Home Remedies and Herbs for Autism

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder whereby affected individuals have difficulty with social communication skills including interaction, language and behavior. As a result, a strong characteristic of people with autism is the reliance on a single repetitive behavior. ^1,2 Autism typically appears within the first 3 years of life. Often though autism is not diagnosed until much later in life.¹ The autism definition has changed and it is now classified as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and includes other syndromes such as Asperger’s syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, autistic disorder and pervasive developmental disorder.³

What Causes Autism?

Medical researchers do not know of one particular cause of autism. There are potentially several autism causes with many different factors. These potential autism causes or factors, which are not conclusively proven, may include:^1,2

• Brain damage to the amygdala
• Viral infections
• Genetics
• Pregnancy complications
• Air pollutants

While there are no known autism causes, researchers have found some particular risk factors that could potentially lead to developing ASD:^1,2

• Being male, whereby autism is 4 times more likely to develop in boys than in girls
• Having other disorders such as sclerosis, epilepsy and more
• Children born to mothers and fathers over the age of 40
• Babies born before 26 weeks

Autism Symptoms

Autism symptoms include the following communication, social interaction and behavior factors:¹

• Unable to start or keep a conversation going
• Repeating and memorizing catchphrases
• Not verbally communicating and using gestures instead
• Withdrawn from others
• Unaware of others’ feelings
• Avoiding eye contact or smiling
• Wanting to be left alone and not wanting to be touched
• Repetitive body movements
• Light and noise sensitivity
• Need to adhere strictly to routines
• Throwing intense temper tantrums that may lead to self-harm or harm of others

Natural Remedies and Herbs for Autism

While autism treatments include a combination of therapy and medication, there are several autism natural remedies that can be used. Here are the top autism natural cures to use in conjunction with other treatments:

• ASEA - Asea is thought to help neurodevelopmental disorders such as ASD by reducing oxidative stress from free radicals that damage the brain.
• Ginger - Ginger may help to alleviate certain symptoms of ASD such as reducing levels of anxiety, spasms and digestive issues that arise due to stressful situations.
• Fish Oil -Fish oils are high in omega-3 fatty acids which are helpful for reducing inflammation in the brain. By reducing inflammation in the brain, it is possible to reduce ASD symptoms.
• Star Melatonin - Melatonin is a natural hormone produced by the body that helps regulate sleep patterns. For people suffering from autism, they may find their sleep is interrupted due to stress or anxiety. Melatonin can help supplement natural hormone levels and improve sleep quality.
• Peony - Peony is a natural anti-spasmodic and sedative treatment that can be used as an autism natural treatment. Taking peony supplements can help to calm nerves and reduce certain symptoms of autism.
• Black Cohosh - Another one of the top autism natural cures is black cohosh, which has anti-seizure health benefits. Black cohosh can work to reduce stress and other related symptoms of autism.

References

1. http://umm.edu/health/medical/ency/articles/autism
2. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/autism-spectrum-disorder/basics/definition/con-20021148
3. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001526.htm