Autism Reversal Toolbox

Review

SOURCE: Hpathy.com REVIEWER: Vatsala Sperling

Having read and reviewed other books written by Jerry M Kantor, (Sane Asylum, Emotional Roots of Chronic Illness) I found myself quite drawn to reading Kantor’s book, “Autism reversal toolbox – Strategies, Remedies, Resources”.

This author has a unique take on issues that can only be considered complex, and he deals with them by combining his expertise in alternative and complementary medicine with homeopathy in a manner that is very appealing and understandable at the same time. I am curious to see how Jerry Kantor will approach the topic of autism.

This book has a humble purpose: to help the homeopath address the daunting scope of autism spectrum ailments, and it is written in a plain and simple manner so that it will be useful and handy for parents of autistic children.

Having worked with many children with autism, Jerry Kantor has learned that their parents can be the most astute, learned, and well-informed individuals in their grasp of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).In their search for drug-free alternatives, the author simply aims to inspire them to try CEASE therapy and homeopathy.

At the very outset, Kantor establishes the connection between the concepts from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) from the East and the philosophy of Emanuel Swedenborg, an 18th century genius from the West, as he tries to highlight what a healthy baby is, and where the issue of ASD is likely to begin.

Whereas the Diagnostic and Statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM) focuses mainly on mental symptoms of ASD, holistic practitioners see autism as a whole-person condition that includes physical, as well as psychological and behavioral symptoms listed below that could indicate which child might be heading toward ASD.

• Gastro-esophageal reflux disease

• Projectile vomiting in infancy

• Tactile hypersensitivity (cannot stand to have hair brushed, skin touched, or clothes on)

• Low muscle tone

• Runny stools

• Inability to tan or perspire.

• Eczema in over 70% of the body

• Chronic constipation and behavioral problems

• A child with perpetually scowling, grinning, or expressionless face.

Kantor calls this set of symptoms that can be observed in very early childhood, “Verging on autism features”, and he suggests that focusing on these objective symptoms enables us to intervene early, and even prevent it right away.

He uses Sense Dimensional perspective (based on Five Element theory) derived from TCM for summarizing the global nature of ASD. Sense Dimension of Touch concerns a core opposition between healthful synchrony and pathological isolation.

This phase can be observed during infancy when the mother and infant establish a physical, emotional, and spiritual bond / connection based on breast-feeding. When this bond / connection is not established, the pathology of isolation takes root.

An isolated child develops aversion to touch, and suffers from tics, night terrors, lack of empathy, and vacant affect. The remedies to address this situation are listed and the author mentions useful adjunct modalities for further help.

In this manner, he has skillfully addressed the Sense Dimension of Taste, Smell, Hearing, and Sight. This section is very useful and on reading it, the professionals who are not trained in TCM can very well understand how and when the seeds of ASD are sown.

After describing how to do a thorough case intake for ASD children, Kantor suggests that treating the mother, father, and siblings is as important and essential as treating the child with ASD. Instead of focusing just on the ASD child and his symptoms, the author urges us to understand all about developmental delays and take a very detailed history.

He also suggests that we do the intake in the presence of another astute observer and practitioner so that we do not miss out on any detail. From here onward, as we analyze the case, formulate our treatment strategy, and manage our expectations, we begin to dance on a tightrope! You get the idea, treating an ASD child and his family is not a stroll in the park.

In our dance on the tightrope, we are comforted by the fact that there are a few preventive measures available as well: We can teach parents to say NO to genetically engineered, processed foods, be wise about childhood vaccination (tinus Smit’s Autism beyond despair, and Issac Golden’s homeoprophylaxis protocol), limit exposure to EMF, and electronic devices, limit use of antibiotics, pharmaceuticals and medications during pregnancy, and infancy.

He even proposes that the placenta / umbilical cord of the child can be used to prepare an auto-sarcode that could be deployed during subsequent health care needs of the child.

While many of us might be wondering if our society promotes and integrates autistic values, the author asks this same question and points out that we are surrounded and inundated by manmade progress and the entire medico-pharmaceutical intervention before, during and after birth could provide scores of iatrogenic causes for ASD.

What is there for us to do once we understand the evolution of ASD? Kantor now liberally shares from his deep knowledge of homeopathy, and he is not shy of using new and emerging remedies from meditative proving, Gem essence, and combination remedies such as Unda.

He is also a huge proponent of nutritional and environmental self-care. He suggests that the homeopathic remedies can be chosen, based on a well-taken and complete case, from the Banerji protocol, and Farah Gron’s ‘environmental never well since’ method.

After describing a lucid guideline for choosing remedies and potencies, the author presents three cases from his practice, and he goes on to describe the groups of remedies for ASD and associated issues.

Remedy descriptions are often just one line, but enough to educate us about the issues they would address effectively. And I must add that there are five more cases in appendix 1.

Apart from the remedies, of course there are other ways of helping the ASD children and their families, for example, orthomolecular support, flower essences, tissue salts, Chi Gong, color, and sound remedies, Gemmotherapy, Craniosacral therapy, Eye movement desensitizing and reprocessing, neurofeedback, and alpha biotics.

The core message of this strong and powerful book is that the children with ASD and their parents/ siblings can be helped by combining and using many different alternative and complimentary methodologies.

This book gives us a philosophical understanding of how and when the seeds of ASD are planted in the soul, and then the body. We cannot be deluded to think that the problem will go away with one dose of one remedy. In our practice, we can use all or many of the strategies, remedies, and resources offered in this book, as we hope to heal and do no harm while treating the kids with ASD and their families.

Jerry Kantor, I am delighted to have read your book, Autism reversal toolbox – Strategies, Remedies, Resources, and I recommend it highly to practitioners of various modalities and to the families raising kids with ASD. Thank you!