Acetaminophen, Glutathione, ADHD, autism, heavy metal toxicity, vaccines, and Alzheimers...how are all these things related? Allow me to connect the dots.
Acetaminophen (the ingredient in Tylenol, other OTC pain relievers, cold and cough remedies, sleep aids, etc.) is the most common drug ingredient in the U.S., is handed out and consumed like candy, and is widely considered "safe"--yet it is responsible for over 100,000 injuries and deaths per year! You may have already heard that acetaminophen can cause liver damage, but did you know that it has also been linked to heart toxicity, gastrointestinal bleeding, kidney damage, and increased death rates? Beyond that, acetaminophen goes directly to the brain, which is what I want to address. The primary manufacturer of acetaminophen in the U.S. has admitted that acetaminophen has never been shown to be safe for brain development when used during pregnancy or in childhood. Also, safety testing in children did not include any evaluation of brain function, and no long-term studies were ever conducted.
One of the most concerning problems with acetaminophen is its neurological effects. Acetaminophen depletes Glutathione, an extremely important and necessary antioxidant for brain health. This results in neurotoxicity during brain development: taking acetaminophen during pregnancy results in children with high risks of behavioral, communication, and motor skill problems as well as ADHD- and autism-like symptoms. (Glutathione is also a vital antioxidant for cancer prevention and treatment.)
Glutathione is crucial for heavy metal detoxification. Mercury and aluminum are two highly neurotoxic heavy metals which are commonly found in fish/seafood, dental amalgam fillings, antiperspirants, aluminum packaging and cookware, and...vaccines. Despite claims to the contrary, mercury (thimerasol) has NOT been completely removed from vaccines; in fact, it is still used in amounts that blow away the levels considered "safe". Aluminum is an adjuvant used in vaccines to instigate a strong immune response. Glutathione is very effective at removing mercury from the body...but aluminum impedes the body's glutathione production, prohibiting it from doing its job.
A very common side effect of vaccination is fever. Acetaminophen is commonly recommended by doctors and used by parents to treat these fevers. Do you see the connection? A child receives vaccines containing heavy metals like mercury and aluminum > the child gets a fever and is given acetaminophen > the acetaminophen goes to the child's brain and depletes glutathione, preventing it from protecting the brain > the dangerous levels of mercury and/or aluminum in the vaccines damage the child's brain. It's a perfect storm for causing neurological problems like encephalitis, seizures, ADHD, autism, developmental disorders, etc. Research has shown that male brains are much more susceptible to acetaminophen, which may help explain the prevalence of autism in boys. This can all be compounded if the mother took acetaminophen during pregnancy, as mentioned previously. Tylenol or acetaminophen should NEVER be given to children for vaccine-induced fevers.
Heavy metal toxicity, especially aluminum, has also been strongly linked to Alzheimer's disease. This also makes perfect sense, since aluminum prevents Glutathione from protecting the aging brain.
It may be tempting to simply replace acetaminophen with ibuprofen, aspirin, or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). However, although NSAIDS do not have the same link to direct neurological damage as acetaminophen, they have their own set of risks including hormonal interference (especially with progesterone and ovulation), cardiovascular problems, hypertension, kidney problems, GI bleeding, and damage to the microbiome in the intestines causing leaky gut--which in turn leads to a host of other physical and psychological problems. Around 100,000 patients are hospitalized for NSAID-related gastrointestinal complications each year, and conservative estimates list 16,500 NSAID-related deaths per year among arthritis patients alone.
Many parents make the mistake of using over-the-counter analgesics every time their child gets a fever. Fevers in general are protective and should be left alone. Fever is part of the body's natural response to viruses/bacteria: fever kills pathogens which cannot survive at high temperatures and slows down their ability to travel and reproduce. Suppressing fever suppresses the immune system, which can lead to longer recovery times and worse illnesses down the road. Childhood fevers have also been shown to be protective against cancer development! If you must treat a fever, there are many natural herbal remedies, essential oils such as lemon oil and spearmint, and homeopathic remedies available. Skip the dangerous analgesics!
Likewise, natural pain and inflammation remedies are much better options than acetaminophen or NSAIDS. Curcumin from turmeric is a powerful anti-inflammatory and pain reliever, and essential oils like lavender are effective for headaches. Of course, a lot of pain and inflammation can be avoided simply by choosing an anti-inflammatory diet and by getting chiropractic care for joint and muscle pain.
There are always safer, healthier alternatives to drugs!
