Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Autism
This page provides links to information about some of the complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) commonly used to help individuals with autism. Those links include definitions, efficacy studies and reviews, other publications, and our evaluations of some of those interventions.
Disclaimer
This page does not provide information about every form of CAM used by people with autism, although we hope you will find it a useful starting point. If you know of any other forms of CAM we should include on this page please email info@researchautism.net.
The fact that an intervention is listed on this page does not necessarily mean that there is any scientifically valid or reliable evidence to support its use.
Our descriptions and evaluations do not constitute a recommendation about whether or not an intervention is suitable for a particular individual with autism. That is a decision for the individual with autism – and/or their carers, clinicians and others – to make.
Please see Autism Treatment Notes for more information about this and similar pages.
What is Complementary and Alternative Medicine?
Complementary and Alternative Medicine is a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not generally considered part of conventional, Western medicine as practiced by medical doctors and by allied health professionals, such as osteopaths, physiotherapists, psychologists, and registered nurses.
“Complementary medicine” refers to the use of CAM together with conventional medicine.
“Alternative medicine” refers to the use of CAM in place of conventional medicine.
We have based our classification of CAM interventions on the system used by The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the USA. However some individual interventions fall into more than one category.
All CAM interventions | Whole Medical Systems | Natural Products | Mind-Body Medicine | Manipulative and Body-Based Practices | Movement | Energy Medicine | Other
All CAM Interventions
Efficacy Reviews | Efficacy Studies and Reviews | All Publications
Whole Medical Systems
Whole medical systems are complete systems of theory and practice that have evolved over time in different cultures and apart from conventional or Western medicine.
- Ayurvedic medicine: Definition | All Publications
- Homeopathy: Definition | Efficacy Studies and Reviews | All Publications
- Naturopathy. Definition | All Publications
- Traditional Chinese Medicine: Definition | Efficacy Studies and Reviews | All Publications
Natural Products
This area of CAM includes use of a variety of herbal medicines (also known as botanicals), vitamins, minerals, and other “natural products.” such as essential fatty acids. Many of these natural products are sold over the counter as dietary or nutritional supplements.
Please see separate section on Biomedical Interventions for details of these interventions.
Mind-Body Medicine
Mind and body practices focus on the interactions among the brain, mind, body, and behaviour, with the intent to use the mind to affect physical functioning and promote health.
Mind-body practices include
- Meditation-based activities such as deep-breathing exercises, guided imagery, hypnotherapy and progressive relaxation
- TCM/martial arts-based activities such as acupuncture, qi gong, tai chi and yoga.
Please see separate section on Motor/Sensory Interventions for details of these interventions.
Manipulative and Body-Based Practices
Manipulative and body-based practices focus primarily on the structures and systems of the body, including the bones and joints, soft tissues, and circulatory and lymphatic systems.
Manipulative practices body-based practices include chiropractic, cranial osteopathy and massage
Please see separate section on Motor/Sensory Interventions for details of these interventions.
Movement Therapies
Movement therapies are a broad range of Eastern and Western movement-based approaches used to promote physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Examples include Feldenkrais method, Alexander technique, Pilates, Rolfing Structural Integration, and Trager psychophysical integration.
Please see separate section on Motor/Sensory Interventions for details of these interventions.
Energy Medicine
Energy medicine involves the manipulation of various energy fields, which may or may not be measurable.
Veritable Energy
Practices based on veritable i.e. objectively measurable, forms of energy including electromagnetic fields. Includes Lightwave Stimulation, Neurofeedback Training, Transcranial Direct Curent Stimulation and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation/
Please see separate section on Assistive Technology for details of these interventions.
of these interventions.
Putative Energy
Practices based on putative i.e. yet to be measured energy fields (also called biofields) generally reflect the concept that human beings are infused with subtle forms of energy, including spiritual energy.
Includes various practices, such as qigong, reiki and tai chi found in the Mind-Body Medicine category above.
Other CAM Interventions
There are some CAM interventions which do not readily fit into any of the categories above including Animal-based Therapies such as assistance dogs, dolphin therapy, hippotherapy and pet therapy.
Please see separate section on Other Interventions for details of these interventions.
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Last Updated : 25/05/2012 Back to Top
