| IVL Products Health Watch - Natural Remedies Offer Hope For Autistic Children |
| The Official IVL Products Health Blog |
Dear Reader,
Baffling. Exasperating. Overwhelming. Heartbreaking. All of
those adjectives have been used to describe autism, a
developmental disorder that affects as many as one out of
every 150 children in this country. Autism is a lifelong
disorder that causes abnormal neurological development and
typically manifests itself by the age of 3.
According to the Autism Society of America, autism is a
complex developmental disorder that affects social
interaction and communication. As early as infancy, a child
with autism may be unresponsive to people and focus intently
on one item to the exclusion of others for long periods of
time.
Many children with autism engage in repetitive movements
such as rocking and twirling or in self-abusive behavior
such as biting or head banging. For reasons that are still
not understood, about 20 to 30 percent of children with
autism develop epilepsy by the time they reach adulthood.
Children with autism have a tremendous amount of social
anxiety, which can make attending school very difficult.
Although the symptoms will differ from child to child,
following are some of the most common traits of autism:
* Does not socially interact well with others, including
parents
* Shows a lack of interest in, or rejection of physical
contact
* Avoids making eye contact with others, including parents
* Fails to develop friends or interact with other children
* Is delayed or does not develop language
* Once language is developed, does not use language to
communicate with others
* Repeats same words or phrases over and over
* Has repetitive motor movements, such as rocking and hand or
finger flapping
* Does not like noises
* Has rituals
* Requires routines
Although experts disagree on the exact cause of the
disorder, many researchers believe that it is somehow
related to the measles, mumps, rubella vaccine (MMR). That
is because many parents report that their children were
developing normally until they received the vaccine.
Because traditional medicine provides only limited treatment
for autism, many parents turn to natural or alternative
treatments. Although the average pediatrician may not be
familiar with alternative treatments such as facilitated
communication, secretin therapy, auditory integration
training or nutritional supplements, they can usually
provide you with the name of a doctor who is.
Aromatherapy can help awaken the senses and also relax
autistic children. Some holistic practitioners recommend
giving the child a bath with invigorating oils in the
morning (eucalyptus, bergamot, lemon, peppermint or
rosemary). In the evening, oils such as chamomile, juniper,
lavender, marjoram and sandalwood may help the child relax
so that they can get a good night's sleep.
Massage is another alternative therapy that may be helpful
for autistic children. Massage is well known for its
relaxing effects but regular massages go a step further and
improve overall health. Although many people with autism
find light touching uncomfortable, they may enjoy the deep
pressure of massage. Massage has been shown to decrease
self-injury and other challenging behaviors in people with
autism.
There are several supplements that holistic practitioners
sometimes recommend for autistic children. Vitamin B-6, DMG,
Magnesium, Omega-3 fatty acids and others have been used to
help manage autism symptoms. Studies have shown that
autistic children benefit from a diet that is free from
gluten and casein. In other words, autistic children should
not eat wheat gluten or dairy products. You might also
experiment with removing corn and avoid food colors as much
as possible.
It is common for parents with autistic children to become
despondent. Parents cannot give in to despair. Try as hard
as you can to be loving, accepting and patient. Treating a
child with autism is a group effort involving many
professionals and non-professionals. The world of autism is
dynamic. It is critical that parents continue to educate
themselves and monitor, maintain and direct the goals of the
team for the benefit of their children.
Yours in good health,
Sheila McCormick
Editor, IVL Health Watch
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Visit our Health Forum and ask a question of one of the
country's leading experts in nutritional medicine. |
| Dr. Mikles is a Board Certified Internist,
and is the Medical Director of Choices Integrative
Healthcare Clinic in Sedona, Arizona. For more than 30
years, Dr. Mikles has been engaged in the study and practice
of the therapeutic effects of diet and nutrition, making him
one of the country's leading experts. |
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