MD v. ND? Son with autism (diagnosed by MD) got 2nd dx of ADHD from Naturopathic!


Question: My son (5) was diagnosed last June with Mild Autism. I took him to an Iridologist/Naturopathic Doctor today. The ND says that he sees no signs of Autism...Just ADHD. To make a long story short, he gave my 5 herbs/minerals which I completely have faith that they will work. My question is...Has anyone had a "regualar" doctor to diagnose their child with one thing and the Naturopathic Doctor to diagnose something similar but still different?


Answers: My son (5) was diagnosed last June with Mild Autism. I took him to an Iridologist/Naturopathic Doctor today. The ND says that he sees no signs of Autism...Just ADHD. To make a long story short, he gave my 5 herbs/minerals which I completely have faith that they will work. My question is...Has anyone had a "regualar" doctor to diagnose their child with one thing and the Naturopathic Doctor to diagnose something similar but still different?

My gut reaction would be to trust the MD over the ND, but you would really want to look at the criteria used to make the diagnosis. A proper ADD/ADHD diagnosis usually involves a detailed history and some sort of questionnaire or checklist to rule out other disorders. I am less familiar with the diagnostic criteria for autism although I know it involves significant delay or absence of key developmental milestones.

If the ND you consulted used iridology to diagnose your son I urge you to rethink the diagnosis. There is no evidence to support a link between the shape and appearance of your eye and disease processes, other than ones which specifically affect the eye. Also look into the herbs and minerals that you were given: what is their normal function in the body? How much did you pay for them, and who did you pay? If you paid the ND for them, that is reason to be at least somewhat suspicion; it certainly does not mean that your ND is being dishonest but it at least calls into question his/her motives. Also be aware that supplements are not regulated in the US, Canada, Australia and many other English-speaking countries, so unless you have access to a lab or the equipment to test the products then you only have the company's word that the ingredients listed are present at all, and in the same form and amount stated. Again just because the industry is unregulated does not automatically mean that the information on the label is untrue, but it is at least something you should be concerned about.

The only pharmacologic treatment that I am aware of for ADD or ADHD is stimulant medication, and the only "natural" stimulants I can think of are caffeine, coca leaves (from which cocaine is made), and ephedra/ephedrine, the weight loss drug that causes heart attacks. If you are treating these with herbal pills or preparations you are not really in control of the dosage, and even a cup of coffee can have a powerful effect on a young child, so I would be very careful.

I'd get a second opinion from 2 more doctors. I trust MD's much more that ND's, but that doesn't mean ND's are always wrong.

Naturopaths are not medical doctors and should not be diagnosing anyone.

Doctors have spent years studying, working in hospitals, spending time with patients and being taught by experienced clinicians so that they can become experts in one specific field.

Naturopaths..well... they claim to know about everything, but have no education in, or understanding of, anatomy or medicine.

Psychiatry is more of an art than any other medical discipline but if you are concerned about an incorrect diagnosis speak to your son's psychiatrist or ask to be referred to (another) one.

ej: lol @ a naturopath going to med school

Hey Jack the Mack---a naturopath is a doctor. They have to go to med school, too. ;p

Hey, ej. No naturopath ever attended a real medical school.
They are not qualified to diagnose.

Yes. After having a seizure, my daughter was sent home from the hospital with a 104 degree temperature. I was told there was nothing wrong with her that it was just from having a fever. The fever was instantaneous -- very weird! I followed up anyway with her pediatrician. I was told to take my daughter into the hospital for exploratory diagnostic testing. Her pediatrician thought that she had some kind of bladder or kidney blockage that caused her to suddenly have seizures, boils and become incontinent. She was 3 1/2 years old. They wanted to inject barium dye into her bladder and watch it under some type of radiation testing. Something told me to not do it. The very same day, I took her to a Chiropractor/ND who just listened to what I had to say about her symptoms. He said her body had an inability to metabolize certain amino acids found in apples, strawberries, grapes, and orange juice. Of course, being the good mother I am, I had been practically injecting her with these juices in an effort to "get her better" from her fevers! We stopped those fruits. The boils disappeared within two days and have never returned. Her fever/seizures eventually stopped, but it took a while while her body was eliminating these poisons. She has been seizure-free for 6 years now.

Yes, I always get a second opinion -- from my Chiropractor/ND!!!





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