now this goes back 30 years ago, but I began to question what she was eating, was it possibly cows milk, wheat? At the same time a book was published called "E for additives" being interested in what was being put into food interested me and I had a hunch could this be the problem with my child? Doctors 30 years ago were very sceptical, but no one was getting any sleep and my daughter was so badly behaved and had no attention span. She had been fully breast fed so cow's milk was not introduced (firstly by formula at weaning at 6 months) however when she was one week old she was admitted to hospital with severe diarrhoea and they could not find the cause. Drs realised I was drinking copious amounts of fresh orange and tomato and vegetable juices and suggested I cut this down. Lo and behold her diarrhoea ceased which goes to show what the mother eats affects the baby who is breast fed. Watching at what food stuffs my daughter craved (this is a common sign to allergens) I was able to deduce she was sensitive to all synthetic food colourings, sunset yellow etc. and when I cut these out of her diet she was a changed child, the affect was dramatic.

When my second daughter was born she was a very passive and good baby with  good sleeping patterns however she developed an allergy to cows milk just after her first birthday and was prescribed soya formula and her diarrhoea stopped. I was taking no chances with my third baby, as soon as I knew I was pregnant I substituted cows milk for soya and right through breast feeding. The conclusion my third daughter experienced no problems at all. Coincidence perhaps? personally I don't think so. Of course there has been a great deal of research since my girls were little and doctors are much more enlightened but there is still much more to be done especially as to how a common foodstuff can affect the brain and behaviour

So this study into Autism and the link with allergens does not surprise me and I would like to see further research into this and other conditions. Whilst doing a bit of research I came across this article from the Daily Mail on a similar vein.

Before embarking on any kind of rotation diet, it is important that guidance is given by a clinical dietitian or clinical practitioner. As children do need the correct balance of nutrients

I helped my son cope better with autism by changing his diet

By Sally Beck 

UPDATED: 14:14, 26 June 2009

A few weeks ago, a one-woman campaign culminated in Polly Tommey meeting the Prime Minister to improve support for the families of children with autism.

She was fighting for the sake of thousands of other parents around the country, having become an unofficial 'Good Samaritan' for the desperate parents of autistic children.

Here, Polly, 42, the mother of an autistic child, tells her extraordinary story...

Polly Tommey with her autistic son Billy

One of the most harrowing memories I have of dealing with the parents of autistic  children is the day I took a call from a man driving his car around the M25.

He was really distressed because he had a two-year-old child whom he felt powerless to help.

Sounding utterly desperate, he told me: 'My son can't speak and doesn't know he's got a mother. He's uncontrollable and I can't cope.

'I'm going to drive through the central reservation into the path of the oncoming traffic. Please tell my wife I love her.'

I started saying anything to bring him back from the brink. I told him that if he committed suicide, it would make everything worse. For an hour, I just threw anything at him to try to calm him down, which he did eventually.

Then he just put the phone down. I had no idea what had happened to him until two years later, when he came up to me at a conference and said: 'Remember me?'

He explained who he was and said he'd phoned me because he subscribed to my magazine, The Autism File, and had nowhere else to turn.

Most people have no idea how unrelentingly hard it is looking after autistic children. My own autistic son, Billy, who is nearly 13, has done some terrible things without having a clue what he's done. Billy has an older sister, Bella, 14, and a younger brother, Toby, 11, who are both 'normal' children.

When Toby was six months old, and Billy was two, I took Bella to a tennis lesson. I left Billy in the car, with Toby strapped in his car seat, while I talked to the tennis instructor.

I was gone for only about three minutes, but when I came back, Billy had pulled every hair out of Toby's head. It was horrific. Toby was screaming and his head was all bloody - but Billy was just laughing.

Life before Billy was so different for my husband Jon and me. We met 20 years ago when Jon was managing a health club. He became a personal trainer with clients suchas actor Anthony Hopkins, model Marie Helvin and photographer Terry O'Neill. 

Tommey: 'I would have done anything for a smile or a cuddle, or to hear him say: "I love you Mum."

I worked as an actress and life was fun. Our flat in the Fulham Road, West London, was always full of people. We lived life to the full. We married in 1993 and Bella was born two years later, followed by Billy nearly two years after that. 

Billy is a typical regressive autistic child. He was developing normally until he was 18 months, then he had a convulsion in his cot. 

We took him to hospital and he was stabilised - but after that, all eye contact stopped, he didn't recognise us, and he stopped talking, sleeping and eating properly. 

We got the diagnosis from Kingston Hospital when he was two-and-a-half. Jon and I cried every night. For six weeks, I lay on one side of the bed crying, and Jon lay on the other side of the bed crying, and we both cried until we fell asleep. 

Like lots of mothers of regressive autistic children, I was desperate to get my child back. I would have done anything for a smile or a cuddle, or to hear him say: 'I love you, Mum.' 

People don't realise that a large proportion of autistic children have terrible gut problems, and for 18 months that was the case with Billy.

Any normal child would have been taken to A&E at some point and given a battery of tests, but with autistic children doctors say it's just part of their autism.

Billy stopped eating most things, and eventually all that was left in his diet was cow's milk and Weetabix. He was so skinny his hair started falling out, and he had sores all over his lips and up his arms. 

Then, one day, a leaflet dropped through my door explaining how a wheat and dairy-free diet could help autistic children. Jon was sceptical, but I thought it was worth a try. 

Polly Tommey's poster campaign which Gordon Brown said was 'genius'

I replaced cow's milk with rice milk and began baking gluten-free biscuits, which I gave him instead of Weetabix. Billy starved himself for a few days then began eating the biscuits  -  and, amazingly, his gut problems started to get better.

That really woke Jon up, because he thought if Billy could improve just by making a change to his diet, what else could be done? He found an organisation called Allergy Induced Autism, and through them we met other people who were doing things to help autistic children. 

Jon flew to the States for a Defeat Autism Now! (DAN!) conference and learned how biomedical intervention could help. He threw himself into finding help for Billy and re-trained as a clinical nutritionist.

At the time, Jon was David Liddiment's personal trainer. David was head of LWT (London Weekend Television) then, and during a run one day, Jon told him that we were going to try treating Billy with the hormone secretin, which stimulates the pancreas.

Billy still suffered terrible constipation, and we thought it would help regulate his gut. It worked and Billy's behaviour improved.

That was ten years ago and as Billy was the first British child to try secretin, David suggested that Trevor McDonald follow his progress on the Trevor McDonald Tonight show.

We set up a website for anyone who wanted to know more about secretin. It got 150,000 hits, the computer crashed and LWT couldn't cope with all the inquiries. 

We'd thought that by doing the programme, we'd find other people who knew of other treatments that could help Billy. Instead, we were inundated with people asking us for help.

It frightened me, because I thought if people were asking me, then there really wasn't any help out there. 

An old family photo of Jon and Polly Tommey with their son, Billy, who suffers from autism

People did contact us with interesting information, though, so I wrote to them and said I'd put it together in the form of a magazine, so they could all share it and start a debate.

The Autism File was born  -  ten years on, we run it from our room and dressing room in our in Hampton, Middlesex.

The magazine's circulation is 44,000 and it's on sale nationally for £4.95. We get around 50 calls from parents, and the phone calls until 1am with people calling the States.

There are four of us, including Jon, who answer the calls and no one gets paid any more than expenses  -  but I do make the helpers lunch and sometimes I manage to draw a small wage.

We get calls from fathers who cope with the stress. One father told us how every week, without fail, his 22 year-old son, who has Aspergers - a form of autism  -  gets beaten up.

Mothers are distraught because their husbands have left them or have had affairs. Another father couldn't take his son to the supermarket because every time they go he pees on the fruit and vegetables.

We get calls from Asperger's sufferers who have little or no support  -  three have committed suicide. Two mothers have committed suicide with their autistic children because they couldn't cope. 

It's desperate and I am not trained to deal with any of this. All I can do is listen and advise where I can. 

Just before Christmas, I took a call from a mother who couldn't find a school for her autistic son.

He was constipated, she had no money and her husband had left her. The only way she could sleep at night was to drink a bottle of wine. 

I was on the phone for over an hour, and when I put the phone down I felt so angry on her behalf that I just felt we had to do something. 

We sat down and decided that people needed to know what the families of autistic children have to go through: how little support there is for autistic children and families.

We also want people to know that the mothers aren't downtrodden, illeducated women who somehow deserve to have an autistic child  -  so we hit on the idea of a photo of the glamorous mothers we know.

Jon called Terry O'Neill and asked if he would take the photo. He said that of course he would. I called Peter Mead, the creative director of the ad agency AMV DDBO, which has clients such as BT and Walkers Crisps and where I had worked as a temp, and he too said he would help. 

The project snowballed and we had a £500,000 national advertising campaign which appeared on around 4,000 billboards and posters. Everyone involved has donated their time and skills free. 

The main campaign was a series of 'Dear Gordon Brown' letters, asking the Prime Minister to contact me so we could discuss a way forward. 

We finally met earlier this month and I told him about the Autism Trust  -  the charity we've set up. 

There is so much misinformation out there, and so little understanding from health professionals, emergency services and the authorities that it makes caring ten times harder. 

One mother, who had a 40-year-old autistic son, managed to get him a job working at the local library for two hours a day. He was fine as long as he got on and off the bus in the same place and followed the same routine. He had some independence and his mother had some respite. 

Then, on the way home one day, a baby on the bus started crying. Lots of autistic people are incredibly sensitive to noise, so this man stood up, covered his ears and started screaming to block out the noise. The bus driver called the police and the man was taken away and sectioned.

His mother didn't see him for six months and by the time she got him back he was pumped full of drugs and could only sit rocking backwards and forwards in his bedroom. All her hard work had been destroyed. 

The cost of life care for an autistic person is around £2.9 million, but we think that with the right help that could be massively reduced. 

It would cost £10million to set up an autism centre where we could educate the police, magistrates, teachers and anyone else who comes into contact with autism. 

It would also be a drop-in centre for parents to get advice on education and treatment for their children. 

There are amazing things being done to help autistic kids, particularly with biomedical intervention  -  detoxifying children through supplements and probiotics, diet, speech therapy and behaviour analysis.

Some children respond so well they are taken off the autistic spectrum and can return to mainstream school. 

But very little of this help is available on the NHS, or through the local education authority. 

I mentioned all this to Gordon Brown when I met him, and he was incredibly supportive. In fact, our meeting couldn't have been better. He loved the billboard campaign and said it was genius. 

Gordon wants me to work with his wife Sarah to bring all the autistic organisations together so that we can work for a common cause. He wants there to be more understanding towards autistics, and for them to be more included in society. 

For that to happen, the public sector needs educating, so he wants his representatives to attend a conference that our charity, The Autism Trust, is running in October. We want doctors, scientists and the public sector to learn more about dealing with autistic people.

As for Billy, he has done incredibly well. Jon and I have spent £45,000 helping him (we have debts and loans of around £30,000) and he has really thrived. He talks, he has no bowel problems, and we have a great relationship with him. 

Billy is now a weekly boarder at a new residential school in Brighton, called Hassocks, where he'll learn essential life skills. Jon is the resident nutritionist there and the kids will really get the kind of help they need. 

But the fact is, for many families there is still a long way to go. 

I saw an advert recently asking for people to care for autistic children. It said: 'No experience necessary. English as a first language not essential.'

It made my heart sink because these children are being treated like cabbages. Our message is very simple: 'We can do better than that.'

Maggie Brown (Author)

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Nutritional therapy may be key to stopping autism

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/05/29/nutritional-therapy-may-be-key-to-stopping-autism/

Maggie Brown (Author)

Visit Amazon's Maggie Brown Page

Find all the books, read about the author, and more.

Top Stories