Neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism, attention-deficit disorder (ADD), and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have reached epidemic proportions. Currently, 1 in 36 children is diagnosed with autism and 1 in 6 (17%) children aged 3–17 years is diagnosed with a developmental disability. Despite their pervasiveness, most experts agree that there is no cure for these disorders and many therapies incorporate medications instead of natural therapies for neurodevelopmental disorders. This article highlights holistic therapies for autism, ADD, and ADHD that are decreasing the extent, intensity, and magnitude of symptoms.
Holistic Therapies to Deal with Autism, ADD, and ADHD
A multi-dimensional holistic approach involving nutrition, supplementation, movement, sleep, environmental control, chelation, behavioral, and speech therapy, as well as body/mind practices, is necessary to treat people with autism, ADD, and ADHD.
Essential Natural Therapeutics
The following regimens are the essential components of a lifestyle for anyone wanting to optimize their health or deal with a health condition:
Regular Exercise
An essential natural therapy for autism, ADD, and ADHD is exercise. Physical activity can help improve focus, attention, and mood in individuals with autism, ADD, and ADHD. Activities like walking, swimming, yoga, strength training, martial arts, or sports can be beneficial. Findings of a systematic review concluded that exercise can be considered an evidence-based practice (EBP) for school-aged children.
Exercise can improve motor skills, enhancing coordination, balance, and overall physical abilities. Regular physical activity can also improve sleep patterns, help children manage stress and emotions more effectively, alleviate anxiety and depression, reduce stereotypic behaviors, aggression, and self-injury, and improve attention and compliance.
Exercise has been shown to improve attention span, reduce hyperactivity and impulsivity, and enhance executive functions such as planning, organizing, and memory. Additionally, physical group activities and sports can provide opportunities for social interaction and teamwork, helping improve social skills. It can also boost self-esteem and confidence.
Healthy Diet
An effective dietary plan can help deal with symptoms of autism, ADD, and ADHD. Ideally, this balanced diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, and lean proteins as well as specific nutrients that support brain health. Avoiding non-organic foods, artificial additives, preservatives, and excessive sugars can also help. Prioritizing a nutritious diet and minimizing exposure to toxic substances can focus on neurohealth, lower inflammation, and improve the composition of the gut microbiota.
Supplements
Targeted supplementation can help decrease autism, ADD, and ADHD symptoms by providing essential nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants such as omega-3 fatty acids, probiotics, zinc, magnesium, vitamin D, and superfoods. These powerful compounds fill in nutritional gaps and play vital roles in brain function, neurotransmitter synthesis, and overall cognitive health.
Adequate Sleep
Getting adequate sleep is another essential natural therapeutic since there is a high prevalence of dysregulated sleep in children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Establishing healthy sleep habits is crucial for managing symptoms.
Ensuring sufficient and quality sleep can improve attention, mood, and overall functioning. Proper sleep hygiene is composed of activities and an environment that makes it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep. This includes having a cool, dark environment, reducing EMF exposure, and eliminating caffeine and sugar before bed to help relax and soothe the body.
Elimination Therapies
The following therapeutics aim at removing or limiting substances, objects, or behaviors that are damaging to people with autism, ADD, and ADHD:
Chelation Therapy
Chelation therapy is a holistic therapy that aims to remove heavy metals such as lead, mercury, arsenic, or iron from the body. During this therapy, a chelating agent is introduced, either orally or intravenously, to bind to heavy metals in the bloodstream so they can be excreted by the kidneys. Besides being used for heavy metal poisoning, it’s used in cases of autism, cardiovascular disease, and Alzheimer’s disease.
The most commonly used chelating agents include EDTA (ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid), DMSA (dimercaptosuccinic acid), and DMPS (dimercaptopropanesulfonate). Chelation therapy should only be administered under the supervision of a qualified healthcare professional.
Limiting Screen Time and Digital Devices
Studies show that screens can prove to be detrimental for people with autism, ADD, and ADHD. Excessive screen time, particularly with electronic devices like smartphones, tablets, computers, and smart TVs (especially before bed) has been associated with the exacerbation of symptoms, delayed language development, hyperactivity, poor focus, reduced ability to read facial cues, sleep disorders, increased aggressive behavior (particularly when watching violent media), poorer self-regulation, and a greater likelihood of participating in risky behavior.
Furthermore, excessive screen time can lead to less physical exercise and unhealthy food choices in response to advertisements for high-sugar/high-calorie food and drinks, which can contribute to obesity.
These screens also emit electromagnetic frequencies (EMFs) – radio frequencies and Bluetooth radiation. EMFs have been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer (particularly leukemia and lymphoma), neurological problems (headaches, fatigue, and memory impairment), reproductive issues (reduced fertility and increased risk of miscarriage), and interference with biological systems (body’s natural electrical systems, potentially disrupting communication between cells and organs).
Here are a few tips on how to deal with screens and EMFs:
- Set limits on screen time and incorporate regular breaks from screens
- Incorporate earthing. Earthing is direct skin contact with Mother Earth by walking barefoot on the grass, soil, and sand while
- Incorporate grounding. Grounding is using a device that helps connect us to Mother Earth.
- Get this FREE EMF Guide from the Energetic Health Institute!
Elimination Diet
Refer to the dietary plan to help deal with symptoms of autism, ADD, and ADHD.
Cognitive / Behavioral / Physical Therapies
Spellers Method
A revolutionary holistic therapy for autism, ADD, and ADHD is the Spellers Method™. This multidisciplinary approach helps individuals to communicate. It’s also known as Spelling to Communicate (S2C), which allows non-speaking individuals to spell out words by pointing to letters on a board or by typing. This method is rooted in the belief that many non-speaking individuals have intact cognitive abilities and can understand language, but face significant challenges with motor planning and control, which prevents them from speaking.
The Spellers Method is an educational model, curriculum, and mentorship program used to provide individualized support across a variety of sensory-motor profiles of students who spell or type to communicate. It incorporates research and expertise from the fields of assistive technology, developmental optometry, and occupational therapy to guide each student’s unique path to fluency, from their very first spelling session through their attainment of autonomous communication skills i.e., spelling without the need for a trained communication partner holding a keyboard.
Benefits of the Spellers Method include decreased isolation, improved cognitive function and communication, and empowerment due to providing a means for non-speaking individuals to express their thoughts, needs, and desires.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a widely used therapeutic approach that focuses on identifying and modifying negative thought patterns, cognitive distortions, and behaviors. It has proven to be effective for a range of mental health conditions, including neurodevelopmental disorders.
CBT helps individuals recognize and challenge negative thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to anxiety and depression. Techniques such as exposure therapy, cognitive reframing, and relaxation strategies are often used. It can help improve social skills by teaching individuals how to interpret social cues, understand social norms, and develop appropriate responses to social situations. CBT, also, helps individuals develop better problem-solving skills, challenge irrational thoughts, and improve self-monitoring and self-regulation abilities.
Results of a meta-analysis suggest that cognitive behavioral interventions can provide behavioral strategies, self-regulation techniques, skill training, and coping strategies. CBT can be effective for improving problem-solving, social, and organizational abilities, reducing repetitive behaviors and impulsivity, and managing anxiety and frustration.
Nature Therapy
Nature therapy, also known as ecotherapy or green therapy, encompasses activities like hiking, gardening, or simply spending time in green spaces. It has been increasingly recognized for its potential benefits in managing and treating various neurodevelopmental disorders.
Natural environments provide rich, multi-sensory experiences due to the variety of sights, sounds, textures, and smells, enhancing sensory processing and integration. Nature also has a calming effect, reducing sensory overload and soothing hyperactive, anxious, and stressed-out children. Additionally, nature therapy can improve physical health and motor skills. Group activities in nature can help improve social skills and foster teamwork and communication. This physical exertion can channel excess energy.
Nature therapy has cognitive benefits too. Studies have shown that spending time in nature can enhance executive functioning skills, improve concentration and focus, and reduce impulsivity and hyperactivity. The concept of “attention restoration theory” suggests that nature helps replenish cognitive resources depleted by the demands of daily life.
Animal-Assisted Therapy
Animal-assisted therapy is another holistic therapy for autism, ADD, and ADHD where interactions with animals, horses or dogs, are used to help decrease symptoms. A review of several studies showed that the interaction of children affected by neurodevelopmental disorders with therapy dogs was able to promote verbal and nonverbal behaviors.
Introducing assistance dogs resulted in beneficial effects not only on children’s behaviors but also on the family overall. Family members reported a sense of security and independence. Therapy dogs act as social catalysts, enhancing social interaction, improving social behavior, reducing anxiety, and increasing motivation.
Music Therapy
Studies show that music therapy can aid in improving symptoms of neurodevelopmental disorders. Some techniques in music therapy include improvisation, receptive music therapy (listening to music and responding to it), songwriting, instrument play, and activities like dancing or moving to the rhythm of the music.
Music therapy allows individuals to express their emotions in a non-verbal way and can enhance creativity, self-expression, and social and communication skills. The rhythmic and repetitive nature of music provides a structure that enhances cognitive processes, improving attention, focus, memory, learning abilities, and impulse control. In addition, music therapy can improve motor skills and coordination, and reduce anxiety and stress.
Physical Therapy
Natural therapies for neurodevelopmental disorders include physical therapy (PT). PT aims to enhance mobility and gross motor skills, increase strength, flexibility, and endurance, improve balance and coordination, promote independence, and address sensory processing issues.
PT’s common techniques and approaches include neurodevelopmental treatment, (improves motor control and function through guided movements and postural control exercises), motor learning and relearning (emphasizes practice and repetition of functional tasks), therapeutic exercises (stretching, strengthening, and aerobic exercises), use of assistive devices (training on the use of orthotics, walkers, wheelchairs), hydrotherapy (water-based exercises to support movement and reduce stress on joints), and play-based therapy (play to make therapy sessions engaging and enjoyable).
Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care is another holistic therapy for autism, ADD, and ADHD. Chiropractic adjustments aim to correct spinal misalignments (subluxations), helping improve nerve and neurological function and abnormal sensory processing.
Some parents and caregivers report that chiropractic care has helped reduce symptoms such as hyperactivity, impulsiveness, and inattentiveness while improving behavior and social interactions. Even though research is limited, a systematic review concluded that chiropractic adjustment may attenuate sensorimotor integration.
Mind / Body Therapies
Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy, the inhalation of essential oils from plants for therapeutic purposes, has been explored as a complementary treatment for various neurodevelopmental disorders. While there is not a lot of research, some studies and anecdotal reports suggest several potential benefits of aromatherapy in managing symptoms.
Aromatherapy has been considered for its calming effects and potential to improve behavioral issues, anxiety, and sleep problems. It can also improve concentration and reduce hyperactivity. Essential oils like lavender, chamomile, and sandalwood are commonly used for their soothing properties while cedarwood, lavender, peppermint, and rosemary have been cited for their potential to help with focus and concentration.
Massage
Massage therapy has been explored as a complementary treatment for numerous disorders, including autism, ADD, and ADHD. Some techniques include Swedish, deep tissue, craniosacral massage (focusing on the cranial bones and sacrum, believed to support the central nervous system). Studies have shown improvements in anxiety and conduct problems.
Massage therapy can help desensitize the skin and improve sensory integration, reduce anxiety and stress, improve mood and emotional regulation, and promote better sleep patterns. It can help increase attention span and improve concentration, reduce hyperactivity, impulsivity, and cortisol levels.
Yoga
Yoga is another effective natural therapy for neurodevelopmental disorders. This practice offers physical, mental, and emotional benefits that can support overall well-being.
Yoga can promote relaxation, reduce impulsivity, improve attention span and concentration, enhance both fine and gross motor skills, and improve sensory integration, emotional awareness, self-regulation, concentration, and focus. Research shows overall improvement in functioning and various studies show that yoga improves gross motor performance and decreases imitation/praxis errors when copying training-specific yoga poses.
Acupuncture and Acupressure
Acupuncture and acupressure are traditional Chinese medicine practices that have gained attention for their potential benefits in treating various health conditions, including neurodevelopmental disorders. While acupuncture involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body, which are believed to stimulate the nervous system, release neurotransmitters, and improve energy flow (Qi), acupressure uses pressure instead of needles.
Acupuncture and acupressure are known to improve sleep patterns, regulate sensory processing, promote relaxation, and reduce anxiety. Some studies have reported improvements in attention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. A systematic review concluded that acupuncture as a monotherapy reduced the overall Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) score, having positive effects on social interaction and communication.
Mindfulness
This practice of being present and fully engaged in the current moment is another holistic therapy for autism, ADD, and ADHD. Some of the mindfulness-based interventions include mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (combines mindfulness practices with cognitive therapy techniques), mindfulness-based stress reduction (combines mindfulness meditation and yoga to reduce stress), and mindful awareness practices (exercises that can be incorporated into daily routines, such as mindful breathing, mindful eating, and body scans).
Mindfulness practices can improve social interactions, attention, and focus, and lower stress, anxiety, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Mindfulness can help individuals better regulate their emotions by fostering a non-judgmental awareness of one’s emotional state. A systematic review concluded that mindfulness training leads to reductions in anxiety, depression, rumination, and aggression, and increases in social responsiveness,
Meditation
Meditation is another natural therapy for neurodevelopmental disorders. It uses different degrees of focused attention on a variety of objects to reach a clear, meditative mind.
Meditation can reduce impulsivity, enhance executive functioning, and improve attention, self-regulation, and awareness of thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations without judgment. Meditation has been shown to effectively strengthen self-control, and cognitive and behavioral performance, and produce self-relaxation and self-healing. Mantra meditation seems to be most useful in young children.
Tai Chi
Tai Chi, an ancient Chinese martial art that combines slow, focused movements with breathing exercises and meditation, has shown promise as a therapeutic intervention for autism, ADHD, and ADD.
Tai Chi has been associated with reduced anxiety and stress, and improved attention, memory, executive functioning, and behavioral control. Research shows that Tai Chi can reduce hyperactivity, enhance sensory processing and self-control, and improve balance, motion coordination, and attention span.
Qigong
Another natural therapy for neurodevelopmental disorders is Qigong. This traditional Chinese practice integrates physical movement, meditation, and controlled breathing. Qigong aims to cultivate and balance the body’s energy (qi).
Some benefits of Qigong include enhancing emotional regulation, motor coordination and control, improved attention span and focus, and reduced anxiety and stress. Research shows that qigong can decrease the severity of sensory, behavioral, and language symptoms, and improve self-control, sociability, sensory and cognitive awareness.
Conclusion
Holistic therapies for autism, ADD, and ADHD encompass a range of approaches that aim to support physical, emotional, and cognitive well-being. The first thing to keep in mind is that a healthy diet, exercise, supplementation, and adequate sleep should be part of anyone’s lifestyle to be able to see improvements. Eliminating toxins from the body and decreasing screen time should be a second line of defense. The natural therapies for neurodevelopmental disorders described above have helped reduce symptoms and improve quality of life by enhancing focus, improving emotional regulation, communication, social and physical skills, and reducing anxiety, impulsivity, hyperactivity, negative cognitions, and behaviors.
To learn more about parents’ journeys and experts helping heal children with neurodevelopmental disorders, read Warrior Mom: A Mother’s Journey in Healing Her Son with Autism, Louder Than Words: A Mother’s Journey in Healing Autism, Healing the New Childhood Epidemics: Autism, ADHD, Asthma, and Allergies: The Groundbreaking Program for the 4-A Disorders
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