Autism is a type of developmental disorder affecting mainly language and social interaction (although it may also include a variety of physical symptoms) that profoundly impacts a child’s life.
The autistic spectrum is quite broad, including children who are developmentally delayed as well as the 10% of autistic children who are savants.
Children with autism experience the world differently than the rest of us. Many inhabit a world of their own. When they find themselves in a situation with other kids, they are much more likely to engage in parallel rather than interactive play and to be more curious about objects than people.
Language is another area of concern and can vary tremendously depending on where the child falls on the autistic spectrum.
Homeopathy has several advantages over conventional medicine when it comes to treating children on the autistic spectrum. First, homeopaths love people who are “out of the box”—whose symptoms are quirky, unique, odd.
It is precisely these unusual rather than common symptoms that lead us to prescribe a homeopathic remedy. Ironically, symptoms like toe walking, arms flapping, and obsessing over trains may seem unique and uncommon behavior for most kids, but they are commonplace among autistic children.
The second advantage of homeopathy is that we treat the whole person—all, not part, of the symptoms. A child with language delay, heightened sensitivity, a bowel problem such as chronic constipation or incontinence, and impaired social functioning.
A conventional doctor, or even a holistic or complementary physician, would need to address each of these problems separately. Not so with homeopathy. A single homeopathic remedy can address all of these symptoms.
Third, these children can be very sensitive to and finicky about taste and smell. Homeopathic remedies taste great—in fact, kids often ask for them. They may not need to be given very frequently—in some cases, just one dose every few months.
And, fourth, homeopathy is the safest type of medicine you will find. Parents who are gun-shy after immunizations and other medications can rest assured that homeopathy is non-toxic and natural.
Homeopathy is found to be especially effective for physical and behavioral complaints. A significant improvement in seizures and bowel problems, for example, along with a decrease in outbursts can thrill the parents of such children, as can even small increments of improvement in language and social interaction.
Some children in the mid-range of autism can experience more dramatic changes in all of these areas. There is more far-reaching success with children with Asperger’s Disorder, a group of kids who can be highly articulate, verbal, and more socially interactive than others on the autistic spectrum.
Obsessiveness and quirky habits diminish, desire to engage in age-appropriate activities normalizes, and communication skills improve enough that these kids are not noticeably different from their peers.