Enhansa--Immune Stimulating

[JenniferG]

We have tried Enhansa several times. Each time with negative (hyper, emotional) results. I was told to try to start really low and slow. So, we tried starting at 1/4 capsule. Then we gradually moved up. Every so often when we increased we would see red, itchy cheeks, emotional liability, increased OCD. Now, she is on 150mg AM and PM. We have had great strides with her new treatments... Valtrex, Nystatin, Ketaconazole. But, we still have OCD with the intrusive thoughts. My question is this....if Enhansa is immune stimulating, could this be causing increased OCD symptoms? If we avoid vaccines and exposure to other sick people to avoid stimulating the immune system because it brings on symptoms.....isn't this the same thing? I realize it is also and antiviral, antibiotic, anti-inflammatory and anti parasitic, but we could we be doing more harm than good?

[LNN]

I can't answer the immune stimulating question. But I've posted on other threads that Enhansa brought out such a severe response in my son (major rage/hair trigger temper) that we couldn't stay on it. Some suggested it could be a herx. IDK. Something's been triggering his OCD. He's never had "just OCD" without an infection trigger. But it's also an MAO-I and that's the last thing my son needs, as he is already too high in dopamine. So for him, the stress of being on it was far worse than whatever gains it might've brought. My DD also struggled with it. Curcumin is a high sulfur spice and she needs to avoid sulfur. So two separate reasons, but end result is that it just wasn't a good fit for us, immune-stimulating or not.

 

My son's OCD is improving as I've focused on his zinc/copper balance. Not gone yet, but down to a 1 from a 5 a month ago. And no emotional lability along the way. So sometimes, the thing that's supposed to work for everyone ends up not being a good fit for you. I like this quote from Dr Roberts, the author of the heartfixer document I've used a lot. He's talking about the importance of using supplements/medications that compliment your genetic tendencies.In this case, he's talking specifically about the CBS mutation, which requires you to avoid high sulfurs.

 

"Many nutritional supplements (MSM, N-acetyl cysteine, glutathione) that are good for most people are a problem for you. While certain aspects of your health will benefit from these agents, they will add to your sulfate/sulfite overload problem, adversely affecting the Methyl Cycle Defect that is the common denominator to all of your health problems. Many drugs are loaded with sulfur (sulfates, sulfites, metabolically active sulfur), so if you are CBS positive and I treat your hypertension with the diuretic hydrochlorothiazide, your diabetes with the sulfonylurea drug glipizide, and your urinary tract infection with a sulfa containing antibiotic, I will be lowering your blood pressure, lowering your blood sugar, and clearing bacteria from your bladder, but I will also be adding to your sulfate burden, compromising your biochemistry, and contributing to an ongoing decline in your health. I will be treating the manifestations of an underlying problem and at the same time adding to the underlying problem. If I treat your Mercury overload with DMSA or DMPS, I will remove a toxin from your body, but if you are CBS (+), I will be adding to your sulfate/sulfite pool, and sulfate/sulfite overload due to the CBS up regulation is likely playing a key role in your sensitivity to heavy metals and/or your inability to clear them. "

 

So sometimes, it's not whether Enhansa is god or bad, just good or bad for you.

[nicklemama]

Enhansa/curcumin has phenols in it. If your child has a problem with phenols, enhansa and other curcumins may make them hyper. Kids on the spectrum seem to have problems with phenols and their moms give them something to counteract the phenols in enhansa. I can't remember the exact name but its something like no phenol.

 

DS started enhansa about three weeks ago. I upped his dose yesterday to 450mg.

[beeskneesmommy]

I have been concerned with it as well. We have not tried it, but I do not discount the possibility of possible problems just because it is an alternative med. I have been told to try Magnesium and Inisotol. The combo blew my son sky high within 24 hours. I am pretty sure it was the Inisotol, but I stopped both right away. It took him several days for the symptoms to decrease. He was much better off without it. I am interested in Enhansa specifically because I have observed several times that Diflucan is an amazing med for him. Since I know that we cannot keep him on Diflucan indefinitely, I am looking for some alternative med that may have the same anti-inflammatory mechanism. I was hoping that Enhansa might be the one, but knowing how sensitive my son's system is, I hesitate to go there. The only way we can really know is to try it conservatively and see what happens. Ugh.

[SSS]

My daughter used to have a phenol issue - seems better now that her gut is healed up some, but I still avoid food dyes for her, and she does take a digestive enzyme (Trienza) that includes the 'no phenol' component.

She also always did well with Epsom salt baths (or magnesium sulfate cream) and Taurine, which helps combat the phenol issue/ detox.

Here is a good article that explains it:

http://healingautismandadhd.wordpress.com/diet-2/phenolssalicylates/

Edited May 12, 2013 by S & S