Autism Parenting Secrets – "TARGETED Support Transforms"

Podcast Hosts: Len Arcuri, Cass Arcuri
Guest: Dr. Jerry Kartzinel, Functional Medicine Pediatrician
Date: November 20, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode explores why the most effective support for children with autism is never a one-size-fits-all protocol, but rather a targeted, individualized approach. Dr. Jerry Kartzinel, a seasoned leader in functional medicine for children on the autism spectrum, shares his experience and insights on the power of precise, customized interventions. The discussion aims to empower parents feeling overwhelmed by options and give them clarity about where to focus their efforts for the best transformation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Myth of a "Universal Treatment" for Autism

• Variation Is the Norm: Dr. Kartzinel stresses the diversity in autism presentations—comparing "I have a dog" to "what kind of dog?" (00:00, 06:21).
  "I've seen so many variations of autism. It's kind of like talking about dogs. Is it a Doberman pinscher, German shepherd, or is it a chihuahua?...These are all children with autism, but there's so many variations." – Dr. Kartzinel (00:00, 06:21)
• Individual Assessment: No one supplement, medication, or diet will be effective for every child.
  "There is no one size fits all...it's all about discerning the top root causes that are behind whatever your child's exhibiting." – Len (08:58)

The Power of Targeted Support

• Start With the Most Pressing Issue: Prioritize immediate issues impacting quality of life, e.g., sleep or constipation, and address those first before layering on further interventions.
  "If a child is not sleeping...we're going to target that. We're not going to go what everybody else is, you know, arm-waving." – Dr. Kartzinel (02:55)
• Case-by-Case Nutrition: Some children are nearly malnourished, others eat broadly; supplementation needs are vastly different.
  "If I'm going to do targeted nutrition...I have to try and figure out what are they not getting in their day-to-day food intake." – Dr. Kartzinel (05:04)

The Importance of Quality Intake and Dosing

• Careful Introduction of Interventions: Dosage and selection of supplements must be tailored and introduced cautiously.
  "I always start with a small dose and work my way up...More is not necessarily better." – Dr. Kartzinel (10:31)
• Respond to Sensitivities: Many children with autism are highly sensitive to tastes, smells, and textures, making the delivery of interventions complex.
  "They can smell a molecule off...They taste this stuff, they smell this stuff, and obviously if they see you put something in their drink, it's over." – Dr. Kartzinel (13:22)

Managing Constipation: Not a Minor Issue

• Constipation Impacts Everything: Untreated constipation can exacerbate all symptoms, including aggression and even seizures.
  "Constipation makes whatever you do for autism 10 times worse...if you are prone to having seizures and you get constipated, you’re going to have a lot more seizures each day." – Dr. Kartzinel (20:33)
• Flexible, Practical Solutions: Sometimes less-natural aids like Miralax are necessary, especially for extremely picky eaters.
  "If the child is super picky...I'll use Miralax, colorless, odorless and tasteless." – Dr. Kartzinel (12:44)

Sequencing and Prioritizing Interventions

• Stack the Problems: Dr. Kartzinel addresses 1–3 issues at a time, then reassesses and adjusts as improvements are made.
  "You come to me with 10 problems, I have to stack them like you said, prioritize, which are the ones that we need to address and target those." – Dr. Kartzinel (23:24)
• Recovery Is Managed and Ongoing: It's crucial not to drop interventions prematurely, even as progress is seen.
  "There's a period of time that I call managed recovery...As long as we're gluten free, dairy free, and taking the supplements that we're doing, and they're doing well, you don't want to take them off." – Dr. Kartzinel (21:09)

Root Causes of Aggression and Other Behaviors

• After Basics Are Addressed: If aggression persists after diet, gut, and supplementation are addressed, look at adrenaline/hormonal imbalances.
  "Usually I find that they have adrenaline issues. The brain is perceiving situations in their life as a crisis." – Dr. Kartzinel (25:41)
• Practical Monitoring: Tools like Fitbit can help monitor for adrenaline surges via heart rate data.
  "For some of the kids who are willing...we can see what their heart rates are doing all day." – Dr. Kartzinel (26:12)
• Medication When Necessary: Where natural options are too weak, strategic use of medication may be warranted—but not psychiatric drugs for adrenaline excess.
  "There are ways that we can with medications...but unfortunately, the natural things...don't have enough horsepower to get the job done." – Dr. Kartzinel (29:29)

The Danger of “Detox” and Supplement Scams

• Scrutinize Grand Claims: Be wary of products claiming to “detox the nervous system” or miraculous results without science to back it up.
  "They're going to make big grandiose statements like 'this detoxifies the nervous system.'...how do you know that's happening in a three-year-old or a four-year-old?" – Dr. Kartzinel (35:06)
• Demand Data: If you’re chelating for lead, there should be pre- and post-testing. Few supplement claims are this substantiated.
  "When I chelate a child, I'm measuring the lead before, during, and after chelation. I can tell you when there is no more lead in the body." – Dr. Kartzinel (36:06)

Quality and Sourcing of Supplements

• Choose Clean Products: Many mass-market supplements have questionable quality or harmful additives—scrutinize ingredient lists carefully. "Supplements have so much crap in there in addition to whatever that beneficial thing might be that you have to be really discerning..." – Len (34:21)
• Supervision and Guidance: Work with a professional who can help select and sequence interventions appropriately. "Find somebody that can help guide you through this. If you can't use a doctor, nurse practitioner or even coaches..." – Dr. Kartzinel (38:43)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "There is no one size fits all...it's all about discerning the top root causes that are behind whatever your child's exhibiting."
  – Len (08:58)

• "If a child is not sleeping...we're going to target that...But it's a little more complicated than that because what if the child's constipated...Or what if the child is having pain from ice cream that they had that night because they can't process dairy?"
  – Dr. Kartzinel (02:55)

• "My favorite supplement is the ones that work for your particular child. I don't care about the others."
  – Dr. Kartzinel (23:34)

• "Constipation makes whatever you do for autism 10 times worse."
  – Dr. Kartzinel (20:33)

• "More is not necessarily better. There is a therapeutic window."
  – Dr. Kartzinel (10:31)

• "If aggression persists after the basics are addressed, usually I find that they have adrenaline issues...The brain is perceiving situations as a crisis."
  – Dr. Kartzinel (25:41)

• "You don't need to check your brains out at the door....my parents don't want me to have a belief system. They want some science behind what we're doing."
  – Dr. Kartzinel (37:10)

Key Timestamps

• 00:00 — Variability in Autism & The Dog Breed Analogy
• 02:55 — Principles of Targeted Support: Case Analysis
• 05:04 — Dietary History and Individualized Assessment
• 10:31 — Leucovorin: Cautious Dosing Approach
• 12:44 — Practical Approaches to Addressing Constipation
• 20:33 — Constipation as a Root Cause for Escalated Symptoms
• 23:24 — Sequencing and Prioritizing Problems
• 25:41 — Aggression: Adrenaline and Hormonal Roots
• 29:29 — Natural vs. Medication Interventions
• 35:06 — Skepticism About Broad Detox Claims
• 37:10 — Demand for Scientific Backing in Supplement Use
• 38:43 — The Need for Professional Guidance

Takeaways for Parents

• Individualized, targeted support is essential—there is no single autism protocol.
• Start with the basics: Address diet, gut health, sleep, and eliminate glaring deficits.
• Be cautious with doses and products. Start low, go slow, and monitor responses.
• Prioritize issues: Tackle what's most disruptive to the child’s or family’s quality of life.
• Seek professional guidance to avoid unnecessary, ineffective, or harmful interventions.
• Be skeptical of grand claims, demand proof, and look for real benefits, not just hope or hype.

For additional resources or to learn more about Dr. Kartzinel's practice and perspective, visit DrJerryKay.com and mendingnaturally.com.

“Targeted support transforms”—start with what matters most for your child, question broad claims, and move step by step, always guided by your child’s individual needs.