I have never wanted to medicate my son for his ADHD or SPD. I have changed his diet and tried a bunch of different supplements in an effort to manage some of his behaviors. A year ago I had to stop his supplements because they were just too expensive. This was around the same time that Bubba started showing signs of ADHD.
If I’m completely honest there was a time in the last year that I was ready to medicate my son. His mood swings and violent behavior were just too much for me to handle. I was exhausted from having a child that just could not seem to sleep well. I had to be with him and on him every single second of the day. It was exhausting. One day I saw a blog where a mom was singing the praises of essential oils and how effective they are in helping children with ADHD and other Autism Spectrum Disorders.
After doing some research I’m so happy to report that essential oils and some other supplements have been extremely helpful in managing Bubba’s behavior. Here’s a peek at some of what Bubba takes every day.
Essentials Oils and ADHD
We have been using essentials oils for a few months and I am beyond impressed! The very first oil that I tried with Bubba was Lavender to help him sleep better at night. Bubba really struggled with fall asleep and then also staying asleep. He would commonly take anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours to fall asleep at night just to wake up a few hours later unable to get back to sleep. This made for two cranky people the next day. Bubba was cranky because he hadn’t gotten enough rest and I was cranky because I was just worn out. The first night that I used the Lavender oil he was asleep within 5 min and did not wake until after 7am the next morning. Normally Bubba is up between 530 and 615 in the morning. I was so excited when I realized that he’d actually slept through the night!
Some other oils that we use daily:
- Peace and Calming
- Valor
- Vetiver
In in the morning before we start out lessons for the day I put a little Peace and Calming on Bubba’s wrists. He rubs them together and then inhales for a few seconds. This oil has really helped him stay calm and focused during our lessons. I also rub a little on his feet if he flies into a rage or gets really upset. Valor has been really helpful as well. Bubba has some anxiety that he struggles with and a drop of this oil on the wrists helps to ease his fears. Vetiver is an oil that we are just starting to use so I can’t speak to it’s effectiveness yet but there’s a great article that talks about it’s benefits.
Other Supplements for ADHD
Along with our essential oils I have added some new supplements to Bubba’s diet. The most important things have been magnesium supplements and Cod Liver Oil. Our pediatrician recommended Kids Calm when I explained the behavior changes in Bubba. This multivitamin is full of all the great things that we need each day plus a large about of Omega 3 oils and Magnesium. It took about a month to really notice a difference in Bubba’s behavior.
After some serious researched I realized how important magnesium is to help with many different things especially ADHD so I added a little extra in all of our diets. I use Natural Calm in a smoothie each evening with dinner. It’s been such a help for all of us, but for Bubba it really helps him to relax at the end of the day (a time where he usually would have many episodes of rage). No more bedtime battles either.
Another way I have found to get some magnesium is to put epsom salt in the bathwater. I usually add a cup or two, put in a few drops of either Lavender or Peace and Calming and then fill up the tub. Ideally you need to soak in the water for at least 20 minutes for the magnesium to absorb in your skin and be effective. This can be hard for my guys so sometimes I just read a few chapters of a book while they sit in the water. The magnesium also helps to pull the toxins out of the body.
The last supplement that I give Bubba is Cod Liver Oil. I mix a teaspoon along with the Kids Calm into orange juice in the morning. The Cod Liver Oil has a large amount of the Omega 3 oils that help with concentration and mood control. Also Bubba has a vitamin D deficiency and the Cod Liver Oil has a full day’s amount of Vitamin D.
Final Thoughts:
First I just want to say that I’m not a doctor so I’m not giving medical advice here. I’m just a mom that was looking for a way to help her child and now I’m sharing what has worked for us. If you’d like to try these supplements I recommend talking with your doctor about it. Especially when it comes to the Omega 3 oils because too much can make you sick.
It’s been almost 2 months of using essential oils and the supplements and I am seeing lots of improvement in my son. He can concentrate on his work much better, his emotions are getting under control and we are all getting a good night’s rest! This momma has nothing to complain about.
What natural ways have you found to help you child on the Autism Spectrum?
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LaToya
