Always work with a reputable and well-trained aromatherapist. Never apply directly to the skin and never ingest orally.
Autism Spectrum Disorders
encompass a wide range of co-morbid conditions.
In this project, we will explore some of these co-morbid conditions and
the use of Essential Oils.
To begin, let’s get an
understanding of what an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is. We now understand that an ASD is a whole-body
disorder, affecting every system in the body.
It is now widely believed that ASDs are the result of the body’s
inability to detox and a large toxic burden being placed upon the body. The toxins can be passed down from mother to
baby in utero, introduced through the food, water, and air, and through
vaccinations. Because of the large toxic
burden which overwhelms the system, the immune system shuts down, heavy metals
become stored in the cells, yeast (which is the body’s protective system)
attempts to encompass and eliminate the heavy metals but instead becomes
overgrown and the inflammation begins to affect the gut, the brain, and every
system in the body.
Because the gut is affected,
most individuals with autism experience either chronic constipation, chronic
diarrhea, or both. Either condition can
cause malnutrition, and the re-absorption of toxins. There are several oils that are recommended
for either constipation or diarrhea, but because it’s often not clear by
symptoms which you’re dealing with, I recommend Black Pepper for either
condition. It is safe and has no
contra-indications, so it’s safe for epileptics, which is another co-morbid
condition we’ll talk about later in this paper.
Black Pepper’s digestive benefits include: stomachic (improves stomach
function), antispasmodic (suppresses muscle spasms), and carminative (prevents
the formation of gas). Black pepper is
remarkably beneficial for digestion because it stimulates the whole digestive system,
from the salivary glands in the mouth to the large intestine, including
promoting secretion of digestive juices like acids and bile into the stomach
to facilitate digestion. It can be used
topically as a massage oil, compress or poultice, or an ointment applied to the
abdomen. It can also be diffused.
Another co-morbid condition I
mentioned earlier is seizures. It is
unclear why seizures are so common among individuals with an ASD, but one
theory is that an underlying Lyme infection may be to blame in some cases. Seizures may begin in childhood but for
individuals with ASD, many begin in adolescence. Severity of the seizures range from Petit-mal
(absence) to Grand-mal (drop), with several other types in between. If a person has experienced two or more
seizures, they are considered Epileptic.
Seizures are often a contra-indication, themselves, of essential
oils. Some helpful oils for seizures
include: Roman Chamomile, Lavender, Sweet Marjoram, Neroli, Melissa, and Ylang
Ylang. A common trigger for seizures is
stress, so choosing oils that are calming and sedative are useful. Used in conjunction with mindfulness
training, essential oils can be an effective treatment in controlling
seizures. Because you never know when a
seizure disorder will appear, it’s best to always use seizure-safe oils with
anyone who has an ASD. Application
methods include massage and inhalation.
Probably the most common
co-morbid condition associated with ASDs is anxiety. It is estimated that as much as 80% of
individuals with autism also have an anxiety disorder. The inability to understand or express
feelings of anxiety often manifest as behaviors such as stimming, head banging,
screaming, or aggression. Several oils
are useful in the treatment of anxiety, but finding safe oils that do not
trigger seizures is important. All six
oils that were indicated helpful for seizures are indicated helpful for
anxiety, as well. The type of anxiety
you’re treating is helpful to know which oil would be most beneficial. According to Chinese medicine, anxiety is
commonly linked to an energetic imbalance of the heart, therefore, both
Lavender and Melissa oil would be beneficial as they cool the heart and are
considered the most comforting oils for the mind. Neroli helps more with anxiety expressed
through compulsive behaviors (stimming)
and are beneficial for feelings of shame, guilt, or rage. And Ylang Ylang is beneficial in calming the
restless mind. Application could include
adding to a bath, inhalation, massage, or diffused. Because many parents also deal with anxiety,
diffusing a stress blend might be beneficial to everyone in the household at
the same time.
As mentioned earlier,
inflammation is one of the main co-morbid conditions associated with ASDs,
creating a heightened immune response leading to immune system shut down. The exact role of heightened immune response
in the central nervous system (CNS) of patients
with autism is uncertain, but may be a primary factor in triggering and
sustaining many of the comorbid conditions associated with autism. Several essential oils are useful in the
treatment of inflammation but as we learned earlier, seizures should always be
a consideration when choosing oils for individuals with an ASD because you
never know when a seizure disorder will make itself known. With that in mind, one oil stands out as
being most beneficial with the least amount of risk in addressing inflammation:
Lavender. It is an ideal choice, too,
because of its possible effects of stimulating the immune system. There are many different applications
appropriate, including bath and rub, but the best may be diffusion.
Sleep disorders are also a very
common co-morbid condition for individuals with an ASD. It is not widely understood why so many with
an autism spectrum disorder also have insomnia, but it is estimated that
insomnia affects between 53-78% of individuals with ASD (and their
families). It is characterized by the
inability to fall asleep, sleep disturbances, and early-morning awakening. If not addressed, insomnia can affect
behaviors such as self-injury. And where
there’s a child with ASD awake, you’ll find his or her parent. Lack of sleep is one of the most common
complaints of special needs parents. The
calming, soothing, balancing and anxiety-reducing benefits of essential oils
makes aromatherapy very effective for treating insomnia. Some useful oils would include: Bergamot,
Roman Chamomile, Lavender, Lemon, Sweet Marjoram,
neroli, Petitgrain, Sweet Orange, Sandalwood, and Valerian. The most commonly used of these is
Lavender. Clinical trials have found
Lavender to be effective as a nocturnal sedative for elderly patients with
sleeping disorders, so it stands to reason this oil would be beneficial for
anyone suffering from insomnia.
Suggested uses are in a bath before bed (no more than three drops),
spritzed in the bed room, drops of oil on the pillowcase, or diffused in the
room. And because individuals with ASD
typically suffer with anxiety, as well, a massage blend before bed can be very
beneficial.
Migraine headaches are another
common co-morbidity in individuals with an ASD.
While the exact cause is unknown, it is believed to be the result of
inflammation, nutritional deficiencies, constipation, anxiety, hormonal
imbalance, and exposure to irritants such as pollution. The most effective oils in treating headaches
of any type are Lavender, Peppermint, and Rosemary. Other useful oils include Roman Chamomile and
Marjoram. Most migraine sufferers also
experience nausea, making Peppermint possibly the most useful of these
oils. A cold or warm compress that
includes both Peppermint and Lavender oils may be beneficial if applied to the
back of the neck during a migraine. If
touch is not welcome, diffusing may be better tolerated. Be careful not to use Peppermint oil in
pregnancy or on children under the age of 7.
Rosemary should not be used by individuals with epilepsy and because of
this, not with individuals with an ASD.
Depression is not only a common
co-morbidity for an individual with an ASD, but is one of the most common human
experiences. The presentation of
depression in ASDs can depend on level of cognitive functioning, with lower
functioning children displaying more behavior issues and higher functioning
children displaying more traditional depressive symptoms. Depression is thought
to develop and occur more in high-functioning individuals during adolescence,
when they develop greater insight into their
differences from others. Helpful oils can include: Basil, Bergamot,
Frankincense, Roman Chamomile, Geranium, Lavender, Sweet Marjoram, Neroli. For depression accompanied by agitation,
Melissa may be of help. For
irritability, Ylang Ylang may also be of assistance. The choice of essential oils for the
treatment of depression is quite extensive.
It is important to select the most appropriate oil or blend of oils for
the client at any given time, as the client’s needs change from day to day. Application may include bath, inhalation,
massage, or diffusion. Keeping in mind
the seizure-safe oils, a good blend might include Ylang Ylang, Lavender, Roman
Chamomile, and Neroli.
There are many more co-morbid
conditions association with Autism Spectrum Disorders that can be effectively
treated with essential oils but the important points to keep in mind are:
·
Only use seizure-safe oils even in individuals
that appear to be seizure-free
·
Needs change daily so re-evaluate the oils
you’re using on a daily basis and adjust as needed
·
Individuals with an ASD tend to react the
opposite way you’d expect so if your individual has a negative reaction to an
oil, honor that over what the research indicates should happen
·
Never apply directly to the skin (neat) or take
orally
Bibliography
Battaglia, Salvatore.
The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy. The International Center for Aromatherapy,
2014.
www.organicfacts.net,
Essential Oils
Joshua Nadeau,1 Michael L Sulkowski,2 Danielle Ung,2 Jeffrey J Wood,3 Adam B Lewin,2 Tanya K Murphy,2 Jill Ehrenreich May,4 and Eric A Storch*,. Treatment of comorbid anxiety and autism
spectrum disorders. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3809000/. 2011.
Worwood, Susan,
Worwood, Valerie Ann. Essential Aromatherapy. New World Library. 1995.
www.wikipedia.com, Conditions
comorbid to autism spectrum disorders
http://nationalautismassociation.org/pdf/MedicalComorbiditiesinASD2013.pdf, Medical Co-Morbidities in ASD. March 2013.
