Abstract
Background:
Autism Spectrum Disorders. condition that is neurodevelopmental in origin, a complex and heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by abnormalities in social interaction and communication and the presence of restricted or repetitive interests and activities..*
Objective:
To evaluate the efficacy of homeopathic medicines in cases of autism spectrum
Disorder
Materials and methods:
Source of data:
1. OPD at Jeevan vikas school for special children, adajan gam, Surat.
2. OPD at Vitality Homoeopathic clinic, Surat.
Duration of study:
2019 to 2021
Methods:
A retrospective observational study done at various opds (as mentioned in materials and methods). Total 60 cases were screened at the opds from which sample of 40 autism patients were selected on basis of inclusion and exclusion criteria. The most similimum homeopathic remedy on the basis of totality of symptoms were prescribed over the course of 2 years.
Keywords: Autism spectrum disorder, DSM,ATEC,ISAA.
Introduction:
How to diagnose Autism according to DSM-5?
Deficits(deficiency) in social-emotional reciprocity, ranging, for example, from abnormal social approach and failure of normal back-and-forth conversation; to reduced sharing of interests, emotions, or affect; to failure to initiate or respond to social interactions, from poorly integrated verbal and nonverbal communication; to abnormalities in eye contact and body language or deficits in understanding and use of gestures to a total lack of facial expressions and nonverbal communication also Deficits in developing, maintaining, and understanding relationships, ranging, for example, from difficulties adjusting behaviour to suit various social contexts; to difficulties in sharing imaginative play or in making friends; to absence of interest in peers.
Homoeopathy literature for mental retardness in children/special children. The use of specific homoeopathic, organopathic, and various other constitutional remedies systematically administered, so as to rectify the wrong underlying the said backwardness, to cure the diseased organs or parts, to rouse them medicinally from torpidity, or to cure the diseases of the individual as an entity, or to get rid of the perverted or other morbid conditions due to hereditary, diseases and traits, or to shocks, falls, blows, fits, or other previously overcome accidents and diseases. – Dr. J.C.Burnett.*
Aphorism -208 Organon of medicine
The age of the patient, his mode of living and diet, his occupation, his domestic position, his social relations and so forth, must next be taken into consideration, in order to ascertain whether these things have tended to increase his malady, or in how far they may favour or hinder the treatment. In like manner the state of his disposition and mind must be attended to, to learn whether that presents any obstacle to the treatment, or requires to be directed, encouraged or modified.
Aphorism -05 Organon of medicine
Useful to the physician in assisting him to cure are the particulars of the most probable exciting cause of the acute disease, as also the most significant points in the whole history of the chronic disease, to enable him to discover its fundamental cause, which is generally due to a chronic miasm. In these investigations, the ascertainable physical constitution of the patient (and intellectual character, his occupation, mode of living and habits, his social and domestic relations, his age, sexual function, ..etc., are to be taken into consideration.
Family environment and Family history of patient:
There are cases we needs special approach in order to understand the patient. Analysis of family dynamics in such approach. We get deeper knowledge about the family interaction an history of family, family system energy, and repeated patterns of behaviour. This helps us to get a better idea about similimum, posology and long term management of the case.
In order to understand the child with Autism, it is most important to focus on family dynamics i.e How the child behaves in the presence of different family members?. How they behave in the presence of the child. ? Which family members is most caring, most anxious or most indifferent?
For successful treatment
We need to know family dynamics prior and during pregnancy, after delivery and after the family realizes that the child is “with specials needs”.
The basic emotional needs of a child are emotional security in the form of parental love, the first and foremost amongst the needs of a child. The child needs confidence in his parents and home. This basic set-up is the one thing that contributes to the growth and welfare of the child.
The environment of play or educational area also adds in the treatment of child as the environment he plays or goes for education or vocational or occupational training consumes most of the time of day in such Children.
The role of caregivers in the form of teachers, house help, parents, grandparetns or housemaids is also of significant importance.
How to select the most similimum medicine in homeopathy in OPD cases ?
An Autistic child cannot express itself and as such keen observation is essential on the part of the physician
1. Homoeopathic medicines which can be used for symptoms of autism according to the law of similia.
Objective signs are given below with the indicated remedies.
• Alum: Slow comprehension and execution; difficult expression.
• Amb g: Questions without waiting for answers; Impaired thinking.
• Bar. c: Dwarfism mentally and physically; late learning to talk; fears; aversion to strangers; shy; cannot learn, cannot remember; stupid expression, staring; cling to mother; emotional level too is dwarfism. Bar c. will allow the doctor to examine, while Hep, Nat m., Sulphur, Tarent will make a fuss.
• Calc.: Intelligent but slow comprehension and execution; soft, cold hands
• Chin: Nervous irritability, excitement; intolerance to noise.
• Cupr: Bites, fears, beats; violent behaviour; foolish gestures; puts out tongue; does not recognize parents.
• Elap: Irresistible desire to scream; fear of rain; can speak but cannot understand what he said.
• Lyss: Child may develop fear of water, convulsions etc. From dog bite of mother during pregnancy.
• Tarent: Restless, cannot remain quiet, movements even in sleep, head comes down to the end of the bed, banging the head.
• Stram: violent, destructive, malicious, strikes, bites, shrieks; starts from sleep with a wild look; fear of darkness (desires light and company); fears mirrors
• Merc: licks nasal discharge; eats excreta.
• Nat. S: Mental symptoms follow head injury or concussion.
• Nux M: Drowsy and sleepy; stupor (insensibility); absent minded; indifferent.
• Sil: Over defensive when faced with forceful personality. Monomania.
• Lyco: Dreads the presence of new person. Fear of undertaking anything. Frightened at trifles.
• Bufo: Propensity to bite. Impatient, nervous, imbecile. Desire for solitude. Feeble mind.
• Med: weak memory. Cannot concentrate. Forgets names, word, her errand. Can not finish sentences. Loss of thread of conversation. Things seem strange. Sensitive, nervous and impulsive.
• Lac can: Introverted. Daydreaming. Everything seems unreal.
• Tub: Sensitive to noise, every trifle irritates. Fits of violent temper; throws anything at any one; even without a cause. Restlessness.
• Kali brom: Loss of memory. Must do something-move about; gets fidgety. Amnesic aphasia; can pronounce any word told, but cannot speak otherwise.
• Carcinosin: Fright, fear or anxiety. long lasting domination by others. Artistic aptitude. Temper tantrum.
• Hura: Biting hands, himself, nails. Absent minded. Difficulty in comprehending. mother in stressful condition during pregnancy.
• Zincum met : Questions before answering. Keeps on repeating the same words.
2. Use of Various Homeopathic Repertories Viz. Complete Repertory, Synthesis
Repertory, Murphy Repertory In Forming The Reportorial Totality Of The Symptoms
Observed in OPD of Special Children(Special Schools , NGO, Vitality Homeopathic
· Observation and results:
| Symptoms | Improved | Status quo | Total num | ||
| Number of cases % | Number of cases % | ||||
| eye contact | 32 | 80 | 8 | 20 | 40 |
| speech,communication | 28 | 70 | 12 | 30 | 40 |
| social behaviour | 30 | 75 | 10 | 25 | 40 |
| violence | 35 | 87.5 | 5 | 12.5 | 40 |
| sensory ,cognitive | 31 | 77.5 | 9 | 22.5 | 40 |
| physcial changes | 33 | 82.5 | 7 | 17.5 | 40 |
Observation 1: The symptoms that were observed in majority of cases were taken for study. Significant result were observed in improvement in eye contact of child followed by speech (communication skills) , and social behaviour(how they repond to family members, and teachers, peers) followed by violent activity/hyperactivity in autistic children.
Observation 2:
In the study the maximum number of cases that showed significant improvement were prescribed Zincum mettalicum, followed by Baryta carbonica, Hyocymus nigericum, Carcinocin, Stramonium and Calcarea Carbonica.
*The selection of potency was done on the basis of guideline given in organon of medicine.
*The improvement criteria was done using (ATEC and ISAA).
Conclusion:
Autism is characterized by a group of symptoms, which can be dramatically reduced or managed by indicated similimum Homeopathic remedies when given in proper dose and repetition which not only improves symptoms but also improves the social quotient and skills that are helpful in day to day life which were observed by teachers caregivers, and family members of children selected in above study. In this study I have conluded that Significant result were observed in improvement in eye contact of child , speech (communication skills) , and social behaviour(how they repond to family members, and teachers, peers) ,violent activity/hyperactivity in autistic children when Zincum mettalicum, Baryta carbonica, Hyocymus nigericum, Carcinocin, Stramonium ,Calcarea Carbonica were prescribed.
References:
1. Borland Douglas, children type
2. Catherin coulter, Homeopathic sketches of children type
3. DSM-5.(Diagnostics and statistical manual of mental disorder-5 th edition)
4. Homepath zomeo3, software
5. Jan scholten, Homoeopathy and Minerals
6. Kaplan synopsis of psychiatry.
7. Kent repertory
8. Murphy repertory
9. NIMH(National institute of mental health)
10. Organon of medicine 6 th edition.
11. Paul Herscue, the homoeopathic treatment of children
12. Radar opous.software
13. R Sankaran Soul of remedies.
14. Institutes for the opd-thankful to jeevan vikas trust for special children for providing resources for opds, and psychologist and psychiatrist in helping evaluate the treatment of children.
Author – Dr. Hafiza Malik MD(Hom.),
Assistant professor, Dept of Practice of medicine
Vidhyadeep homeopathic College kim, Surat.
Consultant chief Homoeopath at Vitality Homeopathic
Clinic.Surat.
