The Un-Prescription for Autism

March 1, 2016

In this do-it-yourself book for parents and caregivers, physician Lintala (founder of Autism Health!), with health writer Murphy, advocates for a natural approach to treating behavioral issues associated with autism. The idea is to consider and deal with the possible underlying causes of certain actions before treating them with medications. Both children and adults with autism exhibit undesirable behaviors, Lintala explains, because they are forced to perform despite the presence of digestive or other health problems making them ill. The author's method involves healing these ailments organically. In turn, she argues, the patient will feel better and negative behaviors alleviated. To help the child (or adult) feel his or her best, she proposes a three-step approach involving digestive enzymes, probiotics, and antimicrobials, along with a maintenance plan. The book clearly explains what each of the supplements do and how they are to be administered. In prose that is easy to understand and sometimes humorous, Lintala relates going through the protocols with her own son as well as patients. Calendars and troubleshooting guides are provided to ensure success with the program. VERDICT Recommended for parents who prefer supplement-based methods of adjusting their autistic children's behaviors before attempting the use of prescription drugs.--Terry Lamperski, Carnegie Lib. of Pittsburgh, PA

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