Natural Treatments and Natural Remedies for Autism Spectral Disorders

For natural treatment and natural remedies for autism spectrum disorders, the Alternative Medicine Foundation offers a succinct explanation for why families take interest. Keep in mind that "CAM" stands for "collective complementary/alternative medicine modalities and therapies" to address autism spectrum disorders.

"There is no agreed cause of autism and, to date, no cure (though reports exist of significant recovery through various combinations of mainstream and CAM treatments)," says a statement on the Alternative Medicine Foundation's website, http://www.amfoundation.org/autism.html.

"Available drug therapies at best only alleviate some of the symptoms, and sometimes cause undesirable side-effects," the statement continues. "Research on behavioral therapies is promising, but even the most established methods do not work well for some patients. At the same time, autism specialists and literature emphasize intensive, early intervention to achieve the best outcomes. Parents of young or newly-diagnosed children with autism often feel there is no time to wait for the science to prove the effectiveness of a particular treatment. They are racing the clock to take advantage of early childhood neuro-plasticity, and are willing to try CAM treatments, especially those that are non-invasive and without harmful side-effects."

Autism is a developmental disorder. A person's ability to communicate and relate to others is impaired, with negative consequences for learning and social skills

Here are some examples of alternative therapy for autism spectral disorders, focusing on natural treatment and natural remedies:

(1) Special diets. The Autism Research Institute is among groups that recommended limiting the amount of gluten and casein in the diets of people with autism spectral disorders. The aim is to discourage improperly digested proteins from traveling from the bloodstream to the brain, which causes interference with neurotransmissions that can cause autistic behavior.

(2) Chelation therapy. Advocates of chelation therapy recommend use of prescription drugs to cleanse the bloodstream of heavy metals such as mercury, lead or arsenic. These heavy metals are perceived to contribute not only to autism spectral disorders, but to other afflications such as attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD).

(3) Hippotherapy. In Greek, "hippo" isn't a word for a hippopotamus. It's the word for "horse." Hippotherapy treatment essentially involves riding a horse. Adherents such as the American Hippotherapy Association assert that a rider, such as a person with autism spectral disorders, receives a "dynamic sensory motor experience" unlike any other. A horse rider must demonstrate alert vision while the arms, torso, hips, spine and legs all are in motion. Thus, the central nervous system is stimulated.

(4) Music therapy. If a family doesn't have access to a horse pasture for hippotherapy, music is always available. Among mainstream medical practitioners, music therapy is perhaps the most accepted alternative form of natural treatment and natural remedies for autism spectral disorder. The autismusic.com website states: "AutisMusic aims to provide sounds which allow the listener to enter a relaxed state where the music may be used as a 'mesh' or 'framework' upon which to build 'nternal associations' and 'make sense' of communication. If you've ever said, 'music makes me think,' you understand." (Note: Auditory integration therapy and sensory integration therapy are based in similar theories.)

(5) Hyperbaric oxygen therapy. According to the website hyperbaric-oxygen-ca.com, 21 percent of each breath of air contains a new supply of oxygen, the renowned "giver of life." The oxygen moves from the lungs to the bloodstream to the brain. A hyperbaric oxygen chamber raises the ratio of oxygen, in theory stimulating the neurosystem of someone with autism spectral disorder.

Mainstream doctors and researchers often assert that evidence is lacking for natural treatment and natural remedies for autism spectrum disorders. In response, families who employ alternative approaches respond that no harm is done and that each individual is different, so why not test the theories?

SOURCES

http://www.amfoundation.org/autism.html

http://autism.about.com/od/alternativetreatmens/a/GFCFaltview.htm

http://www.brighttots.com/Chelation_Therapy.html

http://www.ebcpt.com/Hippotherapy.html

http://www.americanhippotherapyassociation.org/

http://www.hyperbaric-oxygen-ca.com/HowHBOTtWorks.htm