Conditions & Treatments

Lifestyle changes are some of the most effective ways to help with detoxification. These would be changing the diet, clearing out old tissues and congestion, balancing hormones, and avoiding certain pollutants. The overall goal of detoxification program is to support proper eliminatory functions and promote the health of the immune systems. We fall ill only when we go against nature and accumulate toxins, if the cause of diseases (toxins) is expelled from the body, any disease could be cured.

“According to me, consistent detoxification through a healthy lifestyle is the key to effectively manage the children on Autism spectrum. Medicines is of no use in terms of ASD specifically. In fact, in many kids they worsen the symptoms paving way for sleep disturbances and behavioural problems in the long run – Dr. Sugan”

Detoxification is about resting, cleansing and nourishing the body from the inside out. By removing and eliminating toxins and then feeding the body with healthy nutrients. Detoxifying can prevent disease and renew the body’s ability to maintain optimum health through a range of methods.On this view the importance of healthy life style which is on par with the nature‘s law has it‘s own role too. Living a healthy lifestyle is a fundamental component to remain detoxified.

The process of Detoxification:

Basically, detoxification means cleansing the blood. This is done by removing impurities from the blood in the liver, where toxins are processed for elimination. The body also eliminates toxins through the kidneys, intestines, lungs, lymphatic system, and skin. However, when these systems are compromised, impurities aren't properly filtered and the body is adversely affected.

First, lighten up your toxin load. Eliminate alcohol, coffee, cigarettes, refined sugars, and saturated fats, all of which act as toxins in the body and are obstacles to your healing process. Also, minimize use of chemical-based household cleaners and personal health care products (cleansers, shampoos, deodorants, and toothpastes), and substitute natural alternatives.

The foremost therapy offered here is therapeutic yoga which is tailored according to the needs and levels of the kids. Every kid has to be managed differently in terms of yoga too. We have different levels of asana protocol in approaching the kids which is itself unique in our own ways.

“The practise of Yoga postures on a regular basis is been highly recommended for the kids, because one can expect different levels of changes in the kids only through a consistent practise for relatively longer period of time. Even a short break can diminish the effect of previous practise explains why kids with any form of neuro-developmental disorder requires regularity in such practices – Dr. Sugan”

The benefits typically associated with yoga are improved strength, flexibility and breathing on a general outlook. But we commonly observe that the yoga asana routine often provides the following benefits for those with ASD and related disorders. Some of them are:

• Parasympathetic Nervous System - In many forms of exercise, the sympathetic nervous system kicks in, giving in the fight-or-flight sensation. Yoga does the opposite and stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system. This slows the pace of breathing, which allows relaxation and healing, which works wonders in such kids.
• Muscle tone - Consistently practicing yoga leads to better muscle tone which is most needed for both hyperactive and underactive kids.
• Balanced workout of opposing muscle groups - As with all of yoga, balance is key. If a muscle group is worked in one direction, it will also be worked in the opposite direction to maintain balance. This balance results in a better overall workout for the body which cannot be otherwise achieved by these kids.
• Eye-hand coordination - As for the kids without regular practice, eye-hand coordination diminishes. Thus, yoga maintains and improves eye-hand coordination drastically which explains why yoga has to be practised with regularity.
• Depth perception - Body awareness is one important aspect which lacks in the kids with any form of neuro- developmental disorders. Becoming aware of their body and recognizing how it moves, as one does in regular yoga practice, leads to increased depth perception by these kids.
• Attention - The ability of the body to regulate breathing naturally in conjunction with yoga poses sharpens the potentiality to keep a sharp focus on tasks and gradually improves attention which is considered the most complicated task till date.
• Social skills - Sometimes, when kids are offered group yoga, awareness of space and body evolves automatically thereby improving their social skills eventually.
• Calmness - Unconscious concentrations steadily set in calmness which can result in reduction of uncertain vocal issues, usually prevalent in almost every kid.
• Self-control - The controlled movements of yoga systematically help in managing muscle movements initially thereby gently paving way for controlled thoughts too.
• Improves gross and fine motor skills - Yoga builds body awareness, bringing attention to different types of movement. This includes postural skills, which can even support children in learning to sit up straight in chairs

Disease can result when the balance among all of the foods and nutrients we take or avoid is disrupted. Health can be restored once you begin to take in a proper essential balance of foods and nutrients - vitamins and minerals.

At Smiles Nature Cure, we place great focus on the role of proper nutrition in relation to health. Nutrition comes first in basic health diagnosis and treatment. Given the individuality of patients’ genetic disposition and the interaction of the environment, sometimes the universal recommended dietary allowances of nutrients could be inadequate.

Usually, Dr. Sugan will do an assessment of the kid’s diet, and also assess types and amounts of the nutrients using blood tests, urine analysis, and other tests for determining nutrient levels. Concepts from both nutritional therapy and diet therapy are then used to help patients achieve optimum health.

It is then, an individualized nutrition/ diet plan specific for the kid’s needs is provided as per Dr.Sugan’s Diet regimen and the parents of the kids’ are educated on healthy eating habits, and are also taught to eliminate certain foods Information on types of healthy foods are given in accordance to every kid in specific.

Mud is an important element of nature with many important minerals that have positive impact on health. It is capable of absorbing toxins from body that benefits the body in prevention of many diseases. Mud therapy is very simple and an effective treatment modality. It is easily available and a cost-effective treatment option. It also cools & relaxes the body with its moisture.

Mud therapy can be given as packs, local applications and complete applications as mud Bath. Here at Smiles, we predominantly use this therapy as a bath.

Mud Bath:

The application of cleaned and wet mud over the body is referred as mud bath. This helps to improve the skin condition by increasing the circulation and energizing the skin tissues. It may last for 30-45 mins till the mud dries up and the kids are washed with warm or cold water along with friction and kept warm later on.

Benefits of Mud Bath:

The effects of mud are refreshing, invigorating, and vitalizing. Generally, autistic kids have increased toxicity in their body and these will not be excreted through urine/ stools/ breath or sweat (natural eliminatory mechanisms). The application of mud helps in diluting and absorbing the toxic substances in their body and eliminates them

“Mud application is mostly done to reduce sensory issues in children with special needs. Usually the toxins produced by abnormal gut bacteria may trigger or worsen autistic features in these children. On my personal observation, Mud baths helps to improve their digestion, absorption and elimination by means of increasing their peristaltic activity and also aids in opening up the blocked skin pores making an effective elimination of toxins through skin- Dr. Sugan”.

Mud therapy can be extensively used for kids on Autism Spectrum as this could be easily administered as a fun activity or a play. Its easy administration makes it simple, safe and an effective treatment approach.

Hydrotherapy- A form of treatment using water in its different forms for varied duration and at different temperatures. The recuperative and healing properties of hydrotherapy are based on its mechanical and/or thermal effects. The nerves carry impulses felt at the skin deeper into the body, where they are instrumental in stimulating the immune system, influencing the production of stress hormones, invigorating the circulation and digestion, encouraging blood flow, and lessening pain sensitivity.

“As in children on Autism Spectrum, the administration of hydrotherapy becomes challenging and the so-called rules of hydrotherapy could not be strictly followed. Yet we manage to offer hydrotherapy which does have significant benefits on these kids with utmost care and patience – Dr. Sugan”

One should be aware that the successful use of these methods needs a certain level of vital power. If vitality is low, these are useless. As in acute conditions there is a higher degree of vital power, and hence there is a certainty of vital reaction. In chronic cases, where the vital power is lower, these baths are less useful, but in such cases the packs are useful because they are milder in their application.

In addition to physical benefits, hydrotherapy aids in Sensory processing, Social skills, Cognitive learning and task completion.

Autism is often associated with impaired social communication. Processing auditory information is a critical component of social communication and people with ASD typically have problems processing information. One such problem occurs when a person with ASD hears verbal sounds but doesn't perceive the meaning of it.

This is because of the area in the limbic system, the hippocampus is neurologically immature in autistic individuals. Since auditory information is processed in the hippocampus in people with autism the information may not be properly transferred to long term memory.

Auditory processing problems might be linked to other autistic characteristics such as anxiety /confusions in public and in- attentiveness. Auditory processing disorder (APD) can co-exist with ADHD and autism, but that doesn't mean that APD is the sole cause of a child's difficulties.

APD’s or language formulation disorders are commonly found in children with ASD, ADHD, LDD, Dyslexia and a wide range of speech and language disorders.

“In my clinical experience, I have implemented listening therapy to Special kids with auditory processing disorder along with a proper detoxifying diet. Most of the parents and I have observed significant changes. They indeed stopped closing their ears to traffic sounds, grinding sounds and other common sounds. The kids began to listen calmly and answer questions more relevantly – Dr. Sugan”

Listening therapy helps such kids in their behaviour issues along with a significant regression in auditory issues when given at apt frequencies. But before treating sensory/ auditory issues we need to observe the reasons behind their issues that may originates from their digestive system. By correcting or treating their digestive problems through dietary changes & lifestyle modifications, their APD reduces slowly and the kids can process & understand the information better. The information that has been sent between ear and brain are starts communicating well thereby relieving their sensory issues pertaining to Listening and hearing.

As the kids with Autism Spectrum disorders often struggle with increased sensitivity to sensory stimuli, they are to be gently handled. Often, massage provides a comforting experience of tactile stimulation and decrease pain perception by reducing their sensitivity.

"Our manipulative techniques are well organised and framed according to the kids’ sensory issues. The distinctiveness and unique personality of each child is one of the greatest challenges in working with children on the autism spectrum, and also one of the pronounced rewards too. Each therapy session is typically different between each child and also between each session with the same child – Dr. Sugan”

Generally, massage tones up the nervous system, influences respiration and quickens the elimination of poisons and waste material from the body through the various eliminative organs such as the lungs, skin, kidneys and bowels. It also boosts blood circulation and metabolic processes.

Benefits:

This manipulative therapy forms an eccentric part of the treatment modalities offered here and are focused to control symptoms associated with ASD, such as an aversion to touch, gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, anxiety, hyperactivity, sleep disturbance, repetitive behaviour, as well as the inability to verbally communicate, make eye contact or interact with others, and additional behaviours that may lead to self-injury.

Nurturing touch and regular sensory integration appear to reduce the social, communication, behavioural, learning, thinking and problem solving-challenges associated with ASD.