Question:

Hi Amy.
I have a 10 year old son with autism and I did take him to a classical homeopath. His main issues are extreme controlling behavior; extreme lack of impulse control; severe constipation; very poor social behavior; and lack of focus/interest. He is very verbal and bright though. He responded very well initially to Tuberculinum and Lycopodium, but they now have stopped working for him and we don’t see any benefits from them. We are now trying Carcinosin (started) and Natrum Muriaticum (not started yet). But we don’t see the big gains we did when we initially started on Tuberculinum and Lycopodium. In fact he has shown regression in some of the behaviours we had eliminated earlier.

Are these two things common:
1. For a benefit to stop working?
2. Some medicines to cause regressions?
How long do people stay on a medication that works for them?

Thank you. Lakshmi

Answer:

Lakshmi,

These are indeed difficult questions, especially without knowing more about your son’s case.  There are many possibilities and I have several questions.

How long did you stay on the initial remedies, Tuberculinum and Lycopodium? Did the homeopath try many different potencies and dosing options before abandoning them?

Usually, if a remedy is doing well for a patient, one should not abandon it before trying other potencies and even methods of dosing.  For example, if you were given dry doses, then switching to more regular liquid dosing may be needed.  Sometimes you can try a shift from C potencies to LM potencies, or vice versa.  Sometimes, even a small change in dosing (e.g., increasing the number of teaspoons at each liquid dose, or number of succussions of the remedy bottle) can make a difference.  Also, most homeopaths tend to go “up” in potency when a particular potency stops having an effect, but going down to lower potencies can also be the solution.  I believe that each potency level addresses different aspect of the case.

Why is the homeopath using two remedies at a time?  I see that he or she is giving both a nosode (Tuberculinum, Carcinosin) and a more traditional “constitutional” remedy (Lycopodium, Natrum Muriaticum). I understand the thinking, but it may be possible that it was really the Tuberculinum or the Lycopodium that was doing the work.

How long have you been on the Carcinosin and Natrum Muriaticum?  A week? Three months?  Sometimes it takes a month to see changes. And even the most subtle improvements can be signs of the remedy working.

As far as the regression. Unfortunately, this can mean many things, and it depends on how things progress.

For example, sometimes a correct remedy can cause old symptoms to return.  However, if this is the case, those symptoms should disappear within a few days, or at most couple of weeks.  Think of it as bringing up the symptoms and then more completely healing them.

Is it possible that you have introduced some new factor that is antidoting your son’s remedies or is a “maintaining cause” that is causing this regression?  These factors could be new foods, supplements, changes in social milieu at home or at school, environmental, etc.

It’s also possible, of course, that the new remedies are simply incorrect and your homeopath has to take a new approach.

This is the work of your homeopath and you must consult with them and ask these questions. Treatment of autism is difficult, complex, and may have ups and downs. And frankly, sometimes the homeopath just isn’t getting the case or doesn’t have the experience to handle it.  I always suggest that you give the process at least a few months (ideally, at least 6 months) to see at least some forms of improvement and change, trust your instincts, and if all else fails, find a new homeopath if you need to.

However patience is always needed.  This is a long-term process, not a quick fix.

I hope this is helpful!

-Amy