Aromatherapy and Massage Therapy: Specialized Touch Therapy
by Sneha Narayan
Topics to be covered…
- Introduction
- How Touch helps in Autism
- Aromatherapy and its Benefits in Autism
- Making Aroma oil Blend for kids
- Autism and Aromatherapy Massage Blends other options
- How to massage
DHRUVA is an affectionate, 3.5 year-old boy who loves to draw and has quite sense of humour. He was diagnosed with autism when he was 3 years old.As a baby, he developed normally—but then, after he turned 2 years old, he started to display quirks. DHRUVA was shifted to two preschools because of his meltdowns, where he would flap his hands, stand on his toes, screech and cry.“We couldn’t go out to social gatherings, or even to the grocery store ” as he use to cry cry a lot..
“He hated light touch,” “tags in shirts, noises from crowds of people and bright lights in stores.
When Dhruva was 3 years old, his first occupational therapist discovered he calmed down when she gave him a firm bear hug.In 1980, autism diagnoses alone were 1 in 5,000; the most current data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that rate is now 1 in 88 children.Boys appear to be affected four times as much as girls.
Through the use of massage therapy,these kids’ basic need for safe, nurturing contact is met, with often wonderful results.All children require nurturing touch to thrive, and for those on the autism spectrum, specialized touch therapy is required. Using specialized touch, we are able to meet these children with care and affection where they are.Pediatric massage provides a positive experience of being touched, and the effects hold lifelong benefits.Our grand parents dadi and nani use to do this massage 4 to 5 times a day so as to make a kid strong…
Usually diagnosed by the age of 3, this complex developmental condition affects a child’s ability to develop normal language skills, form relationships or respond appropriately, and is characterized by early onset of a lack of attachment, failure to cuddle as an infant and an almost complete disassociation with the environment.
Autism, as we know it, is curable and the behaviors associated with the disorder can be corrected so that it does not persist throughout the child’s lifetime.
With 6 months of daily 2 to 3 hours of morning,night and after taking a bath massage Dhruva has gained his
- Full Eye Contact: Every time called he looks into my eyes
- Respond to Name: Full respond to name
- Calming Mood Swings: No meltdowns
- Improved Sleep : No night awakenings
- Good Digestion: Stool is passed once and he is satisfied
- Muscle tone Improved a lot: he can jump hurdles independently..
- Emotions came: he now recognizes me and Rishi as his mom and dad..
- Command following increased: listens to all my requests..
- Immunity increased: No more cough and Cold
- and countless benefits continues…
Touch Helps
The common belief that children with autism do not like to be touched is false.My son Dhruva loves to be massaged as many as 3 hours a day…
Autism is characterized with sensory malfunction and dysfunction of the tactile system, often making a child averse to certain sights, sounds, smells or touch.Given that children with autism have been reported to be opposed to physical contact, it is interesting that many massage therapists and parents are finding great success with the use of massage therapy for those considered to be on the spectrum.
“People with autism-spectrum disorders often struggle with increased sensitivity to sensory stimuli, including tactile stimulation, and massage provides a comforting experience of tactile stimulation while also helping to decrease pain amplification through desensitization,”
Just because a child doesn’t communicate in a way you understand,does not mean he lacks IQ points.
For me what worked as a magic was just following GFCSF diet (for convincing me to follow this Diet credit goes to Riya my friend )and massaging almost 3 hrs a day…pressing all the points and joint compression…every 2 hours..This joint compression was suggested by his therapist Komal ma’am.she is the only therapist I found in Pune who believes in making a child independent..thank u ma’am for ur guidence..
Massaging need to be done with Autistic kids morning almost 30 min then every two hour joint compression and the late at night before sleeping 30 to 45 min full body massage..
Lets us come to oil which i used and benefited a lot was Til oil (Sesame oil ) ..this oil is especially for improving muscle tone.. it can be used a in any season during summer and winter too .i use to combine this oil with Aroma essence..
I basically use khadi oil…its very good in quality and cost effective.. Rs 200 for 10ml and this oilcan be used for 1.5 months to 2 months..
AROMATHERAPY AND ITS BENEFITS
Autism has failed yet to come with one simple and official definition, but in spite of that, doctors have categorized this disease as a neurological disorder. The disease is obvious from the birth of the kid, and some people live with autism until old age. Autistic people find it difficult to be in a normal social context, because of the anxiety.And if you are wondering what do autism and aromatherapy have in common, here is the answer: aromatherapy is able to promote self esteem and calm the subjects, so that they can live an almost normal life. So if you have an autistic child and you don’t know what else to do for him, because there is no medical cure for it, you might want to try aromatherapy.
For a child with autism, aromatherapy is much more than smell. Sensory enrichment can be an effective therapy for the treatment of autism, particularly among children past the toddler stage. Dhruva was benefited a lot from Aroma therapy as his eye contact started coming in just 1 week of massage i remember…was so happy that day when my son first time looked into my eyes…this method of oil making was discovered by his Dad Rishi..
mommies was in dead depression 6 months back as non of the therapies was working for my son just was wasting money in all these tests and therapy classes as much as 50 thousand in a month and Dhruva was just getting harassed and therapist just talking negative and demoralizing me all the time….but rather than spending so much money on these therapies we decided to go to the root cause of Autism and found after 1 week of day and night reading and research and discussion with our Reiki mentor that we need to focus on his intake that is food and massage his muscles to improve his muscle tone..
True aromatherapy not only delivers the relaxing benefits of fragrance, it also provides many other health benefits that are unique to each essential oil. Aromatherapy is the practice of using aromatic and volatile liquids that are extracted from plants, shrubs, flowers, trees, bushes and seeds as therapy to treat the sensory seeking in an individual who has a strong tendency to smell objects.
It is important to remember that all odors and smells tend to be alerting. Identify scents that are associated with positive activities or that child finds comforting. Vanilla, lavender, rose and sandalwood are generally felt to be calming scents while citrus, cinnamon, and mint tend to be regarded as more invigorating scents.
Many children with autism seem to need to smell everything to feed their sensory input. This may be related to the need to gain more information through a sensory channel with which they are more comfortable.Providing pleasing smells may be helpful, but it is probably more helpful to improve the other sensory systems for gaining information.
In some cases, children may look for familiar smells to calm themselves. For example, a dryer sheet, towels washed with a fragrance detergent, or a perfume. Help your child find additional calming strategies as well.
Making oil blends.. Essential oil blend
Important:Try using a glass bottle dark color preferably for making oil..
- Til oil 50 ml use it as Carrier oil i basically use TIL SONA oil..
- Add 6 drop Khadi Lavender oil
- Add 4 drop Rose oil
- Add 6 drop Sandalwood oil..
You can change the quantity of drop according to your kids liking…but dont make it too strong…
And use this oil first thing in the morning to massage …
To a lot people, aromatherapy is just about enjoying a pleasant smell. Scents actually surround us daily and can impact a child’s comfort level. These scents can vary dramatically including air fresheners, cleansers, cologne, cooking, candles, plants, and flowers.
Characteristics of different scents:
• Cinnamon, mint and citrus – Tend to be more invigorating or revitalizing (alerting)
• Vanilla, rose, lavender and Sandalwood– More relaxing and calming
• Pine – mood elevator
You can develop a calming association to certain scents by coupling a specific scent with another soothing activity. For example, always use vanilla scent when you bathe your child (if bathing is a soothing event). This may help your child learn to feel relaxed when exposed to the particular Scents..i use it for Dhruva and he enjoys it a lot…
Some children may seek out alerting scents to “wake up” their sensory system. Try to analyze the child’s olfactory preferences and how they impact their behavior.People who suffering autism especially children can react positively with a special treatment of aromatherapy. However this have to be conducted by aromatherapist
Essential oils for Autism
Here are some of the best essential oils that can combine autism and aromatherapy, and also what symptoms they affect.
Rose oil
The health benefits of rose essential oil can be attributed to its properties as an antidepressant, antiphlogistic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antiviral, aphrodisiac, astringent, bactericidal, hepatic, laxative, nervine, stomachic, and a uterine substance.Rose oil boosts self-esteem, confidence, and mental strength while efficiently fighting depression They can be very helpful in driving away depression and Anxiety. As an antidepressant, rose oil can be given to patients with acute depression or those undergoing rehabilitation to bring positivity into their lives.
Lavender Oil
Derived from fresh lavender flowers, Lavender oil is one of the most well known essential oils. It appears to slow the activity of the central nervous system, improve sleep quality, promote better concentration.Lavender may also help fight anxiety. In one study, encapsulated lavender oil was found to be effective for generalized anxiety disorder, without sedative effects or potential for abuse.
SANDALWOOD OIL
The health benefits of sandalwood oil can be attributed to its properties as an antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, astringent, diuretic, disinfectant, emollient, expectorant, hypotensive, memory booster, sedative, and a tonic substance.
Some the other oil….can be used too
Peppermint is a well known plant, and it best to start using this one, for it must already be familiar for the autistic person. It is a neuro-simulator and it’s best used when inhaled. It can stay in the autistic’s room, and the effects will be visible within the nest two days.
Getting started with baby massage
- Massage can be soothing for babies. Make sure the room is warm, your baby is quiet, well-rested and alert, and you’re relaxed. Try massage after a nap, when your baby is being changed or in the cot, or after a bath. You can do massage for 10-30 minutes.
- Smooth a few drops of baby massage oil or simple moisturiser like sorbolene into your warm hands and massage the soles of baby’s feet. Use firm, gentle, slow strokes from heel to toe. Always keep one hand on baby. If you notice signs of allergic reaction to the oil, wipe it off and see your GP.
- Do long smooth strokes up baby’s leg. Massage from ankle up to thigh and over hip. Massage both legs at once or one at a time. Avoid the genital area. Hold baby’s leg under the knee and gently press it towards the tummy to help release wind.
Massaging baby’s upper body
- Start upper body massage with your hands on baby’s shoulders. Make gentle strokes in towards the chest.
- Massage baby’s arms by stroking from the shoulders down towards the wrists. Try not to get oil on baby’s hands. If you do, wipe his fingers clean before he sucks them.
- If baby’s tummy feels soft, massage his belly with circular, clockwise strokes. If he gets unsettled, go on to the next step. Avoid the belly button area if baby’s cord hasn’t healed. Don’t put pressure on baby’s diaphragm (area under the lungs but above the stomach).
Massaging baby’s face and back
- Use your finger pads to massage baby’s face. Stroke from the middle of baby’s forehead, down the outside of her face and in towards her cheeks. Massage the scalp in small circles.
- If baby is still relaxed when you’ve finished massaging the front of her body, you can turn her onto her tummy and use long, smooth strokes from head to toe.
- Use a soothing touch and stop the massage if your baby seems uncomfortable. Avoid massage if you’re very tense, or if your baby is upset. Make sure your fingernails are short.
- .
Dhruva is awake now time to go..
come on mommies get charged up and geared up and make the move…
love u all…
do post your queries on :dhruvatheshinningstar@gmail.com.
Sneha Narayan
