Quack Exposed: Candyce Estave

Candyce Estave is an advocate and activist for biomedical treatment on children. She was never a medical professional.  She grew up in Wyoming and moved to California in 1985. She worked as a bartender and moved up to management. She learned how to be a business promoter. 

In 2002, she met Ed Estave and got married. They had a son in 2003 and a daughter in 2005. Their son was diagnosed as autistic at age 4. She sought help from the Autism Society of Santa Barbara. This is where she attended her first support group. 

Estave made it her mission to "help" parents "facing the same difficulty" locating services. She became the Autism Society of Santa Barbara's North County Coordinator. She hosted regular group meetings in her home, scheduling parent training and building a network of supportive professionals. She is still not a medical professional. 

Estave organized the Autism Society of Santa Barbara's Autism Awareness Fair. In 2009 she was appointed to the board of the Autism Society of Santa Barbara. She is a member of Altrusa International, Inc of Central Coast, serving on the board of directors and on the foundation board. 

Estave currently interviews for Autism One the different quacks and promotes their methods. She is dangerous to the autistic community and is one of Autism One's main players. If anyone watches Autism One Media on youtube, you will see or hear Estave promoting the toxic and dangerous treatments being promoted at this quackfest. She has no medical background or experience. She is promoting things she knows nothing about and takes the quacks' word as Gospel. Her husband is the executive director and founder of Autism One. 

Very recently, Ed Estave, her husband, has posted public comments about wanting Kerri Rivera as a speaker at a conference. Hasn't she done enough damage?

Sources:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ed-arranga-aba1346/

http://www.autismone.org/users/candyce-estave

Quack Exposed: Norma Erickson

Norma Erickson is a freelance writer and an independent business consultant. She is not a medical professional. She has been an anti-HPV vaccine activist for over 10 years. She has published many articles. She says she advocates for informed choice and medical consumer protection.

In 2010, Erickson established SaneVax, Inc. This was a "direct response to the worldwide devastation left in the wake of the HPV vaccination programs." She is currently the president of this organization. She claims that she values facts and honest research. She said she made discoveries during her research that led directly to the concept and creation of SaneVax. This organization is "dedicated to creating a world where only safe, affordable, necessary and effective vaccines are allowed." This organization spreads misinformation about the life-saving HPV vaccine.

She has not been silent about her perceived dangers of this vaccine. She has even written a letter to the FDA stating that there is DNA in the vaccine.“SANE Vax Inc. contracted with an independent lab to test for contamination and found HPV recombinant DNA (rDNA) in 13 vaccine vials.” Curiously (or “curiously”), there is not a single scientific paper or report describing the methodology used and the specific tests used, apparently because of “the proprietary processes and information utilized by our laboratory to test the samples.” In this test, the FDA was not given the results or the methodology behind the findings. In the off chance where their analysis was correct, they would be extremely unlikely to be problematic. This is because the amount of HPV DNA involved in any case was exponentially smaller than they would need to have the slightest chance of invading cells and causing infection.  Even with this knowledge, SaneVax demanded that the FDA take action. SaneVax's only aim was to scare the public with their pseudoscience.

Erickson co-authored a paper with Catherine J Frompovich an article called "A parent's Guide: What to do if your child dies after a vaccination." The purpose of this article was that vaccine-related deaths are very rare. This means to Erickson and Frompovich there is a conspiracy. They completely misunderstand the concept that causation and misusing the VARS database. They managed to imply that the "true" number of vaccine-related deaths is between 2,170 and 21,700 per year. This is the same as 40% of all childhood deaths before age 19. They combined this with their idea that the problem is the increased number of vaccines that are given. Their theories are in contradiction with the steady decrease in the child mortality rate over the past few decades.  "Parents should realize their gut instincts most often are correct, especially about their child whom they have been taking care of since birth."  So according to them, mothers' intuition outranks a medical degree. That is not reality. That is fantasy.

She believes that every medical consumer has the right to complete and accurate information regarding risks as well as the benefits of vaccines prior to deciding whether a particular vaccine is right for them. This anti-vax organization has an international presence in Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Demark, Japan, Finland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Russia, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, Zambia, United Kingdom, and the United State of America. They are known in 157 countries around the world. Scary.

She made it her personal mission to provide information in a clear and easy to understand format so people are able to make an "informed" decision. One problem with this. She is not a medical professional. The safety of vaccines and pharmaceuticals should be left to the professionals that understand every aspect of what they are advocating for.

She has authored a book called "Trust to Tragedy." She says this book is aimed to give the HPV vaccine injured a voice.

Sources:
https://autismoneconference.com/schedule.html
https://sanevax.org/media-about-sanevax/who/
https://sanevax.org/media-about-sanevax/
http://americanloons.blogspot.com/2016/02/1588-norma-erickson.html
https://www.biospace.com/article/releases/-b-sane-vax-inc-b-reports-human-papillomavirus-hpv-dna-contamination-in-gardasil-tm-to-fda-requests-public-safety-investigation-/

Quack Exposed: Eric C Epstein

Eric Epstein is a chiropractor located in Louisville, Kentucky. HE graduated with honors in 1996 from Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa. Epstein completed his post-graduate studies at Palmer College in 2005. He earned a certificate in pediatric chiropractic.

Epstein ran his own chiropractor clinic from 1996-2015. He was a teacher of Anatomy and Physiology at the Louisville School of Massage from 2007-2014. He currently works at Kentuckiana Children's Center in Louisville. He has been practicing his quackery for over 24 years. He currently affiliated with no hospitals.

Epstein is currently on the International Chiropractic Association Council in Pediatrics, Kentucky Association of Chiropractors, and Toast Masters. He was on Kentuckiana Children's Center Board of Directors from 2000-2014.

Epstein believes that more children with "complex diagnosis" should be treated by chiropractors. He wrote an editorial for the Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics on the subject.  According to Epstein, all dysfunction has a neurologic component.

"By far, the greatest growth of neurologic dysfunction in children is the increasing presence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). ASD includes autism, ADD/ADHD, Rett’s Syndrome, Asperger’s Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Delay, and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, among others. Commonly, these children lack communication skills, perceive pain differently than non-spectrum children, and present with uncommon signs and symptoms not frequently seen in a chiropractic office." His justification is that a typical person would come into the office and tell them what hurts. An autistic person would stim and not perceive pain the same. He is pathologizing what makes us autistic.

Epstein on stimming, "All of these activities have the potential of disturbing normal biomechanical function, and therefore, can cause vertebral subluxation complex (VSC). It is evident, then, that spectrum children should be regularly evaluated and treated by a chiropractic physician. It becomes necessary for the doctor to investigate and/or re-investigate palpation and observational analysis methods in the special needs population to effectively identify the presence of VSC and then develop the skill set to deliver an appropriate and effective adjustment."

The article he has written is to help other chiropractors compel Medicaid to pay for chiropractic adjustments for children. 

Epstein is a public speaker about chiropractics. He puts on the following presentations:

1. In October 2014 -A Multi-Step Approach to Prevent and Control chronic silent inflammation
2. November 10, 2018- Part I CBD Hemp Oil: What is it good for? CVD and Kids a safe option
3. February 16, 2019- Part II CBD Hemp Oil: The Endocannabinoid System; How does it impact your child
4. September 24, 2019- FEAT Presentation: Chiropractic It's Not What You Think The Science and Art of Health and How a Child With Autism May Benefit From Current Publications
5. AutismOne in May 2020

Sources:

https://autismoneconference.com/track_ce_schedule.html

https://www.dynamicchiropractic.com/mpacms/dc/article.php?id=56749

https://www.healthcare4ppl.com/physician/kentucky/louisville/eric-c-epstein-1881642429.html
http://jccponline.com/Epstein.html

Quack Exposed: Dr. Michael W. Elice

Dr. Michael Elice is a board-certified pediatrician who claims to treat autistic people, mitochondrial disorders, PANDAS, immune and metabolic dysregulation. This treatment is based on the theory that autism and related conditions are complex neurodevelopmental disorders with genetic, biochemical and immunological origins. This makes them to be autoimmune disorders. Autism is not an autoimmune disease. An example of an autoimmune disease is type one diabetes.

Elice has treated autistic children, their siblings, parents, and other relatives. He claimes they "suffer from" genetically based autoimmune disorders. Elice is part of the board for New York Families of Autistic Children, National Autism Society and is a MAPS physician.

Elice has lectured at MAPS, Autism Research Institute (ARI) Conference, Autism One and local SEPTA (Special Ed PTA) and school conferences. He also participates in TV and web interviews. He contributes to "Cutting Edge Therapies in Autism" and coauthored papers on immune therapy for autism. This is based on his unscientific theory that autism is an autoimmune disorder. He is spreading this misinformation rapidly. He is certified in hyperbaric medicine.

Elice has graduated from Syracuse University and the Chicago Medical School. He currently teaches at New York University Medical School and Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He has an adjunct professorship at North Shore University Hospital in Manhassett, NY and the Cohen Children's Hospital of the Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park, NY.

Elice was awarded member status in the American Association of Integrative Medicine (AAIM). He is also board certified in Integrative Medicine.

His clinic, AIM Integrative Medicine has two locations. New York and Los Angeles. They currently offer the following treatments and services:

• Intestinal Dysbiosis treatment
• heavy metal detoxification (chelation)
• Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
• Food and Environmental Allergy Testing
• Methy Cobalmin (MethylB12)with Folinic Acid and N-acetyl Cysteine
• Low Dose Naltrexone
• Oxytocin
• Vitamin and Mineral Supplementation
• Digestive Enzymes
• Immune and Antiinflammatory Therapy
• Individualized Dietary/Nutritional Consultation (restrictive diets such as GF-CF,  GAPS and Nemechek)
• Biofilm Protocol
• PANDAS/PANS
• Viral
• Lyme Disease/Lyme Co-infections
• Seizure disorders
• IV Gamma Globulin
• Vitamin Complexes
• Minerals
• Glutothoine
• Secretin
• Solumedrol
• Physophotdyl Choline
• Pre-pregnancy and prenatal consultation
• vaccine consultation
• ADHD
• OCD
• Tourettes syndrome
• anxiety disorders
• autoimmune disorders
• stem cell transplants
• thimerosal-free vaccines

Sources:

https://www.aimintegrativemedicine.com/our-team
https://nationalautismny.org/news/dr-michael-elice-shares-latest-asd-treatment-causation-research/

Quack Exposed: Melissa Easton

Melissa Easton is a holistic health practitioner. She is also the mother of two autistic children who she believes to be vaccine injured. Her sons were diagnosed in 2016. As soon as this happened, she started researching "natural healing options to help recover them."

She had the idea that parents who wanted to recover their children from autism needed a place where they can congregate with other likeminded parents in a safe, judgment-free environment that could be a sanctuary to complain about the "burden" of raising an autistic child. She wanted this to be a resource for learning about how to help children recover naturally and affordably. She wanted to make quackery affordable.

She started the group on Facebook Healing Kids Biomedically on Facebook in 2017. In 2019, she started her website www.DIGinthealth.com where she shares about the different forms of quackery she inflicted on her sons. This site has been shut down and uses the domain to sell Voxx Life quack products to suspecting parents.

Her DIG protocol:

Sources:
https://autismoneconference.com/schedule_thursday.html

Quack Myth: Lyme Disease causes Autism

The view of the Lyme-Induced Autism Foundation (LIAF) is that it induces autism in children. They claimed that up to 90% of autistic children are infected with Borrelia. There is no peer viewed studies that support this claim. 

According to the American Lyme Disease Foundation (ALDF), having an ELISA or Western Blot blood test is not proof of an active infection. It only indicates the presence of antibodies that can be the result of past infection with Borrelia burdoferi, which is the causative agent of Lyme Disease. These antibodies may be present at low levels for months or years after the active infection has been cured with antibiotics. In some people, the ELISA or Western Blot positive tests is due to a nonspecific cross-reaction. 

According to the ALDF, there are serious issues with the laboratory tests LIAF performed to support their claim. 

• The tests are of low quality. 

• The data have never been published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. This alone lowers credibility.

• There has been no independent confirmation to establish that the results are credible and able to be repeated. 

• Non-standard criteria were used to interpret the Western Blots that were used to support the Autism and Lyme link. The criteria were different than the criteria set by the CDC. This results in a false positive. 

• The results of two recent carefully controlled studies completely debunk the false claim by LIAF. Lyme Disease does not induce autism.

The prevalence of autism and Lyme disease are only in 9 states between 2004 and 2006.  They are AL, AR, CO, GA, MD, MO, NC, PA, SC, and WI. There is no evidence that autistic children are exposed to ticks at a greater rate than typical children. 
Lyme Disease is a tickborne disease. When in the woods, it is very important to check hair and all over the body. They can be removed with tweezers or hemostats. Make sure you grab the mouth otherwise the head can get stuck. 
Sources:
Ajamtan, M., Kosofsky, B.E., Wormser, G.P., Rajadhyalsha, A., and Alaedini, A.
JAMA 309: 1771-1772, 2013.
Burbelo, P.D., Swedo, S.E., Thurm, A., Bayal, A., Levin, A.E., Marques, A.,
and Iadorola, M.J.
Clinical Vaccine Immunology, May 2013, on-line ahead of print publication.

References:

http://www.lymeinducedautism.com/lymeautismconnection.html (http://archive.is/cX4Jd since its no longer online)

 “Serologic markers of Lyme disease in children with autism”.

“Lack of serum antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi in children with autism”

 Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network Report of 2009(http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/states/ADDMCommunityReport2009.pdf).

 Reported Lyme Disease Cases by State, 1999-2008(http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/lyme/ld_rptdLymeCasesbyState.htm

https://www.aldf.com/does-lyme-disease-induce-autism-in-children/

Quack Exposed: Tami Duncan

Tami Duncan is the mother of two children. For twelve years she had tried different biomedical treatments and therapies. She had suffered from Lyme disease. She thinks she awakened her own "spiritual gifts." She started to think she is a spiritual healer after taking one reiki class. She says she can communicate with autistic children telepathically.

Duncan founded the not for profit Lyme Induced Autism. This is based on the belief that Lyme disease causes autism. This organization is no longer active. According to the American Lyme Disease Foundation, it does not. A full explanation can be found here.

In 2009, she became a "student of the universe." She trained in reiki, vibrational healing, shamanic techniques, multidimensional frequencies, Garcia energetics, mediumship, channeling, essential oils, flower essences, telepathic communication any many more. She says all of these techniques are given to her through spiritual guidance.

In April of 2015, she started to host and mentor others to find "their healer within and express to the world."In May of 2015" Vibrational Healing for Autism (AKA Awesome Kids) was released and considers it to be a gift to the "autism community." She says autistic children have "divine gifts."

She currently has a practice of her own and works with families with autistic children doing energetic healing, workshops and speaking (including with Autism One). 

In her clinic, she offers:
One hour yoga or mediation session $65
One hour healing energy session $127
One hour meditative sound healing session $127
Autism Intuitive Balancing $127
40 minutes Teen Healing and Mentoring Session $95

She offers her sessions online as well as in person.


Sources:
https://thinkingmomsrevolution.com/energetic-healing-children-autism-econference/
https://www.thedrpatshow.com/guest/tami-duncan,4157.html
https://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/80633/thinking-moms-revolution-positively-helping-you-with-helen-conroy-and-tami
http://www.epiphanyhealingarts.com/appointments2.html