The Awakening is a boost of awareness and eye contact most commonly seen in younger patients starting the protocol. Although it can be sometimes accompanied by an increase in some behaviors, the negative aspects of the awakening typically begin improving within 4-6 weeks are beginning the protocol.
The positive aspects of the awakening (improved eye contact and awareness) should last as long as excessive propionic acid is no longer being released into the bloodstream. The occasional negative effects of the awakening (insomnia, hyperactive, aggression) generally only last for a few days to a few weeks and then begin to resolve. If the negative effects of the awakening do not dissipate, and there is evidence of chronic pain or infection, especially from the teeth, then I assume the overgrowth of intestinal bacteria is not fully effective, and the balancing regimen needs to be increased.
If your child has very mild autism or has been diagnosed with just developmental delay, a sensory issue, or motor delay, you will not see much if any sign of an awakening. I treat them in the same manner as a child diagnosed with moderate to severe autism.
No, not at all. Not every child will experience noticeable awakening symptoms. Particularly older children and those who are not on the spectrum and are therefore not under the influence of excessive levels of propionic acid. As long as a child is showing signs of neurological recovery within the first 3 months, you can be assured that the protocol is working.
Eliminating the sedative effect of propionic acid will give a child’s parent a sense of potentially how neurologically imbalanced their child is. Some behaviors may seem worse because the propionic acid suppressed their ability to act out these behaviors as a drug. nnSuch behaviors might be stimming, anxiety, aggression, hyperactivity, or sleeplessness. Parents are now seeing their child for the first time without the sedating effects of propionic acid. In other words, a child’s behavior may initially worsen, but that does not mean the protocol is not working. It means we have discovered a key to the potential recovery and the starting point we begin working from.
The Awakening can be a very confusing time for many parents, but it is normal to see more confusing behaviors in early recovery than actual gains. That is because the ultimate goal of The Nemechek Protocol is to lower excessive inflammation. Only once inflammation is reduced and maintained can the brain shift into repair mode, and recovery starts. Reduction of bacterial overgrowth with Inulin or Rifaximin is just one way that we lower inflammation. The fish oil and olive oil each provide further reduction via different mechanisms. The oils, however, can take up to 6 weeks to fully start working, so in many cases, you need to wait 6-8 weeks to get to the point where gains start happening. Just hang in there, and things will begin to improve.
When starting with inulin, sometimes the child will exhibit some positive and negative behaviors in a process referred to as “the awakening.” If the proper brands and doses of inulin fish oil and olive are used, the negative behaviors often start improving in 4-6 weeks.nnOn occasion, the inulin itself can cause an increase in hyperactivity, anxiety, and sometimes aggression. These negative reactions often occur when using more than 1/4 tsp of inulin per day. The higher the dose, the worse the negative behaviors. If this is the case with my patients, I recommend stopping the inulin and starting monthly rifaximin.
These emotional outbursts that are often referred to as transition issues are similar to road rage in adults. I recommend my patients lower inflammation further by increasing VNS (vagus nerve stimulation) to 5 minutes 2-3 times per day instead of just once. The children will often experience an improvement with this change within 4-8 weeks.n
During the awakening period, some children may demonstrate a greater level of aggression. This is because the sedating effects of propionic acid have been reduced or eliminated due to a rebalancing of the intestinal bacteria. Some behaviors may seem worse because the propionic acid was suppressing their ability to act out these behaviors as a drug might. Once on the full protocol, the behaviors generally will begin subsiding within a month or 2.
During the awakening period, some children may demonstrate a greater level of aggression. This is because the sedating effects of propionic acid have been reduced or eliminated due to a rebalancing of the intestinal bacteria. Some behaviors may seem worse because the propionic acid was suppressing their ability to act out these behaviors as a drug might. Once on the full protocol, the behaviors generally will begin subsiding within a month or 2.