CHILDHOOD AUTISM- AN AYURVEDIC APPROACH

Abstract

Autism is the way of life for some. Branding the children as autistics is not going to help them in a chaotic world like ours and would instead lead to further deterioration of their simple life. Several scientific views about the condition are mostly directed towards the dead end of the medical science. The condition of Unmada described in the Ayurvedic classics is a large wing under which many psychological disturbances can be brought.The very definition of unmada incorporates various forms of inappropriate actions exhibited by the individual as a result of distortion of normal mind, intellect, conscious knowledge, memory, desire, manner and behavior. Presently, supportive therapies for training the children with Autism like Occupational therapy, behavioral therapy, speech therapy, psycho therapy, etc are being used. Certain medications like anti psychotic drugs are also used for the severe conditions. To conclude, Autism is perceived as a manifestation having its root deep in the Bija dosha (genetic predisposition) and activated by a favorable environment. Hence it is considered as Sahaja form of Unmada, which is a lifelong condition