Editorial Review
Autism is now an epidemic in the United States and in much of the world, rising by as much as 1000% in some areas. The Healthy Mind Guide: Reversing Autism explores why and offers effective treatment options and the possibility of a positive outcome via natural medicine therapies that can ameliorate or reverse the disorder in many cases.
Part I of the book covers the basics of autism—what it is and what causes it. The book includes discussion of the following factors that are often involved in the disorder: vaccines, heavy metal toxicity, nutritional deficiencies/imbalances, food allergies, digestive problems and fungal overgrowth, viruses or viral overload, immune dysfunction, problems in the birthing process, and energetic legacies from unresolved family issues in previous generations.
A chapter in the book is also devoted to the deeper question of what makes a child susceptible to autism—after all, not all children who are vaccinated develop autism, for example. Included in this discussion is the work of William J. Walsch, Ph.D., whose latest research may well have pinpointed the genetic component of autism that has previously eluded scientific inquiry.
In addition to the biochemical therapy practiced by Dr. Walsh, Part II of the book covers a range of natural medicine treatments for autism. These are advanced therapies that demonstrate the comprehensive healing potential in the field, and include treatments to eliminate allergies, integrate children's listening and learning skills, nutritional supplements to correct imbalances, cranial osteopathy to reverse birth trauma, and many more.
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Customer Reviews
Introduction to several alternatives 
2007-11-10
My favorite chapter in this book was the one on homeopathy and vaccine clearing. A lot of practitioners are using homeopathic remedies made from the actual vaccines to clear vaccine damage. The author gives several case studies with varying levels of autism severity, different practitioners, and approaches. They are all very interesting and provide reason to believe that homeopathic vaccine clearing should be considered.
She also talks about NAET, which is an allergy elimination method that a lot of people like. We tried it, and didn't see any improvement, but not everything works for everybody.
She also talks about cranial osteopathy, and we have seen a lot of improvement with that approach.
Most well-developed overview to causes & treatments of autism 2007-07-04
Stephanie Marohn's books on mental health issues are all excellent and this one on autism is a good starting place for anyone wishing to find out more about Autism and how to effectively treat it. One challenge in writing this book was that there are multiple factors contributing to the development of autism, and the most prevalent factors happen to be iatrogenic - standard medical practices that cause illness. A recent study survey in 2 Western states showed that children who were vaccinated were more than twice as likely as their unvaccinated peers to have autism and other developmental disorders. The medical establishment and those indoctrinated by the cult of modern medicine don't want to acknowledge that they are causing unneeded harm to millions of people. There are financial and psychological reasons why many people won't face that reality. Thus, Marohn's book looks honestly at those issues and quotes doctors who oppose vaccinations and certain unnatural child delivery practices. One has to accept the validity of the factors cited in the etiology of autism to appreciate how the treatments discussed in the book work. A spectrum of treatments is explored (and the focus is on the most cutting edge and effective approaches, not the more mainstream approaches that most people investigating the subject already have exposure to). Most children will benefit immensely from a combination of the approaches discussed in this book. There is a growing body of evidence to support many of these approaches and much evidence that standard drug therapies cause a variety of side effects and impairments. Wouldn't it be logical to try the natural approaches first? Well, much of modern psychiatry and allopathic medicine are concerned more about conformity to dogma than using critical thinking and sensibly looking at all options. Stephanie Marohn looks at nutritional therapies, allergy clearing, osteopathy, homeopathy, sound therapy, and even family therapy and shamanic type interventions to help resolve issues contributing to autism. That's a lot better than just giving a child drugs, external behavior manipulation, and hiring someone to make sure the child gets physical and social stimulation (typical conventional approaches to autism). While this book doesn't cover every alternative therapy or go into great depth on each topic it discusses, it offers a good overview of the types of treatments that are working and it explains them in a clear manner. At present this is the ideal book for people looking to begin to understand autism and how to treat it - it's time to look beyond the DSM (the psychiatric diagnostic and statistical manual) and learn to really help those with developmental impairments.
An excellent book (if modeling pseudoscience is your aim!) 
2005-09-19
As a professional/advocate in the field of autism treatment, I am continually disheartened by the large number of false claims made about the causes/treatments of this disorder. This book only adds to that trend.
As of the writing of this review, there are still no definitive data to suggest that autism is caused by environmental toxins or vaccinations (although the author suggests otherwise). While the effects of environmental influences continue to be investigated by competent researchers, it is irresponsible to suggest to parents of children with autism that we already know the cause of this neurological disorder. The only influence/potential cause of autism that has strong evidence to this point is a genetic influence.
Homeopathic treatment of autism? How can the author seriously suggest that such a treatment is advisable? Homeopathic compounds have NEVER been shown to be effective for ANY disorder (autism or otherwise) under controlled conditions (and by that I mean double-blind placebo-controlled studies). Although many persons have reported a benefit of homeopathic rememdies in their own lives, just as many people have reported the same effect when given a placebo. This suggests that homeopathy rests on people's beliefs for its perceived effectiveness.
I typically suggest that people search the "Association for Science in Autism Treatment" on the internet to get a handle on what professionals really know about the causes and effective treatments for autism.
A nice compliation of alternative approaches to treating ASD 
2003-10-03
This is a good book for parents as an overview of alternative treatments for ASD children. Note, it contains some approaches not all approaches of alternative medicine. I would sincerely recommend this book but if you are a parent looking at all alternatives, including Children with Starving Brains by Dr J. McCandless as well. These two books will provide you all the information you need in evaluating next steps with a good, thoughtful, forward thinking doctor.
Masterful and authentic! 2003-02-06
I am very excited by this book! As a professional working in the field it has been difficult to recommend books to parents of this client group. While it's wonderful to read heartfelt stories of parents struggles and them finding answers BUT I often feel uncomfortable if a particular 'brand' of therapy is seen as the 'answer'.
This book shares many 'answers' and feels like parents are at last getting the parts of the jigsaw. It's up to them which part they place down first! For professionals the book is educational and informative.
The chapters on vaccination, nutrition and detoxification particularly encouraged me. Many times I hear people approaching these subjects as 'alternative' and by association are seen as somehow being invalid.
I found the author's research impeccable and her authentic way of writing made it hard to put the book down.
Chapter 11 is a wonderful chapter talking about Levels of Healing using a structure I am slightly familiar with. The tone of the writing makes me interested and curious to follow up on these ideas and approach. Even I would normally dismiss some of these methods as 'far out'
The symbols 'See also' and ?Resources? are very user friendly as are the endnotes and references.
There is a chapter on the method I employ. I found was an excellent description and a clear understanding of how the work can help autism. After all the reading I've done in this area, this must be the best! The author is an excellent interviewer. Such depth of understanding of the various treatments- it's as if she has experienced them all!
I intend to email the details of this book to parents of autistic children I know. I believe it to be a must read for all parents and professionals associated with autism.
Thank you Stephanie!
A Great Alternative to Psychotherapeutic Medicines 2003-01-07
Autism is now an epidemic in the United States and in much of the world, rising by as much as 1000% in some areas. The Healthy Mind Guide: Reversing Autism explores why and offers effective treatment options and the possibility of a positive outcome via natural medicine therapies that can ameliorate or reverse the disorder in many cases.
Part I of the book covers the basics of autism—what it is and what causes it. The book includes discussion of the following factors that are often involved in the disorder: vaccines, heavy metal toxicity, nutritional deficiencies/imbalances, food allergies, digestive problems and fungal overgrowth, viruses or viral overload, immune dysfunction, problems in the birthing process, and energetic legacies from unresolved family issues in previous generations.
A chapter in the book is also devoted to the deeper question of what makes a child susceptible to autism—after all, not all children who are vaccinated develop autism, for example. Included in this discussion is the work of William J. Walsch, Ph.D., whose latest research may well have pinpointed the genetic component of autism that has previously eluded scientific inquiry.
In addition to the biochemical therapy practiced by Dr. Walsh, Part II of the book covers a range of natural medicine treatments for autism. These are advanced therapies that demonstrate the comprehensive healing potential in the field, and include treatments to eliminate allergies, integrate children's listening and learning skills, nutritional supplements to correct imbalances, cranial osteopathy to reverse birth trauma, and many more.
A Great Service 2002-12-08
Stephanie Marohn has done the autism community a great service. Considering autism is by and large an iatrogenic disease it is Stephanie's great luck never to have received formal training in medicine. In place of the common medical text where much is written and little said, Stephanie researches and reports on the underlying causes, and most importantly, on those rare physicians and practitioners who are safely and effectively treating autism.
Rarely has a disease been held hostage by the medical establishment to such a degree. Instead of psychiatric punditry and academic sophistry "The Natural Medicine Guide to Autism" provides parents, families, and professionals a ready reference to those individuals and protocols making a difference.
Children with autism do recover. Flat-earth physicians mired in the teaching and practice of hopelessness and prescription medications do not help. As a parent I know the road is bumpy and difficult. It is a road littered with obstacles from outdated theories to ongoing medical practices.
You can make a difference in your child's life. Read this book and let one criteria be your guide when following any of the protocols. Is my child better today than yesterday? There is every chance the answer will be yes.
Edmund C. Arranga
