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Read Dr. Elena Krasnov's Weekly Column in the Health & Fitness section of the 24 Hours Magazine. Look for new articles every week!

Monday, May 17, 2010

A Treatment Plan for Asperger's Syndrome

Q: Dear Elena: I just found out my 8 year-old has Asberger's Syndrome and my doctor told me to look into a special diet and supplements to help him. Could you lead me in the right direction?

A: Asperger's Syndrome is an Autism spectrum disorder. Those diagnosed have difficulties in social interaction and may have repetitive interests and behaviours.  Evidence has shown that there may be certain 'triggers' which precipitate the condition, including environmental factors like pollution, food intolerances (particularly to foods containing wheat, gluten, sugar and dairy products), digestive problems, and even childhood vaccinations. For an affected child you should always remove foods containing artificial ingredients, preservatives and colorings.

Herbal and homeopathic remedies can be viable alternatives to synthetic drugs and may be just as effective, with far fewer risks and side effects. It is important that you only use natural remedies from a reliable source, as the quality of herbs used may affect the strength and effectiveness of the remedy. I often use Relora-Plex to help calm down the patients. It works well and has no drowsy side effects. Herbs such as St. John's Wart, Melissa officinalis and Passiflora are known for its soothing properties. Chamomila (6C) is used homeopathically for children who are irritable and difficult to please, as well as for those with a low pain threshold. Natural remedies may often contain a combination of ingredients for best effect. A holistic treatment plan aims to address the underlying cause of the problem and does not just treat the symptoms in isolation.

At the beginning of any process it is important to establish laboratory parameters as guidelines. I often order tests to determine possibility of heavy metal toxins and other organic compounds before prescribing herbs. There may be a biochemical problem resulting in higher then usual demand for certain vitamins so it is important to check before prescribing anything in high doses.

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Dr. Elena Krasnov is a registered Naturopathic Doctor and Clinic Director of the Toronto Naturopathic Clinic. Submit your questions online at 24hrs.ca

Co-written by Miranda Tallon-Malisani Holistic Nutritionist