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Common characteristics of autism
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Author's postulated link to pineal malfunctioning
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Some supporting references
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Cognitive deficits: difficulties in comprehending and relating to the outside world. Can't make sense of the world. Inappropriate social behavior.
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Pineal gland transduces information received from the outside world. Possible lack of crystalline structure and abnormal physiology of the pineal gland in autistic children could impede that ability. Possible faulty synthesis of melatonin in pineal gland resulting in the creation of hallucinogenic substances that cause altered states and interfere with cognition. The pineal gland requires intact innervation pathways to function properly and transduce information.
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Brownstein, 1968; Klein et al., 1971; Hartley et al., 1973; Ralph, 1978; Reiter, 1983; Welsh, 1985; Davidson 1987, 1988; Strassman, 1991; Roney-Dougal, 1991; Grad et al., 1993
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Lack of speech, or delayed speech. Inappropriate speech or echolalic speech.
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As above. Also: With low melatonin levels and consequently high adrenaline, the autistic child is continuously "on survival". Language will not likely appear in such a condition.
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Notkin, 1997; Nir, 1978, Reiter, 1983
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Common characteristics of autism
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Author's postulated link to pineal malfunctioning
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Some supporting references
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Adverse reaction to change, including to environmental changes such as light, temperature, magnetic fields, electromagnetic fields
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As above. Also: A malfunctioning pineal gland will not be able to regulate homeostasis of the body. Melatonin levels are affected by ambient light levels, even moonlight. The pineal gland and melatonin secretions are sensitive to electromagnetic, including ELF, fields. Magnetic fields have been shown to influence pineal physiology.
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Brainard et al., 1984; Cremer-Bartles et al., 1984; Davidson, 1988; Spottiswoode, 1990; Mishlove, 1993; Reiter, 1994, 1995; Pawlicki, 1996; Nowak and Zawilska, 1997
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Hypersensitivity of hearing, sight, touch and smell
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Low melatonin secretions can cause hypersensitivity of the nervous system. Lesions in the SCG and to innervation of the pineal gland causing malfunctioning of the pineal gland can also be causing disturbances in the energy field and physical blockages in the area of the upper cervical vertebrae and occipital base. With physical and energetic blockages in the head, senses will be hypersensitive. Hypersensitivity of the senses can also be caused by the presence of hallucinogenic compounds in the pineal gland. The pineal gland has been found to react to acoustic stimuli.
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Burks et al., 1977; Lin, 1975; Reiter et al., 1976; Ariens-Kappers, 1976; Kneisley et al., 1978; Davidson, 1987, 1988; Strassman, 1991; Axt, 1996, 1997
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Common characteristics of autism
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Author's postulated link to pineal malfunctioning
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Some supporting references
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Hyperactivity. Sometimes child gives the impression of being out of control.
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A malfunctioning pineal gland and low melatonin secretions might result in high corticosteroid levels and high adrenaline. Beta-carbolines and other hallucinogenic substances in the pineal gland can be the cause of hyperactivity. Stress has been shown to have an effect on pineal hormonal functions.
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Miline, 1970; Nir, 1978; Roney-Dougal, 1991; Strassman, 1991; Reiter, 1995
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Stereotyped behaviors
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A malfunctioning pineal gland and low melatonin levels can cause high levels of stress hormones (above). Stereotyped behavior can have hypnotic effects and lower the level of stress hormones, helping the child feel better.
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Kaufman, 1976; Grandin, 1983, 1986
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Disturbed sleep patterns
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Related to the pineal-melatonin role in regulating sleep patterns. Inadequate levels of melatonin and consequent irregular sleep. Hallucinogenic substances in the pineal gland can also cause sleep disturbances.
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Nir, 1978; Wetterberg, 1978; Roney-Dougal, 1991; Jan, 1994; Reiter, 1995; Nowak and Zawilska, 1996, 1997
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Common characteristics of autism
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Author's postulated link to pineal malfunctioning
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Some supporting references
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Problems with bonding, lack of close relationship with caregivers.
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The pineal and melatonin control hormonal cues for touching and cuddling.
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Reiter, 1995; Korn, 1997
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Immune problems (and the thymus).
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Strong link exists between the pineal and the immune system, with a bidirectional flow of information between them. Inhibited melatonin secretion induces state of immunodeficiency. Innervation of the pineal gland and thymus is connected to the superior cervical ganglia (SCG). Problems with innervation pathways will affect both the pineal and thymus.
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Csaba et al., 1970, 1975; Nir, 1978; Warren, 1986, 1987; Becker et al., 1988; Yonk et al., 1990; Maestroni, 1993
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Thyroid and adrenal gland imbalances
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There is a reciprocal relationship between the functioning of the pineal gland and the thyroid and adrenal glands.
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Singh et al., 1969; DeFronzo and Roth, 1972; Dickson et al., 1972; Relkin, 1972; Nir, 1978
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Common characteristics of autism
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Author's postulated link to pineal malfunctioning
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Some supporting references
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Unusual electrical activity of brain, seizure activity, seizure activity that is specific to autistic adolescents
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Melatonin possesses anti-seizure properties. Low levels of melatonin might be the cause of unusual brain electrical activity. Puberty is marked by a dramatic reduction in melatonin secretion levels.
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Anton-Tay et al., 1971; Lakin, 1981; Reiter, 1983, 1995; Pawlicki, 1996; Molina-Carballo, 1997
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Scoliosis
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The pineal gland lets the body know which way is up. A malfunctioning pineal gland would not be able to convey body positioning data.
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Upledger, 1996
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Problems in the digestive system
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One of melatonin's effects is to limit the speed of the digestive process, giving the body time to utilize nutrients. Low melatonin levels may lead to food allergies. (see immune problems)
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Khan et al., 1990; Reiter, 1995
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Common characteristics of autism
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Author's postulated link to pineal malfunctioning
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Some supporting references
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4:1 ratio of males to females affected by autism
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Possible consequence of the smaller size of the male pineal gland. Males have been found to suffer more than females when the natural cycles related to melatonin levels are disrupted by exposure to magnetic fields or light.
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Reiter, 1995
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Sensitivity to hands-on body work and energy techniques
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The pineal gland and its melatonin secretions are sensitive to electromagnetic fields and, possibly, also to the energy involved in hands-on techniques. Tactile therapies have been found to regulate neurotransmitters and affect most of the problems listed in this table.
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St. John, 1980; Stone, 1983; Davidson, 1987, 1988; Siegel, 1987; Gerber, 1988; Axt, 1989, 1996, 1997; Sills, 1989; Upledger, 1995; Kiewe, 1997; Korn, 1997
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Sensitivity to exogenous melatonin
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Exogenous melatonin may balance the effects of faulty pineal functioning and the faulty melatonin chemistry
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Brzezinski, 1997; Strassman, 1991; Anon-Tay, 1968; Nowak and Zawilska, 1997; Jan, 1994; Kulman, 1997
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