Taken by mouth, nose or injection
Supplements and cannabinoids
Things a child swallows, inhales or is injected with, sold as regenerative, calming or cognition-supporting. Most of this group sits outside any medicines regulator and is the easiest of all these treatments to start and the hardest to evaluate. It also contains the one exception on this site: a cannabis-derived compound that went through proper randomised trials, became a licensed medicine for three named epilepsy syndromes, and is now supported beyond them by a large body of real-world evidence across other drug-resistant epilepsies.
These are generally considered for a child who has not responded adequately to conventional care, or whose progress has plateaued. Where conventional treatment is not yet fully in place, establishing it first will usually achieve more.
Cannabidiol and cannabis-based products
The one product in this group that became a real medicine. Licensed for three named epilepsy syndromes, and supported beyond them by a large body of real-world evidence in other drug-resistant epilepsies. The oil sold in a shop and the licensed solution are still not the same thing.
CBD, purified cannabidiol (Epidiolex / Epidyolex), CBD oils, THC, nabiximols
Early research onlyProbiotics, prebiotics and the gut–brain axis
Genuinely interesting science with a few solid, specific uses in children — and a large gap between those uses and what is sold to families of autistic and neurologically disabled children.
Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, synbiotics, fibre supplements, faecal microbiota transfer
Early research onlyPeptide preparations
Two quite different things share this word: prescription neuropeptide preparations used routinely in some countries, and an unregulated wellness trade. Neither has good evidence in children.
Cerebrolysin, Cortexin, Semax, and “peptide therapy” sold by wellness clinics
Early research onlyMedicinal mushrooms and nootropics
A research band worth watching, and a supplement shelf to approach carefully. Some of these compounds have real laboratory interest; almost none has been tested in children with neurological conditions.
Lion's mane (Hericium erinaceus), reishi, cordyceps, citicoline, piracetam, psilocybin
Not supported by evidenceChelation therapy
The idea behind it was tested and failed. There is no trial evidence that it helps an autistic child, there is a documented record of children harmed, and at least one child has died. This is the clearest no on this site.
DMSA (succimer), DMPS, EDTA, “heavy metal detox”, provoked urine testing