Autism -- The Movie

CHAT BEGAN AT 21:01 EDT

Moderator: A warm welcome to Carol Boyce and Laurie Stemm, homeopaths, and founders of SOMETHING TO SAY PRODUCTIONS. Homeopathy has a lot to offer children and adults, especially in situations where there are few or no answers. Their first film focuses on autism; please ask them all your questions about selecting topics, making the films, and what it takes to do all this independent of big film studios.

A 5-minute clip can be viewed at www.savingalostgeneration.com.

Carol Boyce: Thanks for inviting us - can I just say I'm in the UK right now and it's 2am? - so please forgive my typos!!!!

Laurie Stemm: Hi everyone - I'd like to give you a bit of background on Carol Boyce. She graduated in 1985 from the College of Homeopathy, London. She has taught, practiced and worked for a vision of homeopathy as mainstream medicine since then. As founder/director of Homeopaths Without Borders-UK, she set up teaching clinics from Calcutta to Cairo; took homeopathy to Iraq after the first Gulf War; taught in Cuba as executive director of HWB-US, and is on faculty at six US homeopathic schools. She has written extensively about the challenges homeopathy faces and the threat to the Royal London Homeopathic Hospital. She did a 2-year certificate in Film and TV at UCLA but in order to keep her integrity intact, left the film business and went back to homeopathy!  Finally the time is right to make the films she’s wanted to make for decades.

Carol Boyce: The history of these films is worth mentioning. I've been writing about the situation regarding the politics of medicine and how that relates to homeopathy for years. I blew the whistle on the threat to the Royal London Homeopathic Hospital (RLHH) back in early 2007 and was involved in the campaign to save it - the autism film came out of that. I knew Dr Rhijn, head of pediatrics at the RLHH - he is a friend from back in the early 90s when I'd been setting up a non-profit with clinical and teaching projects in Egypt, Honduras, London, India - and I knew of the work he was doing with children on the Autistic Spectrum at the hospital. It seemed obvious to begin with that focus - it would help the RLHH and homeopathy in general - it was coming under increasing attack in the UK - and it would let parents with children with autism to know that there were options available.

Kristy: How did you choose the topic of autism, and how did you find families willing to be part of your film?

Laurie Stemm: We chose the topic of Autism for a couple different reasons. One reason was because we saw that conventional medicine didn’t have any answers for the huge number of families suffering with ASD.
Another reason was to help support the Royal London Homeopathic Hospital which has been threatened to discontinue homeopathy in spite of having many successful reversals of autism in their pediatric department.

Vibell: Are you doing a film on ADHD?

Carol Boyce: We are focused on Autism Spectrum Disorders in this film - we might focus on ADHD in future it's certainly an area we have looked at.

Kristy: How much ADHD does one find in the UK?

Carol Boyce: It’s a problem - much like the US - autism rates are high here - recent study suggesting 1 in 69.

Laurie Stemm: A recent Harvard study estimated the direct and indirect medical costs of autism in the US to be $35 billion a year. The London School of Economics calculated the half a million people with autism in the UK costs the government some $56 billion a year if lost work is included. Both reports pressed respective government policy makers to look into options for the prevention and cure of autism

Carol Boyce: It's a huge problem that is not being addressed at any level. Parents are left to find a way through it themselves with little support. This film needs to be out there so people know there is an option and that homeopathy can provide an answer.

Kristy: Will you have voice-over translations of your film(s) into other languages so that parents in other countries might learn about the homeopathic options?

Carol Boyce: Yes, will definitely have translations – we have been talking to a group in Hong Kong about this very thing.

ngdoctor: It is a great job to treat such deep-seated cases. But why have the rates of autism become so high? As I know, one of the reasons is vaccination. What do you think about it?

Carol Boyce: Interesting question - wish we had an answer - lots of ideas but nothing definite - yes vaccination, but others have not been vaccinated - we are not addressing causation in this film for that reason - it's a distraction from our message.
That's a topic for a different film.

Kristy: Have any pediatricians shown interest in the film?

Carol Boyce: We have not communicated directly outside the homeopathic world - but then we haven't put the film 'out there' yet.

diane: Are most homeopaths able to work with autism or are their special trainings that will assist?

Carol Boyce: If you read the articles by Fran Sheffield, the Australian homeopath - her practice is classical individual prescribing - the articles are on our website. Dr Rhijn also includes some dietary changes - what seems to be most important is that homeopaths understand what is part of the autism spectrum and what is individual to the patient and that's what is prescribed on.

diane: Have you done any work with adults that have autism or are children the most malleable?

Carol Boyce: No, not yet - the earlier the treatment, the better the outcome, like all cases - also children are less susceptible to placebo - meaning the film is less likely to be accused of having actors play the roles of patients. (This has already been suggested!!!!)

Laurie Stemm: In our film, we talk with parents, teachers and relatives about the transformations they have witnessed and about the implications for the future; we talk with homeopathic practitioners about their work; to the medical professionals who made the initial ASD diagnosis, and to the children about their ambitions.  Autism affects children from across the world, and we hear from homeopaths in the US and Australia successfully working with ASD and calling for a clinical trial.


Carol Boyce: The bigger vision for us is to use this as a tool to raise funds for a pilot study that will follow the treatment of children with autism over a period of time.  A documentary film will be built on to the back of the pilot study, and in this way we can really follow the children from before to after, and also show the impact of autism on the family. The research proposal and protocol is written - we only need to raise the money!!!

It's difficult without being a fly on the wall over a period of time to really show the 'before' situation - it's easy for people to say - and they have said - my child has tantrums, or my child goes off into his own world but he doesn't have autism. Some of this lack of information is being addressed because there have been a number of documentaries recently showing aspects of how serious a situation autism is - and what a huge impact it has on the family - but so far they have not offered much hope apart from intensive one on one therapy teaching children how to manage their condition.

diane: When will the full movie be available and how do we gain access? Is "Autism, The Movie" almost done or waiting for the pilot study to provide material?

Laurie Stemm: Any homeopath can imbed our short video onto their website right now.

vibell: What is the process if we want to imbed your clip on our website? Do we need to email someone for permission?

Carol Boyce: Yes, can you email me and ask for it and I'll send you the code, etc.
carol@somethingtosayproductions.com 

Claire: What venues are you considering for putting the film out there aside from the homeopathic avenue?

Carol Boyce: On internet TV for sure - distribution now is a different ball game - but the pilot study film would be a full length documentary for regular TV. It's all about budgets in the end – TV quality is very expensive - if you watch the credits for even a small film the list of people involved is huge.

The reality is we need funding - we can get some in-kind donations, but at the end of the day we have to raise the money -

Kristy: How can we participate?

Laurie Stemm: The general public will soon be able to watch our clip on YouTube and if enough people go to our website, donations and sponsorships will fund the pilot study and the filming all the way through it.

Carol Boyce: We are always looking for feedback and suggestions – we’ve have some this week, thanks to you. Also in-kind donations also, which is great.

ngdoctor: Do you have any statistics about the results? It is very interesting. I had 1 patient with autism with good result but it is too little to understand how homeopathy can work in such cases.

Carol Boyce: The pilot study is about looking at statistics, protocols etc - there is only anecdotal evidence as yet - but there are enough compelling cases to know that it's essential to explore it

diane: Other than Fran, are there any other sources where I can learn more about homeopathy and autism?

Carol Boyce: Amy Lansky's book, Impossible Cure. John Melnychuk has cases. Dr Luc de Schepper has a regular digest and there are others. Paul Herscu, ND, and the New England School of Homeopathy (www.NESH.com) have done some work on autism, too. It's an area we need to get busy in because it's such a problem - that's why we called the film, “Saving a Lost Generation.”

Laurie Stemm: Our purpose is not to defend homeopathy or to convince a skeptical audience, we are simply asking the question – What is happening here and why, given the scale of this problem, isn’t homeopathy on the table of recognized treatment options? Why not? is the bigger question - and that's largely because the medical professionals don't have any answers.

Carol Boyce: Following on the last question, there is widespread belief within the medical profession that autism is a condition that cannot be changed, that the child has it for life and the most that can be hoped for is some learned behavior as a way of coping.

Ruth: As a one-on-one aide to an autistic young man at a facility that has an alternative school for the autistic, I keep looking at ways to take his case from his standpoint (he is nonverbal and "low functioning" although I see a glint in his eye that tells me other). I would love to be present when a homeopath takes on a case to see the process.

Carol Boyce: Yes - if his guardians are open to it, ask the homeopath if you can sit in - with everyone's permission of course.

Ruth: I had been wondering about how to approach the subject of homeopathy to the parent of my student (privacy and all)...your website and movie are excellent for that. Thank you!!

Carol Boyce: Thanks Ruth - that makes it worth the effort - that's exactly what they are for - USE them, everyone!

Laurie Stemm: Remember this is the first in a series of films showing the potential of homeopathy. We are in preproduction for 2 other films that we will soon be announcing.

Carol Boyce: Homeopathic treatment can truly be a transformation. We’re actually in production on one and pre-prod on the other.

Kristy: I can see why you want control over the contents, so nobody goes wishy-washy over the results!

Carol Boyce: Actually that's the key issue - to retain editorial control is crucial -
Otherwise, it has to be “balanced” - which in this climate is a euphemism for some expert saying in the final few minutes that it's hocum pocum!!!

But to retain control means giving up options of going to TV companies and getting funding with all those strings attached. That’s why we need to rely on our supporters. The idea we have is to raise awareness in the grassroots since they are the engine of supply and demand - if they demand homeopathy, they’ll get it!

Laurie Stemm: Here are some things we all can do:
-  Link to our website – ask us to link to yours. 
-  Use the clip right now to show what homeopathy can do.
-  Sign up at our website for updates on our progress.
-  Use the films to build a network together where homeopathy becomes the norm!

ngdoctor: I want to know how often we can help autistic children with our treatment. When child with eczema comes for homeopathic treatment, I usually know the prognosis but here, I don’t know.

Carol Boyce: Well, how many eczema cases have you treated?

ngdoctor: I did not count. But prognosis usually good.

Carol Boyce: You have lot of experience and from that you know the prognosis now and feel comfortable with it. Dr Rhijn has developed a protocol based on experience with lots of cases - of course each one is individual and you can't know for sure - but you read vital force and know the history and you can predict just as you can with eczema - and still some times you get a surprise!! :)

Vibell: Will your film show treatment using Classical or Clinical Homeopathy? Does ASD respond better to one or the other systems?

Carol Boyce: We want the film ultimately to show a number of prescribers - each have their method - but they would all consider themselves classical prescribers - with additional nutritional advice etc

Ruth: That makes me wonder if entire families and friends etc. become part of the case taking interview.

Carol Boyce: Well, Hahnemann would say for sure they are all part of it - or should be - nowadays we do things differently - but yes, all the family should be involved in every child's case - and every adult actually - we don't live in a vacuum.

Laurie Stemm: We have had several classical homeopaths from around the country and world that are having great success reversing autism. The pilot study will show once and for all very specific evidence on film showing the before, and after results.

Ruth: I especially like the clip with the twins wanting to talk!

Carol Boyce: That always makes me smile and I've watched it hundreds of times :)

ngdoctor: Where can one find writings or articles by Dr. Rhijn?

Carol Boyce: I am pressing him to write something but like most homeopaths he's too busy doing it to write about it. You can download Fran's articles from the Film website www.savingalostgeneration.com .

vibell: I anticipate that when I imbed the clip in my website that people will start calling and asking what all is involved. I am ok with answering questions regarding Homeopathy but how do I find out what the Nutritional part is? Do I send them to a Nutritionist?

I would wonder if a Tubercular child would need different nutrition than a Psoric one would. What would Dr Rhijn say?

Carol Boyce: No - the nutritional part is mostly on the web - cut out gluten and dairy for a start - they may need to get specific advice, but that usually helps a lot - then as the homeopathy gets going, the need for the nutritional help fades as the metabolism corrects itself, etc. Dr Rhijn's protocol is fairly standard – cut out gluten and dairy and add some supplements individual to the child.

vibell: Great start, thank you.

Carol Boyce: Fran writes about the biomedical approach of huge amounts of supplements and how this can get in the way of homeopathy and delay healing. As the homeopathy takes effect, they have to cut down and then out the additional nutrition – it’s too much to process.

Claire: I am glad you are raising the question of why homeopathy is not "on the table" as an option for treatment. Many people come to homeopathy as a last resort when all else fails. The reason homeopathy is not on the table is because of the "mindset" of the allopathic medical world that homeopathy is not “scientific”, so your pilot study would be very helpful but the visuals of the film will be the most powerful.  I want to personally thank you for championing the cause for Royal Hospital of Homeopathy.

Carol Boyce: Thanks! It seems to me that although there is a constant criticism that there is 'no evidence’ showing that homeopathy works - in fact there is plenty - and the homeopathy community would like nothing more than some well-designed and funded research projects - but it is nigh on impossible to a) find the funding and b) find an academic institution that will oversee the research. In the meantime we can motivate the grassroots to call for research. It must be a top down and bottom up approach - what the grassroots demands it will get. Show the public the power of homeopathy in action and any thinking person will see its potential.

Laurie Stemm: In order to accurately depict homeopathy, it is necessary to fund this film on our own. It will take all of us that believe in the potential of what homeopathy can do for ASD to get behind us and support the film in any way possible.
- You  can make a tax deductible donation today through our financial sponsor NASH (North American Society of Homeopaths) Foundation’s website, or send your check to NASH Foundation, PO Box 450039, Sunrise, FL 33345 and write “Saving A Lost Generation” on the memo line.
- You can give this information to family, friends, students, study groups, neighbors, work associates, strangers, anyone and everyone, especially those needing health care.

Carol Boyce: Homeopathy is the fastest growing alternative modality on the planet - people are leaving conventional medicine in droves - the pharmaceutical industry is now the most powerful industry on the planet - iatrogenic disease (drug-induced disease) is now one of the top three causes of death in the US - something HAS to change.....

Laurie Stemm: It’s all of our futures! ASD must be dealt with now – or a huge part of an entire generation will be missing - unable to join the workforce and needing constant support.

Carol Boyce: I don't think it is any coincidence that the anti-homeopathy campaigners began with the Royal London Homeopathic Hospital - it's 150 years old - it's a flagship institution - the Queen is the patron, it's world famous. If the RLHH is closed - not because the National Health Service can't afford to keep it open but because HOMEOPATHY DOESN'T WORK, then the repercussions will be felt across the homeopathic world. The RLHH provides reassurance for homeopaths everywhere.

I think it's hard for people in the US to understand just how bad the situation is in the UK right now.

Laurie Stemm: These films will be a tool to build a movement shifting the focus of health care to complementary and alternative medicine.    - The films will focus on so-called “incurable” conditions where conventional medicine has little to offer.

Moderator: Thank you, Carol and Laurie, for explaining to us the purpose and the work of these films. We're looking forward to seeing the final product.
Participants, please tell everyone about this great project and give them the link.
www.savingalostgeneration.com

Laurie Stemm: Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; Indeed…..it is the only thing that ever has. – Margaret Mead

Carol Boyce: Please USE the films - link to our website and we'll link to yours. Thanks for coming to the chat!

Laurie Stemm: Please visit www.SavingALostGeneration.com to see the film preview. Tax-deductible donations can be made via the NASH (North American Society of Homeopaths) website, or send your check to NASH Foundation, PO Box 450039, Sunrise, FL 33345 and write “Saving A Lost Generation” on the memo line. Thank you!


CHAT ENDED AT 22:10 EDT