Essential Oils Might Help Calm Children With Autism And Attention Deficit

There are high controversies regarding the treatments for kids who suffer from Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). However, parents still use traditional pills for their kids in the attempt to ease their symptoms. Along with the medications, parents often turn to alternative remedies to help calm down their kids and relieve their anxiety. Among the remedies used are chiropractics, animal assisted therapy and therapeutic listening.

But one doctor is bringing a new remedy for these kids: aromatherapy.

Essential oils improve life quality

Dr. Jill Holloway’s studies on the effects of essential oils are showing that aromatherapy can improve the life of kids with ADD and ASD. We all know that using an essential oil diffuser with our favorite oil can calm us down or imprint us with the energy we need to start our day. As we benefit from these oils which improve our life quality, Holloway is trying to find out if kids who suffer from autism or attention deficit can reap any benefits from aromatherapy.

In order to make the study as useful as possible, Holloway designed special ways to assess the power of essential oils. The main problem comes from all the various ways people use essential oils, which makes assessing their effects harder.

Multiple oils can prove to be more efficient

Holloway’s study is a seven month project during which she investigates using a mix of essential oils. 18 to be more specific.

“We are investigating the combined effects of certain groups of oils in each blend … because the combination of the oils may produce enhanced effects compared to the effects of one or two specific oils.”

During the study the essential oils are massaged into the skin or inhaled from a diffuser. The order each participant receives the essential oils is different and there is a blank, no treatment period between the sequences.

When the world will know the results

Right now, Holloway’s study is ongoing, but she hopes to have the results in half an year. Until then, parents of children who suffer from ADD or ASD are still struggling to find a way to ease their kids’ symptoms. Some of them do use essential oils, but there are no studies that show their effects on kids. The biggest problem if kids with ASD is getting them relaxed for bedtime. As there are no FDA-APPROVED remedies or medications for this problem, Holloway’s study is going to be very important for parents and kids around the world.