How to Treat Autism With Acupuncture
Autism is a developmental disorder that affects the ability to communicate with others. Autism is a spectrum disorder that manifests itself in a wide array of symptoms. Some people who have autism cannot speak or have trouble making eye contact with their peers. Other symptoms can include hyperactivity and learning disabilities. Studies have found that acupuncture can be a useful tool to treat autism in some children.
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Things You'll Need
- Written history of your child's development
- List of acupuncture professionals
- Soft, comfortable clothing
- List of benchmarks
Instructions
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Chronicle your child's physical and mental development in great detail. Write down the ages he started walking, talking, cutting teeth, reading and so on. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), under which acupuncture falls, calls autism the "Syndrome of Five Delays" and examines the child from this perspective before starting acupuncture treatment.
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Select an acupuncturist who specializes in pediatric acupuncture using the Acupuncture Referral Service's online directory (see Resources below). Children, especially those who have communication difficulties, may be scared of going to a new doctor. Someone who has compassion and a gentle manner may be the best person to treat your child.
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Avoid overstimulating your child before his first acupuncture appointment. Provide a safe, quiet place for him to remain calm or self-regulate if he is starting to feel anxious about the appointment.
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Give your child a light meal or snack 2 hours prior to her appointment to ward off crankiness caused by hunger. Avoid heavy, greasy foods like burgers or fries that may upset her stomach.
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Brush your child's teeth and tongue before visiting the acupuncturist. Tongue acupuncture is becoming an increasingly popular treatment for autism. The tongue has more than 40 pressure points that can help realign the body's qi (pronounced "chee"), which is its flow of energy.
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Dress your child in soft, comfortable clothing with sleeves and pant legs that can be rolled up easily. In addition to tongue acupuncture, traditional acupuncture on other parts of the body can be used to cleanse the spleen and kidney qi.
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Keep an open mind as you watch the acupuncturist at work. Many children can be resistant to the use of needles at first, but when they realize there is no pain involved, they often become more cooperative.
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Consult your child's doctor and acupuncturist to develop some benchmarks of progress that you can look for as the treatment continues. Record both positive and negative changes in your child's behavior while he is undergoing acupuncture treatments. Patients may start to see some level of improvement after six or more sessions.
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Tips & Warnings
It is very important for your child's team of doctors--acupuncturist, physician, psychologist or behavioral specialist, physical or speech therapist--to work together to develop an appropriate treatment plan. Acupuncture may be an effective way to treat some issues related to your child's autism, but it is unlikely that it will cure the disorder completely. Having a cohesive team dedicated to helping your child is the best kind of medicine.
