In order to understand the role and functioning of the pineal gland in the body from a number of different points of view, this paper has brought together the work and ideas of scientific researchers, clinical workers, and people who work in the filed of bioenergy. In the light of that composite picture, Table 1 summarizes the author's view of possible links between symptoms of autism and the malfunctioning of the pineal gland. The majority of the autistic population present with all, or at least a large percentage of, the characteristics of autism listed in the table.

On the basis of literature research and many years of work with autistic children, it is postulated that the pineal gland in these individuals is malfunctioning, with melatonin secretion being significantly lower than is normal. Because it is the first gland to develop in the body, and because the pineal gland monitors and regulates many other systems in the body, its malfunctioning in a foetus or neonate will have a profound effect on the other systems, including the bioenergetic systems on all levels.

Many different conditions could lead to a malfunctioning pineal gland. As has been presented in the cited literature, if it is to function properly a pineal gland must be served by intact efferent and afferent innervation systems. The melatonin generating system is complex, and any disturbance in its pathways could result in its faulty functioning. Two sites connected to innervation of the pineal that seem to be vulnerable to problematic conditions are the superior cervical ganglia and the upper cervical vertebrae. Lesions in those areas before, during, or soon after birth could result in a damaged functioning of the pineal gland. The postulated consequence is the development of autistic characteristics in children.

Disturbances in the aforementioned innervation pathways could also contribute to an altered pineal gland morphology marked by a "prematurely aged" organ that might lack the required crystalline structure. Such an altered pineal gland would not then be able to act as an efficient transducer of information that is received from outside of the body and that is communicated throughout the body via various pathways, including energy pathways. This deficient condition, that is postulated as being one of the causes of autism, would explain the problems that autistic children have in adapting to their surroundings. They are overly sensitive to sensory stimuli and they are unable to "make sense" of the world.

The author of this paper suggests, as well, that autism can stem from other disturbances in the melatonin generating system. The importance of normal levels of melatonin secretions has been discussed in the literature review. It was also shown that hallucinogenic indoleamines similar to those used by shamans to induce altered states of consciousness can be formed in the pineal gland instead of melatonin. Those hallucinogenic compounds, and other kinds that have been found in the pineal gland, could account for many of the characteristics of autism listed in the table. It is a common experience among those who work with autistic children to find some children, at certain times, to be so hyperactive that, in the words of their own parents, "they seem to be drunk or on drugs".

In the words of an autistic individual, Temple Grandin, Ph.D., "Sometimes I heard and understood, and other times sounds or speech reached my brain like the unbearable noise of an onrushing freight train." She also said, "The autistic child is unable to bring order into his world. You must provide that order to his environment." [Grandin, 1983]

With melatonin supplements and bodywork techniques, we might be able to do just that: help restore some balance to the malfunctioning pineal gland and, by doing so, help provide order in the life of the autistic individual.