Best Essential Oils for Autism and ADHD – The Ultimate Guide
In recent years many parents of children with autism have become interested in the use of essential oils as a natural way to manage symptoms. In this guide we discuss everything you need to know.
-Autism Parenting Magazine
What are the benefits of essential oils?
In general, essential oils have a multitude of benefits, depending on their type. Holistically, essential oils can reduce or treat a variety of health challenges, including:
- Support healthy body functions and help boost the immune system.
- Relieve discomfort and sore muscles after exercising.
- Soothe the digestive system. Peppermint, for example, is known to support the healthy function of your stomach and digestive organs.
- Enhance a massage.
- Boost your ability to focus and concentrate.
- Help you relax and reduce your stress levels.
- Promote wellness.
- Provide safer and non-toxic ways to clean and purify both the home and workspaces.
- Help you achieve healthier skin and great-looking hair.
Essential Oils for Autism FAQ’s
Sourced from: https://www.autismparentingmagazine.com/essential-oils-for-autism-adhd-add/#top-essential-oils-for-autism-adhd on 8.12.2020.
First, it’s imperative to note essential oils are not a cure for autism or any other medical condition. Their use does not improve cognitive skills, communication skills, or social skills.
Scientific research on autism and essential oils is limited and not conclusive at this time. Some essential oils can have negative side effects if used or applied incorrectly.
Is there an essential oil for nonverbal autism?
At this time, there isn’t a specific recommendation of an essential oil for autism speech or nonverbal children with autism specifically, however, some parents have reported positive results with a combination of oils that reduce anxiety and produce calm.
What are the best essential oils for meltdowns?
Parents claim that vetiver, frankincense, and ylang-ylang are the most effective oils in managing emotional outbursts and aggression in children with autism.
What are the essential oils for stimming?
While essential oils may not completely stop a child’s stimming, oils with calming effects like chamomile, lavender, and peppermint might help reduce the need for stimming.
What are the best essential oils for sleep?
Chamomile, mandarin, bergamot, sandalwood, and lavender all have relaxing and sedative properties to help aid sleep.
Are there reliable essential oils autism studies to back positive claims?
Research about essential oils and their effects on autism are inconclusive. A study started by Dr. Jill Hollway to investigate the effects of essential oils on children with autism is ongoing, and results are yet to be published.
Safety tips for using essential oils with children
Even after discussing essential oils with your child’s doctor, there are basic precautions you still need to take when using essential oils.
When you use essential oils with autistic children you must be very careful. The oils are potent. Always use as little as needed.
When using essential oils topically, dilute them with a safe carrier oil. Carrier oils can be fractionated coconut oil or grapeseed oil. It helps prevent the skin from getting burned when it comes into contact with certain types of essential oils.
Essential oils known for being ‘hot’ and therefore require dilution are birch, cassia, cinnamon, clove, eucalyptus, ginger, lemongrass, oregano, peppermint, thyme, and wintergreen. Before using any of these oils, it’s recommended you test them first by applying them on the wrist or the bottom of the feet. Make sure to keep them away from the eyes.
You should consult a qualified aromatherapist or doctor before applying any type of essential oil on the skin, especially on children. Apart from applying essential oils topically, you can inhale it using a diffuser. Some research has shown aromatic use can be more effective and potentially safer.
When not in use, essential oils should be kept in a glass bottle with a closed lid and away from extreme temperatures, so they last longer.
Ways to apply essential oils for autism
The application of essential oils for autistic children will depend on each child. Although most oils can be rubbed onto the skin, such as the back of the neck, some children’s skin might be sensitive or get an allergic reaction. In this case, using an essential oil diffuser might work better.
It is important to note that children’s skin is more sensitive than adults, so diluting the oil before applying it to the skin is a great idea. Diluting oils involves adding a carrier oil like coconut oil, grapeseed oil, or avocado oil to the essential oil. You can refer to a dilution chart to ensure you are using the right amount of oils.
Young Living
https://www.youngliving.com/en_ZA
Essential oils are aromatic, concentrated plant extracts that are carefully obtained through steam distillation, cold pressing, or resin tapping. We offer essential oils, blends, and oil-infused products with the optimal levels of specific, naturally occurring essential oil constituents to maximize their potency.
If you are interested to try out some of these wonderful essential oils, then you can explore Young Living’s products by enrolling with me {Hanlie} here:
How to use essential oils
- Aromatically {our fav ♡ it’s non invasive for sensory sensitive autistic kids}
- Topically
- Internally {not discussed here}
- How to use essential oils aromatically:
The aromatic use of essential oils may be the most familiar. Perhaps you’ve wandered into a spa and been delighted by the aroma of Eucalyptus and Tea Tree oils or maybe felt the soothing calm of Lavender’s scent in one of your favorite at-home products. Now you can learn how to get the benefits of essential oils by diffusing their aroma!
If you don’t know how to use an essential oil diffuser, check the instructions specific to your product for water and oil ratios. For instance, if you’re using the Young Living Aria™ diffuser, you’ll add 15–25 drops of oil to the water, but if you are using Young Living’s Desert Mist™ diffuser, use only 8–10 drops. There’s always a bit of math involved, so brush up on your fractions, folks!
Try this combination in your diffuser before bedtime to promote rest and relaxation:
4 drops Lavender
3 drops Cedarwood
2 drops Frankincense
Even without a diffuser, you can enjoy many of the aromatic benefits of essential oils. Add drops of your favorite essential oils to a cotton ball and place it in areas where you want to disperse the scent. You’ll be amazed by how well this simple solution works!
Freshen a smelly space in minutes by adding a few drops of your favorite citrus oils on a cotton ball, then place it in a gym bag, garbage can, or anywhere else that needs a scent upgrade.
The easiest way to get the aromatic benefits of an essential oil is by simply taking a few drops from the bottle into the palm of your hands. Cup your hands around your mouth and nose and inhale, breathing deeply for as long as needed—but, you know, take it easy so you don’t hyperventilate or anything.
2. How to use essential oils topically:
The topical use of essential oils is one of the most popular. Once you get the hang of this application, it will probably be one of your favorites! Usually, finding out how to use essential oils on the skin is what turns most people from casual oil users to devotees.
You can apply essential oils to most parts of your body, but you want to be cautious of your most sensitive skin. To get the most benefit from your essential oils, you’ll find that certain applications are more effective than others.
Use your head, literally! Essential oils can be applied to the crown of your head, behind the ears, to your neck, and to your temples.
If the aroma of an oil is too strong, or your skin is sensitive, you can dilute it with a carrier oil. Young Living’s V-6™ Vegetable Oil Complex lets you adjust the strength of the oil according to your preference.
Essential oils are great for massage! For a calming massage, Lavender and Cedarwood essential oils can be added to a carrier oil. For rejuvenating muscles after a long workout, experience the cooling effect of Peppermint essential oil’s menthol in a sports massage .
In aromatherapy, many people choose to apply essential oils to the tops and soles of the feet. One common application is using Tea Tree essential oil as part of spa and beauty treatments—especially to help fight odor on particularly funky feet before a pedicure. Just 10–15 drops in a bath of lukewarm water ought to do the trick.
♡REST & RELAXATION
Diffuse:
4 drops Lavender
3 drops Cedarwood
2 drops Frankincense
♡BATH
Soak in Epsom salts. Mix 3 drops of Peppermint, 4 drops of Eucalyptus Blue, and 1 cup of Epsom salt and add them to the tub for an invigorating, luxurious bath.
♡LAUNDRY
Refresh musty towels. Transform your sun-soaked beach towel into a cozy and clean one by adding 5 drops of Thieves to a load of laundry and detergent.
♡PURIFICATION
Let’s clear the air—literally—with Purification. Take out offending odors with this blend that features Citronella, Lemongrass, Rosemary, Tea Tree, and other lovely oils. This synergized blend of herbaceous, sweet, clean, and refreshing scents can be used everywhere!
Freshen your bathroom space. Put 2 drops of Purification inside the cardboard of the toilet paper roll for a gentle, pleasant aroma.
♡RC VAPORUB
Create a chest rub. Add 2 drops of R.C. and a dime-sized amount of coconut oil and gently massage on your chest and take deep breaths.
♡SLEEP
Dream with a comforting aroma. Put a drop or two of Cedarwood or Lavender on a tissue and place it inside your pillowcase for warm-scented slumber.
♡IMMUNE
Immuno bomb: 4 Thieves, 3 Oregano, 2 Lemon, 2 Frank in capsule. Take every 12hrs.
Sinus roller: 10 lavender, 10 lemon, 10 Peppermint 10 RC, fill with carrier in 10ml.
Apply over bridge of nose, sinus areas, behind ears, under feet at bedtime. Scratchy throat – rub purification on outside of throat.
♡FOOT SOAK DETOX
Mix: 1/2 cup Pink Himalayan/ Epsom Salt. 2 T of baking soda. 1 T dried Ginger.
EO blend: 3 Thieves, 3 Oregano, 3 Lavender, 3 Peppermint, 3 Eucalyptus/ R.C., 3 Tea Tree.
Mix oil and salt. Then put into luke warm water. Soak feet for 20-40 min.
♡MOLD
Diffuse Thieves, Frank, Lavender and Purification.
♡ECZEMA
Diffuse Frank and Lavender.
Life on a {ND} Rainbow 