Ayurveda Autism
Panchakarma treatments like Snehana and Swedana are helpful/Trikatu, a combination of ginger, long pepper and black pepper can be used to stimulate the production of digestive enzymes and promote the absorption of essential nutrients/Herbs like Brahmi, Shatavari and ayurvedic medicines like Suvarna Prashan, Chaitanoday rasa are helpful.
The incidence of autism in the United States and Canada continues to increase at rates never before observed in recorded history. Diagnosis of autism and autism spectrum disorder conditions have increased nearly 50-fold over the last 40 years.
While western medicine and research have stalled with respect to the treatment or management of autism, Ayurveda has come to the rescue and is increasingly being used to treat autistic symptoms. Ayurvedic practices have demonstrated to be effective in supporting autistic patients in becoming functional in managing various symptoms of this condition.
Of course, these set of remedies may also work with adults, but the earlier you start using ayurvedic herbs and treatments the better it works for your child.
Treating Autism With Panchakarma
Ayurveda has a 5, 000-year-old treatment that is extremely effective, called Panchakarma which is a cleansing and rejuvenation program. The purpose of this process is to stimulate the layers of toxins from the body and bring them to the places where they can be excreted. After Panchakarma, one is likely experience significant health improvements in a relatively short time.
Panchkarma therapies for detoxification are:
- Snehana (Oleation therapy) – with herbal oils like Chandan bala lakshadi tailam
- Swedana (Fomentation therapy)
- Vamana (Emesis therapy)
- Virechana (Purgation therapy)
- Basti (Medicated enema therapy)
- Shirodhara
- Nasyam
- Pizichil
- Pinda sweda
Diet For Autistic Children
-Cow’s milk
-Pulses like green gram and red gram
-Fruits like apple, mango, amla, pomegranate, carrot, pear, etc
-Fats like Olive oil and clarified butter (ghee) from cow’s milk or medicated ghee
-Green leafy vegetables.
-Avoid junk food, oily and spicy food, stale food, cold drinks, groundnuts, sago, curd, cheese, desserts, coffee, meat, alcohol, vegetables like potato, brinjal, sweet potato, etc.
-Give boiled water to drink whenever thirsty.
Ayurvedic Drink Recipe
¼ cup of yogurt to ¾ cups of water blended with cumin, coriander, and ginger. This freshly prepared buttermilk is a good drink. Diluted fresh pomegranate juice should be taken daily if possible.
Digestion In Autistic Children
Autistic children are more likely to suffer from food sensitivities resulting from improper digestion of foods, often a result of weakened digestive and immune systems. This often causes partially digested food to move into the bloodstream, causing an autoimmune attack and a response similar to an allergic reaction.
They also tend to demonstrate increased digestive issues and food sensitivities. IgG and IgE-mediated testing for food sensitivities and allergies is recommended, although it is not the only way we can test hypersensitivities. In severe cases, where IgG or IgE-mediated testing is not a feasible option, specific elimination diets to determine offending foods is recommended.
While many types of foods are thought to contribute to the worsening of symptoms associated with autism, specific types are demonstrating a more significant impact, these include
-Dairy Products
-Night Shade Vegetables, including tomatoes, eggplant, potatoes, and peppers.
-Citrus Fruits
-Peanuts
-Preservatives, colors, food additives, insecticides, pesticides and heavy metals
The exact reason these foods worsen the symptoms associated with autism is unknown, but various theories indicate that the nutritional compounds of the foods may impede serotonin metabolism or that these foods contribute to gastrointestinal interruptions and discomfort so severe that behavior in autistic patients worsens.
Some, or all, of these digestive issues, may be reduced or even avoided by eliminating certain offending, or a combination of offending, foods.
Additional digestive support for autistic children can be found in a variety of digestive herbs, including:
-Ginger
-Black Pepper
–Trikatu, a combination of ginger, long pepper and black pepper used to stimulate the production of digestive enzymes and promote the absorption of essential nutrients.
