🌿 Tylenol, Vaccines, Metals, and Autism: The Story Behind the Fear
A Note from Me
After my article yesterday, I decided to dive deeper into why this conversation is resurfacing right now. A lot is happening in the world, and when old, outdated observational self-reporting studies are suddenly brought forward again, it is rarely accidental.
Notice what is missing: there is no cure being offered, no treatment pathway, no compassionate care. Only messaging that women should “tough it out,” even when sick or in pain. That isn’t science—that’s politics. And history shows us again and again: when women are blamed, it’s often in service of someone else’s power.
As a yoga teacher and student of philosophy, I see this through the lens of Skill in Action (ethics in practice) and the Bhagavad Gita (our duty to act with clarity, integrity, and compassion). Yoga teaches that truth and justice are not separate from our daily lives—they are part of our practice. Speaking about women’s health, politics, and misinformation isn’t outside yoga. It is yoga.
What This Article Is About
In this piece, I want to take us deeper into the roots of these fears about Tylenol, vaccines, and autism—where they came from, why they are resurfacing now, and what the best science actually says. We’ll look at how acetaminophen works, how infections during pregnancy affect a fetus, why metals sound so alarming, and how one fraudulent study changed the world’s perception of vaccines. Alongside the science, I’ll share the bigger story: how mothers are too often blamed and manipulated, and why understanding autism as part of human neurodiversity can lift the weight of fear and guilt from our shoulders.
Autism Came First
Autism was first described in the 1940s by Leo Kanner in the U.S. and Hans Asperger in Austria [9,10]. By 1980, it was officially recognized in the DSM-III [11]. But autism has been part of humanity for far longer than modern labels.
Throughout history, evidence suggests neurodivergence has always existed—among composers, philosophers, artists, scientists, and craftspeople whose unique ways of thinking changed the world [12]. Autism is not new, and it is not a side effect of medicine.
Tylenol and Autism
What is Tylenol?
Tylenol (acetaminophen, also called paracetamol) was introduced in the U.S. in 1955 [13]. It reduces pain and fever by:
Inhibiting prostaglandins—chemical messengers that regulate pain and temperature [14].
Interacting with the endocannabinoid system, which helps regulate mood, pain, and temperature [15].
Doctors recommend it during pregnancy because other options, like ibuprofen and aspirin, carry greater risks—including miscarriage, premature closure of a fetal heart valve, or bleeding problems [16].
It’s also worth noting: Tylenol is one of the most studied medications in history.
Decades of large, third-party, non-industry-funded studies have reviewed its safety in pregnancy and children.
It remains the medication most pediatricians and obstetricians turn to first for fevers and pain.
While no medicine is risk-free, the overwhelming consensus from extensive, unbiased research is that acetaminophen, when used as directed, is safe.
Why the Fear?
In 2013–2014, some observational studies suggested mothers who used Tylenol more often in pregnancy had children with slightly higher rates of autism or ADHD [1,2].
But observational studies can only show correlation, not causation.
What Is an Observational Study?
An observational study looks at patterns in large groups of people—like asking mothers what medicines they took in pregnancy, then tracking their children’s health outcomes. These studies are useful for spotting possible correlations, but they cannot prove causation.
In fact, in some of the Tylenol–autism studies, mothers were asked to report their medication use years after the pregnancy. That’s a long time to remember exactly how much Tylenol was taken, and it introduces what researchers call recall bias. If someone misremembers or overestimates their use, it can skew the data.
💡 Takeaway: Observational studies are like the “first clue” in science—not the final answer. They raise questions and guide future , but they don’t provide proof.
The Real Confounding Factors
Mothers usually take Tylenol for fever, infection, or pain—and these conditions themselves can influence a fetus:
Fever: Sustained high maternal temperature can disrupt neural development [17].
Infections: Trigger inflammatory cytokines that cross the placenta and influence neurological growth [18].
Stress from pain or illness: Raises maternal cortisol, which has been linked to developmental differences [19].
So the illness itself—not the Tylenol—may be the actual factor.
Stronger Science
The most rigorous evidence yet—a study of 2.48 million Swedish children—compared siblings to control for genetics and shared environment. It found no increased risk of autism from acetaminophen [3].
💡 Takeaway: Tylenol remains one of the safest, most extensively studied medications for fever or pain in pregnancy and childhood when used as directed.
Not All Studies Are Created Equal
The early Tylenol–autism research was observational, based on mothers recalling years later how often they used acetaminophen. This kind of study can spot patterns, but it cannot prove cause. And because memory isn’t perfect, it’s vulnerable to recall bias—some mothers may over- or under-estimate their Tylenol use.
By contrast, the 2023 Swedish study was also observational but far stronger: a population-based cohort of 2.48 million children, using national health registry data, not memory. Most importantly, it included a sibling comparison design—comparing children born to the same mother, where one was exposed to Tylenol in pregnancy and the other was not. This controls for genetics and shared environment.
It’s also important to know why most studies on women and children are observational:
We cannot ethically give pregnant women or infants a drug just to “see what happens.”
Randomized controlled trials (RCTs), considered the “gold standard,” are not possible in these cases.
So researchers rely on careful observation, registry data, and natural variation in use to look for signals.
💡 Takeaway: Observational studies are the best and most ethical tool we have for studying pregnancy and child health. Earlier self-report studies raised questions, but the much stronger Swedish sibling study found no evidence that Tylenol use in pregnancy causes autism.
Vaccines and Autism
“The Wakefield study was fraudulent, fully retracted, and cost him his medical license. It remains one of the most infamous cases of scientific misconduct in history.”
The fear of vaccines and autism began with the fraudulent Wakefield study, published in The Lancet in 1998 [20]. It claimed that 12 children developed autism after the MMR vaccine.
But investigations uncovered the truth:
Wakefield altered data to fit his story [8].
He was paid by lawyers suing vaccine companies [8].
He had filed a patent for his own measles vaccine, a conflict of interest [8].
He subjected children to invasive, unethical procedures without proper oversight [8].
The study was fraudulent, fully retracted, and Wakefield lost his medical license [8]. It remains one of the most infamous cases of scientific misconduct in history.
Since then, dozens of large-scale studies have tracked hundreds of thousands of children and consistently found: vaccines do not cause autism [4,5].
Why “Metals” Sound Scary
The word metal triggers alarm because we know toxic metals like lead or high-dose mercury can harm children’s brains. That truth makes it easy to assume all metals are dangerous. But science tells a more nuanced story:
Some metals are essential. Iron, zinc, and copper are required for blood, immunity, and brain function [21].
Some are toxic at high doses. Lead poisoning and methyl-mercury (in contaminated fish) can cause neurological harm [22].
Dose matters. Trace amounts of aluminum or iron are safe; chronic or high levels are not [7].
Our bodies are designed to handle trace exposures:
We absorb only small fractions of ingested metals.
Kidneys and the digestive system excrete what we don’t need.
A tiny, one-time exposure (like in vaccines) is vastly different from daily, high-level exposure.
Why Are Metals in Our Environment?
Metals are everywhere in daily life because they’re a natural part of the Earth’s crust. Over time, human activity has concentrated and spread them into food, water, air, and consumer products.
Naturally occurring: Soil, rocks, and water contain trace amounts of metals like iron, zinc, copper, and aluminum. Plants absorb them, which means they’re in our food supply.
Essential for life: Some metals (iron, zinc, copper, magnesium) are required by the body to make blood, support immunity, and run key enzymes.
Industrial use: Mining, agriculture, and manufacturing introduce additional metals into the environment (e.g., aluminum in cookware, fertilizers containing trace metals).
Food & packaging: Metals leach into food from cans, foil, cookware, and even natural sources like groundwater.
Air & water: Burning fossil fuels, waste incineration, and industrial processes release metals into the atmosphere, which settle into soil and waterways.
💡 Takeaway: Metals in our environment aren’t new—they’ve always been part of the natural world. What matters most is which metals, in what amounts, and over what length of time. Trace amounts are normal and safe; chronic high exposures (like lead in old pipes) are harmful.
Metals in Vaccines vs. Everyday Life
Two ingredients often targeted by fear campaigns are:
Thimerosal (ethyl-mercury):
Removed from nearly all U.S. childhood vaccines in 2001 [6].
Autism rates did not drop afterwards [6].
Ethyl-mercury clears faster than methyl-mercury in fish [23].
Aluminum (adjuvant):
Helps vaccines work better by stimulating the immune system [7].
In vaccines (first 6 months): ~4.4 mg total [7].
In food/environment (first 6 months): ~7 mg from breast milk, ~38 mg from cow’s milk formula, ~117 mg from soy formula [7].
Adults consume 7–9 mg daily in food and water [7].
👉 Perspective: babies and adults get far more aluminum through food and environment than from vaccines. The trace amounts in vaccines are safe and well-studied.
Metals in Everyday Life
It might sound alarming to hear that metals are in our food, water, and even breast milk—but that doesn’t mean it’s dangerous. Metals are simply part of the natural world, and our bodies have evolved to use and process them.
In breast milk: Every mother’s milk naturally contains trace amounts of metals like aluminum, zinc, and copper. These aren’t contaminants—they come from a mother’s own diet and environment. For example, a baby drinking only breast milk for 6 months will take in about 7 mg of aluminum total [7]. That’s well within what their tiny body can handle.
In formula: Because formulas are made from cow’s milk or soy, they naturally contain even more metals. In 6 months, a baby on cow’s milk formula gets around 38 mg of aluminum, and a baby on soy formula about 117 mg [7]. Babies process these amounts without issue because their kidneys and digestive systems are designed to filter them out.
In food: Everyday foods like spinach, whole grains, beans, and even drinking water all contain trace metals from the soil and water they grew in. We need some of these—like iron (for red blood cells) and zinc (for immune health)—to survive.
In cooking & packaging: Small amounts of metals can leach into food from pots, pans, foil, and cans. Again, the amounts are tiny compared to what our bodies can handle.
👉 The important thing to understand: it’s the dose that makes the poison. A sprinkle of salt seasons food; a bucketful makes it inedible. The same is true for metals—tiny amounts are natural, safe, and even necessary, while large, chronic exposures (like lead paint or mercury in polluted fish) can be harmful.
💡 Takeaway: Metals in breast milk, formula, and food are not a sign of contamination—they’re part of the natural nutritional landscape our bodies are built to handle.
Why Do Cow’s Milk and Soy Formula Have More Metals?
It comes down to what cows and soy plants consume, and how formula is made.
Cow’s milk formula:
Cows eat huge amounts of grass, grain, and feed grown in soil that naturally contains trace metals like aluminum, iron, and zinc.
Because cows are so much larger than humans, they process far more food and water each day—bringing more trace metals into their bodies and into their milk.
When cow’s milk is made into formula, manufacturers often fortify it with extra minerals (like iron) to meet infant nutrition needs, which can raise the total metal content even more.
Soy formula:
Soybeans naturally absorb metals—especially aluminum—from the soil where they grow.
Soy-based formulas, made from these beans, end up with the highest levels of trace metals among the three feeding options.
Like cow’s milk formulas, soy formulas are also fortified with minerals to support infant growth.
Breast milk:
Contains the lowest levels of metals, because it reflects a mother’s human diet and physiology, not the concentrated intake of a cow or the natural absorption patterns of soy plants.
💡 Takeaway: Breast milk, cow’s milk formula, and soy formula all contain trace metals—this is natural and expected. What matters is that the levels in all of them are safe, and our babies’ bodies are built to handle them.
Why Mothers Are Blamed
Why do these myths always circle back to blaming mothers?
Because historically, blaming women has been a way to control them.
Not long ago, women couldn’t open bank accounts without a man’s signature [24]. Women were diagnosed with “hysteria,” given sedatives or lobotomies, or locked away in asylums for being “too emotional” [25].
Now, with women closer to equality and holding more power, some still fear losing wealth and control. Fear campaigns about autism, Tylenol, and vaccines serve cultural and political purposes:
Keeping women doubting themselves.
Urging mothers to “tough it out” instead of treating pain or fever.
Reinforcing the idea that women’s choices are dangerous.
It’s easier to control women when they feel guilty, fearful, and isolated.
A Long History of Blaming Women
“In the mid-20th century, mothers of autistic children were cruelly labeled as ‘refrigerator mothers’—told their lack of warmth had caused autism. This theory was false, but the blame left lasting scars.”
The idea that mothers are at fault for their children’s health outcomes is not new—it’s part of a long pattern in medical and social history.
Hysteria as a diagnosis: For centuries, women were labeled with “hysteria” (from the Greek hystera, meaning womb). This catch-all diagnosis was used to explain everything from sadness to chronic pain. Instead of investigating real causes, doctors pathologized women’s emotions and bodies.
Institutionalization & treatments: In the 19th and early 20th centuries, women deemed “difficult” could be sent to asylums, often against their will. Treatments included electroshock, forced rest cures, and even lobotomies. Many of these women were simply experiencing depression, anxiety, or the stress of living in restrictive conditions.
Exclusion from research: Until the 1990s, women (especially pregnant women) were systematically excluded from clinical trials [1]. This created major gaps in knowledge about how medications affect women and children, and left mothers to navigate health decisions without reliable data.
“Refrigerator mothers”: In the 1940s–1960s, autism was wrongly blamed on cold, unaffectionate mothers. Psychologists told women their lack of warmth “caused” autism. This theory was later debunked, but the stigma left deep scars [2].
Ongoing dismissal of women’s pain: Studies consistently show that women’s pain is more likely to be minimized or misdiagnosed compared to men’s [3]. From endometriosis to heart disease, women have had to fight to be taken seriously.
Autism as Neurodivergence
It’s also important to say this clearly: autism is not a disease to be cured.
Autism is neurodivergence—part of the natural spectrum of human brains. It has always existed, reflected in history’s composers, scientists, philosophers, and innovators [12].
Humanity thrives because our brains are different, not despite it.
Autism Is Not Something to “Fix”
“Many historians and researchers believe that some of the most influential thinkers and artists showed traits consistent with autism.”
Autism is not a disease. It is a form of neurodivergence—a different way of thinking, feeling, and processing the world. The idea that autism must be “cured” is rooted in misunderstanding and stigma.
History itself shows us that neurodivergence has always been present, and often it is precisely these differences that have driven human creativity, innovation, and discovery. Many historians and researchers believe that some of the most influential thinkers and artists showed traits consistent with autism:
Albert Einstein – revolutionary physicist, known for his intense focus and unique way of conceptualizing problems.
Isaac Newton – mathematician and scientist, often described as socially withdrawn, with obsessive attention to detail.
Nikola Tesla – inventor, reported to have had sensory sensitivities and unusual social behaviors.
Emily Dickinson – poet, lived reclusively, with patterns of thinking and expression that suggest neurodivergence.
Michelangelo – artist and sculptor, intensely focused on work to the point of neglecting personal needs.
Charles Darwin – naturalist, whose meticulous observation and narrow interests shaped evolutionary theory.
Of course, we cannot diagnose historical figures. But looking back through the lens of neurodiversity reminds us that different kinds of minds have always shaped humanity.
🌈 Takeaway: Autism does not make anyone “less than.” It is part of the natural spectrum of the human brain. Our communities, our sciences, and our arts thrive because of neurodivergence—not despite it.
What Mothers Deserve
The fraudulent Wakefield study, the fears about Tylenol, the fixation on metals—these were never really about autism. They were about money, politics, and power.
Mothers deserve better.
Better science.
Better care.
Better respect for our intelligence and choices.
💛 You did not cause autism.
💛 You do not deserve guilt or blame.
💛 You deserve truth, compassion, and empowerment.
This is not just medicine. It is dharma—our duty to act with clarity, grounded in compassion and truth.
✨ Conclusion & Call to Action
To every mother reading this: you are doing an incredible job. You do not need to carry the weight of fraudulent studies, political agendas, or manipulative fear campaigns. You deserve rest, care, and trust in your decisions.
Let’s refuse to let outdated myths and manufactured blame dictate our choices. Let’s honor autism as part of human diversity, trust evidence over fear, and keep supporting one another in truth and compassion.
💛 Share this with another mother who needs reassurance today.
💛 Speak up when misinformation is used to shame or control.
💛 Remember: you are not alone, and you are more powerful than you know.
References
Brandlistuen RE, et al. Epidemiology. 2013.
Liew Z, et al. JAMA Pediatrics. 2014.
Liew Z, et al. JAMA Psychiatry. 2023.
Taylor LE, Swerdfeger AL, Eslick GD. Vaccine. 2014.
Jain A, et al. JAMA. 2015.
Institute of Medicine (U.S.). Immunization Safety Review: Vaccines and Autism. 2004.
Mitkus RJ, et al. Vaccine. 2011.
Deer B. How the case against the MMR vaccine was fixed. BMJ. 2011.
Kanner L. Autistic disturbances of affective contact. Nervous Child. 1943.
Asperger H. Die "Autistischen Psychopathen" im Kindesalter. Archiv für Psychiatrie und Nervenkrankheiten. 1944.
American Psychiatric Association. DSM-III. 1980.
Silberman S. NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity. 2015.
Sneader W. Drug Discovery: A History. Wiley. 2005.
Botting RM. Mechanism of action of acetaminophen: is there a cyclooxygenase 3? Clin Infect Dis. 2000.
Högestätt ED, et al. Conversion of acetaminophen to AM404, an endogenous cannabinoid receptor agonist. Nature. 2005.
Rebordosa C, et al. Use of acetaminophen during pregnancy and risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Int J Epidemiol. 2009.
Dreier JW, et al. Fever during pregnancy and risk of neurodevelopmental disorders. JAMA Pediatr. 2017.
Brown AS, et al. Maternal infection and risk of autism and schizophrenia. Schizophr Bull. 2012.
O’Donnell KJ, Meaney MJ. Fetal origins of mental health: the developmental origins of health and disease hypothesis. Am J Psychiatry. 2017.
Wakefield AJ, et al. Retracted: Ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia, non-specific colitis, and pervasive developmental disorder in children. Lancet. 1998.
Prashanth L, et al. A review on role of essential trace elements in health and disease. J Dr NTR Univ Health Sci. 2015.
Grandjean P, Landrigan PJ. Neurobehavioural effects of developmental toxicity. Lancet Neurol. 2014.
Pichichero ME, et al. Mercury concentrations and metabolism in infants receiving vaccines containing thimerosal. Pediatrics. 2002.
National Women’s History Museum. A Brief History of Women and Credit in the United States. 2017.
Appignanesi L. Mad, Bad and Sad: A History of Women and the Mind Doctors. 2008.
Disclaimer
This article is for educational purposes only. I am not offering medical advice—I am offering perspective based on facts and data. Always consult your doctor, midwife, or pediatrician when making decisions about medication or vaccination.
✨ Yoga has always been more than poses.
The Bhagavad Gita—one of yoga’s root texts—is set on a battlefield. The warrior Arjuna is frozen in despair, unsure how to act. Krishna responds by teaching him yoga—not just as movement, but as a way of living in alignment with dharma (sacred duty).
Yoga means showing up with integrity, compassion, and courage—even in the midst of conflict. That’s why yoga has always been political. It asks us to face reality as it is, dismantle fear and oppression, and choose right action over silence.
For me, that includes speaking out against fear-mongering and standing for compassionate, evidence-based maternal care. 🌿
#YogaWisdom #BhagavadGita #Dharma #MaternalCare #YogaBeyondTheMat #EvidenceBasedCare
Addendum:
📑 Maternal Outcomes: Key Studies & Data
1. Pregnancy-Related Deaths in the U.S. (2018–2022)
Analyzed 6,283 pregnancy-related deaths across the U.S.
Maternal mortality rate increased 27.7% (25.3 → 32.6 per 100,000 live births).
Large disparities by race/ethnicity: highest among American Indian & Alaska Native and non-Hispanic Black women.
Outcomes vary significantly by state.
📖 Source: JAMA Network Open, 2024 【jamanetwork.com†source】
2. Are Rising U.S. Maternal Mortality Rates Obstetrical?
Explored whether medical/obstetrical changes explain rising U.S. maternal mortality.
Found that increases cannot be fully explained by pregnancy-related factors alone.
Suggests systemic factors and inequities play a critical role.
📖 Source: American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, 2024 【ajog.org†source】
3. CDC Data: Maternal Mortality in 2023
Maternal mortality remains highest in Black women: 50.3 deaths per 100,000 live births.
White: 14.5; Hispanic: 12.4; Asian: 10.7.
Maternal mortality risk also rises with maternal age (especially >35).
📖 Source: CDC / National Center for Health Statistics, 2023 【cdc.gov†source】
4. Predictive Models of Maternal & Fetal Risk
Machine learning used to identify predictors of severe maternal morbidity, preeclampsia, and stillbirth.
Found both expected (hypertension, diabetes) and novel risk factors (e.g., maternal height for shoulder dystocia).
Helps target personalized prenatal surveillance.
📖 Source: arXiv preprint, 2023 【arxiv.org†source】
5. COVID-19 in Pregnancy
Systematic reviews confirm: COVID-19 in pregnancy raises risk of preeclampsia, preterm birth, and stillbirth.
Risk is especially high in severe or symptomatic infections.
📖 Source: COVID-19 in Pregnancy (Wikipedia, summarizing peer-reviewed meta-analyses) 【en.wikipedia.org†source】
6. The Abiye “Safe Motherhood” Project (Nigeria)
Comprehensive maternal health care program launched in 2009.
Reduced maternal mortality in Ondo State from ~745/100,000 (2009) → ~112/100,000 (2016).
Success linked to free maternal care, transportation support, and community engagement.
📖 Source: Abiye Safe Motherhood Project 【en.wikipedia.org†source】
🌿 Key Takeaways
Maternal mortality is rising in the U.S., with stark racial disparities.
Systemic inequities (access to care, socioeconomic status, racism) are critical drivers—not just medical factors.
Innovative tools (like predictive models) and global programs (like Abiye) show promise in reducing risks.
Infections (like COVID-19) further underscore the importance of comprehensive prenatal care and vaccination.
All content © Anne Catherine Yoga. This blog and any affiliated handouts is for personal use only. Please do not distribute or reproduce without permission. Yoga practices are offered as general education and are not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any medical condition. Always consult your provider before beginning any new movement practice.
Disclaimer
This blog is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your doctor, midwife, or healthcare provider before making decisions about medication use in pregnancy.
