Recently a new alternative medical treatment has come into the spotlight and offers many potential benefits for the Autistic child according to its proponents. Unfortunately, it also offers the opportunity fraud and deception by those who are only interested in exploiting the desperation of parents who are searching for a ray of hope that their child will be cured of Autism. This treatment, Autism Transfer Factor, is based in the science of biochemistry and in limited research studies has shown great promise.

There are many Transfer Factors found naturally in the body, and while some are general in nature, others appear to transfer immunity to a specify disease or condition. This treatment is grounded in the hypothesis that Autism and many conditions are primarily immune system dysfunctions and may be treatable or even reversible.

By definition, “Transfer Factors are protein immunomodulators that transfer the ability to express cell-mediated immunity from an immune-sufficient donor to an immune-deficient recipient or from an immunized donor to nonimmune recipient.” In short, in the case of Autism, they transfer an immunity to Autism to the person receiving the treatment.

There are currently two sources of Transfer Factor available today. The most common one utilizes colostrum from cows that have been exposed to high concentrations of pathogens and viruses that researchers have linked to Autism.

Colostrum, the substance that precedes milk in mammals, serves a natural role in protecting the newborn from illness by transferring the mother’s immunity to the child. In the case of Transfer Factor, the immunity that the cow developed is transferred to the human infant, and thus protects it from an illness. Due to the processes needed to manufacture this form of Transfer Factor, it is a very expensive treatment, and being experimental is usually not covered by health insurance.

The second source is from human blood cells, either leukocytes or lymphocytes, and appears to work best if those cells are from close family members. They work in exactly the same way as the colostrum based treatment, except that they transfer a much more genetically natural immunity due to the common characteristics between the donor and recipient.

They are also more pure and free from contaminants. This treatment is much more limited in use, due to the availability of donors and therefore more expensive to receive than the colostrum based treatment. It also involves a higher degree of risk, due to the blood born disease issue.

In a landmark study, Dr. H. Hugh Fudenberg, M.D. found that of 22 Autistic children, 21 improved significantly and 10 were considered to be recovered and mainstreamed in their schools following Transfer Factor treatment.

After the treatment was discontinued, some showed regression, but none returned to their prior baseline levels. Dr. Fudenberg used the lymphocyte based Transfer Factor in his treatment, and while these results have been replicated using that treatment protocol, they have not been replicated using the colostrum based treatment.

While much promise is offered by these treatment, there are sites on the internet which offer “Transfer Factor” treatments that actually are nothing but scams, in Dr. Fudenberg’s expert opinion. He offers eight indications of fraudulent Transfer Factor treatment offer on the internet. Following his guidelines can save money as well as disappointment, and in some cases it can even save your life. Read each of his eight points carefully, they contain a multitude of information that will make you a more informed consumer. As always consult your physician before beginning ant treatment program for you or your child. - From: Adelle Jameson Tilton