I’ve fairly stubbornly avoided most of the recent essential oil trend. I feel like they are over recommended, people are pressured to buy what they don’t need, can’t afford, and something less concentrated and expensive would work as well.
I didn’t want to get caught up in the hype, and the absolute last thing I want to do is be part of encouraging a family to use essential oils when what they really need is dietary change, medical attention, mainstream occupational therapy. I don’t want any child to miss out on other early intervention that is needed for a child with special needs.
However.
I also want to be transparent on here and try to help other families who are grasping at straws. When you have a child with a chronic health problem or disability, often you don’t have time to wait for randomized placebo controlled trials, you have to try things even though they haven’t been studied over hundreds of years, and sometimes even though you think something more time consuming would be more efficient, you choose to try something – anything – that might help with minimal harm but isn’t beyond your physical, financial, and time constraints (see this page, #5).
This child didn’t walk til she was over 2 years old, yet here at 7 she’s riding a two-wheel bike like a boss
Though we’re done with GAPS and my daughter has made huge improvements, she still has sensory issues, processing trouble, and a global delay.
I’m still trying different things. I share with you when they work (amino acids, homeopathics), and I don’t bother writing up anything when they don’t (other amino acids, dry brushing, flower essences, countless supplements). As a mom, I’m not sure I”ll ever stop, now it’s just part of my life. There is always some sort of work in progress here :)
I’ve previously half-heartedly tried essential oils for behavior – Lavender is supposed to be calming, I used the Mountain Rose Herb version of that without any visible success. Plant Therapy’s Calming the Child sounded good – I added it to before-bed baths and diluted it with coconut oil and applied to the kids’ skin, again without any success that I noticed.
I have used other oils for other things with what I feel like was success – tea tree (being honest, I totally used Walmart’s brand for this) for mastitis, germ fighter for keeping the sickies away, camphor very well diluted in a humidifier for coughs, eucalyptus in the shower for congestion. But I didn’t have a particular loyalty to any brand of oils, I normally chose Plant Therapy from Amazon, Mountain Rose Herbs or Tropical Traditions if I was placing an order.
Anyway. I used the blend in a roller ball applicator during an over-stimulation about-to-be-a-meltdown thing that my daughter was doing. She calmed down immediately. We had this family over, we get along great and it’s always lots of fun, but it was more stimulation than she can normally handle. Every time I saw her start to ramp up for a meltdown (ever 2 hours or so) I reapplied. I just did it on the back of her neck because it was accessible. She didn’t melt down.
This is huge for her, if it continues to work like this, this is going to greatly improve our ability to do things in the community. And because it’s a quick application (that smells good to boot!)
I don’t have to try to get an already about-to-melt-down child to take a supplement.
No, there are no placebo-controlled randomized trials. No, I don’t know that DoTerra is actually better than other brands of {admittedly less expensive} essential oils. But this was the first time I got essential oils to work for her behaviors, so I wanted to share.
This was the blend that worked for over stimulation:
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Thank you for sharing, Cara. I appreciate your balanced perspective. I have a wholesale account with both doTerra and YL, and will readily admit I have spent too much $ on oils over the past 18 months. I have seen some great results, but usually can never remember to use them when I should, or fail miserably at applying consistently so the oils have a better chance of working. GREAT advice to not get carried away!
I’m thrilled to hear this blend works for your daughter though! Hopefully it will continue to do the trick for her. Keep us posted!
Don’t feel too bad, oils are pretty fun! And more versatile than a whole cabinet full of supplements :D
I have been reading your blog for a few years now. I always like what you have to say. This is the first time I have ever commented. Being a mom myself, I am always on the lookout for good products. I too; however, feel like essential oils need to be used with caution. I am signed up for both DoTerra and Young Living. I am careful what I purchase, because you can overspend easily! I do like Young Living better for many reasons. There is one GREAT concern that has been on my mind lately with the pressure to purchase oils and that is the effect of oils on our friendly microorganisms. I do feel that to use oregano oil on occasion when sick may be a good remedy. I think the problem with those really pushing these oils is the internal use indefinitely. DoTerra has a product they recommend taking daily that has tea tree oil. I think over time that may have a negative impact on our precious eco system within our bodies. That is where I feel my greatest concern with these oils lies is the promotion to use them internally and for those with little knowledge may end up killing off some very beneficial microorganisms. The other product they have that I am concerned with the way they recommend taking is GX Assist. I think short term if someone is fighting candida it will be helpful. The problem is the recommendation of using it every few months for 10 days followed by the probiotic. I guess if you can not get your diet handled then maybe you need GX Assist every 3 months for 10 days; however, I think that would have a confusing effect on our delicate friendly bacteria. Anyway, I feel I have waisted money in purchasing too many oils, which is a trap that is difficult to avoid. That being said, a few oils used with wisdom when using internally and care when using topically can be good addition to our homes. I still go to food first every time! Homemade bone broth and using fresh oregano for cooking would be my preference, as well as organic lemons and lemon grass. The oils are so strong/concentrated that there has not been enough research on our personal ecosystems. They are still somewhat man-made, even though they come from plants. I think the plants are safer as far as internally. Topically, I think they are fins. Thank you for letting me share what has been on my mind recently.
Hi Michelle, thanks for your comment – I agree, they do need to be used with caution. As you can see in this post, I’m only recommending highly diluted topical use :) Also, be careful with ANY product’s own recommendations. For instance, if you buy a Crisco cookbook, you will see they recommend using Crisco in every recipe – for sure something we want to avoid!
I am so happy to see that you’re having great results with your oils! We brought doTERRA into our home just over a year and a half ago, and we have seen both small blessings and huge miracles as a result. Everything from ear infections, diaper rash, teething, allergies, acid reflux, infertility issues, and so much more. Much like you, we were already living a natural lifestyle (conscious of diet, supplements, self care, reducing toxic load, chiropractic, etc.) and this was what really fit all the puzzle pieces together. You will truly love them as you continue to explore their role in your family’s life. And just a note — the wholesale membership option (when you order a la carte) is just $35, not $44 — even better! :)
Glad you’re finding so much success! They sure are fun, and yes, effective. I just don’t want them to displace a healthy lifestyle :)
It’s over 40 with shipping :)
Can I ask how much FCO you use or do you just fill up roller ball after adding the oil?
We just filled up the roller ball :)
This last year of school was terrible for our young son who has autism. He had a lot of anger and frustration and was in trouble at school almost every day. A friend suggested Young Living’s Release oil to help him get rid of negative emotion. To be honest, it sounded a little far fetched to me, but we started putting it on his feet at night and the change was immediate. The rest of the school year was delightful. It was like a miracle. I don’t use it every night anymore, but when he starts to get the old hair-trigger temper back, one or two nights in a row of Release and he’s happy again.
This is fantastic! I’m trying DT’s ‘elevation’ next. I would have tried In Tune but it has patchouli and I can’t stand how that smells! Right now she’s still at abbreviated school days, and is super sensory seeking when she gets home, I’m curious if we can help extend the day with oils.
I love seeing this info get out there! We had been using EOs in tooth powder and other homemade things until a ear and a half ago when my adrenal fatigue got really bad. That’s when I learned how amazing they really are. I don’t remember really needing them before but now we use them for everything! We love Young Living but also love Native American Nutritionals (now merged with Rock Mountain Oils). Just thought I’d mention it in case someone is confused about the differences and what to look for in a company. Also, I have to mention how much sacred frankincense has helped my little boy wth Down Syndrome. It got rid of his lazy eye and just made him so much more active. Melissa oil makes him very talkative. Calming oil my NAN helps us both sleep better! Unfortunately, Brain Power by YL makes him irritable but NAN Brainstorm is wonderful. I could go on ……..
Hi there! My sister sent me a link to your page–I am reading more and more about success with autism and essential oils. I have recently gotten ramped up on essential oils myself and wanted to go with cheaper oils as well. But I wanted to make sure I was doing the right thing. So I really started researching it and looked at a bunch of different companies. In my quest for truth I stumbled upon the ebook on this page at http://www.learnessentialoils.com – she will email the ebook to you. Anyways. I read it, and it sounded like a pretty sound formula to me for finding quality essential oils. In my research it really ended up coming down to what standard the company uses to match their GCMS testing against. ISO (which is perfumery and food grade standards), or Essential Oils University (which measures the quantity of specific chemical constituents in an oil known for their therapeutic values). That ebook was really helpful to me, and another book – The Healing Intelligence of Essential Oils (I picked it up at the library) also had some very interesting chapters. Also the Facebook page for Essential Oils University. I feel like they are very unbiased perspectives. Anyways – hopefully my research can help others come to conclusions more quickly.
Funny, Dr. Mercola has an article today on essential oils. Yay! So glad they are helping your daughter.
I have. 16 yr old daughter who goes to high school for math and English…homeschooled the rest of the day. She has processin delays, motor skill delays, speech problems and hypotonia. Intune has helped! We’ve also added DDR Prime . We are on our 3rd week and it seems to be helping even more! I use the (DDR on her upper spine) in the morning at at night and the intune in the morning before school behind her ears on the mastoid bone, She seems to be showing extra self-control and acting more maturely…also schoolwork seems to e coming together a little better and focus is more “in tune”…
That’s great, Amy! In Tune has patchouli in it, doesn’t it? I really don’t want to send my daughter to school smelling like patchouli – I’m going to try Elevate for her though and see what it does.
Not to sound dumb but what is the aversion to patchouli? I know it makes her smell like a hippy child but am I missing something?
I really dislike the smell, that’s all. Silly, I know.
My sister really doesn’t like patchouli either. I was forbidden to wear it at her wedding, but as a base note in blends it is often appreciated by those who don’t like it at all. Maybe there’s a sample you could buy, or someone you know may let you try theirs before buying a bottle. I find it very relaxing and both uplifting and grounding. It’s also supposed to be good for digestion, but I haven’t noticed that.
This is the best article I have read in essential oils. It seems like all of my usual favorite bloggers have jumped in with both feet and I am very skeptical about the whole thing. The funny part is that my mom has been using essential oils for years topically for bites, scrapes etc. that makes sense to me, I understand that the oils can have antiseptic benefits. The rest still escapes me, so it’s nice to see that you are skeptical too, so if you write that an oil seems to be working, I can really appreciate that you aren’t trying to sell me something. Thanks!
Thanks Janet :) Being skeptical is good. Oils are really powerful, but they’re not the cure all and most likely are not without side effects that have yet to be found. But if they can replace a mainstream treatment with known side effects (like steroids, antibiotics, antidepressants, etc) or they can help with something that is impacting quality of life, I think that they have a place :D
I might try this on myself when I’ve just about had it!
Hi, I just found your blog. I just had to concur with your phrase “grasping at straws.” Isn’t that so true? I started using oils for myself. I have a couple of kiddos with special needs and my headaches and respiratory illnesses were out of control – in large part due to stress. So I was grasping at straws. I loved them for relaxation and sleep assistance.
Soon I found I really liked them as nurturing tools for my kids. Making up a little mix and rubbing on their backs or tummies or temples, whatever, gave me a chance to love on them. Made me feel like a good mommy, when it’s sometimes so hard to feel like a good mommy when your kids have special needs – especially emotional problems. And they do seem to help with anxiety/anger and sleep issues. Now my son specifically asks for oils at bedtime and says he can’t sleep without them. I don’t sell them and I use various brands like you. Thanks for candidly sharing.
i use Doterra serenity at night on my autistic son feet and mixed 10 drops in a 1 oz spray bottle with water to mist his pillow or car seat on long rides love love love it , I also put the Intune on the bottom of his feet so he can benefit from it but not have a smell at school
Hi Cara
This post is so refreshing for me, just for how practical you are. I’m a YL distributor, and I’ve read so many blogs where people are obsessed with these oils, and because they are also profiting from them, I find them unable to be objective. I don’t take the oils internally, and am also concerned about the manner in which this is encouraged. The other thing that really bothers me is the lack of education. I’ve heard more than once that “these oils are intelligent”, and they “only correct imbalances they do not create imbalance”. This is said so that it is easier to sign people up. They don’t believe they have to be an expert, or do any research, or even be cautious. I find this incredibly irresponsible. I’ve already learned that oils can create imbalances. I used fennel oil daily for two weeks and had the worst cycle in two years because of the estrogenic activity of fennel. I’ve also had an return of mild anxiety that I haven’t had in maybe five years. My cousin, who has a history of anxiety, has said she feels like she’s going crazy since using the oils. When I’ve tried discussing this with the YL distributors that we know, I am repeatedly given the same answer: “those are detox symptoms. Just push through it.” I think these oils can be very helpful for many things, and they can be fun too. I just wish they weren’t set up as a MLM. Then there wouldn’t be this fervent push to encourage people to use them before they understand them. Plus, it would get rid of the creepy “cult-like” vibe around them. I can’t even talk to these people about this, because of how committed/passionate/unobjective they all are. (I have since eliminated the oils that were responsible for the anxiety.) Thanks again for your post, and for reading my little rant. :)
Also if you have epilepsy or have suffered seizure activity stay away from Fennel. It can cause future episodes.
I know this is an old post, so I’m not sure if you’re still responding to comments, but I’m curious to know if you found any Plant Therapy products that work. I love their prices and customer service and the quality seems to be good, but I haven’t noticed any major improvements in my kiddos. I do dilute it quite a bit, so maybe I’m diluting too much? Not sure. I’m skeptical to try doTerra because of the MLM thing, plus they say certain oils are safe for children, but after looking those oils up in one of my general essential oil guides, it says those same oils are NOT for children. I’m so confused. Anyways, just wanted to know if you’ve had any success with Plant Therapy, as I haven’t seen many bloggers mention that company. Thanks!
Hi Cara! I really enjoyed what you wrote! I have been working with mothers whose children have greatly benefitted from the doTERRA oils. I am alive now because of them. I wanted to caution you from getting doTERRA via Amazon. If you get your own wholesale access account, you get wholesale prices direct from doTERRA and they are guaranteed not to be adulterated. doTERRa puts each batch of oils through many stringent tests (see sourcetoyou/com). DoTERRA essential oils come from ecologically and sustainably grown plants and chemical-free distillation processes, where workers from the primarily farmer owned small farms (over 90%)and cooperatives are being paid living wages and given other benefits.
I love the company and I get my oils at 30 – 50% below wholesale.
I encourage you to check out doTERRA more, via myself or others who have plenty of experience with the company and products.
Again, Cara, thank you for posting so honestly – it is helpful.