The cause of autism is complex.  However, it is believed by researchers from Defeat Autism Now (DAN) and Autism One conferences to be a result of multi-factorial insults

Environmental toxins           
Genetic predispositions
Immunological insults
 
ASD is a spectrum of disorders, thus the same treatments can not be expected to work to the same degree and within the same time frame for every child.  Each family and individual with autism should have the right to learn about and then select the options that they feel are most appropriate for the individual with autism.  (The Autism Society of Washington official policy statement.)

Toxic environmental chemicals, chemicals in vaccines, and too many vaccines given too early directly correlate with incidence of ASD.  Drs. Edelson and Cantor examined 20 autistic children and showed that all children exhibited chronic toxicological damage, especially in the intestines, liver and tissues of the central nervous system.  (Edelson & Cantor 1998).
The underlying question to address is: What causes abnormal brain development?  Brain research is scarce and has enough inconsistencies to prevent a universal conclusion as to the site(s) or causes of autism.  However, it is believed that anatomical defects associated with autism are caused by abnormal brain development in specific areas versus damage throughout the brain.  We need to look at the causes and reasons for these defects, and strive to remedy them.

Postmortem and MRI studies have shown that many major brain structures are implicated in autism. This includes the cerebellum, cerebral cortex, limbic system, corpus callosum, basal ganglia, and brain stem.  Other research is focusing on the
role of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, and epinephrine.

Recent neuroimaging studies have shown that a contributing cause for autism may be abnormal brain development beginning in the infant’s first months. (Courchesne E. Carper R, Akshoomoff N. Evidence of brain overgrowth in the first year of life in autism. JAMA, 2003; 290(3): 337-344.) 

This “growth dysregulation hypothesis” is widely accepted.  For this reason growth factors and hypotheses concerning their functioning highlight the importance of a non-toxic environment during early brain development. 

Rather than approach ASD via genetics (the incidence rate is too high to be causal, but it could be contributory), another approach immediately available to every person now is via homeopathy.  Homeopathy is an age-old, safe approach that recognizes if growth factors are part of the challenge in ASD, then homeopathic growth factors are part of the solution.   Thus we believe the need to look at what growth factors are capable of doing to undo or repair the damages done by toxins and excessive stresses put on the developing nervous system.