Transforming lives through Qigong Sensory Therapy

Qigong Sensory Therapy (QST) or Qigong Therapy stems from ancient traditional Chinese medicine, and is a body-oriented therapeutic model that helps sensory impairment and self-regulatory problems in autistic children. It is developed by Dr. Louisa Silva M.D., M.P.H. and is the result of 16 years of scientific research with more than 22 years of successful clinical application.

This Qigong therapeutic massage is a proven, pediatric touch-based autism treatment that parents perform for 15 minutes per day for up to 2 years to normalize sensory issues. Normalizing the child's touch-sense reduces symptoms of autism. Results are apparent after as few as 30 days of treatment. Qigong massage for autism is unique among autism treatments because it grants children access to normal development, helps them feel comfortable and connected to others, and improves lifetime outcomes.

Research shows that autistic children have early loss of child-to-parent bonding, as well as loss of the ability to feel pleasure and reassurance with parent touch. Instead they near-universally reject, avoid, or fail to notice touch. Without the ability to enjoy touch and close physical contact, children aren't socially receptive and can't be soothed by parent touch. Before long, social delay and abnormal behavior are evident.

Research shows that pleasure and bonding with gentle touch are mediated by tiny sensory nerves in the skin, and when these nerves are damaged, children lose pleasure and bonding with touch. Fortunately, the damage is reversible, and treatment with Qigong sensory therapy returns the sense of touch to normal. This improves bonding, stimulates social development and eliminates autistic behavior.