A Drug-Free
Approach to Asperger Syndrome:
Exceptional Medicine for Exceptional Kids
by Judyth Reichenberg-Ullman,
ND, DHANP, LCSW and Robert Ullman, ND, DHANP
Leave No Stone Unturned
We’ve had the good fortune to treat a large number of kids
with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), behavioral,
and learning problems with homeopathic medicine. We stopped counting
at three thousand. How much we enjoy these children’s animated,
lively dispositions and marvel at how brimming with life they are!
Never a dull moment! How often we have commented on the steadfast
determination of their parents to search out the best care for their
kids, whether conventional or alternative. Now we are now seeing
more and more children with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD), especially
Asperger Syndrome (AS) and high-functioning autism (HFA). Quite
a few of them have been previously misdiagnosed, or dually diagnosed,
with ADHD- up to sixty-five percent according to some studies. Parents
of these special children are looking out of the box for new answers
and effective treatments. If we thought parents of kids with ADHD
were motivated, those of ASD take dedication and determination to
a new level of magnitude. we never fail to be amazed by the willingness
of these parents to stop whatever they’re doing and make caring
for their ASD kids their number one priority, be it preparing gluten
and casein-free meals, carting them around from one therapy to another.
It is for to parents that we dedicate this article, as well as our
upcoming book with the same title. We are very impressed with how
successful homeopathy can be in treating children with AS and HFA.
In turning over those stones for your kids, some of you may never
have even heard of homeopathy. Or used it exclusively for burns,
insect bites, colds, and ear aches. If even one child’s life
can be turned around with homeopathy as a result of this article,
we will be as thrilled as the parents. What makes our day is to
hear, “I’ve got my child back…. Would you believe
Connor has been mainstreamed?… Susie made a friend…
Kevin is just a normal kid now.”
Trevor is Just Different!
We homeopaths spend hours at a time hearing about our patients’
lives. Their health problems, emotional ups and downs, and symptoms
of all kinds. Whatever they have to share with us is a part of their
homeopathic picture. Homeopaths love those characteristics that
are unusual and quirky. The odder, the better. In fact, homeopathic
literature refers to the most informative symptoms as “strange,
rare, and peculiar. ”Symptoms that are unique to the individual
and that , often, make no logical sense. Like the child we saw last
month who vomits but never feels nauseated. It is by putting together
the puzzle of these odd features which are unique to each individual,
child or adult, that we can choose one homeopathic medicine from
a pool of over two thousand and counting. (By the way, we gave that
little girl homeopathic iron and has not vomited since.)
The first words we hear from many AS parents are, “He’s
just different. Not like the other kids in class. Not even like
the other kids in our family.” We hear these same phrases
again and again. In our office, these kids may erupt exuberantly
with an encyclopedic fund of information about trains or cube roots
or sharks, or whatever is their grand passion of the moment. The
stiff, awkward gait, literal, rigid tone of voice, and minimal eye
contact are often readily observable. These children are indeed
wired differently. And, as homeopaths who are always looking for
what makes each child unique, these patients are our cup of tea.
Parents of AS and HFA children have no problem whatsoever enumerating
all the ways their children stand out from their peers, which is
precisely what leads us to find a homeopathic medicine that uniquely
fits that child.
AS on the Rise and No Magic Bullet
“On the surface, it appears that AS has become an epidemic.
An increase in referrals to physicians appears to be a phenomenon
seen in virtually all countries ( Schopler, Eric. Asperger Syndrome
or High-Functioning Autism, p 395.) In fact, two studies showed
a 180 percent increase between the years 1989 and 1993.2 As clinicians,
teachers and parents have become well informed about the hallmark
features of AS, the number of diagnoses has simultaneously increased.
According to a Swedish population study conducted in 1993, the minimum
prevalence for AS is 36 per 10,000 children (age 7-16). When the
study included suspected and possible AS cases, the prevalence doubled.
(Gillberg, C. & Coleman, M., The Biology of Autistic Syndromes,
2nd Edition .London: Mac Keith Press, 1992) P.44 Other epidemiologists
place the incidence of ASDs in the same ballpark, from around 1
in 250 to 1 in 500.” (Reichenberg-Ullman, Judyth et al, A
Drug-Free Approach to Asperger Syndrome)
Two-thirds of children diagnosed with AS take medications at some
point. (Ami Klin, Fred Volkmar, and Sara Sparrow, eds., Asperger
Syndrome (New York: Guilford Press, 2000), p. 214. We are not just
talking about stimulants, such as Ritalin, Adderall, and Concerta,
used in ADHD, but also anti-depressant, anti-convulsant, and anti-psychotic
drugs. Strong medicines, a majority of which have not been proven
safe or effective for these children by the FDA. There is little
any drug can do to turn to make an AS kid socially acceptable. The
best psychiatric medications can do is treat a ‘specific target
symptom’ such as aggression. But what if that aggression is
a justified response to relentless taunting and bullying? Such treatment,
in the view of a homeopath, does not address the root of the problem.
It is important to realize that there are no psychotropic medications
that specifically address the core symptoms of AS. Although medications
may address isolated symptoms and control unwanted behaviors such
as attention problems, aggression, ritualistic or stereotyped behaviors,
depression and anxiety, drugs will never cure the core symptoms
of AS.
Exceptional Medicine for Exceptional Kids
This is where homeopathy comes in. Homeopaths seek not to box kids
into diagnostic categories, but rather to understand each child
in depth. Homeopathy treats patients, not diagnoses. Quibbling over
labels does not cure a child. We saw a child recently with classic
features of AS. A prominent pediatric neurologist ruled out the
diagnosis, explaining that he was lacking one out of a list of six
diagnostic criteria. Just what did he have? The neurologist did
not know. The purpose of a two-hour, in-depth interview with both
parent(s) and child is primarily to listen and observe. To attempt
to perceive what is most unique about that child and how he or she
is different from every other child, even those with the same psychiatric
diagnosis. To understand how that child feels, perceives the world,
and behaves in response to it. And to find the homeopathic medicine
that matches the child.
As a parent of an Aspie (as kids with AS are affectionately called),
you need not worry about side effects from homeopathic medicines.
They are safe, natural, nontoxic, and treat all of your child’s
symptoms, not just the ASD features. Homeopathy can be used along
with whatever you’re already doing: gluten and carbohydrate-free
(GF/CF) or simple carbohydrate (SCD) diets, pharmaceuticals, nutritional
supplements, or behavioral, sensory integration, social skills,
or other therapies. If the homeopathic treatment is successful,
you may find that some of the interventions are no longer necessary.
Once the match is made between the patient and the correct homeopathic
medicine, you will notice a definite change for the better in your
child. There may be a slight worsening of symptoms for a few days
to a week. Then you should notice a steady improvement over a period
of weeks or months. Changes in behavior, speech, affect, attention,
communication, and mannerisms are common. After that, the medicine
is only repeated when there is a relapse in symptoms, typically
only a few times a year. How much improvement, you might ask, is
possible with your child? It depends on the child, but parents regularly
report an increased ability to make friends, fewer self-stimulating
and inappropriate behaviors, improvement in academic skills, even
to the point of moving to a mainstream classroom, more self-confidence,
and an overall feeling of happiness. Like any therapy, homeopathy
cannot help every child with AS and HFA, but our results so far
are very encouraging.
The Monster Thing
The most graphic way we can share with you what is possible with
homeopathic treatment is through our clinical experience. Take Tito
for example: A one-of-a-kind kid, Tito had proved a challenge to
even the foremost mental health professionals and diagnosticians.
A prominent child psychologist, after testing Tito, reported that
he exhibited the profile of a potential serial killer. Next came
the label of bipolar disorder, and, finally, Asperger syndrome.
We never got to meet Tito in person because his family lived three-thousand
miles away, but we did speak to him anour my favorite cases. A highly
sensitive seven-year old, Tito’s mom exlaborated: “You
could break his heart in two seconds. He nearly collapses if you
imply that he did anything wrong.” Traumatized by incessant
bullying at only three years of age, Tito had lost his two front
teeth when another kid kicked him in the mouth.
What was a child so sensitive that he could scarcely bear to be
criticized to do in a climate of relentless harassment? Tito developed
a fascinating defense to bullying and ostracism. He embraced everything
monster. Just as some Aspies focus exclusively on fans or locomotives,
Tito obsessed on blood and horror. To the extreme. Gore was all
he could talk about. Fascinated with the prospect of drinking blood,
Tito pricked his arms to taste his blood . He recounted horror stories
endlessly- to those who listened and those who did not. Engrossed
in his latest harrowing tale, Tito would scarcely notice his mom
exiting from the car to pump gas. When she returned, the gruesome
story had continued, oblivious to her absence.
Tito came by his storytelling talent righteously. His father was
a screen writer. As if the words alone were not convincing enough,
Tito loved to act out the Hitchcock-like plots. Gently grabbing
his mother’s throat in the middle of the supermarket aisle,
he mimicked the role of Count Dracula. In a characteristic AS mode,
Tito perseverated on blood. Only talk of cutting necks and drinking
blood. Alone and friendless, there was nothing else to occupy Tito’s
attention. Except for germs, which was his other disproportionate
concern. In fact, “germs” was almost as common a word
in his vocabulary as “blood.” Tito had found a way to
get back at his aggressors. Other parents complained that their
kids couldn’t sleep thanks to Tito’s tales of horror.
Unfortunately, however, there was a down side. Even he himself was
frightened by grotesque and vivid images. Tito had one more fear:
dogs.
Tito’s academic skills were mixed. Articulate beyond his age,
like many children with AS, he was precocious with language. However,
delayed reading, dyslexia, poor handwriting, along with social awkwardness
and his obsessive tendencies had landed him in a school for learning-disabled
children.
Just Enough of the Right Medicine
If you think, for a moment, about what stands out most about Tito,
and makes him different from other kids, even those with AS, the
answer is obvious: his fixation on blood. The wonder of homeopathy
is how one particular substance from nature can match all of Tito’s
symptoms so well. We prescribed I (Peruvian bark). Curiously enough,
given the theme of sucking blood, it is the foremost homeopathic
medicine for weakness from blood loss. It is also well-suited to
children who feel persecuted, feel excited about hearing horrible
things, fear dogs, and are mild and gentle souls. A single dose
was given.
Tito’s improvement was nothing but dramatic. Within days after
taking the China, “monster thing disappeared completely.”
Reading came more easily than ever before. In fact, his teacher
assigned one book and Tito polished off ten. No more talk of blood
and gore. His handwriting became legible. For a while, Tito dreamt
of four-armed monsters, alligators, and axes. It appeared that any
remaining aggressions were acted out subconsciously.
Seven months after beginning homeopathic treatment, Tito was moved
to a mainstream classroom with gifted children and was considered
one of the best students in that class. Expressive language had
improved considerably and he now had several friends. We treated
this fascinating youngster for two years. His storytelling talents
had found an appropriate creative outlet in lively short stories.
Tito developed a love of basketball. When we last spoke with him,
two years after initially prescribing the China, the career
of his dreams was to become either “a great basketball player
or an actor. Or, if those two don’t work out, a writer.”
At this point in time, Tito’s family moved out of the country
and did not continue care.
Perhaps Homeopathy is the Stone For Your Child?
Now you know what is possible for an AS child who is treated with
homeopathy. There are many stones out there to uncover in the realms
of both natural medicine and mainstream medicine. Your journey to
help your child unfold to his or her fullest potential may be direct
or make many involve bends in the road and detours. I have seen
what is possible for many children with AS and ASD and I urge you
to leave no stone unturned until you find the healing you are seeking.
_____________________
A Drug-Free Approach for
Autism Spectrum Disorder
By Ian R. Luepker, ND, DHANP
(This material is excerpted from our new book, A
Drug-Free Approach to Asperger Syndrome and Autism: Homeopathic
Care for Exceptional Kids. : Edmonds, WA: Picnic Point Press. 2005)
Strangers in a Strange Land
Children and adults with Asperger Syndrome (AS), a high-functioning
form of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), often feel like Valentine
Michael Smith, the main character in Robert Heinlein’s classic
science-fiction novel, Stranger in a Strange Land. The last human
survivor of a failed expedition to Mars, and raised from infancy
by Martians, Smith possesses superior intelligence, but has the
social and communication skills of an alien toddler. The excerpt
below gives some indications of the challenges he faces soon after
returning to Earth as a twenty-five year-old adult.
None of his thinkings [sic] had been in Earth symbols. Simple English
he had freshly learned to speak, but much less easily than a Hindu
uses it to trade with a Turk. Smith used English as one might use
a code book, with tedious and imperfect translation for each symbol.
Now his thoughts, pure Martian abstractions from half a million
years of wildly alien culture, traveled so far from any human experience
as to be utterly untranslatable…The commonplace room was not
commonplace to him, there was nothing remotely like it on Mars.
For Valentine Michael Smith, and for those with ASD, the world
may seem an incomprehensible place, an alien planet where one is
held against one’s will, without even a guidebook. Imagine
what it is like to be highly intelligent, but to continually misunderstand
facial expressions, gestures, and social cues. Imagine further what
it is like to miss out on the subtle nuances in communication that
are so fundamental to expressing humor, sarcasm, frustration, or
sympathy, while those closest to you throw up their hands in exasperation
at decisions that seem completely logical to you. This is the plight
of the ASD child. Imagine how challenging it would be to live this
way for one day, for even one hour, without becoming confused, depressed,
anxious, frustrated, or angry. People with ASD populate this alien
world every day, day after day. Adapting to the social world depends
on their learning effective communication and social skills, understanding
how differently those around them think and reason, and expressing
feelings that don't always make sense.
What is Autism Spectrum Disorder?
Autism is described as a spectrum disorder to signify characteristics
shared among a group with a common diagnosis, but who differ considerably
in manifestation and severity of those core characteristics. From
classical autism to high-functioning Asperger Syndrome, ASD isolates,
robbing a child of his ability to communicate or grasp the more
subtle, non-verbal nuances of social interaction most neurotypicals
(NTs) take for granted. Below, we have listed the core traits of
ASD:
-Blindness to social cues
-Communication problems
-Restricted repertoire of interests
-Perseverative (repetitive) behaviors
-Extreme need for structure and routine
-Difficulties with gross motor skills
However, the impact of ASD goes beyond difficulties with communication,
social interaction and repetitive behaviors. These children often
have trouble with sensory processing; gastro-intestinal inflammation
and food sensitivities; connective tissue laxity; problems with
muscle tone, posture, coordination and autonomic reflexes; and a
compromised immune system. Additionally, 65% of children diagnosed
with ASD have a secondary, dual diagnosis such as depression, anxiety,
ADD, Tourettes syndrome, tics or insomnia.
The Autism Epidemic: How Prevalent is ASD?
Current research indicates ASD has become an epidemic and that the
rates are rising. In 1999, the California Department of Developmental
Services issued a report indicating a 273 % increase in autism rates
between 1987 and 1998. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
in the United States has reported the rate of ASD is now one in
every 166 children. The implications of this are staggering: autism
is on the rise, and we don’t conclusively know why.
Why ASD Children are Excellent Candidates for Homeopathic
Care
Homeopathy individualizes treatment like no other medicine, and
this is what makes it an ideal form of intervention for children
with ASD. Because ASD has a global impact on a child’s ability
to function, it requires an approach that individualizes treatment
and addresses the totality of a child’s symptoms. In these
cases, we typically find a wealth of individualizing characteristics
on the physical, mental and emotional levels to narrow down the
choice of possible remedies. The more unusual the child, the easier
it is to help him with homeopathy. 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 medicine from over two thousand medicines.
The homeopathic interview is a perfect opportunity to talk about
their special interests or “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.
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 remedies
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
homeopathics, but virtually all such reactions can be minimized
or eliminated by an alternative form of dosing, such as LMs or plussed
remedies.
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. 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.
What are the challenges in treating ASD with homeopathy?
Propelled by public awareness and growing evidence that early intervention
is important for a successful outcome, parents are inclined to leave
no stone unturned in seeking out treatment for their children. As
a result, it isn’t uncommon for a child to be undergoing multiple
interventions simultaneously. For example, heavy metal chelation,
glutathione, social skills groups, Applied Behavioral Analysis,
hyperbaric oxygen, chiropractic, and dietary interventions are a
few of the treatments that are commonly used with this group. This
can pose a challenge for homeopathic treatment, especially if these
interventions are being added at the same time. Adding too many
therapies simultaneously can make it confusing to know to what extent
each of them is working. Generally, we recommend that once a new
homeopathic medicine is prescribed, you wait a couple of months
before introducing a new intervention in order to adequately evaluate
the effect of the homeopathy. Additionally, it is preferable to
avoid adding new interventions within eight weeks of commencing
homeopathic treatment.
Working with these children requires a flexible case-taking approach.
Because these children have varying communication styles, case-taking
needs to be tailored to the patient. For example, children with
ASD are often very literal, so employing Divya Chhabra’s ‘free
association’ method probably won’t bear fruit. Often,
engaging these kids in a discussion of their special interest will
provide a useful window into how they perceive the world.
Johan: Bullied and on the Social Sidelines
When we first met Johan, he was eleven years old and on Ritalin.
Fifth grade had gotten off to a rocky start for Johan, and by mid-winter
it hadn’t become any easier. Johan’s mom aptly described
him as “eccentric,” and this became readily apparent
as we interviewed him. The child’s behaviors and interactions
with other children either alienated or “grossed out”
his peers, leaving him on the social sidelines. Like many children
on the autism continuum, Johan was an easy target for bullying and
teasing because of his differences and inability to pick up on his
classmates’ social cues. As a result, he would occasionally
return home sad and bruised, following fights with the other children.
Johan was clearly different. His movements were a bit uncoordinated,
his language overly formal, and his voice tone peculiar. Furthermore,
he would laugh at inappropriate moments, and the quality of the
laughter was unnerving and awkward.
His mom explained, “The school says that he invades his neighbor’s
space. He has no awareness of social boundaries or unspoken rules.
He’ll talk really loud, even when he’s right in front
of your face. Johan doesn’t seem to have a sense of normal
conversation. Sometimes he’ll start a conversation and neglect
to give any context or reference for what he’s saying.”
“He is truthful to a fault!” his mom bemoaned. “When
other kids provoke him to the point of defending himself, and he
is caught, he will explain everything to the teacher, fully expecting
her to believe him. When that does not happen, he doesn’t
feel listened to and becomes sad.”
When Johan first walked into our consultation room, he immediately
began to investigate the room and its contents. “I feel like
no one likes me, not even my parents. People are on me. No one at
school talks with me or wants to play with me and I feel sad a lot,”
Johan explained. His mom confirmed this, and was prompted, in part,
to make an appointment with us because Johan had been recently talking
about suicide.
I Can Feel the Animal’s Pain
Johan felt enormous compassion for animals. One day during recess,
two boys were threatening to squish a worm. Happening upon the scene,
Johan exclaimed, “Hey! Wait! Worms are life. Killing one worm
could change the whole future of a tree! And trees help us live.
” This complex logic was lost on the boys, so he swooped down,
grabbed the worm, and dashed off. The two boys gave chase, and as
Johan yelled over his shoulder, “I won’t let you kill
this worm,” he carried the worm to safety!
“I am very sensitive to animals hurting or bleeding,”
Johan continued. Once, when he was watching an episode of Animal
Planet with his father, the program’s biologists were attempting
to net a manta ray suffering from a damaged flipper. In the process
of netting the ray, the flipper was torn off. Johan immediately
fainted. With a loud clunk, his head hit the kitchen table. “It
affects me deeply when an animal gets hurt. It hurts me on the inside
and outside. I’m really sensitive to that kind of stuff.”
Johan explained.
His mother shared that Johan’s language was considerably
delayed. In fact, he didn’t speak in complete sentences until
he was six years old. Johan routinely had trouble falling asleep
at night. Additionally, he experienced recurring headaches. He described
the pain as a tight band stretching from ear to ear across his forehead.
Exceptional Features
Johan’s understanding of social cues seriously undermined
his ability to mesh with his peers. This left him feeling sad, and
on the fringe during recess. His language was considerably delayed,
and his speech peculiar and odd. Johan’s grand passions had
changed over the years, but most recently, Bionicles had become
his favorite pastime. All of these traits are common to children
with ASD.
We found the intensity of Johan’s sensitivity to others’
pain, and his compassion for suffering animals striking. His ability
to empathize with an animal to the point of fainting because he
“felt their pain, inside and out,” was truly remarkable!
The remedy that best fit Johan was the beautiful yellow water lily,
Nuphar luteum. Children needing this medicine exhibit great
moral sensibility. They can experience acute pain on witnessing
the suffering of animals. Nuphar luteum is also used to
treat the type of headache Johan described: a pressing band-like
pain across the forehead.
Gradual but Steady Progress toward Balance and Happiness
Over the next three months after taking his homeopathic medicine,
Johan’s chief concerns improved steadily. He reported feeling
more patient with the other kids at school, and felt that he was
getting along better with his classmates. When asked how he felt
the homeopathic medicine had helped him, he answered, “It’s
helping me make ‘half’ friends.” Johan’s
mom noted he seemed to respond faster when addressed. “This
is a target area that has changed. He is more engaged, wanting to
be involved in discussions and activities that don’t normally
interest him. His grades have improved, and he is more on task.”
During this office visit, Johan expressed a new concern, “I
feel nervous about something, but I don’t know what it is.
I feel like I did something wrong,” In spite of this sentiment,
Johan admitted that he was feeling happier in general.
Johan’s homeopathic medicine had moved him in the right direction.
Although the changes were gradual, they were encouraging. The direction
toward balance and health is more important than the pace with homeopathy.
We repeated the Nuphar and Johan’s healing process
accelerated further over the next two months. During our next visit,
Johan announced that he felt more “laid back” and “cool
with the world.” He said he felt more able to “leave
things behind” and that everything was going better with other
kids. “People don’t mind me being around them now,”
he commented. Johan added that he had been feeling “more mellow”
and not as worried. The feeling of being “nervous about something”
had dissolved.
Johan’s mother confirmed the progress. “He’s
definitely doing a lot better. A tenfold improvement!” She
was pleased to report that Johan had not expressed any suicidal
thoughts since starting homeopathic treatment. At this point, his
parents decided to take him off of Ritalin, under the supervision
of the prescribing physician.
Johan’s progress continued over the next couple of months.
“I haven’t had any nightmares since the very first dose,”
he informed us. “I have made two new friends and it’s
easy to talk with them. The first time we played was the most fun
time I’ve ever had!” Johan assured us that he had not
been feeling worried or nervous, and was much happier. His mom agreed
with her son’s observations.
During our most recent visit, Johan informed us that his sleep
problems had returned. “I am thinking about how my next day
will go,” he explained. He had continued to make friends more
easily. “The first day of school, I made a new friend. It’s
as simple as one, two, three! And I think that it is because of
my weirdness that they like me!” It warms the heart to see
this delightfully compassionate child feel good about himself!
____________________
HOMEOPATHIC CARE OF CHILDREN
ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM, PART I :
By Judyth Reichenberg-Ullman, ND, DHANP, LCSW andRobert
Ullman, ND, DHANP
(This material is excerpted from our new book, A Drug-Free Approach
to Asperger Syndrome and Autism: Homeopathic Care for Exceptional
Kids. : Edmonds, WA: Picnic Point Press. 2005)
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 was 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.
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 twelve 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 already 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 fifty 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 an 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
over-sensitivity 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 hay fever. 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 hay fever 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. A 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 Hysocyamus
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 medicine 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 try 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 you will engage in, 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 socialskills 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 the less-able 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.
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 developmenta
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): 365-38
______
HOMEOPATHIC CARE OF CHILDREN
ON THEAUTISM SPECTRUM, PART II :A CHILD WITH PERVASIVE DEVELOPMENTAL
DISORDER
By Judyth Reichenberg-Ullman, ND, LCSW and Robert Ullman, ND
Paolo: Free Trogs and Cracknutters
Paolo, eight years old, was adopted from a Brazilian orphanage.
A charmer from the get-go, everyone who met the child was mesmerized
by his contagious smile and liquid brown eyes. With strangers, Paolo
was quite gregarious. At home, he was the opposite—cranky,
complaining, and constantly dissatisfied. Paolo’s mom recounted
how a “demon look” would come over his face, at which
time he would behave as if he were drunk. During these episodes,
Paolo would roll his eyes wildly, run around frenetically, and literally
bounce off the walls. The child’s outbursts were even more
extreme after ingesting food colorings, additives and preservatives.
This marked correlation had led his mother to put him on the Feingold
diet, which had clearly helped to some degree. One particular afternoon,
Paolo, unbeknownst to his mother, had pilfered some food-coloring-laden
candy in the supermarket. That evening, in church, he sang and whistled
for an hour.straight. His parents’ reproaches didn’t
faze him in the least. Rebellious against his restricted diet, Paolo
ate any “forbidden” food he could get his hands on.
Paolo’s incessant “whys” exhausted even the patience
of an adoring mother. After he would ask “What is Paolo doing?”
five or ten times, though the answer was quite obvious, his mother
would finally gave in and tell him. Rather than being content with
her answer, the interrogation now switched to, “Why is Paolo
doing it?” Instead of using “I” when referring
to himself, he often began his sentences with his own name, referring
to himself in the third person: “Paolo wants to go to the
store today.” Dyslexic, the boy routinely mixed up words and
phrases and reversed letters, even whole words—“free
trog” instead of “tree frog”, “Acrifa”
for “Africa”, “cracknutter” for “nutcracker”,
and “lawn the mow” instead of “mow the lawn”.
Talk About the Leopard I Am
Paolo loved to torment the family cat by grabbing her from behind
or frightening her with sticks. The cat knew to steer clear of him,
especially if he was in one of his strange moods. Paolo also loved
to pretend he was an animal. Whenever he saw an animal, either in
real life or in a book or video, Paolo became that creature, and
begged his parents to share, in explicit detail, everything they
knew about that kind of animal. “Talk about the leopard I
am. Tell me his name and what he eats for dinner.” When he
first arrived from Brazil, he ate his food from a dish on the floor,
just like their kitty. Other unusual mannerisms included swiveling
his head from side to side and sucking his thumb while rolling on
the floor. The youngster had the habit of touching and smelling
everything he picked up. He also insisted that his mother take both
parts of their conversations, and that she say aloud certain phrases
just as he instructed.
Paolo was not much interested in going outside, though he occasionally
threw his baseball bat around the yard or played briefly on the
swing. Even inside, it was hard for the child to find an activity
he enjoyed. Drawing
and coloring were no fun. Only videos or listening to books read
to him by his
parents held the boy’s interest for very long. Paolo liked
being with other
children, but they avoided him. Consequently, Paolo had no one he
could call a
friend.
Bob the Builder and Hot Dogs, Cool Cats
More than willing to participate in the homeopathic interview, Paolo
immediately contradicted his mother by assuring us that he had plenty
of friends, and loved playing outside. He also described how much
he liked building towers with blocks, then knocking them down for
fun. He enjoyed his Bob the Builder video, because “Bob was
a worker, who had a machine and built with wood”. Another
favorite video was Hot Dogs, Cool Cats. In fact, Paolo admitted
his affinity for all kinds of animals—cats, squirrels, bunnies,
leopards and parakeets. He liked to play hide and seek with his
cat, Thomas, and in quiet moments, drew pictures of the kitty. “Thomas
is the bravest cat I’ve ever met!” exclaimed Paolo.
Paolo was an active child. He was always twisting himself in the
phone cord, or rolling in the car, across the floor, or in bed.
Thumb sucking and drooling were also frequent, as were spinning,
banging, and crashing into whatever obstacles were in his way. Paolo
also had the habit of spinning his toys. Even during quiet play,
Paolo would mutter with agitation and make random threats like “I’ll
hit you and put you in jail.”
Reaction to an MMR Vaccine
One possible source of Paolo’s developmental and social delay
was a severe reaction to the MMR vaccine at twenty-seven months,
shortly after he was adopted. The boy immediately developed an inflamed
lump on his buttocks, and limped around irritably for days. Afterwards
Paolo was far more upset than before the immunization and screamed
inconsolably. The shrieking continued with frequency throughout
his toddler-hood. Paolo lost nearly two years of language development,
and his motor skills and balance declined as well. He lost any knowledge
of how to play and, if given toys, would simply not know what to
do with them. Prior to the immunization, despite having been raised
in an orphanage, the boy’s development appeared normal. Actually,
Paolo had been the darling of the orphanage, so much so that he
had been given a crib with a view!
Special Features
Paolo’s developmental delay and autistic features may have
resulted from a couple of factors. An orphan of uncertain parentage,
the family history of the birth parents is not available. However,
it is clear that the boy suffered a severe reaction to the MMR vaccine.
His “intoxicated” behavior and demon-like demeanor were
clearly exacerbated by food additives. In addition to these features,
Paolo was fascinated with being an animal and was severely dyslexic.
We prescribed for Paolo the homeopathic medicine derived from chocolate.
One of the main characteristics of youngsters needing this particular
medicine is their animal-like tendencies. Another indication for
Chocolate is a feeling of abandonment and a desire for
extra love and attention, as is often seen in orphans. These kids
feel as if they missed out on the nurturing and fun of infancy and
childhood. Youngsters needing this medicine can make mistakes in
speaking or writing and may act or feel as though they were intoxicated.
More Affectionate than Ever Before
Paolo benefited a great deal from the Chocolate. At first,
he experienced a brief return of symptoms from the past, a common
phenomenon after being given the correct medicine. These included
an episode of hysterical crying and regression reminiscent of his
behavior two years earlier. For a week or two, Paolo hid under the
table when he was angry, as he had done around the same time as
the wailing. Everything settled down after the initial couple of
weeks. Paolo’s mom reported at his six-week return visit,
“On the whole, he is better than before. He is easier to get
along with and more cooperative. The good far outweighs the bad.”
The most startling change was Paolo’s spontaneous affection.
Much to his parents’ delight, he was more cuddly and sweeter
than they had ever seen him. The “drunk behavior” and
“demon look” had also disappeared. The kitty must have
breathed a sigh of relief, because Paolo now merely chased her playfully
rather than tormenting her. The twirling and spinning had stopped
as well. The youngster’s drawing abilities had improved significantly,
especially cats, dinosaurs, and zebras. To his parents’ amazement,
Paolo stopped repeating the same questions over and over, though
he still asked “why?” a number of times in a series.
Paolo’s speech and writing were better as well, and he no
longer reversed words and letters. Another interesting change was
that he no longer referred to himself in the third person. Paolo
still sucked his thumb and rolled around, though less frequently
than before taking the Chocolate. He still loved to pretend
he was a lion, a bear, or a tiger, and continued to beg his parents
to describe the animal he was portraying.
The Diagnosis of PDD-NOS No Longer Fit
With the stress of school starting, Paolo suffered a partial return
of his symptoms, which homeopaths call a “relapse,”
and we repeated the medicine. Unfortunately, that dose did not act,
possibly because of a conventional medication given to the boy for
ringworm. We gave a stronger dose of the Chocolate. Within
an hour after taking the dose, Paolo was “a different child.”
He soon fully recovered all the gains he had made previously, and
more.
Two months later he received another dose after being exposed to
strong incense at church. Once again he responded beautifully to
the medicine. Paolo’s teacher confirmed that he was staying
on task and following directions well. He still reacted occasionally
to offending foods, such as candy with food coloring, but his reactions
were less frequent and less severe.
Paolo has continued to progress extremely well over the past year,
with occasional repetitions of the Chocolate. He has also
become increasingly affectionate and cooperative. A developmental
pediatrician concluded that, although the child was previously diagnosed
with Pervasive Developmental Disability-Not Otherwise Specified
(PDD-NOS), Paolo’s symptoms were more
fitting AS, but, given how well he related to adults and peers,
he felt that even
that diagnosis was no longer quite appropriate.
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