The Autism Revolution: Whole-Body Strategies for Making Life All It Can Be

Description

"An in-depth, scientific-yet hopeful and positive-look at how the brain and body work together . . . Dr. Martha Herbert has developed a new way of seeing autism."-Library Journal After years of treating patients and analyzing scientific data, Harvard Medical School researcher and clinician Dr. Martha Herbert offers a revolutionary new view of autism and a transformative strategy for dealing with it. Autism, she concludes, is not a hardwired impairment programmed into a child's genes and destined to remain fixed forever. Instead, it is the result of a cascade of events, many seemingly minor. And while other doctors may dismiss your child's physical symptoms-the anxiety, sensory overload, sleeplessness, frequent illnesses or seizures-as coincidental or irrelevant, Dr. Herbert sees them as vital clues to what the underlying problems are, and how to help. Drawing from the newest research, technologies, and insights, as well as inspiring case studies of both children and adults, Dr. Herbert guides you toward restoring health and resiliency in your loved one with autism. Her specific recommendations aim to provide optimal nutrition, reduce toxic exposures, limit stress, and open the door to learning and creativity. As thousands of families who have cobbled together these solutions themselves already know, this program can have dramatic benefits-for your child with autism, and for you, your whole family, and perhaps your next baby as well. "Invaluable . . . a must-read . . . Dr. Martha Herbert gets it. She not only gets it, but she puts it out there in an awesome book so the rest of us can get it, too."-Autism Watch " Herbert goes further than most autism specialists. Her impressive science background merges with common sense and even intuitive sense making complex scientific and medical materials seamlessly blend with a holistic viewpoint."-Relieve Autism "Hope and practical guidance . . . With this easy-to-read book, parents can gain wisdom on how to guide your child to achieve a healthy and thriving life."-Mom Central

Martha Herbert, MD, PhD, is an assistant professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School and a pediatric neurologist at Massachusetts General Hospital, where she is the director of the TRANSCEND Research Program. She sits on the Scientific Advisory Committee for Autism Speaks. Karen Weintraub, MA, is an award-winning journalist and freelance health writer for outlets like The Boston Globe, USA Today, and the BBC. A past recipient of a prestigious Knight Center for Science Journalism fellowship, she also teaches journalism at the Harvard Extension School and Boston University.

Advance praise for The Autism Revolution "Martha Herbert's book gives us a new approach to understanding how autism affects many different body systems. It is essential reading for learning more about sensible biomedical treatments."-Temple Grandin, author of Thinking in Pictures and The Way I See It "This book offers hope and practical guidance to heal your child's whole body system. It will be an important reference for everyone who knows someone with autism or has an interest in the field to read, study, and use."-Robert L. Hendren, DO, professor and vice chair, Department of Psychiatry, and director, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco "Combining meticulous, world-class research on autism's biomedical causes and treatment with an artful presentation of the condition as a whole-body phenomenon, Martha Herbert elevates to a new level the thinking about, understanding of, and developing of interventions for supporting individuals on the autism spectrum. The Autism Revolution is a unique and valuable resource."-Stephen M. Shore, EdD, assistant professor of special education at Adelphi University "Written by a brilliant scientist in easy-to-understand language, The Autism Revolution gives parents two life-changing gifts. First is the gift of realistic hope; the second is the gift of knowledge. Drawing upon her vast knowledge of research and an eclectic array of approaches, Dr. Herbert helps parents understand their child in a new, holistic way, sending them on a journey of exploration and opportunity."-John L. Martin, director, Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities "The Autism Revolution is a remarkable book. Complex evidence is summarized in easy-to-read prose, and practical advice is sprinkled throughout the book. A convincing case is made that autism is a disorder of both the brain and the body, and that there are many features of the environment-from the foods we eat to the pollutants that we breathe-that may play a role. This book will provide a blueprint for the future research agenda on this fascinating condition."-Richard J. Davidson, William James and Vilas Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry, and founder and chair, Center for Investigating Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin-Madison "It is clear that Dr. Herbert cares deeply about the subject of autism and the people affected by it. Covering the topic as a physician, a scientist, an anthropologist, and a philosopher, she uses her exploration of autism to guide people to possible factors they may not have considered."-Timothy Buie, MD, assistant professor of pediatrics, Harvard Medical School