The case histories presented here include six children taken from more than 100 autistic children with whom the author has worked. One case of a cocaine-addicted baby who presented some autistic features has been included here, as it may lead to an interest in the use of supplemental melatonin to help such children.

Most of the autistic children were diagnosed by means of the Rimland E-2 checklist. All except one of the children showed improvement with the combination of melatonin and bodywork techniques. The exception was one girl who did not show typical characteristics of autism, although she had been diagnosed as such. Neither did she present disturbed sleep patterns. Her case history is not included in this paper.

CASE 1

This twenty-seven-year-old man has been treated since the age of eight for autism with weekly sessions of Craniosacral Therapy, Polarity Therapy and a special anti-allergy dietary regime. He was diagnosed in early childhood with autism. It manifested as severe cognitive problems, very little speech, hyperactivity, hypersensitivity, serious immune problems, and general aloofness. He has now graduated from high school, lives in his own (sheltered) apartment, and works full time. Three years ago, a nightly 2.4 mg supplement of melatonin was added to help deal with the residual hyperactivity and a hypersensitivity that made noisy places and crowds unbearable. He now enjoys going to concerts as he is no longer overwhelmed by crowds. He is now more alert, and his immune system has evidently strengthened, as his former food sensitivities are less pronounced, and a tendency to contract infections have decreased. He has recently discontinued the melatonin with no serious changes.

CASE 2

This 10-year-old girl is severely autistic. She has no speech, is not toilet trained, and is hypersensitive to changes in her surroundings. She also has many food and environmental sensitivities. She is, in general, a happy child, but has periodic episodes of extreme hyperactivity. Her sleep patterns have been irregular since birth, and she has had seizures since early childhood. Bodywork techniques helped diminish the frequency and degree of hyperactive episodes, and, for short periods of time, she seemed to make real contact with the world around her, something she had not done before. More dramatic improvements were not obtained. Melatonin in the dosage of 750 mcg nightly improved her sleep patterns remarkably, and the frequency of her seizures diminished. Larger doses of melatonin led to apnea. The child has remained on melatonin for three years. contract infections have decreased. He has recently discontinued the melatonin with no serious changes.

CASE 3

This 3-year-old boy had no functional language at the start of treatment six months ago. He was extremely hyperactive, not toilet-trained, hypersensitive to sounds and smells, environmental changes, and many foods. His sleep pattern had been irregular since infancy. It had been so fragmented that it was stressful for the whole family. The boy has received Craniosacral Therapy, Polarity Therapy for the last six months and the family was taught to apply the Metamorphic Technique every evening. 1.2 mg of melatonin was added to his nightly regime four months ago. The changes in this child have been so dramatic that a psychologist who recently evaluated him for placement in a special school could not believe that this was the same child who had been evaluated so differently in a previous assessment only four months ago. The boy now speaks fluently much of the time, with very little of his previous echolalic speech pattern remaining. He is now toilet trained. His various sensitivities remain, although in a less severe form. He is communicative and has become an alert, happy child. His supplemental melatonin has recently been increased to 2.4 mg with the hope of improving the sleep pattern further. The school psychologist has recently described him as "a bright, alert boy with mild autistic characteristics".

CASE 4

This ten-year-old boy is severely autistic, with very little language. Since early childhood he has been extremely hyperactive, with multiple sensitivities and very little communication with the outside world. His sleep pattern was very irregular. Since infancy, he did not fall asleep until long after bedtime. His sleep was fragmented and of short total duration. Sedatives did not help. Body work techniques were applied for two years. His hyperactivity subsided, and he became happier and more alert. 3 mg of melatonin administered each evening over the past two years have enabled him to fall asleep easily, although his sleep is still fragmented. His parents refer to melatonin as their "lifesaver". Unpredictable bouts of nighttime hyperactivity are characterized by the child giggling out of control and staggering around as if he were drunk. During these bouts, he passes urine very frequently—every ten minutes—until he calms down.

CASE 5

This ten-year-old boy had slightly delayed development since birth. At age four, he underwent a gradual, unexplained "withdrawal from life". He stopped moving and eating, and lost all language. Medical examinations and EEGs could turn up no physiological abnormalities. For six months he was tube-fed in the hospital, and the tube feeding was continued after he returned home. Because the child lives in a country where Craniosacral Therapy is not available, the mother was taught to apply the Metamorphic Technique. 1.5 mg of melatonin was added five months ago. After two months of supplemental melatonin, the child started showing an interest in life. He is now moving his body, eating normally, and responding to and communicating with those around him.

CASE 6

This three-year-old boy has been labeled autistic. He has serious cognitive deficits and very little responsiveness to the outside world. Because the boy lives in a different country, he has been able to receive Craniosacral Therapy only sporadically for the last two years. He is now receiving some body work from his mother and grandmother. Since he was started on 1.5 mg of melatonin five months ago, his cognitive skills have improved remarkably. He is more alert and has started to speak.

CASE 7

This four-year-old boy is a victim of prenatal exposure to cocaine. At ten months of age he was still showing signs of cocaine withdrawal. His body trembled, and his development was delayed. His sleep was so disturbed that the life of his adoptive family was completely disrupted. With the application of body work and 3 mg of melatonin at bedtime, his tiny body developed remarkably. His sleep pattern has normalized, he speaks fluently, and he seems to be developing normally. When lower doses of melatonin were tried, his disturbed pattern of sleep returned.