Jenny McCarthy’s five-year-old son Evan is autistic, and Jenny has been a vocal advocate for all sorts of alternative autism treatments. Though to be fair, there is such a wide range in the autism spectrum and so much is still unknown about it that there aren’t exactly many conventional treatments at this point. Most things are experimental and work for some kids and not others. Jenny recently spoke about the benefits of treating autism with diet and vitamins, and urged the medical community to at least consider it.

McCarthy, whose five-year-old son Evan suffers from the disorder, travels around America giving talks about the alleged benefits of natural medicines. But the blonde, who is dating Jim Carrey, wishes doctors would acknowledge how diets and vitamins can be used to treat autism.

She says, “I’ve been speaking to moms across the country who are all shouting out the same thing: ‘This (diet and supplement intake) is working. It’s so heartbreaking to see the medical community not support something called diet and vitamins. And it pains us, city after city after city. I see this heartbreak on these mom’s faces. Autism isn’t covered by (medical) insurance. If things like diets and supplements are working, then why not support it? These kids are getting better and I will not shut up and will not stop fighting about it.”

[From WXYZ]

Jenny has gotten a lot of flack for her techniques and her beliefs, especially from the rest of the world that doesn’t have to deal with autism. They’re definitely unconventional, but if nothing else it speaks to the desperation a mother must feel in trying to heal her son. She was open-minded and willing to try anything. In October, Dr. David Feinberg, chief executive officer of the UCLA Hospital System, called McCarthy his hero for all the work she’s done related to autism. She travels around the country speaking to audiences about her experiences with it, and has written a bestselling book. She is, however, associated with a group called Indigo Moms that believe their kids have special abilities and auras that’s pretty hooky, and it brings her credibility down a few notches. Either way, she’s still making headlines, bringing a lot of attention to autism, and raising a ton of money for research, which can only be a good thing.

Here’s Jenny McCarthy leaving Whole Foods Market with a bag of groceries on 03/01/2008. Images thanks to WENN.