Herbal Remedies for Autism by Karta Purkh Singh Khalsa, DN-C, RH
The challenge of the spectrum of disorders we call autism demands that we cast a wide net in the process of hunting down anything that might aid improvement. Herbal medicine, while not yet on a par with other alternative autism treatments in the United States, offer promise for autism and for a large swath of common problems that go along with the syndrome. We will discuss effective treatments for immunocompromise, sleep, cognition, lethargy, mood, digestive disorders, allergy, bowel function, anxiety and seizures. We are at the very beginning of our understanding of herbal medicine in the modern era. Mechanisms often are not known. Understand that the safety profile for children is often not well established. Still, in general, herbs are remarkably safe. Preliminary results with herbs in autism are promising. Children with autism are susceptible to a long list of other characteristic maladies, including immune and dietary issues. We will discuss effective herbal medicines to keep the whole child healthy. Scientific references will be supplied, doses will be explained and professional quality sources will be discussed. We will include a limited discussion of potential herb and drug interactions.
Karta Purkh Singh Khalsa, DN-C, RH has over 35 years of experience in alternative medicine and is one of the foremost herbal experts in North America. He is a long-serving national officer of the American Herbalists Guild and a respected teacher, writer and lecturer who has presented at over 120 national conventions and conferences. He has authored or edited 26 books, including The Way of Ayurvedic Herbs. KP Khalsa is a faculty member in the Botanical Medicine Department of Bastyr University in Seattle, Washington, where he trains naturopathic medical students, and he is a professor of natural products pharmacy at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. KP serves as senior research scientist and chief medical formulator for Yogi Tea, the largest selling herbal medicine tea line in the natural foods marketplace.
