Friday, February 23, 2018

Children - Insomnia - Anxiety

Sometimes emails and current events prompt these articles.

A new friend named Kate wrote earlier this week:

Good Afternoon,


My 10yr old daughter has been unable to fall asleep since my husband's leukemia diagnosis over a year ago. She is restless for hours until her body eventually shuts down. We have tried conventional medicine, counseling, melatonin, new bedtime routines, etc. I am at my wit's end... A friend of mine recently suggested using an essential oil diffuser and rubbing oil on her wrists in the morning for daytime relaxation. At this point, I'll try anything!



Which essential oils would you recommend? Are there specific oils that you would suggest for daytime wear vs. nighttime diffusing? And finally, is there a specific diffuser that you find superior? (She referenced one on Amazon that I am not familiar with.)



Thank you in advance for your assistance. I am a desperate mom. I'm hoping that I will finally find a solution for my daughter.
my "first thoughts" reply (keeping in mind that her daughter is 10, not a toddler!): 

Poor wee one..
Seems to me the insomnia is triggered by anxiety... so my recommendation would be to treat the underlying anxiety..    AND the insomnia... but not just the insomnia.

My first thought... https://www.naturesgift.com/product/happy_dreams/  (look at the link for the aromapatch)     lavender for sleep/relaxation...  sweet orange for general mood improvement..  petitgrain bigarade for anti-anxiety AND sleep.

  The three essential oils specifically known for aiding with anxiety are     1. Neroli    2. Petitgrain Bigarade (from Italy.. in my experience the oil from Paraguay has different chemistry and is less effective) and BITTER Orange..  all oils from the same tree.

You could also look at using Neroli Hydrosol..   (ie, floral water) as a linen spray, perhaps, or a facial spritz at bedtime.   Neroli is not, by itself, sedating... but calms anxiety.  I find the Petitgrain a bit more relaxing/sleep inducing and often use it myself when insomnia strikes at 2 am.. (my mind likes to run todo lists in the middle of the night...  Petitgrain helps with that.)

Other 'sleep inducing" oils that you might look at....  Roman Chamomile... (the MOST relaxing eo!)... Lavender.. Bulgarian or Mailette...  

and we have a blend for anxiety..  called Reunité...     look at the anointing oil.. a skin safe dilution for pulse points/perfume type use  https://www.naturesgift.com/product/reunite-synergy/ I would look at the Reunit
é for daytime use, not bedtime.

I can't address the diffuser you have mentioned... that's a fantastic price... half what we have to sell ours for.    it might be worth trying.  what I was thinking of...  was this one..   but at more than twice the cost... go with the one you are looking at.

I would want a diffuser that can be shut off after 30-60 minutes... you don't necessarily want it to run all night.  (I use an Aromastone on my bedtable... safe and gentle, and DO let it run all night, contrary to today's guidelines.  BUT I also control the amount of oil or blend put on it.)

and, please remember.. ANY oils that you decide to apply topically need to be well diluted.. for a 10 year old I would want to use from between 1 and 2%... no stronger.  

You might want to add the right eo or blend to some unscented hand lotion... she could carry that in her back pack and apply at will, perhaps???

May I use your question and this answer in a blog article?  It's not the first time I've been asked about this..

hope some of the suggestions help!  Please remember...you may request up to 4 free samples with an order in the comments box at checkout.. so when planning..  request samples of the highest priced... to see how she responds...

poor wee one... let's get her (and her mom) some rest.


NOTE:  I would not normally have turned this conversation into a blog article, but with the most recent school shooting in Florida, how many children are sleepless from anxiety? How many are realizing that their school may not be the safe haven they deserve?  I can not change what is happening in our country, but perhaps we can ease the burden some of our children are carrying.

Kate's response, when I asked if I could share with you all?
 
Thank you so very much for your thoughtful and speedy response.... You're God sent. Feel free to utilize my questions in your blog. It would be nice to know that some good could come of our struggles.



With Much Appreciation,

Kate


Yes...  let some good come out of their struggles...  


Please share this with any friends you think could benefit from it.


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