Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsElimination DietChinese MedicineSupplementsMusic TherapyMassage TherapyYogaChelation TherapyOxytocin TherapyCamel’s MilkHyperbaric Oxygen
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Elimination Diet
Chinese Medicine
Supplements
Music Therapy
Massage Therapy
Yoga
Chelation Therapy
Oxytocin Therapy
Camel’s Milk
Hyperbaric Oxygen
Because there is no cure or specific treatment for autism, people will sometimes turn to complementary and alternative therapies in the hope of overcoming the behavioral, social, and emotional challenges of those living with the disorder. As popular as some of these therapies have become, there remains little solid evidence of their benefits.
Even so, some practices like yoga and music therapy have gained support in the medical community. Others, like elimination diets and chelation therapy, have no proven benefit and may even be harmful. Care should be taken when considering any alternative treatment forautism, ideally with the input and support of a healthcare provider.
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Elimination Diets
Severalelimination dietshave been proposed and studied in people withautism spectrum disorder (ASD). Chief among these are the elimination ofgluten(a protein found in wheat and certain cereal grains) andcasein(a protein found in milk).
The rationale behind elimination diets is based on two still-unproven theories:
Other researchers suggest that aketogenic dietcommonly used in children with epilepsy may also benefit children with ASD, although it is unclear how.
To date, none of these diets has proven consistently effective, and several studies have reported no benefit at all.
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)is a centuries-old practice founded on the belief that illnesses are the result of an imbalance of opposing energy forces (called yin and yang) and the overall life force (calledqi).
Some of the TCM practices thought to benefit people with autism include:
There is a general lack of evidence supporting any of these interventions.
One TCM practice that has been studied is the Chanyi diet which involves the decreased intake of meat, fish, eggs, ginger, garlic, and onion. The diet is thought to reduce “internal heat” that can adversely affect a child’s mood.
A small study from Chinareported that after one month on the Chanyi diet, parents reported a significant improvement in their children’s social problems andrepetitive behaviors.
Certain nutriceutical supplements (including vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and herbal substances) are thought to have beneficial effects on children and adults with ASD. Among those most commonly studied:
Music therapyis commonly used as a treatment for psychiatric conditions such as depression, dementia, schizophrenia, and substance use disorder. In these domains, music therapy has been shown to improvecognition, communication skills, and social and emotional rehabilitation.
It is thought that musical improvisation may be an important tool in the management of autism, creating a nonverbal shared language that could enable both verbal and nonverbal children.
A Cochrane review of studies supported the claims, concluding that music therapy can improve social interaction, verbal communication, initiating behaviors, emotional reciprocity, and the quality ofparent-child relationshipsin children with ASD.
In addition to music therapy, similar approaches have been studied in children with ASD, including:
Sensory hypersensitivityand hyposensitivity are among the criteria for thediagnosis of autism. It is thought thatmassage therapymay help reduce anxiety in children with hypersensitivity (who are over-responsive to sensory stimuli) and treat sensory impairment in children with hypersensitivity (who are under-responsive or non-responsive to sensory stimuli).
Different types of massage have been studied in children with ASD, including:
Study results vary, but most have shown that massage is particularly effective in children with hyposensitivity and may help improveemotional dysregulationand repetitive behaviors in some children with hypersensitivity.
A similar approach calledsensory integration therapyinvolving the use of weighted vests, gentle brushing, and joint compression has also been investigated. Currently, there is no evidence that this form of therapy is consistently effective or has long-term benefits for children with ASD.
Yogais a movement therapy thought to reduce anxiety and behavioral problems in children and adults with ASD. Along with practices like tai chi and Qigong, yoga has been shown to stimulate the production of a neurotransmitter calledgamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)that acts on certain parts of the brain to induce calm.
Study results have been mixed, with some reporting increased self-control, reduced repetitive benefits, and improved control of disruptive behaviors after eight to 12 weeks of daily practice. Others have shown no benefit at all.
Even so, yoga is thought to be a low-risk practice that may improve the general health and well-being of children with ASD, aiding with balance and coordination in the same way it does with children without ASD.
Chelation therapyinvolves the administration of chemicals delivered intravenously (into a vein) that bind to metals in the body and help eliminate them in urine and stool. It is commonly used to treat severe cases oflead poisoningandhemochromatosis(iron overload).
According to thetoxicity theory of autism, ASD is due to excessive exposure to mercury.The theory arose out of theanti-vaccine movementof the 1990s and early 2000s wherein a mercury-containing preservative used in vaccines, calledthimerosal, was said to cause autism.
Although the claims have since been debunked, some alternative practitioners continued to cite mercury as a causal factor for ASD and recommend chelation therapy as a solution.
Different chelating agents have been explored, includingdimercaptosuccinicacid (DMSA) andethylenediaminetetraaceticacid (EDTA), but there is no evidence that they help in any way.
If anything, exposure to these agents can place a person at risk of diarrhea, skin rash, and liver toxicity.In 2005, chelation therapy used in a 5-year-old child with autism resulted in their death.
In children with autism, oxytocin levels are often low, and studies suggest that supplementing oxytocin may improve social behavior and function in these kids.
Those who benefited the most were those with the lowest oxytocin levels at baseline. Those with higher levels benefited the least.
At present, oxytocin therapy for autism is experimental, and oxytocin intranasal sprays are not approved for any indication and aren’t available commercially in the U.S.
Camel’s milk has emerged as a potentially useful and relatively harmless alternative treatment for ASD. Much of the evidence supporting the use of this alternative treatment has been conducted in the Middle East where camel’s milk products are common.
Camel’s milk is known to have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, andantioxidantproperties that may be beneficial to a child’s health. It is high in minerals such as sodium, magnesium, zinc, copper, and potassium and is a rich source of vitamins A, B2, C, and E. Camel’s milk is also low in cholesterol and high in healthierpolyunsaturated fats.
More research is needed.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Some alternative practitioners believe that HBOT can also benefit children with ASD. It is thought that HBOT, which delivers 100% oxygen under pressure, can alleviate neuroinflammation and, in turn, symptoms of autism.
To date, there is little evidence of any such benefit. According to a 2017 review of studies published inCanadian Family Physician,none of the current body of research has shown any tangible effect of HBOT on children with autism.
To date, no other study has been able to replicate these findings.
Summary
Although there are many complementary and alternative therapies used for the treatment of autism, there is little evidence to support their use. Of those that are potentially beneficial, music therapy, massage, and yoga pose minimal risk and may be useful in some children and adults with ASD.
Other interventions such as special diets, supplements, traditional Chinese medicine, and chelation therapy may not only be unhelpful but, in some cases, may prove to be harmful.
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