Traditional Chinese Medicine Fulonggan (Terra Flava Usta) Improves the Clinical Syndrome and Comorbidity of Regressive Autism: A Case Report

Abstract

The occurrence of regressive autism is closely related to the disturbance of immunity and intestinal microbiota. The intestinal microbiota plays an important role in maintaining the balance of the human immune system, and also regulated central nervous system activity. Soil is a micro-ecological environment that contains the majority of all known microbial species. The number of species found in human feces is around 1/10 times of that found in soil. Therefore, soil can be considered as the microbial “seed bank”. Our previous research indicated that everyday living environments are too clean, which, combined with the lack of contact with soil, results in the loss of a large number of microorganisms, and eating soil increased the gut microbial diversity and immune function in mice. As a special soil, Fulonggan (Terra Flava Usta) is a safe traditional Chinese medicine that has been used in the clinic for 1500 years. Here we report a case of 4.5-year-old male regressive autism with comorbidities of food allergy, allergic rhinitis, and constipation. Fulonggan was used to treat for 12 months from the age of 52 months to 63 months. For the first month of taking Fulonggan, he was also receiving the allergy medicine Singulair (montelukast). The constipation disappeared 5 days after taking Fulonggan, the allergic rhinitis disappeared 4 months later, and the food allergy disappeared after the treatment was stopped. Furthermore, the language skills, social skills, and mood were obviously better according to the Gesell Developmental Scale–Chinese Revised Version and Autism Behavior Checklist. At present, the child has returned to kindergarten. This report proposes a new method for the treatments of regressive autism and comorbidities including food allergy, allergic rhinitis, and constipation. The therapeutic method is effective and safe, and worth to be an alternative for regressive autism or allergy diseases.