Research summaries for autism therapy: complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)

definition of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM): Diverse medical and health care practices, therapies, and products that are not generally considered part of conventional main-stream medicine. Examples include acupuncture and herbal remedies.
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Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine among Children Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Summarized May 29, 2007

Most parents use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) on their children with autism and many of these parents believe that CAM therapies work.

This survey found that 74% of parents of children with autism have used CAM treatments. The longer the parents knew the child had autism, the more likely that they were to use CAM therapies. Parents who had more schooling were also more likely to use CAM treatments. These last two results were not strong, however, and the authors want to do more research to see if they are true. The authors suggest that doctors ask parents which CAM therapies they are using with their children.
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Efficacy of Vitamin B6 and Magnesium in the Treatment of Autism: A Methodology Review and Summary of Outcomes, Summarized Oct 21, 2006

This article provides a systematic overview of the research testing whether the behavior of children with autism can be improved by high doses of vitamin B6 and magnesium.... This article reports on a thorough search of the research studies on B6 and magnesium supplementation as an alternative therapy for autism. The authors find twelve studies published before 1995, most of which suggested that B6 and magnesium can help improve the behavior of about half of children who have been diagnosed with autism.... Read more...

Abnormally High Plasma Levels of Vitamin B6 in Children with Autism not Taking Supplements Compared to Controls not Taking Supplements, Summarized Oct 21, 2006

According to some studies, the behavior of children with autism can be improved by vitamin B6. In this study, the authors set out to test whether children with autism metabolize vitamin B6 differently from children without autism. They compared the blood levels of vitamin B6 in 35 children with autism (3-9 years old) with those of 11 controls (6-9 years old).... Read more...

Is There a Basis for Novel Pharmacotherapy of Autism?, Summarized Oct 21, 2006

This article gives an overview of the research on the biological causes of autism and potential complementary and alternative (CAM) therapies for autism. The authors describe the symptoms of autism, and then briefly discuss the differences between the brains of people with and without autism. According to the authors, some of these differences suggest that the usual brain development seen in individuals without autism is somehow short-circuited in those with autism. This could be due to many factors, including differences in metabolism, digestion, and the production of neurotransmitters.... Read more...

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Synonyms for complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) include: alternative medicine, alternative therapies, alternative therapy, alternative treatment, CAM, complementary, complementary therapies, complimentary and alternative medicine, complimentary medicine
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