Dr. Vikas Sharma MD, Author at Homeopathy at DrHomeo.com

Top Five Homeopathic Medicines for Guttate Psoriasis

Top Five homeopathic medicines for Guttate Psoriasis

Are you suffering from dryness, scaling and itching of the skin? You could be afflicted by Guttate Psoriasis. Though it may not come across as an incapacitating condition, it can disrupt the affected person’s daily routine by virtue of the pain, irritation and discomfort it causes.Homeopathy can not only alleviate the symptoms of Guttate Psoriasis but also tackle the root cause of the affliction. Homeopathic medicines assure an advantage over other systems of treatment in assuaging Guttate Psoriasis, as they are minus side-effects and are derived from natural substances.

Signs of Guttate Psoriasis

Psoriasis is an auto-immune disease of the skin, characterized by dryness, scaling and itching of the skin. It may occur in any part of the body. The guttate variety is marked by small, circular reddish lesions, particularly in the exposed parts of the body, such as the forearms, legs and rarely the trunk and back.

Best homoeopathic remedies for Guttate Psoriasis

I would recommend the following to be the top five homeopathic remedies for psoriasis, as they offer a holistic line of treatment that covers all forms of Guttate Psoriasis:

NATRUM MUR:- Homoeopathic medicine Natrum Mur is the leading remedy for treating cases of guttate psoriasis. The patient suffers from dry psoriatic patches mostly in the scalp, hairy margin, behind the ears, bends of joints and most of the exposed areas of skin. The lesions are dry and the skin peels easily. People needing Natrum Mur may exhibit an unusual craving for salt and salty things. This usually aggravates the itching. The persons may also experience an increase in the symptoms when they go to a hot, humid climate as found in coastal regions.

ARS IOD:- Ars Iod is also an excellent homoeopathic medicine for curing cases of guttate psoriasis characterized by an extremely dry skin which peels off easily. The patient may be very weak. Ars Iod promises relief from guttate psoriasis in people who also have respiratory complaints. The skin shows excessive scaling. As the skin peels, the underlying skin is exposed and there may be a thin watery discharge. Ars Iod can be prescribed to patients who are thin, emaciated and easily fatigued. They may also have profuse sweating at night.

SEPIA:- Homoeopathic medicine Sepia is especially suited for guttate psoriasis in females in who are in the menopausal or post-menopausal phase. There may be an uncontrollable desire to scratch as there is an excessive itching. Though the patient keeps on scratching, she does not get any relief and continued scratching gives rise to a sore, burning sensation in the affected part. Guttate psoriasis is associated with an extremely bad smell emanating from the skin. Sepia can be given to women who don’t demonstrate any feelings or emotions towards their family members, have lost all interest in their profession and take umbrage easily. The patient may cry at every little thing and is extremely moody and irritable.

SILICEA:- I find Silicea is another homoeopathic medicine which works well for guttate psoriasis. It is best prescribed for patients who have lesions that are tiny and look rosy red in color. As the lesions become old, the color changes to dark brown and then form into dry and white scales. Persons who require silicea may give off an offensive foot sweat. Silicea can be given in people who feel extremely cold and cannot tolerate even the mildest form of cold. The skin lesions may itch only in the day time and the patients feel better in the evening and night.

GRAPHITES:- I would pick homoeopathic medicine Graphites for treating skin ailments, especially in patients who may have a tendency to take cold easily. Graphites may be recommended for patients who are shy, timid and indecisive. The skin is rough and hard. Graphites can also be given in psoriasis of the nails where the nails are crippled and break easily. Nails are deformed and there may be cracks around the finger tips. In these cases, guttate psoriasis with lesions spreads all over the body.

How effective are Homeopathic Medicines for ADHD ?

By Dr. Vikas Sharma MD 7 Comments

Efficacy of homeopathy medicines in treating ADHD

The debate about which system of medicine is the most effective for ADHD is an ongoing one and the jury is still out on it. The primary concern before parents is whether to go for standard pharmaceutical medication or explore alternative remedies for their ADHD child.Doctors who have been using homeopathy for ADHD have reported some success rate, but concrete evidence has been inadequate. Only a handful of studies are available to prove homeopathy’s efficacy though they’re noteworthy nonetheless.

For instance, a double blind, placebo-controlled research on 43 children with ADHD had made significant findings that homeopathic remedies can be quite successful in curing the disorder.In a study published in the British Homeopathic Journal in October 1997, kids with ADHD were given either a homeopathic treatment or a placebo for 10 days. Subsequently, parents or caregivers had to rate the children on the amount of ADHD behavior they exhibited. Those being administered homeopathic remedies displayed considerably less ADHD behavior than those who received placebos.

When these kids were examined in a follow-up two months after the completion of the study, 57 percent of the children showing improvement with homeopathy had continued to get better, even though they had discontinued the homeopathic medicines.About 24 percent of the kids had relapsed by the time of the follow-up; and the remaining 19 percent kept exhibiting positive results, but only as long as they were being administered the homeopathic medicines.

The conventional treatment for ADHD comprise stimulant medication, such as Ritalin or Cyler, or oral anti-hypertensives such as clonidine. Numerous studies testing Ritalin have found it to be effective in the short term. The question that then concerns parents and care givers is: how effective are homeopathic remedies compared to conventional drugs like Ritalin?

A research in Switzerland (Frei and Thurneysen, 2001) studied 115 children, comprising 92 boys and 23 girls, with an average age of 8.3 years and a diagnosis of ADHD. The kids were first administered an individually chosen homeopathic medicine. Children who did not improve sufficiently on homeopathy were then shifted to Ritalin and evaluated after 3 months. Following an average treatment time of 3.5 months, 75 percent of the kids showed a favorable response to homeopathy, exhibiting an improvement rating of 73 percent. Twenty-two percent of the children were treated with Ritalin and reached an improvement rating of 65 percent.

These kids were measured against the Conners Global Index (CGI), which is the most respected benchmark for assessing the degree of ADHD symptoms. The children who responded to the homeopathic medicine exhibited a 55-percent reduction of the CGI, while the children on Ritalin showed a 48-percent decline of the CGI.Three children didn’t respond to homeopathy or Ritalin, and one child left the study before completion. Based on these observations, the researchers reached the conclusion that homeopathic treatment was comparable in its advantages to Ritalin though homeopathic remedies enjoyed the benefit that they did not have the side effects that come with Ritalin.

This study is significant in showing how the holistic approach of homeopathy rates better than conventional medicine. For, 75 percent of the children with ADHD in this study improved from the “package of care” provided by homeopaths, which was a better rating than the “package of care” administered by conventional doctors.

ADHD Homeopathic remedies | Six Ways To Manage Abusiveness In Kids

By Dr. Vikas Sharma MD 153 Comments

Is your child arguing back frequently or showing signs of annoying behavior like screaming “no” to all your requests and getting verbally abusive on a daily basis?

These are signs of severe behavioral problems and discipline challenges that children affected by ADHD throw up. While it is normal for most children to answer back or ignore parents’ requests sometimes, when such conduct becomes chronic it is a manifestation of ADHD, often coupled with ODD (oppositional defiant disorder). As many as 40 per cent of the children afflicted by ADHD generally also suffer from ODD, which is characterized by chronic abusive or obnoxious behavior, a tendency to argue or annoy frequently etc.

The bad news is that this behavior can spill into adulthood, leading to severe personal and professional problems that can even have social ramifications when they result in reckless driving, alcoholism, gambling and such ills.

The good news is that with the help of behavior therapy even the most obnoxious and annoying child can be managed. Here are some simple steps and homeopathic medicines for adhd to manage aggressive and abusive behavior in ADHD children.

Positive action works better than negative strategy

Parents need to make use of reward rather than punishment to correct ADHD behavior. Children respond better to positive incentives than to negative ones. For instance, if a child has the annoying habit of turning on the television full blast despite requests to lower the volume, tell him that he will earn 10 minutes extra of viewing his favorite program if keeps the sound low.

Reinforce good behavior with reward.

If a child sits still through class or his parent-teacher meeting, praise him publicly or reward his good conduct.

Don’t be drawn into arguments

Psychologists say that aggressive ADHD kids not only like arguing or answering back but also enjoy drawing parents, teachers or peers into the arguing mode. They like it when they are in the center of the argument. The moment the parents or teachers get into an argument with them, they land on their turf. The abusive child keeps tossing out the verbal bait and the parent keeps falling into the trap.So, stop rising to the bait and arguing with the chronically annoying child who loves to argue about anything and everything.

Try time out strategy

The use of “time-out,” which entails isolating the child immediately for a short period of time, is considered a very effective strategy for dealing with aggressive behavior as it gives both the parent and the child time to cool down.Psychologists usually advise parents to apply 1 minute of timeout for each year of age, which mean 4 minutes for a four year old. The general norm suggested by psychologists is applying the 30% rule to kids with ADHD and learning disabilities.Thus, an abusive or aggressive child should immediately be removed from a situation in which he is annoying or endangering others. Try to make the child look upon time out as a way of cooling off rather than as a form of isolation from others.

Channelize physical aggression into verbal outlet

While mildly aggressive acts should be allowed in a child so as to enable him to let off some steam, when the behavior becomes abusive, physically aggressive or intentional, the best way is to channelize the physical aggression into a verbal outlet. This could mean sometimes allowing the ADHD child to use words that may not be acceptable in normal kids.

Anticipating aggression

Many a time a parent can anticipate situations when a child with ADHD is likely to get aggressive or abusive. Quite frequently, an ADHD simply child explodes in public without any provocation. If such a flare-up happens in public, it is advisable for the parent to remove themselves from the situation by making an exit.

Redirect energy into motor skill

If a child’s verbal aggression develops into intentionally abusive and socially embarrassing conduct, the parents need to channelize his aggression into positive physical activity and motor skills like competitive one-on-one sports, energy-consuming music or dancing, competitive video gaming and such activity .With patience and understanding, parents and other care givers can correct ADHD-related aggressiveness in children through such behavioral therapy.

Top Homeopathic medicines for Abusiveness in kIds With ADHD

Chamomilla :- Homoeopathic medicine chamomilla is one of the best indicated remedies in cases of extreme abusiveness in children. The child may be extremely restless and may cry continuously. Chamomilla may be prescribed when the child keeps demanding one thing after the other and refuses when given. There may be temper tantrum on every little thing. The child cannot tolerate if anyone tries to speak to him. The child may be extremely abusive and complaining. The child cannot take no for an answer and may keep moaning continuously because he is being refused things that he demands. Chamomilla may be given in children who get extremely abusive and violent when anyone interrupts him.

Cina :- Homoeopathic medicine cina is one very well indicated remedy in children who are abusiveness. The child may be very cross and irritable and hates when touched. Cina may be prescribed in children who don’t want to be carried, talked to or touched. They may turn away from strangers. The child bores his face in his mother’s lap and cries incessantly. Here again, the child desires many things but rejects everything when offered. Cina may be prescribed in children who suffer from worm infestations.

Antimony Crud :- Homoeopathic medicine antim crud is also a very well indicated medicine in children who are unusually abusive. The child is excessively irritable and crossed. Any attempt to please the child fails. Nothing seems to satisfy the child. There is much brooding and the child doesn’t want to speak. The child gets angry when someone looks at him. Antim crud may be prescribed in children who are extremely short tempered without any relevant cause.

Veartrum Album :- Homoeopathic medicine veratrum alb is an indicated remedy in children who throw temper tantrums. There may be extreme mood swings and crankiness may alternate with a submissive behavior. The child may scream and curse when angry. Veratrum alb may be prescribed in children who get physically violent when angry. There may be an unusual tendency to tear or cut things during bouts of anger. The child may sit in an awkward position and become totally incommunicable.

Hyoscyamus :- Homoeopathic medicine hyoscyamus is a very well indicated remedy in abusiveness in children. The child may be very quarrelsome and abusive. He may hurl verbal abuses at everyone around him. There may be constant grumbling and muttering due to irritation. The child may be extremely impatient and talkative. Hyocyamus may be prescribed when the child make fun of other children and is extremely insulting. There may be an unusual tendency to find fault. There is much dejection and despair. The child may be insensitive to others feelings.

Natrum Mur:- Homoeopathic medicine natrum mur may be prescribed in cases of abusive children who are extremely weepy and cross. They refuse to be consoled and weep more on consolation. The child is generally well behaved and may be suppressd for a long time. Due to prolonged suppression, there may piling up of the emotions. Suddenly, the child just explodes with angry bouts. The child prefers to be left alone to cry. There is much awkwardness and hasty behavior. Natrum mur may be prescribed when the child gets irritated with trifle things.

Homeopathy for Autism

By Dr. Vikas Sharma MD Leave a Comment

What is the role of homeopathic medicines in Treating Autism ?

At the outset I want to say that we do not lay any Claim for curing autism . Having said that , I am also stating that kids in Certain segment of the autism spectrum disorder respond well to homeopathic treatment. Children in mild to moderate category of Autism can helped with well prescribed homeopathic medicines.

Which Factors will determine child’s will respond to homeopathy ?

I have seen that three factors are majorly responsible for the outcome of autistic kids with homeopathy. The first one being the age of the child ; The second being the speech and the third being the hyperactivity. Kids at young age have more chances of responding to homeopathic treatment. Kids between the ages of 18 months and three years respond the best to early interventions. We do treat kids older than Five ; but we also explain the parents about the slim chances of relief. Severely hyperactive kids do not respond well to homeopathic treatment . Kids with lesser level or no hyperactivity respond well to treatment. Speech is very important aspect in determining the response of homeopathic medication in helping kids with autism. Kids with some speech ..e.g. single words like mama etc will show better signs of improvement with homeopathic medication. The above mentioned three factors generally determine the outcome . These three factors can exist in different combinations and even individually . For example even a five year child with partially developed speech with no hyperactivity can show great improvements over a period of time , where as a very young child with no speech with severe hyperactivity may never respond to homeopathy.

If a Child Starts Responding to Homeopathic Treatment , to Which Extent can he get better ?

Kids in younger age group can hope for a good improvements . We have in our clinic seen in some cases kids nearly coming out of autism . This doses not happen in every case , some might show very little improvements or at times no improvent . The Improvement is more or less determined by the complex alogrythm of the above mentioned three factors.

Are there any side effects with homeopathic medicines

Homeopathic medicines are by far the safest system of medicines on this earth . It employs substances that occur naturally in our environment e.g plants minerals etc. They are used in highly diluted states , thus reducing any chances of side effect even for natural substances . How ever some cases , one in thousand may complain of increase in hyperactivity for a brief period of time . This is usually very mild and is transient and will go away on its own within 2-3 days . Some Homeopaths consider it a Good sign , as they believe that if homeopathic medicines increases the symptoms initially , they are acting in the right direction. This the only uncommon small transient side effect that I have ever seen .

Even when there is no Identifiable cause for autism , How can homeopathy help in treating Autism.?

Homeopathy Is a symptom based system of medicine and works by treating the disease by looking at the symptoms . Homeopathic philosophy advocates at overlooking the disease labels e.g. “Autism” or ADHD and treating the disease taking into account the symptoms presented by the disease . It believes that symptoms are an external manifestation of the inner disturbances and if the medicines are prescribed on the basis of external manifestation the source is well taken care off. It is this philosophy of Homeopathy that makes it unique in approaching the treatment of disease where no cause has been identified.

What kind of medicines do you use in Homeopathy For treating autism?

These are Natural Medicines that do not contain any harmful substances .This is done after Studying the whole case in thorough detail . Mostly they fall in two Groups

A ) Ones That Stimulate Mental Development

B) Ones That control Hyperactivity

What Scientific Methods Are Used In diagnosing the severity of Autism

We first asses the child’s severity of autism on the Autism Rating Scale . This Scale has more than 100 questions. we also use this testing after few months to gauge the improvements in kids

Are We Technically Qualified to Handle Autism Treatment With Homeopathy

I ( Dr. Vikas Sharma MD ) have done my masters in Homeopathy from one of the top medical university in India .I am also a gold medalist in the MD examination . During My Masters in Homeopathy my thesis and research subject has been ” The role of homeopathic medicine in the treatment of autism spectrum disorders ” . My Team consists of three doctors , all of them have put in a minimum of five years of study in medicine and are registered Doctors.

Will your kid Respond to Homeopathic Treatment ?

As mentioned above that every child responds in a different way according to their age and the severity of autism . If you want us to give you a quick assessment on whether your child will improve with homeopathy or not , please fill the form below and give us 48 hrs to respond.

Disclaimer – Please note that we do not guarantee any cure for autism . Homeopathic medicines can have beneficial effects on kids suffering from autism . This result can vary from child to child and at times there may be no improvements at all.

Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis with Natural Homeopathic Remedies

By Dr. Vikas Sharma MD 71 Comments

This feature aims at improving the overall condition of Rheumatoid Arthritis patient . The Homeopathic Medicines for rheumatoid arthritis mentioned in this feature do not promise any reversal of advance stages of RA. Kindly consult your homeopath before using these medicines.

Homeopathic Medicine Causticum when Finger deformities Set In

This homeopathic medicine is one of the top grade medicine prescribed by many homoeopaths in cases of chronic rheumatoid arthritis. Cauticum may be indicated in cases where deformities have set in. Due to repeated acute attacks, there comes a stage when deformities such as flexion of fingers and thumb, flexion of wrist, elbows and shoulder, hip, knees and ankle joints set in. Owing to these deformities, movements are further more restricted and painful. Causticum may be given at this stage to reduce stiffness and pain in the affected joints. Almost all joints may be affected and the overlying muscles are shortened and contracted. Causticum is more indicated when the pains aggravate in cold and feels better in warmth.

Lycopodium – Homeopathic remedy When deformities have started

This homeopathic medicine is also one of the most indicated remedies in cases of chronic rheumatoid arthritis. Lycopodium may be given in the third and fourth stages of rheumatoid arthritis when deformities have started. There may be a sore, numb feeling in the affected limb. The homeopathic medicine lycopodium may be given when there is a strange symptom of one foot being extremely cold and the other foot being extremely hot to touch. The deformities may be more marked in the legs and feet. The soles are extremely painful and walking seems to be highly difficult. Lycopodium may be given when there may be an unusual sensation as if the person is walking on pebbles due to callosities on the soles. Cramps may be felt in the calf and toe muscles. Toes and finger joints may be contracted and painful. Lycopodium may be indicated when the pains are more in the right side, heat in general and better by cold in general and at night.

Homeopathic medicine Rhus Tox – When Rheumatoid Arthritis is aggravated in cold weather

Perhaps no other medicine in homeopathic practice is as useful as rhus tox in treating cases of either acute or chronic rheumatoid arthritis. Rhus tox may be indicated in cases that are aggravated during every winter season. Motions always reduce the pains for a while and hence there may be a temporary relief of pain with every change of position. All small and large joints may be affected. There may be redness, swelling and stiffness of the affected parts. Pains are worse in damp, cold weather and better by motion. All the boney prominences are extremely tender to touch. In more advanced stages, severe deformities set in.

Medorrhinum – When Rheumatoid Arthritis is associated with Gonorrhoea

– This homeopathic medicine is a powerful, deep acting remedy which is often indicated for chronic rheumatism. It may be prescribed when there is marked swelling of the limbs. Medorrhinum may be indicated in cases where there may be a past history of any sexually transmitted disease, particularly gonorrhea. There are deformities of the feet and toes are contracted. Here again, walking is very painful due to callosities on the soles. Medorrhinum may be prescribed when the joint pains are associated with an extreme burning sensation in the palms and soles. Pains are worse during the day, when thinking about them and hot weather. The pains are better in damp conditions.

Treating Anemia in Rheumatoid Arthritis With Homeopathic Remedies

By Dr. Vikas Sharma MD 20 Comments

TOP HOMOEOPATHIC MEDICINES FOR ANEMIA WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Having Anemia in Rheumatoid Arthritis is very common . This leads to low energy levels and fatigue in patients suffering from RA . Homeopathic remedies can help in overcoming anemia in rheumatoid arthritis , thereby improving over condition of the patient. These medicines can be used in conjunction with other homeopathic medicines being used for RA. Please consult your physician before doing so.

FERRUM MET :- Homeopathic medicine ferrum met is one of the best indicated medicines in cases of anemia associated with chronic rheumatoid arthritis. Ferrum met may be given in weak, anemic individuals who have been suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. There may be palpitations on least exertion and an unusual aversion to work on account of weakness and pain. Ferrum met may be given in rheumatism of the shoulders and hip joints. The most marked symptoms such as stiffness and pains seem to subside when the anemia is treated. I, in my practice have prescribed ferrum met in anemia associated with rheumatoid arthritis and have got very good results with it.

FERRUM PHOS :- Homeopathic medicine ferrum phos can be indicated as a supplement for iron deficiency anemia in cases of rheumatoid arthritis. This homoeopathic medicine is known for its efficiency in treating anemia of any duration. All symptoms of anemia such as lethargy, easy fatigue, shortness of breath, paleness, weakness are covered well with ferrum phos. The joints are swollen with marked stiffness and pain. Ferrum phos may be indicated in rheumatism of the neck joints, shoulders, hands and fingers. The fingers are swollen and in long standing cases, there may be contractures and deformities. The palms may be unusually hot to touch. The person may wake up with an extremely stiff neck and shoulders. All pains are worse at night and are better by cold applications.

CHINA :- Homeopathic Remedy cinchona offficinalis or china as it is known, is also a well indicated medicine in rheumatoid arthritis associated with anemia. In chronic rheumatoid arthritis china may give very good results when the pains are compounded with weakness and fatigue. The pains in the limbs and joints may be as if sprained. There is an aversion to any movement or exercise due to pain. The affected joints are swollen and there may be a sensation as if the limbs have been tied tightly with a wire. China may be given in cases where the limbs tremble and feel numb. Slightest touch is unbearable due to pain and tenderness in the joints. All pains are worse at night, during winters and cold in general. Pains are better by hard pressure, warm rooms, hot applications and open air.

ALFALFA :- Homeopathic medicine alfalfa is a very good tonic in all cases of anemia because it improves appetite and helps in the proper digestion and absorption of nutrients. Alfalfa may be given in rheumatoid arthritis associated with anemia as it improves physical stamina. Due to chronic rheumatoid arthritis, there is every possibility that there may be loss of appetite and a generalized weakness. Alfalfa not only improves appetite but also improves the general health. The muscles that are affected due to chronic pain and stiffness also get toned up and may get strengthened. Alfalfa may also help in improving sleep disturbances and bouts of depression that the individual may be suffering due to chronicity of the rheumatoid arthritic pains.

Natural Homeopathic Remedies for High Functioning Autism Treatment

By Dr. Vikas Sharma MD 63 Comments

High functioning autistic kids respond very favourably to natural homeopathic remedies . The biggest advantage of using Homeopathic medicines is that they are one hundred percent natural and do not have any side effects and have a great ability to stimulate good deal of development in such kids.

High functioning autism is not really an official diagnostic term, but is more a convenient term loosely used by medical practitioners. Though the term “high functioning autism” is commonly bandied around in the context of classic autism, it has thus far defied a definitive definition.Broadly speaking, it is used to describe kids who have several overlapping symptoms with autism and also do not develop language skills typically. It is more of a helpful diagnosis that is employed to arrive at the relevant line of treatment and school placement.

High-functioning autism thus forms the lower end of the Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) spectrum as its signs and symptoms are less pronounced than in other forms of autism. A kids with high-functioning autism, in fact, can show good level of intelligence . Its distinctive traits that set it apart from other forms of autism often cause high-functioning autism to be confused with Asperger’s Syndrome.

Since it is not a very clearly defined term, as a parent, care giver or doctor it may be more challenging and confusing to detect and diagnose high-factors to distinguish it:

Generally, a child with high-functioning autism will exhibit normal to above normal intelligence levels with no considerable delays in acquiring language skills. This, however, in no way implies that people with high functioning autism will not experience problems with language skills.

Though people with high functioning autism do not display much language difficulty; they may be given to using slang, exhibit unusual speech patterns or may actually avoid verbal interaction. A typical characteristic of this lower-end autism could be a flat, monotone intonation.The overlapping symptoms of high functioning autism and other forms of autism pertain mostly to other areas of development, such as social skills, sensory skills or motor skills.

Social skills

People with high-functioning autism display a deficiency of social skills. This decreased ability of skill in interacting with others, in fact, defines patients of autism. The person is unable to grasp social cues, may interpret conversations and speech too literally, and display inadequate understanding of facial expressions, body language and other people’s point of view.

Sensory skills

kids with high functioning autism at times show sharp reactions to different textures, strong smells, sudden sounds, sights, or other stimuli that others might not even notice or react to, such as a flickering light, moving objects etc. This either makes them hypersensitive or hyposensitive to sensory stimuli.

While a hypersensitive person will shrink from strong lights or sounds, a hyposensitive person will be loud in speech, like loud music and seek strong sensory stimulation.As with classic autism, the causes of high functioning autism could be several such as inherited genetic deficiencies, environmental role and various physiological factors.

Natural homeopathic medicines for High Functioning Autistic kids

Homeopathic medicines are very safe , natural and highly effective in helping kids with high functioning autism. This segment of autism responds very favourably to Homeopathic medicines . I have always used homeopathic medicines which are meant for development delay and not autism . Hardly have I ever used Carcinocin for high functioning autistic kids . Simple development medicines like calcarea group , baryta carb , tuber etc . show much promising result in treating High funtioning autism naturally.

Methods to Diagnose Autism in Children

By Dr. Vikas Sharma MD 13 Comments

Methods to diagnose autism in children

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) is revisiting the existing definition of autism spectrum disorder in a manner that is likely to have a bearing on its diagnostic characteristics. The revised diagnostic criteria may be implemented some time in 2013, in the shape of DSM V.

Doctors rely on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) for Mental Disorders to ascertain if a person is suffering from autism. The existing version of this manual is the DSM-IV.The APA advocates that children should be examined for autism during regular visits to doctors. This enables doctors to ascertain whether or not a child has autism or any similar condition such as language disorders or avoidant personality disorder.

For a parent to detect symptoms of autism in the child, there is available the autism rating scale , which is a list of informative questions pertaining to the kid’s responses. ‘. It is best to consult a specialized professional, such as neurologist, developmental pediatrician child psychiatrist or speech therapist, rather than relying on a general practitioner.The specialists undertake a battery of tests and screening procedures to arrive at a conclusive diagnosis. Broadly, these screening criteria can be categorized as follows:

Behavioral screening

The guidelines employed by a doctor to assess the specific kind of developmental delay a child has comprise case studies, among other things. The medical history interview entails asking general questions from parents or other care givers about whether a child makes the gestures that are natural at various stages of growth, such as responding to his name, following the parents with his gaze, gesticulating to be picked up etc.

Behavioral screening also entails measuring the child against the diagnostic guidelines for autism advocated by the American Association of Childhood and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP).Various behavioral questionnaires may be used that are specifically designed for children below the age of three.

Clinical screening is done to observe the child’s behavior in different settings. Parents may be required to chronicle and interpret the child’s responses in varied settings.In addition, developmental and intelligence tests are conducted as the AACAP recommends that an assessment be made about whether or not a child’s developmental delays impact his cognitive power and ability to arrive at decisions.

Physical screening

The child is also be subjected to screening for any physical disability or problem. The battery of physical tests comprises measuring of head dimensions, weight, height etc.Hearing tests are performed to assess if the developmental delays or lack of language skills and social reciprocity can be attributed to hearing problems.

Doctors also conduct special tests to check the child for any lead poisoning. This could manifest itself as a specific condition called pica wherein the kid exhibits a craving for non-food items such as dirt or even paint. It is common to find that children with tardy growth carry on putting objects in their mouth long after this stage has been crossed in other children showing normal growth. This trait is generally responsible for lead poisoning in affected children.

Role of Early Homeopathy and Behaviour Therapy in the treating Autism

By Dr. Vikas Sharma MD 2 Comments

I have personally seen that early intervention ( both behavioral and homeopathic ) have the ability to do the great turnaround . If One is able to start interventions before the child hits the age of three, the chances of good recovery are very high. Although It is very difficult to quantify the level to which the child will improve; I have even seen kids coming totally of Autism Spectrum disorder with good behavioral therapy and homeopathic intervention

Early intervention entails that a child is put on therapies to treat autism before his third birthday. Early remedies can take the shape of homeopathic medicines, physical therapy, social, behavioral and speech-based treatments. Usually, an early intervention program for a child with autism that has been diagnosed early will be a blend of these.

The three primary reasons why early intervention plays an integral role are as follows:

Catch ‘em young.

The Chances of the child recovering with homeopathic medicines are much higher if the treatment is started before the age of three and the biggest reason is That If homeopathic medicines are started early there will be less gap to bridge as far as the child’s mental development is concerned.

Since the first five years are the formative period of a child’s growth, therapeutic intervention before the age of three enables him to imbibe new communication skills at a stage when he is able to grasp them more easily. It is easier for the child to “unlearn” undesirable traits at this stage before they get ingrained into his system. Preschoolers are not set in behavior and less given to temper tantrums, so it is simpler to shape them with teaching techniques tailored to their special needs. I recommend Applied behavior therapy as behavior technique for stimulating kids suffering from autism.

Doing it with the diet

In case a child with autism is in need of dietary intervention owing to the existence of some food allergies, early therapy is easier to implement at a younger age. A tiny tot may possess certain food likes and dislikes, but is not too fastidious. He is more malleable to the introduction of new food items in his diet and adapts more easily to a tailor-made diet. Kids with autism are often susceptible to food allergens like gluten found in wheat and grains, casein found in dairy products, to soy or to corn. Food substitution is thus easier to carry out in a tiny tots’ diet than for an older autistic child.

Talking of speech

The same logic governs speech therapy for autistic children as well. Preschoolers are still learning to pronounce and making corrections in their speech is relatively easier at this stage than when they’re older and more set in their pronunciations and lip movements.

The idea behind early homeopathic, behavior and speech interventions is to enable the child to imbibe a strong and functional communication system at the earliest. Children with autism could employ either speech to communicate, or rely on picture cards, signs, or assistive techniques. The idea is not so much to make the child learn to talk as much to equip him for back-and-forth, reciprocal communication skills.

Early Signs of Autism In Infants and Homeopathic Treatment

By Dr. Vikas Sharma MD 5 Comments

Early signs of autism in your child

It is estimated that at least one child out of 100 is likely to be autistic. Autism is a clutch of closely related disorders with a common core of symptoms. Appearing in infancy and early childhood, it leads to tardy growth in many basic areas like learning to talk, play, and social interaction with others.As a parent, therefore, you need to look out for early signs of autism in your Infant. Its symptoms often surface between 12 and 18 months although an official diagnosis of autism isn’t generally furnished until a child attains the age of 2 or 3. Since it can be Autism can diagnosed in infants, the sooner it is identified for homeopathic medical intervention, the better are the chances of treatment.

General signs Autism In infants

There are some early signs of autism in infants that show up as as early as two months and should set alarm bells ringing. If you find only one or two of these signs surfacing once in a while, it may not be so much a cause for concern as it may be some other kind of language or learning problem, or simply nothing at all.But it is a red flag if the baby shows lack of eye contact, such as not looking at you when being fed; doesn’t smile back when smiled at; shows lack of response to name or to the sound of a familiar voice; doesn’t follow objects visually; the baby shows lack of gestures for communication, like pointing, reaching, waving, showing things, etc.

If the baby fails to make noises to draw your attention; doesn’t initiate or respond to cuddling; doesn’t make gestures to be picked up; doesn’t know how to play with toys or excessively lines up toys and other objects; or is overly attached to a toy or object, and isn’t sociable, doesn’t share interest and enjoyment, these signs should be chronicled and discussed with the doctor. These can early signs of autism in your baby.

Specific Signs Of Autism in Infants at various stages of growth:

There are some early milestones at specific stages that form the bedrock of a child’s growth. Among these is the yardstick of social reciprocity, which entails back and forth communication and continuous exchange of gestures. Here are some milestones that may be missing:

By 2 to 3 months, the baby isn’t making frequent eye contact; by 3 months, the baby isn’t smiling at you, there are no cheerful or other joyful expressions; by 6 months, the baby doesn’t laugh; by 8 months, the baby isn’t following your gaze when you look away from him, and there is no reciprocal sharing of sounds, smiles, or other facial expressions; by 9 months, the baby hasn’t started babbling; by 1 year, the baby isn’t consistently turning to you when you call his name; by 1 year, the baby hasn’t begun to wave a goodbye; by 12 to 14 months, the baby hasn’t uttered a single word; by 14 months, the baby isn’t pointing or gesturing to evince interest; by 18 months, the baby doesn’t play “pretend”; and by 24 months, the baby is not uttering two-word meaningful phrases (sans imitation or repetition).

Role of Homeopathic Intervention when there are early Signs of Autism in Infants.

As a rule I never start any autism related homeopathic medicine in kids below the age of 18 months . But I have had success with development delay medicines …for example , I have used Calcarea Carb in very young kids and have seen great improvement in them . My Homeopathic recommendation in cases where there are early signs of autism in Infants is Calcarea Carb . I have used this in decimal scale with great success.

What is the role of homeopathic medicines in Treating Autism ?

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) is revisiting the existing definition of autism spectrum disorder in a manner that is likely to have a bearing on its diagnostic characteristics. The revised diagnostic criteria may be implemented some time in 2013, in the shape of DSM V.

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