Complementary and Alternative Medicine
There is no known cure for autism. To relieve the symptoms of autism, some parents and providers may use treatments that are outside of what is typically recommended by their pediatrician. These types of treatments are known as complementary and alternative treatments or CAM. They may include special diets, chelation (a treatment to remove heavy metals like lead from the body), biologicals (e.g., secretin), or body-based systems (like deep pressure).NIH’s National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) defines CAM as a group of different medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not part of conventional medicine. NCCAM divides complementary and alternative treatments into five categories:
- Alternative medical systems (e.g., homeopathy or Chinese medicine)
- Mind-body interventions (e.g., meditation, dance therapy, auditory integration)
- Biologically based therapies (e.g., using herbs, foods, and vitamins)
- Manipulative and body-based methods (e.g., deep pressure, craniosacral therapy)
- Energy therapies (e.g., reiki, electromagnetic fields, etc.)
There have been efforts to develop a protocol for biomedical interventions for ASD. There are anecdotal reports of success with individual children; however, before this approach can be recommended as a standard treatment, more research is needed on the safety and effectiveness of the various treatments for a variety of people with ASD.
To learn more about CAM therapies, go to the NCCAM Get The Facts web page.
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These types of treatments are very controversial. Current research shows that as many as one third of children with autism may have tried complementary or alternative medicine treatments, and up to 10% may be using a potentially dangerous treatment. Before starting such a treatment, check it out carefully, and talk to your child’s health care professional. |