Autism and herbal supplements

Many children with autism related conditions have Candida yeast or bacteria overgrowth in the gut. The disruption in the gut can directly affect the nerves located nearby. For yeast, the best results tend to come with using one of the enzyme product specifically designed for yeast. Yeast-targeting enzymes contain much higher amounts of fiber-digesting enzymes (like cellulases) to break down the outer cell walls of yeast cells. The product should also contain a high level of proteases to further clear out pathogenic yeast and reduce any die-off reactions. Parents find that combining a yeast-targeting enzyme with an herbal supplement such like that has yeast control properties is more effective than either alone. There appears to be a pronounced synergistic effect. Grapefruit seed extract and oregano are two herbs often combined with enzymes for yeast control. find more about herbal supplements at Herbal Nutrition Network.

Emerging research is finding many children with autism have underlying persistent viral infections. Viruses are notoriously hard to control and there are few options. When viruses are addressed, children show some permanent improvements in language, socialization, behavior, and cognitive ability. Several autism specialists are turning to Valtrex, a prescription anti-viral medication providing good results. Another alternative is ViraStop, a specialty blend of enzymes used between meals at higher, therapeutic doses (12 to 15 capsules per day). Two preliminary investigations with ViraStop resulted in a program that can bring excellent results. Combining this with other supplements having anti-viral properties, such as olive leaf extract, vitamin C, or monolaurin, increases the effectiveness against viruses. The high success of enzymes with autism and gut problems is probably because enzymes work on several areas at the same time. Enzymes actually deal with and heal underlying problems, such as healing a leaky gut, not just help control symptoms. Even though not all my son’s sensory problems disappeared completely, the head-banging finally stopped, he became much more social, his grades improved, and his general anxiety went away.

Autistic Drug Treatment

There are no psychiatric medications for “autism,” but there are many psychiatric medications used for treating specific symptoms often found in autism, such as aggression, self-injury, anxiety, depression, obsessive/compulsive disorders, and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).  These medications generally function by altering the level of neurotransmitters (chemical messengers) in the brain.  There is no medical test to determine if a particular medication is called for; the decision is based on the psychiatrist’s evaluation of the patient’s symptoms.  This is a “trial and error” approach, as dosages need to be adjusted differently for each person, and one medication may be ineffective or have negative effects while others are helpful.   This info has nothing to do with what Residential drug rehab does.

For some classes of drugs the doses which are successful for reducing symptoms, such as aggression or anxiety, are much lower for those with autism than for normal people.  For the SSRI drugs, such as Prozac (Fluoxetine), Zoloft (Sertraline), and other and other antidepressants, the best dose may be only one-third of the normal starting dose. Too high a dose may cause agitation or insomnia.  If agitation occurs, the dose must be lowered. The low dose principle also applies to all drugs in the atypical or third generation antipsychotic drug class, such as Risperdal (Risperidone).  The effective dose will vary greatly between individuals.  Start low and use the lowest effective dose.  Other classes of drug, such as anticonvulsants, will usually require the same doses that are effective in normal individuals.

Psychiatric medications; by Drug Treatment Center e.g; are widely used to treat the symptoms of autism, and they can be beneficial to many older children and adults.  However, there are concerns over their use.  There is relatively little research on their use for children with autism.  There are almost no studies on the long-term effects of their use, especially for the newer medications, and there is a concern that their long-term use in children may affect their development.  They treat the symptoms, but not the underlying biomedical causes of autism.  One must balance risk versus benefit. A drug should have an obvious positive effect to make it work the risk.  In order to observe the effect of a drug, do not start a drug at the same time as you start some other Drug Treatment and do not quit until the treatment achieve significant results.

Parenting Tips for Daily Life With an Autistic Child

Learning all you can about autism and getting involved in treatment will go a long way toward helping your child. Additionally, the following tips will make daily home life easier for your both you and your autistic child:

1. Be consistent.
Autistic children have a hard time adapting what they’ve learned in one setting (such as the therapist’s office or school) to others, including the home. For example, your child may use sign language at school to communicate, but never think to do so at home. Creating consistency in your child’s environment is the best way to reinforce learning. Find out what your child’s therapists are doing and continue their techniques at home. It’s also important to be consistent in the way you interact with your child and deal with challenging behaviors.

2. Stick to a schedule.
Autistic kids tend to do best when they have a highly-structured schedule or routine. Again, this goes back to the consistency they both need and crave. Set up a schedule for your child, with regular times for meals, therapy, school, and bedtime. Try to keep disruptions to this routine to a minimum. If there is an unavoidable schedule change, prepare your child for it in advance.

3. Reward good behavior.
Positive reinforcement can go a long way with autistic children, so make an effort to “catch them doing something good.” Praise them when they act appropriately or learn a new skill, being very specific about what behavior they’re being praised for. Also look for other ways to reward them for good behavior, such as giving them a sticker or letting them play with a favorite toy.

4. Create a home safety zone.
Carve out a private space in your home where your child can relax, feel secure, and be safe. This will involve organizing and setting boundaries in ways your child can understand. Visual cues can be helpful (colored tape marking areas that are off limits, labeling items in the house with pictures). You may also need to safety proof the house, particularly if your child is prone to tantrums or other self-injurious behaviors.

5. Make time for fun.
A child coping with autism is still a kid. For both autistic children and their parents, there needs to be more to life than therapy. Find ways to play and have fun together. Don’t obsess over whether or not these activities are therapeutic or educational. The important thing is to enjoy your child’s company!

Finding help and support
Caring for a child with an autism spectrum disorder can demand a lot of energy and time. There may be days when you feel overwhelmed, stressed, or discouraged. Parenting isn’t ever easy, and raising a child with special needs is even more challenging. In order to be the best parent you can be, it’s essential that you take care of yourself.

Don’t try to do everything on your own. You don’t have to! There are many places that families of autistic kids can turn to for advice, a helping hand, advocacy, and support:

  • Autism support groups – Joining an autism support group is a great way to meet other families dealing with the same challenges you are. Parents can share information, get advice, and lean on each other for emotional support. Just being around others in the same boat and sharing their experience can go a long way toward reducing the isolation many parents feel after receiving a child’s autism diagnosis.
  • Respite care – Every parent needs a break now and again. And for parents coping with the added stress of autism, this is especially true. In respite care, another caregiver takes over temporarily, giving you a break for a few hours, days, or even weeks. To find respite care options in your area, see the box to the right.
  • Individual, marital, or family counseling – If stress, anxiety, or depression is getting to you, you may want to see a therapist of your own. Therapy is a safe place where you can talk honestly about everything you’re feeling—the good, the bad, and the ugly. Marriage or family therapy can also help you work out problems that the challenges of life with an autistic child are causing in your spousal relationship or with other family members.

What Is Music Therapy

Few people understand the significance and importance that music therapy and music therapists contribute to our society. Music therapists help the needy in many ways. To some people, the phrase music therapy holds little significance. While we all recognize the influence that music has on our society it seems much more difficult to associate this influence with anything more than a recreational diversion. In truth, since its modern founding in 1944 at Michigan State University, the study and practice of music therapy has brought about a number of changes in the way we can help individuals with various conditions.

Music Therapy and Personal Wellness
The most widely used and most noticeable application of music therapy is the personal reduction of stress levels. Just as intense, driving music can increase a person’s awareness and anxiety levels, calming, soothing music can reverse it. Music therapists use such music along with other relaxation methods to get troubled individuals past their immediate issues and teach them to better control their anxiety in the future.

Music therapists work with a wide range of people from all social groups and ethnic backgrounds. Many hospitals now commonly utilize the services of music therapists to promote wellness, positive mental attitudes, and healing with the understanding that a happy, stress-free person will often get better more quickly than one that is depressed over his or her medical condition.
Music Therapy and the Mentally Disabled

In increasing frequency, music therapy is being used as a method to aid and educate those challenged by autism and other mental disabilities. Autistic children often have difficulty focusing due to an overloading of their senses. Music therapists will very often create individualized songs, motor activities, and verbal activities to help an autistic child work toward reaching an educational or social goal.

In older individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease, music therapy is used quite often to help patients retrieve lost memories. Playing or singing along with personally significant music can help these individuals to remember memories that have been lost to the disease.