Why Homeopathy?

Homeopathy for ASD: Exceptional Medicine for Exceptional Kids

Homeopathy may be unique and unconventional medicine, but it can produce exceptional changes in children with ASD. Not only can homeopathy address the social, learning and behavioral problems typical of ASD, but it also can help many acute and chronic health problems.

Since homeopathy treats the whole person, it takes into account all of the factors that make up your child’s unique blend of symptoms and behaviors, likes and dislikes. Because homeopaths individualize treatment, there is not one homeopathic medicine used for all cases of ASD. Instead, a homeopath’s job is to match the child to one of over two thousand medicines. In this chapter we will cover how homeopathy is a good match for your ASD child, how the correct medicine is found, and what to expect from a course of homeopathic treatment.

Why ASD Children Are Excellent Candidates for Homeopathic Care

• The More Unusual the Child, the Easier 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.

• Gentle Medicine for Super-Sensitive Kids
Many ASD children child may be 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. For the few children who do react adversely in some way to homeopathic medicines, 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, 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 for ASD
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.

• A Perfect Opportunity to Talk About His Grand Passion
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 type or write down the words of the child feverishly, trying not to miss a word.

• Homeopathy Can Help Children Make Friends
Parents of ASD kids typically come to us looking for help with their child’s unmanageable outbursts or academic difficulties. Another concern might be the ASD child’s inability to make friends, or not being invited to birthday parties. Although some ASD children may seem oblivious to social ostracism, often hurts them deeply, even though they may lack the skills to express those feelings. Others experience social rejection and derision with extreme sensitivity, frequently to the point of depression.

• Homeopathic Interviews Can Be Fun!
Our office is filled with toys, games, stuffed animals, and two sweet golden retrievers than win over many a wary child . When kids are engaged and in a good mood, they like to come to see us. The child has an opportunity, if willing, to speak with us alone. We recognize and appreciate each child as an 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 are genuinely interested in them. Our main objective is not to try to find a diagnostic cubby hole in which to place them or perform psychological testing, but rather, simply try to get to know them for who they are. (Homeopaths do not administer traditional 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.)

• Parents of Children with ASD are Highly Motivated to Find Help For Their Kids
These parents are frequently a homeopath’s dream, as they are 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 autistic spectrum tend to be committed for the long haul.

Typically, one parent hears about homeopathy first and introduces it to another. 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 important that everyone who is intimately involved with the child is willing to provide as much information as possible to the homeopath.

• 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 overfull schedule. We can see why parents of ASD kids are often stretched to the max. They are 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! Frankly, we don’t know how you parents do it!

• Homeopathic Interviews Can Be Conducted by Phone or Videoconference
Conducting homeopathic interviews by phone or videoconference can be a blessing for parents and children with ASD. We recognize that many parents have difficulty in 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.