Autism and Integrative Medicine: A Broader Look at Care

Autism rates continue to rise, with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) now reporting that 1 in 36 children in the United States are diagnosed with an autism-spectrum disorder (ASD). That’s an increase from 1 in 44 children reported in 2021, and the numbers show no sign of slowing down.

For families and clinicians, these statistics highlight an important reality: autism is not only about behavior or development—it is also about health. At Sunrise Functional Medicine, Dr. Kurt Woeller and the team take an integrative medicine approach, looking beyond labels to address the whole person. This means identifying the underlying biological, nutritional, and environmental challenges that often accompany autism and may influence behavior, learning, and quality of life.

What is Autism?

According to the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM), autism is diagnosed using criteria that reflect challenges in three main areas:

Social interaction
Limited eye contact, body posture, or facial expression
Difficulty forming peer relationships
Lack of social reciprocity or shared enjoyment
Communication
Delayed or absent speech
Difficulty maintaining conversations
Repetitive or unusual use of language
Repetitive patterns of behavior and interests
Intense focus on specific objects or topics
Rigid adherence to routines
Repetitive movements such as hand-flapping or finger-twisting

But diagnosis only tells part of the story. Many individuals with autism also live with significant co-existing medical conditions that can worsen behavioral challenges and daily functioning.

Autism and Co-Occurring Conditions

Individuals on the autism-spectrum, whether they are a child, teenager, or adult often suffer with co-morbid conditions. These conditions can range from mild to moderate allergies, digestive problems, sleep disturbances, and headaches to severe cognitive, social engagement, and behavioral problems triggered or exacerbated by a myriad of underlying medical issues. The CDC notes that people with autism have higher-than-expected rates of other health problems, including:

Ear and respiratory infections
Allergies, asthma, and skin conditions
Sleep disturbances
Migraines and seizures
Gastrointestinal disorders
Higher rates of early mortality

These health issues are not incidental—they are central to how a person feels and functions. Left unaddressed, they can create or intensify the very behavioral and cognitive symptoms associated with autism.

Common Underlying Medical Factors

Through years of clinical work, Dr. Woeller has seen that many autistic individuals struggle with complex, overlapping health issues such as:

Nutritional imbalances (low cholesterol, mineral deficiencies)
Food sensitivities (gluten, casein, phenols, multiple food allergies)
Digestive problems (constipation, diarrhea, inflammatory bowel conditions)
Chronic infections (bacterial, fungal, viral)
Environmental exposures (heavy metals, pesticides, mold toxins)
Neuroinflammation (overactive immune and inflammatory responses)
Neurochemistry imbalances (serotonin, dopamine, glutamate regulation issues)

Each person’s profile is unique, which is why a one-size-fits-all approach rarely works.

A Case Example

Consider a 4-year-old boy diagnosed with autism. At 14 months, he began losing eye contact and withdrawing from siblings. By 16 months, digestive issues emerged alongside irritability. Over time, behaviors such as head-banging, pressing his abdomen against furniture, and extreme pickiness with food developed. Dietary interventions—such as removing casein and later gluten—produced both improvements and regressions. Attempts at antifungal medications, probiotics, and detox remedies led to fluctuating changes in mood, self-injury, and anxiety.

This story reflects a common reality for many families: autism symptoms often ebb and flow depending on diet, infections, toxins, or underlying health imbalances. The challenge is knowing where to start, what to prioritize, and how to create sustainable progress.

The Integrative Medicine Approach

At Sunrise Functional Medicine, Dr. Woeller uses a Four Pillar Approach to help prioritize care for autistic individuals:

Nutrition

Diet is often the starting point. Removing foods that trigger immune or neurochemical reactions (like gluten and casein) can significantly improve sleep, behavior, and communication. Other individualized dietary approaches may also be needed.

Nutritional Supplementation

Because many individuals with autism have nutrient deficiencies due to restricted diets or absorption issues, targeted supplementation is essential. Testing helps determine specific needs while avoiding additives that may worsen symptoms.

Digestive Health

Chronic yeast (candida) and bacterial imbalances can release toxins that disrupt brain function and behavior. Addressing gut health is central to improving both physical and neurological symptoms.

Methylation Support

Methylation is a key biochemical process affecting detoxification, immune balance, and neurological function. In autism, methylation problems can impact language development, cognition, and mood. Therapies like methylcobalamin (B12) often bring meaningful improvements.

Beyond the Four Pillars

Other biomedical therapies, such as detoxification protocols, immune support, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy, can also be beneficial depending on the individual’s needs. While there is no single path to recovery, an integrative medicine framework provides hope—by recognizing that autism is more than a neurodevelopmental diagnosis and by treating the whole person rather than just the label.

Moving Forward with Care

Families navigating autism deserve more than trial-and-error. They need guidance rooted in science, compassion, and a recognition that underlying health conditions matter. That’s the heart of the work Dr. Kurt Woeller provides at Sunrise Functional Medicine. With decades of experience in functional and integrative approaches to autism, Dr. Woeller helps families untangle the web of medical complexities so that children—and adults—can move toward better health and improved quality of life. Learn more and >> request a consultation now >>