We have never been able to give Lira oral medication. The stress we have endured on the nights we tried were so tremendously painful for her and for us that for a long time, we just resorted to shots if antibiotics were needed. Those trips to the doctor’s office were not pretty either.
When we began experimenting with essential oils, I was not sure how Lira would react since she is so adamantly opposed to medication. Imagine my surprise when she actually enjoyed the essential oils! The smell. The sensation. My touch.
Recently, she told me that essential oils were the ONLY medication she would ever need or want. I am fine with that.
Beyond the common ailments (like headaches) for which we use essential oils, I decided to try treating her Autism. After much research, this has become our essential oil regiment.
Calming Autism with Essential Oils
The most traumatic parts of our day are at bedtime or during a tantrum. Essential oils have proven to be a tremendous benefit for reducing the stress in our home during these times. Granted, the reduction of anxiety in our child with Autism might be from the firm touch on her feet or the reassuring stroke down her spine, but if it works, IT WORKS.
Peace and Calming ~ Place on feet at bedtime. Also can be used on the feet or diffused during tantrums and meltdowns. We have also put a few drops in their bath, and at the end of a stressful day, I place a drop on my children’s “blankies.” TESTIMONIAL
Lavender ~ This is a personal favorite for bath time. When the children are especially tired, stressed, or sick, I like to put a few drops of lavender in the water. I have also used it on Lira’s pillow at bedtime.
Grounding ~ While I have not personally used Grounding, I have read that if Peace and Calming seems to lose its usefulness, you can alternate with Grounding from week to week. Not to be used together but on a rotation. TESTIMONIAL
Using Essential Oils to Bring Focus
If Lira is having a difficult time focusing on her schoolwork due to her Autism or is steming uncontrollably, I will put a warm neck wrap on her shoulders. Using the wrap with its warmth and weight in tandem with the essential oils seems to bring her concentration into focus.
Brainpower ~ Containing a blend of Sandalwood, Cedarwood, Melissa, Frankincense, Blue Cypress, Lavender, and Helichrysum, Brain Power can be diffused during school time to increase concentration and focus. Brain Power can also be applied to the neck and throat.
Vetiver ~ Used by Dr. Terry Friedmann, M.D in testing the brain activity of children ages 6 to 14 who were diagnosed with an attention deficit problem, Vetiver was shown to help 100% of those who participated in the study. Just a heads-up… Vetiver is a very thick oil. I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I thought I had received a bad bottle. On Lira and the boys, I dilute the Vetiver with a drop of olive oil to make it more manageable and smear a drop along the back of their necks from the base of the brain stem to where their spinal column meets their shoulders. SOURCE
Other oils that can be used include:
- Clarity
- Cedarwood
- Frankincense
Soothing stomach issues with Essential Oils
Di-Gize ~ Lira used to complain of stomach pain frequently, although lately those instances are much fewer. When she still doubles over with tummy pain, I ease her discomfort by putting Di-Gize across her stomach and lower back. I will also place two drops of peppermint on the warm neck wrap to place over her stomach. The pain seems to release immediately.
Do you use essential oils on your child with Autism?
I would love to know how they work for you. Please leave a comment.
NOTE: I am not a doctor and these statements have not been proven by the FDA. I’m just a mom sharing what works for us.
Hi Penny,
I just found your website. This was a very helpful article for me, we have a child who was diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder (she had many of the complaints you list in this particular post among other things.) I will look into some of these oils.
I just wanted to also mention what worked for us, incase it might also help you. I thought of it specifically because your daughter complained of bad belly aches, and so did ours. It turned out that most of the symptoms of autism that my daughter suffered through were relieved by following the GAPS protocol for two years. Its a diet. The results were nothing less than miraculous. Our daughter could no longer be diagnosed as having Sensory Processing Disorder. She’s much closer to ADHD now, and on many days she’s down right normal. It might help you, you can look into it for yourself, just Google GAPS diet, and be sure to go to the website http://www.gapsdiet.com where you can get the “official” information.
Hope you continue to see improvements! (BTW, GAPS has been known to help people with ADD too, there is a theory out there that these disorders are on a spectrum, and are linked in causation.)
*feel free to email me if this interests you.
Just came to your website by accident and was so happy to have stumbled here! I have been using Lavender to my son for his Autism Spectrum Disorder – Asberger’s – Anxiety – Sensory Issues. Lavender is awesome to help relax him. I burn in throughout the house with an oil burner. At night I put it on the sheets or pillow or both. I rub some in his air with a nice little massage too. Peppermint is great for headaches and you can dab a bit right on the place the head hurts, not too much though. I use Peppermint on my belly if I have gas or bloating and it works. Camomile is awesome for sleeping or anxiety if Lavender isn’t around but use it lightly because it’s strong and works fast! Keep up great work!
You mentioned using a neck wrap that you add drop of oils and heat to help your child regain focus. I feel something like that would benefit my son. I have not had good luck finding one. What are you using? Can you send me a link to one similar to what you use?
I am looking into purchasing young living essential oils to help my soon to be 5 year old son who has autism. I am scouring websites for a place to tell me what works and how they are used. Came across your site. Love it. Any other information you can share with me would be great!
Thanks! 🙂
Michelle from Maine
The one I use actually came from a Beauticontrol representative but they have similar ones at Amazon. Hope that helps. 🙂
Loved your article 🙂 I have used Stress Away with one of my kids and it really does help with some anxiety issues. Also, Idaho Balsam Fir has been a blessing. We have so loved all the great benefits we have seen in our family using YL EO’s!
I just stumbled upon your blog. I too, am a distributor for an oil company. I also have a child with autism and have had to remove my blogs describing how these oils have helped him in ways that I couldn’t imagine. I think you did a great thing by choosing to terminate your employment to help educate others!! I know that must have been a hard decision!!
I have an autistic son, 17 years of age. He is currently taking prescribed medications that are not working for him. I would like to try the essential oils to help control his outbursts, sometimes uncontrollable anger, hitting himself, help him sleep. But more importantly help him stay focus in school, improve on his ability to think and learn. Right now some days I just keep him home because it takes too much out of me to get him on the bus to school in the morning with his uncontrollable tantrums. Don’t want him to harm himself or others.
Need to confirm if I can combine Sacred Frankincense, Valor, Vetiver, and Brain Power together and if I need to dilute them.
Any strong probiotics (you can even get gummies) as well as Smarty Pants digestive supplements, pears and “not from concentrate” prune juice and magnesium stop the stomach pain. Their tummies hurt because their digestive system is not functioning normally! xox
Hi. I have been using oils on my son for a while. He is 3 1/2 and is developmentally delayed. He is is behind in his speech, we are finally getting 3 word phrase but still mostly repeatition. He has trouble sleeping at night and we are having a lot of issues with behavior we he does not get his way, a lot which are aggressive in nature (hitting, kicking, throwing things). I’ve used Vetiver, grounding, acceptance, peace and calming, lavender, stress away, gentle baby, fankenciense, and several others (of course not all at one time). I plan to have him tested for autism cause as a special education teacher myself, I see some concerns. I am just curious if you have had any success with oils in regards to ease the aggression. Also what oils do you use for ear infections or lots of ear wax? Thanks for your previous post and any advice to follow.😁