14 Dos and Dont’s for the Treatment of Tics and Tourette Syndrome (Infographic)
It’s great that public awareness of Tourette syndrome has increased in recent years, yet a number of significant misconceptions remain. We’ve touched on some of these in our Dos and Don’ts infographic for the treatment of tics and Tourette syndrome (see image at bottom of this post).
A key feature of these misconceptions is the acceptance of Tourette syndrome as a “mysterious” condition, with symptoms that come and go for no known reason. Families are usually taught by the medical community that “waxing and waning” of tics and related symptoms should be expected as an inevitable aspect of this so-called mystery.
This approach is simply illogical and does a great disservice to families and patients. It discourages people (doctors included) from looking for causes of tics, when there might be some answers within their control, sometimes right under their noses.
Muscle (motor) tics and vocal tics range from being alarming, painful, and upsetting to just being a nuisance. In any case, using a strong medication to suppress them may not be the best place to start when seeking to reduce tics.
We’ve been collecting data at Latitudes.org for more than 20 years on ways to prevent and control tics without the use of standard drug therapy. We share just some of our many helpful findings here.
Things You Should Do for the Treatment of Tics and Tourette Syndrome:
- You should know that causes for tics can include an immune responses with allergic and infectious reactions, and chemical or food sensitivities, to name a few.
- You should learn about environmental triggers for tics that go beyond stress, fatigue and anxiety. See our new book Stop Your Tics by Learning What Triggers Them.
- You should keep a journal to note if foods, allergens, sensory issues, or chemical exposures are aggravating tics.
- You should consider seeing a practitioner to learn if infection, nutrient imbalances, or allergies are affecting tic symptoms.
- You should consult a neurologist to rule out a number of physical conditions that may cause tic symptoms.
- You should look at tics as a symptom of a body imbalance that needs to be addressed and fixed, not just something to be subdued with drugs.
- You should visit the ACN Latitudes Forums if you’d like support from others dealing with similar tic disorders.
Things You Should Not Do for the Treatment of Tics and Tourette Syndrome:
- You should not assume that strong drugs are the only treatment for tics or Tourette’s. See here.
- You should not accept “waxing and waning” of symptoms as a mysterious process over which you have no control.
- You should not use standard medications for tics without being aware of potential side effects.
- You should not assume that all natural therapies are safe and effective. Get professional guidance when needed.
- You should not have exposure to scented products, standard cleansers, pesticides and other items toxic to the nervous system.
- You should not let your child hear comments from doctors like “Your son has Tourette syndrome and there is no cure.”
- You should not believe that tics and Tourette’s are only genetic and there’s nothing you can do except medicate.
We hope that you’ll share our “Dos and Don’ts in the Treatment of Tics and Tourette Syndrome” and give feedback on what tips you’ve found can help in dealing with tics. Our organization is always looking for new insights. Be sure to also see our “What is Tourette Syndrome” article for a comprehensive overview of the conditions.
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My son was diagnosed shortly after turning 7. We have stopped the tics by following a strict Stage 1 Feingold Diet and by providing a chemical-free environment. Main triggers are ant killer, carpet cleaner, furniture polish, air fresheners, cleaners, pesticides/insecticides. He is sensitive to salicylates, sodium benzoate, most preservatives and artificial flavors, colors, sweeteners. Most of the time tics are caused by a trigger either in the environment or in the food being consumed. Be aware of what your child is exposed to and you can help him/her live a healthy, more tic-free life!! Thanks Latitudes!!!
Thank you for taking the time to write and share your important observations about what has helped your son. I’m sure it hasn’t been easy to adjust his diet to eliminate the items you mention, but it seems to have really paid off. And congratulations on being able to identify chemicals he was reacting to–you’ve hit on some key ones that many don’t know to even think about. Other parents will be encouraged that you’ve been able to get a handle on your boy’s tics, and hopefully some will follow your lead. Of course not everyone needs the Stage 1 level of the Feingold diet that eliminates salicylates, though they are a real trigger for some. And we would recommend everyone avoid the other items you mention. Thank you again for your very helpful comment!
Haven’t been able to definitively nail down my 13 yr old son’s trigger for his tics BUT did notice his lymph nodes in his neck were quite enlarged with his last bout of tics.
I want to know who is the expert or the person that cAN GIVE A GUIDE OF THE CORRECT FOOD FOR THE TOURETTE, BECAUSE I READ THAT IS DEPEND OF THE PERSON,THE DIETE. IM SORRY FOR MY ENGLISH.
Hi Rocio, Thank you for writing, that is a good question. What you say is correct, that it depends on the person as far as what foods might trigger or increase tics.
There are some things that many families have found make a difference. This does not apply to everyone, but to many, based on reports. This includes additives in foods, like artificial colors and flavors, and preservatives. They can often aggravate tics. And they aren’t healthy to eat anyway, so it is good to avoid them.
The next thing is sugary foods and caffeine. Sugary foods can upset the balance of the digestive tract and increase food reactions. This applies to natural sugars like honey as well as table sugar. And, you probably know that caffeine is often recommended as something to avoid for tics since it stimulates the nervous system when you want to be calming it down.
Then, certain foods that a person may be allergic to or sensitive to should be considered as possibly playing a role, like diary, wheat, eggs, corn etc. But that is only for those who react to certain foods. The same foods that might allergic symptoms or digestive upset in some people can also increase tics in people who are reactive. Again, this depends on the person.
It would be great if there was a single diet that could be recommended. Instead, a person (or caregiver) has to be observant and experiment. Sometimes an “anti-inflammation” diet is tried by people, since the immune system and inflammation are indicated in research for Tourette’s.
The concept is not that foods “cause” Tourette syndrome or a tic disorder, but that they can trigger reactions. The approach should be to keep a journal/log and write down what foods and beverages were consumed (specifically) at each meal and for snacks, and jot down tic symptoms for the day. Eventually a pattern can be seen if foods are playing a role. Sometimes food reactions are delayed, but often any reaction is seen soon after eating.
We don’t claim to be experts on this or have all the answers. But the feedback from families and doctors is very encouraging that when an offending food is identified and eliminated from the diet, tic symptoms can improve.
A dietary approach is only part of the picture, but it can be a very important one.
I hope this is some help. And your English was very good in your note. :)
I’m not so sure I agee with some of your do’s and don’ts…especially the one about not letting your child hear they have TS and there is no cure. My 16 year old was diagnosed at the age of 8 and even though he didn’t like hearing there was no cure….it’s the truth!!! Why would you ask us parents to lie to our kids and let them believe they have nothing wrong with them?? I have never lied to my son or hid from him anything regarding this TS diagnosis and he turned OK…and is a GREAT advocate for himself and other kids It is what it is and the sooner he knew the facts the easier it was to get past the shock and move on in a positive way. I take pride in how my husband and I handled those early year…and even now…because its by our actions that has led our son to be the wonderful person he has become dispite having an inherited neurological disorder without a cure. Have you contacted the National TSA or similar organizations, or talked with TS parents before writing your findings because you have it all wrong. As an advocate, volunteer, trainer and Board member for a non-profit TS organization some of your guidance goes against what we strive to overcome in our education and outreach programs.
Hi Rachel, thank you for your comment. And congratulations on having raised a son who is an advocate for TS. He sounds like a great kid. And good for you for participating as you do in so many Tourette efforts. We agree public awareness is very important.
I’d like to reply to your concerns. First, I’m sorry if the brief summary of dos and donts didn’t fully convey about a child being told by a doctor that there is no cure. Our organization does not think it is helpful for a young child to hear this. Why do we feel this way? Because—fortunately—it is simply not accurate for everyone.
Please note that we never said to lie to a child, as you suggest. I don’t know what gave that impression?
The fact is that nowadays, many people are finding a way to control or eliminate TS symptoms with a variety of approaches. The concept being used is for people to find out, either on their own or with the help of doctors, what is actually causing the symptoms. This goes beyond people assuming it is a hereditary problem for which nothing can be done.
You may have heard that TS is considered both a hereditary AND an environmental condition. We focus on the role of the immune system in Toruettes and how the environment can impact symptoms (this includes dietary impact). We don’t claim it is the answer for everyone, but being told by a doctor that there is “no cure” shuts the door to looking for real answers.
I realize that looking for environmental triggers, or factors that are impacting tics and can often be controlled, is not the traditional approach taken by most Tourette organizations and doctors treating TS.
I’m very familiar with the national TSA because for several years I served as a liaison on alternative therapies to their medical board. But after some time it appeared they weren’t really interested in treatments that did not involve conventional drugs.
I’ve been dedicated to this cause for more than 20 years because I believe there are misconceptions about Tourette’s. I say “I” only because I am the mouthpiece for this information. Many families and physicians agree with this. We aim to share information that is not readily available through mainstream medicine.
I hope that you could find time to read some of the articles on our Latitudes.org website under tics and Tourettes. And perhaps the organization you work with would be interested in our book Natural Treatments for Tics and Tourettes
In any event, it was nice hearing from you and we wish you and your family all the best.
This blog is very commendable, thank you for sharing the information it is helpful.
Though it only approaches the symptoms not the root cause. Avoiding triggers is only temporary, which by the way they constantly change just like the foods their allergic to change every year.
I have to get allergy tests annually and the foods they are allergic to are different than the prior year. So I’m always cycling their diet to avoid food triggers. It’s an exhausting constant wild goose chase.
Though I encourage you to have more coverage on eliminating the root cause of Tourettes Syndrome.
What I’m learning is that I have to find out if my children have a leaky gut and they do. Meaning from years of chronic constipation from the time they were a new born it stressed their intestinal tract and caused toxins to leak into their blood stream causing strong food allergies and their autoimmune system to become over sensitized and attack itself causing muscle tics.
This also affected the nervous system that causes tics. It made them also have Tourette episodes every time they caught colds and strep.
An amazing doctor, Dr Perlmutter (naples fl) reassured me to fix their guts and their autoimmune system will normalize and they will be back to normal. I did and they normalized (no tics) but their battle with constipation would resurface the condition all over again.
I couldn’t figure why they had such a difficult time being regular. I had their spines checked by an experienced amazing Atlas Chiropractic doctor, Dr Collins (Stuart Fl) and my childs atlas was completely realigned, causing friction on the nerves in the spine. Nerves that trigger/contol their movements. I suspect most likely the nerve that controls bowel movements as well. (This is my theory)
We are seeing improvements already. This treatment will take a few months but most important is for his spine to align correctly, removing friction on his nervous system. So the nervous system can function as it was intended without friction from the spine. Be forewarned the tic symptoms increase at first during realignment before it gets better, because the child has been functioning with a misaligned atlas for so long and it is being adjusted. It’s important to go to an Atlas Doctor who really knows what they’re doing. My child’s leg was shorter than the other and his hip twisted because the atlas and axis in his spine were both twisted. After his first adjustment (non intrusive, treatment is only with soundwave) both legs and his hip are aligned. This may not be the root cause for all but it was for our case.
I hope this information is helpful to other parents. I really do encourage there to be more reach and material on cures in addition to what you have regarding symptom triggers.
Thanks and God bless
Hello Anonymous and thank you so much for your comments about the need to look for underlying causes. You are absolutely right. Your experience with spinal and hip adjustments is interesting and I hope you will keep us posted on how things go as you move forward with this. Also, your information about leaky gut is right on. It was hard to squeeze everything into those 14 points, but maybe I should try to fit leaky gut in there somewhere! We do discuss it on our site and I’m glad you could find it made a different to address that, as it does affect food sensitivities for sure. We really appreciate your feedback.
We first noticed our daughters tics just before her 9th birthday. At first we thought it was anxiety, then we thought it was red food dye. After seeing the pediatrician who had no advice for us, we went to a pediatric neurologist who said there was nothing wrong and it would probably go away in her late teens. At this point I had already started a food journal. So I continued keeping very detailed notes of ingredients and reactions. After a couple of months I realized ingredients derived from corn (there are over 200!) were in everything she was reacting to. I was so happy the day I figured this out. She was about 90% better but still “not there.” After 5 more months I accidently gave her brownies with corn starch in them at Xmas. I was devestated as soon as I realized it, but she had already eaten them. I was up all night so mad at myself for my iversight and just knew it was going to make for a difficult Xmas for her. To my surprise she never reacted to it. I dug the brownie mix box out of the trash to find it was “organic” corn starch. This was the clue I had been hoping for! On her next school break we decided to test her with organic corn and organic popcorn….she did not react!!! We have been absolutely 100% organic (this is not easy) and she is completely free of any tics she once had. This includes food, deodorant, toothpaste, hand soap, shampoo, conditioner, makeup, lotions, vitamins, household cleaners, etc. Now that she is back in school her tics are back, I can only assume they are using some cleaner in her desk….I am going back into investigation mode now. I forgot to mention I had her allergy tested twice and she has no allergies. This led me to believe it was a leaky gut because as a child she had alot of antibiotics for ear infections and struggled with constipation. I have her on an organic probiotic for children and i try to have her eat a well balanced diet. I would like to know more on how to heal her gut if anyone has any information, I would really appreciate it.
Did you do the skin test or the igg Ige testing?
I got to where I couldn’t afford consistent high quality probiotics. I make my own Kombucha and milk kefir which is amazing and cheap and easy and replaces a lot of probiotics in love form back into the gut. Digestive enzymes are also a must. I think elimination diets are more of a telling test to allergies. Same with environmental allergies. Hope this helps
My home was sprayed with Aunt killing solution including my son’s room what do I have to do to go about getting it removed from there is been a couple months and it should be dried out
I just read on a post that Ant killing solution could possibly be a trigger for tics