by Robert Ullman
(This material is excerpted from our new book, A Drug-Free Approach to Asperger Syndrome and Autism: Homeopathic Care for Exceptional Kids.: Edmonds, Washington: Picnic Point Press. 2005)
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An Epidemic of Autism Spectrum Disorder
Current research indicates (ASD) has become an epidemic and that the rates are rising. We are speaking here about ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder), AS (Asperger Syndrome), and PDD (Pervasive Developmental Disorder). We refer you to our book, mentioned above, for the criteria and distinctions between these three disgnostic categories. In 1999, the California Department of Developmental Services (DDS) issued a report indicating a 273% increase in autism rates between 1987 and 1998. (19) Furthermore, from 1998 to 2002, the rates in California doubled; and in just one year, from 2001 to 2002, there was an alarming 31% increase. (20) Research has shown that over 81% of the autism population in the California system were born after 1980. (21) The implications of this are staggering: autism is on the rise, and we don’t know why. There are theories, however, a prominent one being the use of thimerosal, a mercury-containing preservative used in immunizations.
Epidemiological studies of prevalence mirror the overall trend demonstrated in California. Since 1979, the prevalence of ASD has nearly quadrupled. Below is a listing of some of these studies.
Year Prevalence of Conducted ASD, AS, or PDD Authors 1979 1 in 667 (ASD) Wing & Gould (23) 1993 1 in 227 (AS) Ehlers & Gillberg (24) 2001 1 in 159 (ASD) Chakrabarti & Fombonne (25) 2002 1 in 175 (ASD) Scott, Baron-Cohen, Bolton, & Brayne (26) 2003 1 in 167 (PDD) Fombonne (27)
We Began Treating Children with ASD Twelve Years Ago
Zachary, our first ASD patient, came to us over 12 years ago at the age of four and a half. This child was a long-awaited blessing from heaven, an only child born to parents married sixteen years. A shy little boy with a wiry, delicate frame, Zach had a number of traits that we now recognize to be typical of kids with ASD. What first caught our attention was Zach’s habit of scrunching up his face into a curious grimace. He also had the habit of talking to himself repetitively, echoing back whatever his mom said, and counting aloud in whispers. He was a bright boy though, and by the age of two years and three months Zachary had learned the alphabet and numbers up to 50 and had begun to read. By the time he reached preschool, he was two years ahead of his peers. An extraordinarily picky eater, Zach steadfastly refused to venture a bite of any food that was the least bit unfamiliar.
A highly sensitive boy, Zach withdrew from conflicts and felt uncomfortable around strangers. Most cartoons were far too violent for his taste. Touch was another area in which Zach’s sensitivities were hyper-acute. Whenever his hair was touched, he let out a scream. He was loath to touch even a plantain flower because of its spikiness. When exposed to loud noises, the child would cover his ears and grimace, as if in terrible pain. So low was Zach’s pain threshold that even minor scrapes that would go unnoticed by other children caused him extreme suffering. The tiniest bug and spider bites resulted in large, open sores.
It was Zachary’s sleep problems that led his mom to bring him to us. Shortly after his fourth birthday, he began to awaken around midnight, and then again at 4:00 a.m., agitated and fearful. The sound of the wind and the noise of cars on the highway made it impossible for the child to sleep soundly. In turn, Zach’s restless sleep patterns disrupted his parents’ rest, since he reported promptly to their bedroom each time he awoke.
Strange, Rare, and Peculiar
In treating children like Zachary, homeopaths are trained to zero in on anything unusual or unexpected about the individual. In the homeopathic literature, such symptoms are called strange, rare, and peculiar. The homeopathic approach is the opposite of the conventional medical approach of pigeon-holing individuals into diagnostic categories. Homeopaths listen carefully for what we have not heard before in order to discover what makes that person different from everyone else, even those with the same diagnosis. In Zachary’s case, we were struck by his exaggerated reaction to a level of noise that would be tolerable to the average child. Though Zach had a variety of somewhat odd characteristics, this sensitivity to noise was the most extreme. We gave him one dose of Theridion, a homeopathic medicine made from a small West Indian spider found on Orange trees. It is well-indicated for children who, among other symptoms, experience oversensitivity to, or fear of, noise.
Much Less Sensitive and Much More Appropriate
When Zach’s mom brought him back to see us two and a half months later, she was very pleased. Noticeably less anxious, Zach was sleeping much more restfully. His sensitivities had settled down considerably, though he still covered his ears when confronted by loud noises. The grimacing and self-talk were gone. Over the next year and a half, Zach continued to improve steadily. The night waking, grimacing, and self-talk did not return. His sensitivity to noise was dramatically reduced. We didn’t hear again from Zachary until three years ago, when his mother brought him back in for situational depression and hayfever. Because the majority of his ASD symptoms had resolved, Zach’s mom had seen no reason to continue homeopathic treatment during the intervening period of time. This time his hayfever resolved within days of taking Sabadilla (Mexican cevadilla), and the depression improved significantly within several weeks. After eight months, his mother again discontinued treatment. The last time we had any information about Zach was a report a year ago from his mom, who referred to her son as a “normal teenager.”
It is interesting, clinically, to remember that Judyth presented this case at a homeopathic conference some ten or so years ago. Homeopathic medicines made from spiders were not yet known to be commonly indicated for children with behavioral, learning, and developmental problems except for, perhaps, Tarentula hispanica. An experienced colleague of ours, even after hearing of Zach’s positive response, still suggested that we consider Hyoscyamus in the future, because of the child’s characteristic feigned laugh. In fact, Zachary needed no other medicine than Theridion until he was a teenager. The behaviors and gestures of children needing Hyoscyamus can be easily confused with those who can benefit from the spider medicines.
More and More Patients with ASD
Since treating Zach, we have had the opportunity to treat a growing number of youngsters on the autism spectrum, often with gratifying results. We just returned from speaking at the Autism One annual conference in Chicago. The keynote speaker commented that he was thrilled by the wonderful turnout for his presentation, and for the conference at large. But, he added, it was a bittersweet satisfation because he knew that the growing number of attendees meant a growing number of children diagnosed with ASD, which he considered tragic.
Homeopathy cannot help every child, but when treatment is successful, the outcome is well worth the investment of time and money. The parents of the children whose cases appear in this book are very glad that they took the leap to try homeopathic medicine.
Why ASD Children are Excellent Candidates for Homeopathic Care
- The more unusual the child, the easier it is to help him with homeopathy. The more features that differentiate one child from all others, the easier it is to identify the one “matching” medicine. It is far more difficult to find the correct medicine for a NT child with run-of-the-mill allergies than it is for a child with ASD, most of whom are quite unusual. Whenever we hear a feature or symptom that we have never before heard, it intrigues us. Unusual symptoms or behaviors narrow down the possibilities in choosing the correct remedy from over 2,000 medicines.
- Homeopathy is gentle medicine for super-sensitive kids. Many ASD children are highly sensitive to prescription drugs, foods, and other substances. Since the ingredients in homeopathic medicines are so highly diluted, allergic reactions, sensitivities, or even side effects are rare. Homeopathy is one of the gentlest forms of medicine known. A few children do react adversely in some way to homeopathic medicines, but virtually all such reactions can be minimized or eliminated by an alternative form of dosing.
- Homeopathic medicines pass the taste test. ASD kids are often extraordinarily picky about what they will eat. The smallest amount of nutritional supplements, whether given in capsules, liquids or hidden in foods, is often easily detected and adamantly refused. In contrast, many children enjoy taking their homeopathic medicine and ask for more!
- A homeopath does not need to physically examine a child to prescribe a homeopathic medicine. Hypersensitive kids often find being touched, especially by strangers, extremely uncomfortable. We rely on the child’s pediatrician to perform physical examinations, draw blood, and give shots as needed. This allows us to maintain a therapeutic relationship as the child’s ally and confidante rather than someone who inflicts pain or causes discomfort.
- The homeopathic interview is a perfect opportunity to talk about grand passions. Homeopaths love to engage kids in a lively discussion of their favorite subjects or activities. Even more than the background information parents may give, hearing the child talk about what fascinates him, observing his gestures and body language, and listening for impassioned tones of voice can lead a homeopath directly to the right medicine. Every word the child utters is of significance to us, particularly words or language that are unique. Whereas parents, teachers, and caregivers may roll their eyes if they hear even once more about the cube root of 4096, our eyes light up, and we record the words of the child feverishly, trying not to miss a single word.
- Homeopathic interviews can be fun! Our office is filled with toys, games, stuffed animals, and two sweet golden retrievers who win over many a wary child. When kids are able to relax and play a little before and during the interview, it often puts them in a good mood, and soon they begin to look forward to seeing us. The child has an opportunity, if willing, to speak with us alone. We recognize and appreciate each child as a valuable, interesting individual. In person or by phone, we give youngsters a chance to say what they want, discuss their dreams and fears, share what interests them such as movies, books or video games, and to describe their most cherished ideas, thoughts or fantasies. We show a genuine interest in them, and they know it. Our main objective is not to try to find a diagnostic cubbyhole in which to place them or to perform psychological testing, but rather, simply to get to know them for who they are. Homeopaths do not conduct formal psychological or IQ testing for diagnosing ASD, so if you want those tests done, please consult a pediatric or school psychologist or another appropriate professional.
- Highly motivated parents are a homeopath’s dream. Parents of children with ASD are highly motivated to find help for their kids, willing to go to any extent to help their children, including searching for any treatment that can turn around their youngsters’ symptoms and disabilities. They are willing to travel long distances to get the best possible treatment, sometimes even flying across country to see us. All told, parents of children on the autism spectrum tend to be committed to their child’s treatment and well-being for the long haul. Typically, one parent hears about homeopathy first and introduces it to the other. It is not uncommon for the mother, for example, to feel strongly, after reading one of our books, that homeopathy is the route for her child. The father may agree to the plan quite readily, or may be more reluctant. It is not necessary for both parents to have the same conviction that homeopathy will work for their child, but it is essential that everyone who is intimately involved with the child is willing to provide as much information as possible to the homeopath. When both parents are on board for the treatment journey, the odds of success are significantly increased.
- Homeopathic visits are infrequent. Compared to most of the other therapies, homeopathic visits are infrequent (typically 6 to 8 weeks apart or more) and will not tax your already full schedule. We realize that parents of ASD kids are often stretched to the max, driving their children from a doctor’s appointment to a speech therapy session to a social skills group. Add to this their siblings’ activities, highly complicated meal preparation for picky eaters or children on special diets, and you have a recipe for stress.
- Homeopathic interviews can be conducted by phone. Conducting homeopathic interviews by phone can be a blessing for parents and children with ASD. We recognize that many parents have difficulty traveling with their ASD children. Transitions are difficult for many of these children, making arriving on time for a scheduled appointment a real challenge. Additionally, some children prefer phone consultations because they fear face-to-face interactions with strangers.
What to Expect from Homeopathic Treatment of ASD
In our experience, the following list contains reasonable expectations for a child with ASD. If your child is more impaired, his progress may be slower or more limited. Having said that, we have worked with some children on that end of the continuum who exhibit spectacular responses to homeopathic treatment! Some ASD symptoms respond more readily to homeopathy than others. The list below details our own experience in treating ASD kids. Each child is different, but these categories can give you a general sense of your child’s prognosis.
Highly Likely to Improve with Homeopathic Treatment
- restlessness
- mood changes
- impulsivity
- concentration difficulties
- school performance
- angry outbursts
- oppositional behavior
- socially inappropriate behavior
- most physical complaints
- hypersensitivity
- confidence and self-esteem issues
- awkwardness in interpersonal relationships
- social isolation
- ability to make friends
- obsessive behavior
- inability to participate in team sports
Will Probably Get Better with Homeopathic Treatment
- perseveration
- eye contact
- learning disabilities
- pickiness
- self-stimulatory behavior
- tics
- hyperfocus on special interests
- encopresis (bowel impaction)
- bedwetting
- echolalia
You May Possibly See Changes with Homeopathic Treatment
- developmental delays
- “pedantic” speech
- lack of empathy
- inability to speak
Cases to Follow in Our Next Few Articles
We know that many of our readers enjoy this column primarily for our case studies. We felt that we needed to give an introduction to the subject of the homeopathic treatment of ASD before presenting cases, other than Zachary’s, as an introduction. Next issue we will present the case of a youngster with PDD, then AS. We hope that you find this subject as fascinating, and yet as troubling, as we do, and that you will benefit from these cases. Given the unfortunately growing number of children being diagnosed with ASD, it is very likely that you will come into contact, either professionally or personally, with these children or their families. The results that we are seeing in our practice encourage us to consider homeopathy as a treatment modality for the children, siblings, and parents.
References
19. California Department of Developmental Services. (1999). Changes in the population of persons with autism and pervasive developmental disorders in system: 1987 thru 1998. A report to the legislature March 1, 1999. California, USA: CDDS
20. California Department of Developmental Services. (2003). Autistic spectrum disorders: Changes in the California caseload: an update; 1999-2002. California, USA: CDDS.
21. California State Senate Committee on Health and Human Services. (2002) Childhood Immunizations Mandates: Politics vs. Public Health. California, USA
23. Wing, L. & Gould, J. (1979). Severe impairments of social interaction and associated abnormalities in children: Epidemiology and classification. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 9 (1), 11-29.
24. Ehlers, S. & Gillberg, C. (1993) The epidemiology of Asperger’s syndrome. A total population study. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 34 (8), 1327-1350.
25. Chakrabarti, S. & Fombonne, E. (2001) Pervasive developmental disorders in preschool children. Journal of the American Medical Association, 285 (24), 3093-3099.
26. Scott, F.J., Baron-Cohen, S., Bolton, P., & Brayne, C. (2002). Brief report: Prevalence of autism spectrum conditions in children 5-11 years in Cambridgeshire, UK. Autism, 6 (3), 231-237.
27. Fombonne, E. (2003) Epidemiological surveys of autism and other pervasive developmental disorders: An update. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 33 (4): 365-382.
Judyth Reichenberg-Ullman and Robert Ullman are licensed naturopathic physicians board-certified in homeopathy. Their books include Ritalin-Free Kids, Rage-Free Kids Prozac Free, Homeopathic Self-Care: The Quick and Easy Guide for the Whole Family, Whole Woman Homeopathy, The Patient’s Guide to Homeopathic Medicine, and Mystics, Masters, Saints and Sages-Stories of Enlightenment. They teach and lecture internationally and practice at The Northwest Center for Homeopathic Medicine, in Edmonds, Washington and Langley, Washington. Their latest book, coauthored with Ian Luepker, ND, DHANP cand., is A Drug-Free Approach to Asperger Syndrome and Autism: Homeopathic Medicine for Exceptional Kids (May, 2005). They treat patients by phone as well as in person, and can be reached by telephone at 425-774-5599, or you can visit their website at www.healthyhomeopathy.com.
by Robert Ullman, ND, DHANP and Judyth Reichenberg-Ullman, ND, DHANP
131-3rd Ave. North * Edmonds, Washington 98020 USA
Phone 425-774-5599 * Fax 425-670-0319
www.healthyhomeopathy.com
COPYRIGHT 2005 The Townsend Letter Group
COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group