top of page

Holistic and Alternative wellness for children with Autism, ADHD, Behavioral and Emotional Disorders

The human race is constantly evolving 

Crisis brought on by catastrophe often precedes evolutionary shifts and adaptations in the human species, from the shared perspective of many prominent evolutionary biologists and environmental anthropologists. Our post-industrial society has reached a critical state of imbalance that is shown in our passive attitude toward the medical treatment of our children diagnosed with so-called behavioral disorders through the over-prescription of pharmaceuticals. Mind-altering substances with long- term neurotoxic primary and side effects are routinely dispensed to well-meaning parents who do not fully realize the full consequences of creating these regular drug ingestion habits in their sons and daughters. Due to the lack of education and daily stressors we have created a society that demands the “Drive-thru cure”, which in reality is just a band-aid and ticking time bomb.

There are many holistic therapies and remedies that are readily accessible to the public and that have no side effects, including Cranial Sacral Therapy. Cranial Sacral Therapy releases restrictions around the brain and spinal cord, thus allowing our body to self-heal and self-correct; releasing anxiety, lack of focus, depression, trauma, PTSD, irritability, and more. Our children can overcome our current statistics, if we forestall future dependence on pharmaceutical drugs and the psychiatrists who prescribe them and the pharmacists who dispense them with a combination of proper nutrition, exercise, creative outlets, and meditation. To create a better equilibrium in our life, we need to incorporate sound natural Eastern medical approaches into our daily routine by utilizing more herbs, flower essences, and vitamins to heal our bodies and stay in balance. Meditation is also an important element that will assist us in staying connected to our inner centers, and continuously releasing anxiety, stress and depression. The human race is constantly evolving, and every crisis is, after all, a great opportunity. And crisis reveals our true character.  This is just another chapter in our story of evolution!

Autism and ADHD Statistics

1 in 45 children are diagnosed with Austim.  The percentage of children (children 4-17 years of age) with an ADHD diagnosis continues to increase, from 7.8% in 2003 to 9.5% in 2007 and to 11.0% in 2011. 56% of these diagnoses children are taking one or more psychotropic medications. Adderol, Concerta and other drugs aimed at children are currently being widely prescribed in the US – up to 50% in some classrooms – for treatment of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and other behavioral concerns.  These medications have many side effects, including increased negative behaviors, severe weakness or numbness, uncontrolled movements or voice sounds, hallucinations or delusions, aggressive behavior, irregular heartbeat and more.

Many parents are not willing to take the risk of putting their children on medication and are looking for other options. We are all about educating the community on the Alternative Therapies and options that the Doctors do not tell you about. I strive to offer my clients and their family the best in Holistic care, knowledge and ultimately the truth!

 

CLICK TO EXPLORE DANA’S CHILDREN’S WELLNESS SERVICES

 

Holistic Therapies and Remedies

What other choices do we have other than pharmaceutical medication?

Many people ask me, “What other options are there other than medication?” So let’s explore Nature’s route to healing.

 

Meditation

A regular meditation practice has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety; relax a busy mind; shift negative thoughts into positive ones; and lessen symptoms of depression. Researcher professor Felicia Huppert of the University of Cambridge stated in a press release: “Psychological well-being has been linked to better learning, social relationships and academic performance, so the enhancement of well-being is likely to improve a range of outcomes in the school context.”

Benefits of Meditation for Children

  • Reduced prolonged stress

  • Reduced anxiety

  • Reduction in the symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder

  • A calmer sense of being

  • Ability to sleep well and on a regular schedule

  • Reduced aggression

  • A sense of relaxation

  • An improvement in concentration

  • An improvement in the ability to focus

  • Better creativity

  • A clearer memory

  • Greater awareness

  • Enhanced ability to deal with stress

  • Increased tranquility

  • A healthier mind and body

  • A lower risk of possible future health problems

Knowing that Meditation has been proven to lower and release anxiety and depression and increase focus and memory, why would you not try this easy-to-do restful practice before ingesting a pill?

Herbs

“Safe and effective since the time of recorded history”

 

Medicinal herbs have been used safely and effectively since the beginning of recorded history. Herbs are used for many reasons: from minor cuts and illnesses to major life threatening cuts, wounds and diseases; to correct imbalances; weight loss/gain/maintenance; and more. Herbs can offer the body nutrients it does not always receive, either from a poor diet, or environmental deficiencies in the soil and air. They are great body balancers that help regulate body functions.

Some suggested Herbs and Natural Remedies

Kava kava root -helps to moderate spirits, settle aggression, relieve tension, and promote a general feeling of well being.

Lemon balm -tones and balances central and peripheral nervous system function and is extremely nutritive to these essential systems.

Nettle -works to clear heat and stagnation in the blood while balancing adrenal activity, promoting calm.

Milky oat -works with the body to balance hormones and chemicals.

Bilberry leaves -helping to repair and restore free radical damage caused by chemical injuries.

Theanine- rejuvenates, relaxes, enhances the ability to think, and subtly enhances mood

Flower Essences- heals our physical, etheric, astral, and spiritual bodies

What are Flower Essences?

Flower essences are the blossoms of plants that are sun-infused, diluted and then preserved with brandy. They are categorized as “Vibrational Medicine” because the flower essences carry an energetic pattern of each flower species. They are very gentle on our bodies’ interconnected systems, yet extremely effective at healing the root cause of many illnesses.

 

Essential Oils

When using essential oils you want to use medical grade essentials oils, which means they are not infused with perfume oils and artificial bi-products. There are two companies that I trust when it comes to purchasing my essential oils which are dōTERRA and Young Living. Young Living essential oils are known throughout the world for their purity, quality, and potency—but that’s not the whole story. Our oils start with high quality seeds planted in nutrient-rich soil that grow into strong, potent botanicals. We work with the finest nature has to offer, holding it to our Seed to Seal® standard and ensuring it meets that standard through a series of rigorous tests (Young Living 2016). doTERRA founders were committed to providing only the highest quality and purest essential oils so that families could know with surety that they were using only the best to promote health and wellness for their loved ones. This commitment lead to the creation of a new standard of therapeutic quality: CPTG Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade® (doTerra 2016).

Essential oils can be used for aromatic purposes (diffused in your home or office), topically or internally (digested). When you diffuse essential oils in your home depending on which oil you are diffusing it can purify the air or bring a sense of calmness to the people in the home. Essential oils can be used topically to bring down a fever, sooth a rash, or release a headache. Essentials oils can be digested to heal an illness or heal an upset stomach.

Each person is unique, thus each child is unique and when you are creating a manifesto for their healing, it is best to include your medical, nutritional, holistic and educational support system. Including all parties will allow you to create the best support system for yourself and your child and manifest the best healing for your child. The oils and the oil protocols that I suggest below are just suggestions and should not be interrupted as the healing remedy for their child or even assumed safe for their child. As I stated before, each child is unique and creating a detox or healing plan should not be taken lightly. Some children have allergic reactions to certain herbs, supplements and essential oils, therefore having a supportive medical, nutritional, holistic and educational team on hand will help the process remain stable and supportive to the child.

Use essential oils with caution with infants and children.​

CLICK TO ORDER FROM PLANT THERAPY (my favorite oils)

What is a carrier oil?

Carrier oils are oils that you can dilute the essential oil with and potentially make it safer to place topically on your child or self.  Carrier oils are naturally derived from vegetarian sources and have a neutral smell, which makes them an excellent medium for dilution and application. Carrier oils are olive, coconut oil, jojoba oil, grapeseed oil, and almond oil. Below I give suggestions on how to dilute the essential oil, but use discernment and dilute more in the beginning and as your child gets old, you can dilute less depending on how they react. By age 12, you no longer need to dilute the oils, but based on my own personal experience, my children have been using essential oils not diluted since they were 3 years old so use your own discernment.

Peppermint– to bring down a fever

  • Add 1 drop of peppermint essential oil to 1 teaspoon of a carrier oil. Apply the oil to the bottom of the feet and back of the neck. If this is your first time your child is coming into contact with peppermint oil or if your child is an infant, start very slow in case they have an allergic reaction and add more carrier oil to the peppermint oil. Our intention is not to release the fever completely, because a fever is a sign that the body is healing, we just want to bring it down so it is safe and comfortable for the child. After 30 minutes to an hour, the fever should be reduced by 1-2 degrees.

Peace and Calming-release hyper activity, bring child into balance and a relaxed state, manifest better sleep

  • Only use if you child is over 2 years old, use Lavender oil if you child is under 2 years old. Add 1 drop of peace and calming essential oil to 1 teaspoon of a carrier oil. Apply the oil to the bottom of the feet and back of the neck. Use this process before bedtime to increase sleep and relaxation. For hyperactivity, use when the child wakes up in the morning or prior to school start time. Use can diffuse this oil as well in your home to increase calmness and peace.

 

Lavender- ability to eliminate nervous tension, disinfect the scalp and skin, enhance blood circulation and treat respiratory problems. It is an excellent tonic for the nerves and anxiety issues; therefore, it can be used to treat migraines, headaches, and depression.

  • For infants, I would add a drop of Lavender oil to their bath and be very careful not to get the water in their eyes or diffuse the lavender oil in their room. If the child is over 2, Add 1 drop of lavender essential oil to 1 teaspoon of a carrier oil. Apply the oil to the bottom of the feet and back of the neck. If the child has a rash or skin irritation, you can allow the essential oil and carrier oil mix to their infection area.

Oregano– is a natural antiseptic, antihistamine and anti-oxidant properties, detoxing

  • Oregano oil has a strong spicy flavor and aroma and most children will not be able to tolerate it. Suggestions are: placing the oregano essential oil in soft gel capsules, placing a few drops in milk or juice, or placing the oregano oil with a carrier oil on the soles of the feet and wrapping the feet with a bandage to lessen the smell (do at night prior to sleep).

  • Oil of Oregano for Children 5 – 10 years old: Use 1 drop, 1 – 3 times per day mixed in juice or milk.

  • Oil of Oregano for Children 10 years old and older: Use 3 drops, three times per day in juice or milk.

  • Oil of Oregano for Children under 5 years old: AVOID digesting the oil, only use topically on the feet. Dilute 1 part Oil of Oregano and 4 parts olive oil and apply externally to soles feet.

Thieves– Boosts the immune system and disinfects. “Thieves essential oil is basically a blend of clove, rosemary, cinnamon bark, eucalyptus radiata and lemon. This was initially formulated way back in the 15th century by a group of robbers in France who prevented themselves from contracting the deadly plague by a generous application of this oil blend. Through various researches and experiments, the Weber State University in 1997 proved that Thieves oil blend contains a lot of health benefiting elements and can effectively reduce the growth of bacteria and virus considerably. These health benefits of Thieves essential oil can be used to treat various diseases.”  (http://www.theresearchpedia.com/health/aromatherapy/health-benefits-of-thieves-essential-oil)

  • Diffuse 5-10 drops during the flu and cold seasons to purify the air in your home. Place 10 drops in a spray bottle and use as a disinfectant when there is illness in your home. For infants diffuse oil in their room, if the child is over 2, Add 1 drop of Thieves essential oil to 1 teaspoon of a carrier oil. Apply the oil to the bottom of the feet. For children and adults over 12, you can digest 1-3 drops at a time (very spicy but you get used to it).

Breathe Again (Young Living) or Breathe oil (doTerrea)- soothe respiratory function, support proper immune system function, promote healthy sinus function, minimize seasonal allergies.

  • For infants diffuse oil in their room, if the child is over 2, Add 1 drop of Breathe Again/Breathe to 1 teaspoon of a carrier oil. Apply the oil to the bottom of the feet. For children and adults over 12, place a few drops of the oil directly on your chest, neck or feet

 

Nutrition

“Time to purify our diet”

 

How does diet affect behavior? Dr. Robert Melillo, creator of The Brain Balance Program, reports: “In Autism and other neurobehavioral issues like ADHD, diet does play a significant role in creating symptoms. Almost all children with Autism, ADHD and learning disabilities have food sensitivities. However, the makeup of these sensitivities is different in each child. Identifying and eliminating foods to which a child is sensitive is very important; these food reactions often lead to more severe immune responses as well as create inflammation in the child’s body and brain. These children almost always have what is known as “leaky gut” syndrome, where foods that are not fully digested can get through the gut lining and come in contact with the immune system, triggering an immune response and creating inflammatory chemicals that can affect the child’s behavior and learning ability. “

Creativity & exercise

“The positive channel”

 

Children have so much energy which can be misdirected, or in other words, channeled in negative ways, if not released and moved through their physical makeup. Children need exercise and creative outlets where they can channel and release their energies, and express themselves in positive and healthy ways.

Some great activities for children are:

  • Physical activities (indoor, outdoor)

  • Mental activities (building things, mind challenges, puzzles, etc)

  • Creative outlets ( provide creative activities for them at home and outside of the home)

  • Meditation, breathing exercises, use of crystals, and EFT tapping – allows them to release their energy

  • Holistic Therapies that are readily accessible to the public

 

Cranial Sacral Therapy

CranioSacral Therapy can assist with the following:

 

  • Anxiety

  • Digestive issues

  • Tics

  • ADHD

  • ADD

  • Autism

  • Body jerks

  • Allergies

  • Tourettes

  • Depression

  • OCD

  • Negative behaviors

  • Adjusting to change

  • Trauma

  • PTSD

 

What is CranioSacral Therapy? How will it help your children?

Craniosacral therapy is a gentle, non-invasive, hands-on healing modality that focuses on the wave-like rhythmic pulse that moves throughout the entire body. Cranial Sacral Therapy releases restrictions around the brain and spinal cord, thus allowing our body to self-heal and self-correct.

Throughout the journey of life, we encounter and endure stress, strains, and trauma that become trapped in our bodies and remain there. When our body holds onto these conditions instead of releasing them, our tissues and fluids are no longer in homeostasis. In this way our core body systems become compromised. When there is disharmony in interactions between internal bodily systems, this results in dis-ease.  Symptoms of pain, discomfort, emotional, physical, and behavioral issues soon arise.

When there is decompression on the Cranium (head), a child might experience the following symptoms:

 

  • Sensory issues

  • Delay in speech

  • Lack of eye contact

  • High degree of introversion

 

Many children on the Autistic Spectrum experience the above symptoms.  When Cranial Sacral Therapy is applied, the cranium begins to expand and contract, allowing the tissues and fluids to release, relax, and flow without restriction.

Biofeedback

Biofeedback therapy involves training patients to control physiological processes first with a therapist’s help and then on their own,  such as muscle tension, blood pressure, or heart rate. During a biofeedback session non-invasive electrodes are attached to the patient’s skin. These sensors send information to a monitoring box. The biofeedback therapist reads the measurements, and through trial and error singles out mental activities that help regulate the patient’s bodily processes.

 

Neurofeedback

Neurofeedback is the direct entrainment of brain function, by which means the brain learns to adapt to internal and external circumstances and function more efficiently. The therapist observes the brain in action from moment to moment.  They then provide that information back to the client as feedback. A reward is then given to the brain for adapting its own activity to more appropriate patterns.

Audio-Visual Entrainment

An AVE device pulsates flashes of lights using a pair of eye-sets, and emits tones through a pair of headphones, to gently guide the brain up or down frequency ramps into altered states of consciousness. With an AVE device, you can slow down the megahertz frequency of brainwaves for meditating; inducing dream states and improving sleep; as well as speed up brainwave frequencies, thus helping to improve mood, enhance mental performance and boost creativity.

 

Testimonials for NeuroTherapy

“Mitchell’s vocabulary has increased from approximately 15 words to 35 words over a two-week period. For the first time ever, we are able to communicate clearly with him. We have observed many wonderful new things he is now able to do. These are all great accomplishments for Mitchell.”- Penny Siminiuk

“Jordan’s attitude at home has improved greatly. He is now able to discuss situations rather than fight about them. His marks and behavior in school have improved greatly.”- Patty Tucker

“Adam has made improvements in many areas such as sleep, school, and social skills. We are very happy.”- Eileen Hannah

“Ryan is much more cooperative now. He recently brought home a mark of 95% in a course he was failing in just last semester.”- Debbie Snatynchuk

“Kyle is sleeping better. He was able to sit the whole session and really enjoyed himself!!!”- Jeannine Hepburn

“Dallas has gone through a dramatic change. He is now much calmer and relaxed. He is progressing very well in school and has gone up the equivalent of three grade point levels. He has settled down a lot. I truly believe this works!”- Karen Hihn

Testimonials for Cranial Sacral Therapy

“Yesterday she started dancing again; she asked me if she could take lessons again which is astonishing because she had stopped going a year ago. I see her becoming herself more and more… Thank you always Dana!! For her to be able to be herself with confidence makes me the happiest.”-T.V. Chicago IL

“I went to see Dana Massat because I heard amazing testimonies from other parents that have brought their children to her that were facing emotional and behavioral issues. My son has diagnosed been ADHD since 5 years old and he is now 14 years old and he is very anxious and acts out quite frequently. My son was doing horrible in school, not adjusting well to High School and starting to get into fights at school; I saw him going down a destructive path if I didn’t try to help him… After his first session, not only was he relaxed and less anxious the next morning; but the week following the session I noticed he was enjoying going to school and actually making new friends. … My son has self esteem now, he has a sense of who he is and he has confidence! Something I never saw in him before, but to be honest I didn’t know it was missing. I am so grateful for Dana and for the healing that my son received. He is a new person with endless possibilities now.”-Mary Ann Tinley Park IL

“I took my 18th month son to see Dana for CranioSacral therapy after a long struggle of trying to make my son eat solid foods and to help him sleep better at night. My son barely sleeps more than 4 hours at a time and he gags almost every time he tries to eat solid foods. …After the first session, I was amazed that my son slept 7 hours for the first time ever and the next day he ate two new solid foods! I still don’t understand completely how it works, but all I know is it was a miracle for our family!”-Carol Chicago IL

“I took my son to see Dana for CranioSacral therapy with the hopes of assisting with his sensitives to his environment and foods. To my surprise not only was he able to handle his external environment in ways I didn’t think he would ever be able too, but his social skills improved to new levels! My son used to hide behind my legs and would rarely respond when people would speak to him and now he was engaging in conversations with peers and adults. His sensitivity to foods has subsided probably 60% due to the craniosacral and the other 40% improvement was due to use eating purer foods. “-Mary B Chicago, IL

 

Written by Dana Massat

http://www.ascendyoursoul.com

dana@ascendyoursoul.com

 

References:

https://www.youngliving.com/en_US/company/about/a-scientific-look-at-seed-to-seal

https://doterra.com/US/en/about-our-story

ADHDautismchildrendana massatdepressionhealing

Owner of Wholistic Wellness

Integrative Shamanic Energy Healer

Licensed Clinical Psychotherapist Counselor

© 2020 by Dana Massat | Ascend Your Soul

Serving: Tinley Park, Orland Park, Burr Ridge, Bolingbrook, Willowbrook, Downers Grove, Naperville, Chicago, Palos Heights, Palos Park, Palos HIlls, Oak Lawn, Mokena, New Lenox, Hinsdale, Oak Forest, Lemont, Darien, Frankfort, Chicagoland, and the South, West, North, & East suburbs of Illinois.

Location: Wholistic Wellness

20550 S LaGrange Rd, STE 210

Frankfort IL 60423

MA. LCPC. CST. MRT. SJT

P: 708.703.1791

dana@wholisticteam.com

Join our mailing list

Thanks for subscribing!

bottom of page