Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) based Training for Autism:

a Clinical Study Protocol

Lara Lopes1; Henry J. Greten1,2; Jorge Machado1;
1ICBAS - Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Portugal , 2Heidelberg School of TCM, Heidelberg, Germany
Introduction Material and Methods
Pervasive neurodevelopmental diseases such as Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are dramatically increasing (1/45 children, according to USA Using QEEG to read and record the brain electrophysiological activity quantifying theta, alpha, delta and beta waves presence in each 3D
National Health Statistic, 2015). Most of therapies are effective only when given with a large amount of hours per week (e.g., 40 hours/week for ABA brain area and comparing it with a database of normality; LORETA-3D brain maps will be our outputs for statistical analysis with SPSS
Therapy). National Health Systems have huge waiting lists and cannot provide all the recommended hours per child. Those therapies, supported by software. We will, also, use a validated psychometric scale for the Portuguese population; EACPEA, to measure the level of ASD.
family members, are truly expensive and not accessible for most people (addressing autism costs an estimated $3.2 million in lifetime costs per child
according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA). Non-attended children are at big risk of growing unhealthy, struggling and social Intervention Group: QST Control Group – Waiting List Intervention Group: MORA PB
unadapt.
A TCM biofeedback technique for ASD Children - the qigong sensory training massage - (QST) have efficacy well proven (USA) and may be Baseline – Time 0: Baseline – Time 0: Baseline – Time 0:
easily provided by caregivers, with just 15 minutes per day. Recent studies preconized its feasibility achieving some biomarkers from a conventional 1st QEEG 1st QEEG 1st QEEG
neuroscience analysis. Tactile Fibers-C impairment was found to be common in ASD people, this might explain why with sensory desensitization 1st EACPEA (ASD Validated 1st EACPEA (ASD Validated 1st EACPEA (ASD Validated
regulatory gains were obtained. A 2018 study developed a protocol to measure some neural mechanisms involved in QST. Results suggest that a Psychometric Scale) Psychometric Scale) Psychometric Scale)
parasympathetic tone increased more in children receiving QST massage and, while viewing emotional faces post-intervention, parasympathetic
tone was more affected (reduced). Also the prefrontal cortex response to emotional faces was greater. Recently, our research group conducted 3 Waiting List – Time 1:
Intervention – Time 1:
QST clinical cases with Portuguese ASD Children 3-6 years old (paper in preparation) and clinical improvements suggest to be very similar to the 35 ASD children 5-6 years old Intervention – Time 1:
35 ASD children 5-6 years old
USA findings. No QST Intervention 35 ASD children 5-6 years old
MORA® Bioresonance is a diagnostically and therapeutic technique based on the findings of quantum physics and with historical roots on Dr. Voll´s
5 months, daily, QST massage provided
No MORA PB Intervention 8 weeks, once per week, 30m Psycho-
Electroacupuncture findings. This innovative method, developed in the mid 70´s, transfers the principle of waves and frequencies, from quantum by family caregivers
Biophony MORA Bioresonance
physics to medical technology. In the last years, the psycho-biophony module (PB) was designed to treat physical but especially psychological or 1x week QST provided by TCM masters
Post - 8 weeks Waiting List – Time 2: treatment
mental disorders. ASD is a therapeutical programme available. It is stated that the patient may switches from beta to alpha state. We want to check with caregivers
2nd QEEG
this assumption using the Quantitative Electroencephalogram (QEEG) to record the electrical potential brain activity. For that purpose we already 2nd EACPEA
accomplished a survey and “Escala de Avaliação da Criança com Perturbação do Espectro do Autismo” (EACPEA), a Psychometric validated Scale
Post-Intervention – Time 2: Post-Intervention – Time 2:
for ASD Diagnosis in 105 Portuguese children (5-6 years old). We will randomly divide them in 3 groups (35 ASD Children in each group) to start a Post - 5 months Waiting List – Time 3:
5 months later, 2nd QEEG 8 weeks later, 2nd QEEG
preliminary study, according to the present protocol. 3rd QEEG
2nd EACPEA 2nd EACPEA
3rd EACPEA
Research question
We aim to find whether differences in the neurophysiological brain waves (alpha, delta, theta, beta), measured by QEEG, might occur after 8 weekly Follow-Up – Time 3: Follow-Up – Time 3:
sessions of MORA PB therapy for ASD and after 5 months of daily QST intervention.
Follow-Ups – Time 4 and 5:
6 months later, 3nd QEEG 7th month (PB), 11th month (QST) 6 months later, 3nd QEEG
If that is to happen, we would also search for possible patterns related to Brodmann brain cytoarquictectonical areas and their related main functions. 3nd EACPEA
3nd EACPEA 4rd QEEG + 4rd EACPEA

Outputs QEEG 3D Brain Maps Psychometric Validated Scales Conclusions

Helena S. Reis, Ana Paula S. Pereira & Leandro S. Almeida ©
Instituto de Educação – Universidade do Minho, 2013
We want to understand the neuro physiological underlying mechanisms involved in the suggested efficacy of QST sensory
training and MORA Psycho-Biophony for ASD treatments using measurable validated outputs such as; QEEG 3D Brain maps
and adequate Psychometric Scales for the Portuguese population. We expect to contribute with some objective neuroscientific
clarifications for the efficacy of this interventions which we consider crucial to validate the techniques amongst conventional
health professionals and to define future derivations of this therapeutics according to each ASD main challenge.

References
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