Asperger Syndrome: Natural Steps toward a Better Life Suzanne C. Lawton, N.D. PRAEGER Asperger Syndrome Recent Titles in Complementary and Alternative Medicine Herbs and Nutrients for the Mind: A Guide to Natural Brain Enhancers Chris D. Meletis, N.D., and Jason E. Barker, N.D. Asperger Syndrome Natural Steps toward a Better Life Suzanne C. Lawton, N.D. Foreword by Judyth Reichenberg-Ullman, N.D. Complementary and Alternative Medicine Chris D. Meletis, Series Editor Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Lawton, Suzanne C., 1955– Asperger syndrome : natural steps toward a better life / Suzanne C. Lawton ; foreword by Judyth Reichenberg-Ullman. p. ; cm.—(Complementary and alternative medicine, ISSN 1549–084X) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN-13: 978–0–275–99178–4 (alk. paper) 1. Asperger’s syndrome. 2. Asperger’s syndrome—Alternative treatment. [DNLM: 1. Asperger Syndrome. 2. Adolescent. 3. Adult. 4. Child. 5. Complementary Therapies. WS 350.6 L425a 2007] I. Title. II. Complementary and alternative medicine RC553.A88L395 2007 616.85  8832—dc22 2007023402 British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data is available. Copyright C  2007 by Suzanne C. Lawton, N.D. All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, by any process or technique, without the express written consent of the publisher. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2007023402 ISBN-13: 978–0–275–99178–4 ISSN: 1549-084X First published in 2007 Praeger Publishers, 88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881 An imprint of Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc. www.praeger.com Printed in the United States of America The paper used in this book complies with the Permanent Paper Standard issued by the National Information Standards Organization (Z39.48–1984). 10987654321 This book is intended to provide the reader with information only. As noted throughout the text, individuals should consult appropriate health care practitioners knowledgeable in the field of natural medicine prior to pursuing any particular course of treatment. Names and identifying facts have been changed for all case studies included within this book so that individuals who may be described in the case studies will not be recognizable. Any similarities between the case study descriptions and actual, living persons are purely coincidental. The publisher has done its best to make sure the instructions and/or recipes in this book are correct. However, users should apply judgment and experience when preparing recipes, especially parents and teachers working with young people. The publisher accepts no responsibility for the outcome of any recipe included in this volume. Contents Series Foreword vii Foreword by Judyth Reichenberg-Ullman, N.D. ix Preface xiii Chapter 1: Asperger Syndrome: What It Is and What It Isn’t 1 Chapter 2: What Asperger Syndrome Looks Like in Children and Teenagers 11 Chapter 3: What Asperger Syndrome Looks Like in an Adult 29 Chapter 4: Face Blindness and Place Blindness—Who Are You and Where Am I Going? 41 Chapter 5: Conventional Asperger Treatment: Then and Now 53 Chapter 6: Physical Symptoms Associated with Asperger Syndrome 65 Chapter 7: What You Eat Affects How You Act 77 Chapter 8: How the Environment Affects Asperger Syndrome 99 Chapter 9: Deer in the Headlights—Dealing with Anxiety, Depression, and Sleep 119 Chapter 10: Homeopathy: A Giant Leap Forward 135 Chapter 11: What You Can Do Right Now 145 Appendix A: Resources Helpful in Addressing Asperger Syndrome 153 vi CONTENTS Appendix B: Common Mercury Derivatives 157 Appendix C: Tasty Pesto Recipes Which Will Also Help with Chemical Detoxification 159 Notes 163 Selected Bibliography 175 Index 177 Series Foreword Dr. Suzanne Lawton and the growing number of physicians that embrace health care from atruly integrative approachare pioneering the wayfor the nextquantum leap in significant advances in both academic and clinical medicine. With the support of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) and funding from both private and public sectors the appreciation for the integration of health care education and delivery is becoming a greater reality. There is no more important time for all health care providers to embrace the concept of “individualized patient oriented wellness.” Thanks to the work of Dr. David Eisenberg and similar studies we now know that Americans are allocated billions of discretionary dollars to seek out what used to be termed “alternative medicine” approaches. Yet what was once considered fully “alternative” is be- coming integrated, as evidence grows, into the mainstream. The first step in true integration is to realize that health care is a continuum that is both fluid and dynamic. The nearly ten-fold increase in autism over the last twenty years demands that this epidemic serves as a unifying force for all fields of medicine to work seamlessly in resolving what many consider the ultimate “coal miner’s canary” of modern society. It is only through the concerted efforts of the whole health care and research community that the formulation of hypotheses relative to the increased prevalence, potential etiologies, diagnostics, and treatment options can most expeditiously be addressed. With our public and private school systems, families, and social services fully entrenched in this epidemic and the current trending of statistics, the only option is prevention and early intervention. This work on Asperger’s syndrome is an important contribution that provides a platform for health care provider and patient alike to proceed with a heightened viii SERIES FOREWORD level of awareness, insights, and literally a head start in establishing a working foundation to meet the unique needs of each patient as they participate in the lifelong journey of health care, which should be with the advent of an integrated approach that would more accurately be termed “wellness care.” Chris D. Meletis Series Editor Foreword Asperger Syndrome (AS) has, as Dr. Suzanne Lawton so correctly reminds the reader, baffled Dr. Hans Asperger and baffles parents, children, physicians, and other health care practitioners, researchers, and others to this day. We cannot seem to agree on the cause or even, universally, on the diagnosis, much less the treatment. Auditoriums full of angry, impassioned, sometimes desperate, parents have gathered to berate the apparent lack of concern on the part of governmental institutions regarding mercury-laden vaccine preservatives. Families spend inor- dinate amounts of time, energy, and financial resources on any number of health care approaches for their Asperger children. So many affected children, so many questions, and so few answers. We can agree that the number of children, and adults, diagnosed with AS has risen to the point that many would consider to be epidemic. The current estimate is one out of every 150 children in this country. Though, coinciding with the removal (relatively speaking) of thimerosal in most childhood immunizations, the numbers appear tobe diminishing; theincidence is saidto be growingconsiderably in China, where we are now exporting those earlier batches of preserved vaccines. Given the groundbreaking discovery of a gene associated with autism, we may agree on some genetic component. Yet to come to light is exactly how that hereditary tendency might make this group of children and adults more susceptible to environmental influences. We can agree that AS embraces a complex, curious, and often confusing con- stellation of symptoms. And that, despite their sometimes superior intelligence and efforts to adapt to our neurotypical society, these children and adults experi- ence tremendous challenges—physical, emotional, social, academic, and senso- rial. Despite their efforts to do the best they can, they frequently find themselves misunderstood and ostracized. [...]... again and again as you read this book, trust that natural healing is not only possible, but the most sane and commonsense way to heal ourselves Through a healthy lifestyle that includes breathing fresh air, ingesting whole, live foods, natural therapies and lifestyle, and a healthy, loving family and environment, we can lead our AS children to healing—safely, gently, and naturally Dr Lawton speaks from... toxicity such as mercury, lead, and aluminum Children and adults with autism and Asperger can have higher levels of these metals as well as toxic chemicals than the average person.16 ATFS and heavy metal toxicity cause symptoms that overlap those of AS A 2001 article in Pediatrics medical journal that drew national attention studied a community of 75,000 people who had an incidence of Autism Spectrum... other hand, offers a cornucopia of well-researched and effective natural alternatives presented in an open-minded, practical manner I suppose that I am prejudiced toward this book already because I am a licensed naturopathic physician (N.D.) of twenty-four years So much of what I appreciate about naturopathic medicine is embodied in this book by Dr Lawton Naturopathic students learn, from day one, about... breadth in considering such a wide variety of natural, sensible approaches to treating AS patients to be impressive and useful There is enough of a variety of recommendations in this book to suit any parent seeking a natural approach for their AS child, or any adult with AS I appreciate that Dr Lawton does not mince words concerning the importance of an organic, sugar, and pesticide-free diet for anyone... severely mentally handicapped Down’s Syndrome. 1 While there is little dispute that people with AS have characteristics that should be addressed by the 4 ASPERGER SYNDROME mental health community, for many years the physical components of AS have been mostly ignored PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ASPERGER SYNDROME In 1998, Dr Andrew Wakefield and his colleagues at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead, England,... that there is more widespread consensus that AS does in fact exist, is more prevalent than Hans Asperger would have ever imagined, and that it is indeed a serious problem for parents, adults, families, educators, and for our society, what do we do about it? You may have heard the expression, “If you are a hammer, everything looks like a nail.” Professionals addressing the dilemma of AS tend naturally... food in restaurants and on our tables has additives and preservatives that may extend the shelf life, but may have a completely different effect on human life I strongly urge my patients to eat organic food whenever possible One particularly resistant patient became a strong supporter after he ate an organic steak on a trip to Montana He couldn’t believe how great it tasted compared to his steak from the... painful months later, his parents recognized that this wasn’t an appropriate socialization forum for Kent and he quickly left the group More effective ways of easing your child into a more social arena are with music and art lessons in which there is a smaller emphasis on socializing and a greater emphasis on the activity As many of my AS adult patients have told me, it takes one to two months for an... generation seems to have more pronounced symptoms Perhaps external causes are affecting ASPERGER SYNDROME: WHAT IT IS AND WHAT IT ISN’T 7 this static percentage, which Gilberg describes, and have caused an increase in the symptomatic picture Misdiagnosis Some in the conventional medical community explained the increase in AS cases as a result of misdiagnoses A 2001 article in Advances in Psychiatric... similarly exacerbate AS symptoms For example, the common AS characteristic of mild inability to interact with others can become exaggerated given the right stimulus Uncle Henry, who has always preferred a solitary cat as his only company and rarely socialized, now barricades himself and ten cats in his house The same basic characteristic is now intensified into a pathology because of environmental influences . Asperger Syndrome: Natural Steps toward a Better Life Suzanne C. Lawton, N.D. PRAEGER Asperger Syndrome Recent Titles in Complementary and Alternative. Editor Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Lawton, Suzanne C., 1955– Asperger syndrome : natural steps toward a better life / Suzanne C. Lawton