Rosemary Essential Oil Improves Memory - Emerging Scientific Evidence

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It had been a difficult week. All I wanted was some time alone to clear my head, but I couldn't have it. I was scheduled to the hilt for the next few days and stressed about that, too. Then I had this feeling that I should smell my soap. Seemed like a rather dumb idea, but I did it anyhow. In an instant my entire perspective shifted. I felt upbeat, calm, and refreshed.

It was a new soap. Peppermint rosemary from Peace of the Earth in Louisville. I had  considered exploring essential oils since my son became obsessed with smelling spices, so a few days later I stopped by the Aura Cacia display at Whole Foods. I inhaled deeply from the sample bottle of rosemary and my mind instantly felt more alert and focused, even more so than from smelling the soap.

But this is ridiculous, I thought, a mere scent can't do that. Or can it?

For centuries folk traditions have claimed that rosemary enhances memory.  Ophelia says in Hamlet: "There's rosemary, that's for remembrance, pray you, love, remember." And, an acquaintance has a 19th century family heirloom quilt with the likeness of a rosemary plant stitched into it above the caption, "Rosemary: for memory".  Now modern science validates our ancestors' claims about this
essential oil.

THE STUDIES



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Int J Neurosci. 2003 Jan;113(1):15-38.
Aromas of rosemary and lavender essential oils differentially affect cognition and mood in healthy adults

This study looked at the effect of lavender and rosemary essential oil on cognition and mood. The rosemary group had significant improvement in overall memory qualities and secondary memory factors, but produced an impairment in speed of memory compared to controls. The rosemary group was also significantly more alert and content than the control group. Conclusion: "These findings indicate that the olfactory properties of these essential oils can produce objective effects on cognitive performance, as well as subjective effects on mood."

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Psychogeriatrics. 2009 Dec;9(4):173-9.
Effects of inhaled rosemary oil on subjective feelings and activities of the nervous system

This study found that after inhalation test subjects became more active and said they felt "fresher". EEG results showed a reduction of alpha 1 and 2 brain waves and an increase in beta waves in the anterior portion of the brain. Conclusion: "These results confirm the stimulatory effects of rosemary oil and provide supporting evidence that brain wave activity, autonomic nervous system activity, as well as mood states are all affected by the inhalation of the rosemary oil."

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Psychiatry Res. 2007 Feb 28;150(1):89-96. Epub 2007 Feb 7.
Smelling lavender and rosemary increases free radical scavenging activity and decreases cortisol level in saliva

Free radicals are connection to inflammation, aging, and carcinogenesis. This study found that after five minutes of inhalation test subjects had a marked decrease in cortisol, a stress marker, in their saliva. Conclusion: "These findings clarify that lavender and rosemary enhance FRSA and decrease the stress hormone, cortisol, which protects the body from oxidative stress."

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Psychogeriatrics. 2009 Dec;9(4):173-
Effect of aromatherapy on patients with Alzheimer's Disease

"RESULTS: All patients showed significant improvement in personal orientation related to cognitive function on both the GBSS-J and TDAS after therapy. In particular, patients with AD showed significant improvement in total TDAS scores. Result of routine laboratory tests showed no significant changes, suggesting that there were no side-effects associated with the use of aromatherapy. Results from Zarit's score showed no significant changes, suggesting that caregivers had no effect on the improved patient scores seen in the other tests."
CONCLUSIONS:
"In conclusion, we found aromatherapy an efficacious non-pharmacological therapy for dementia. Aromatherapy may have some potential for improving cognitive function, especially in AD patients."

                                    
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Holist Nurs Pract. 2009 Mar-Apr;23(2):88-93.
The effects of lavender and rosemary essential oils on test-taking anxiety among graduate nursing students 

Conclusion: "In this study, the use of lavender and rosemary essential oil sachets reduced test-taking stress in graduate nursing students as evidenced by lower scores on test anxiety measure, personal statements, and pulse rates."

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How I Use Rosemary Essential Oil:

Right now I just sniff it from the bottle in the morning before work. It can also be diffused into a room or applied to the body with a carrier oil. This blog tells my essential oil stories, links you to the science, then directs you to people more qualified to explain how to safely use them. I prefer information by Licensed Clinical Aromatherapists to advice from companies selling product. These people are highly trained in safe and effective essential oil use and there is no substitute for that. My favorite sites by Licensed Clinical Aromatherapists are:

Robert Tisserand (Great for the chemistry of essential oils)

The Barefoot Dragonfly

Kokokahn (Great for recipes)

Aromaweb (A perfect warehouse of useful essential oil information)

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PS: Rosemary essential oil shows some scientific efficacy for arthritis, but that's another post. Stay tuned.

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Rosemary essential oil cautions (Source: Aromaweb)

***Rosemary essential oil should be avoided with pregnancy, epilepsy and hypertension.***

***The Alliance of International Aromatherapists does not recommend internal use of essential oils unless under supervision of an appropriately trained health care professional. I turn and run from any company that recommends internal use of their product. This is serious.

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Aromaweb's suggestions for do-it-yourself memory and concentration recipe blends.

Resources:

University of Maryland Medical Center's review of rosemary essential oil.

Smell of Rosemary May Improve Memory - The UK Independent

Integrative Medicine: Hopes Developing for Alzheimer's Treatment (Meditation & Rosemary Essential Oil study) - The Sacramento Bee

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Related Post:

Can Vetiver Essential Oil Help Autism and ADHD?

Some Essential Oils Inhibit MRSA, Strep, and Influenza: Scientific Studies

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"For there is no greater influence in a physical body than the effect of odors upon the olfactory nerves." Edgar Cayce - Reading #274-7


This post shares information to inspire your own research, but is not intended as medical advice. It is linked with Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways.



Tags: Rosemary essential oil and memory, focus, concentration, mood

How I Beat Severe Insomnia (Part II): Hypnosis

Image Credit: Mindsight (Photobucket)

This is part two of my "How I Beat Severe Insomnia" series. Part one discussed how I reset my circadian rhythms with light box treatments in the morning and blue blocker glasses after seven p.m. This system retrains my brain to produce sleep hormones at night instead of during the day. I now wake up well rested and no longer suffer debilitating daytime fatigue. Even so, some nights my brain just cannot find its off switch.

Enter hypnotherapy.


I chose Rebecca Geracitano for her impressive hypnotherapy credentials. Since hypnosis is unregulated anyone can take a weekend course and put a shingle on the door. Not Rebecca. She has a master's degree in Transformative Theories and Practice from Atlantic University. She is also a certified hypnotherapist with The National Association of Transpersonal Hypnotherapists. And it didn't hurt that she came highly recommended by my doctor.

We had one meeting in Rebecca's office. She made a CD of the session, which I converted to MP3 for my phone. I listen to it at night as I drift off to sleep.

Rebecca does not work from generic, one-size-fits-all hypnosis scripts. Each session is tailored specifically to the needs of individual clients. Prior to our appointment she took detailed notes about my specific sleep issues. We discussed my history of night terrors and sleep paralysis. I also detailed my tendency to fall asleep only to jolt awake a few hours later, unable to drift off again until the wee hours of the morning. Then she carefully researched what physiologically happens in the brain when a person experiences such things and converted it to positive suggestion.

My custom-made hypnosis script focuses on relaxing the autonomic nervous system and the pituitary-adrenal axis, slowing down and soothing the neurotransmitters. It also has me visualize light and various colors while moving through my brain, which totally knocks me out. I'm usually fast asleep before the MP3 of our twenty-nine minutes session is finished. And if I wake up in the middle of night and can't seem to fall back asleep just five minutes of this on my ears will do it.

Rebecca sees clients in her office, by phone, or on Skype. She makes CDs of her sessions so clients can reinforce their hypnotic suggestions as often as they'd like.
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*This is not a sponsored post.

*This post discusses my experience with hypnotherapy. It is not intended as medical advice.

Resources:

Rebecca Geracitano's Website

Web MD on Hypnosis

Mayo Clinic on Hypnosis

Related Post:

How I Beat Severe Insomnia with Light Box Therapy and Blue Blocker Glasses (Part 1)

Blog Hops:

This post is linked to Natural Living Momma,  From the Farm Blog Hop, and Frugally Sustainable.



Tags: Insomnia, Hypnosis, Hypnotherapy, Rebecca Geracitano

Can Vetiver Essential Oil Help ADHD & Autism? - Parsing Research from Experience

My Autistic son is fascinated with spices. He methodically removes the lid from each bottle and inhales deeply. Then he returns the top and moves on to the next spice. One day as I watched this ritual unfold for the thousandth time it hit me - he was seeking something that he needed.

It was time to look into aromatherapy.

All my research roads led to Vetiver. I kept finding references to a study on ADHD and Vetiver by Dr. Terry Friedman, M.D., which many bloggers claim was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, but they never provide a link. Hours spent trying to locate this study in JAMA turned up nothing. What I did find, however, is an unpublished scientific paper on Dr. Friedman's website  sold for $11.95. Not exactly the same thing.

Mainstream medicine considers an intervention evidence based when multiple peer-reviewed studies across various researchers yield similar positive results. In recent years Aromatherapy has garnered the attention of The Mayo Clinic and The University of Maryland Medical Center because some oils pass this test. For example, Lavender is considered evidence based for anxiety and depression (here, here, and here). But Vetiver has been neither proven or disproven since it remains largely un-researched.

Even so, there are many compelling testimonials from ADHD & Autism moms on how Vetiver helped their children to focus and calm down.

ADHD moms reporting benefit (a small sample of what's out there)

Common Scents Mom 

Every Day in Every Way

Jennifer Accomando

Autism moms reporting benefit:

Tiffany Rowan

Healing with Essential Oils 

DoTerra Chick


I balance my esteem for peer-reviewed research with a healthy respect for those cherished, time honored traditional healing modalities that may never be subjected to scientific scrutiny. I don't want to miss potentially beneficial treatments just because pharmaceutical companies have no interest in studying them. So, I've established three criteria when deciding whether to try non-evidence based treatments:

1.) It is generally recognized as safe. (The essential oil safety standard, "Essential Oil Safety: A Guide for Health Care Professionals" lists no safety concerns for Vetiver)

2.) It is not expensive. (Organic Vetiver costs less than $20)

3.) There is strong anecdotal support that it might help. (See above)

Since Vertiver meets all three criteria I decided to try it.

I'm so glad I did!





I bought Aura Cacia Organic Vetiver, a pure enough brand readily available at any health food store, put some on a material swatch and had him sniff it periodically throughout the day. His stims that day went down by about 85%! For those not as familiar with Autism, stims are arm flapping, making loud sounds, and repetitive or jerky body movements. We have used Vetiver for a month now and his stims still have not returned to their previous level. Not even close.

I also tried Vetiver. My life gets stressful. Like everyone, my attention is often pulled in several directions at once. Yet, since starting this essential oil I feel much calmer and more focused. Could this be placebo? Possibly. But that doesn't explain my son. I've learned over the years that if I pay attention, if I watch him closely, he leads me to what heals him. I now count Vetiver among the top ten most helpful interventions we've tried.

My friend also bought a bottle of Vetiver for her Autistic son. Same response. Starting the first day he stopped stimming and was much calmer overall. Coincidence? Perhaps. But maybe not. From a scientific standpoint it's hard to prove until Vetiver is actually studied for Autism. I hope that happens one day.

Update: 9/23/13

After a few months of sniffing Vetiver from the bottle I began getting sinus headaches. I've since learned that essential oils can be a sinus irritant for some people.  I'm concerned that if my son were to also get headaches he wouldn't be able to tell me, so I'm putting this mostly on hold until I get a diffuser. They produce a vaporized stream versus smelling the concentrated form straight from the bottle. His stims have increased since stopping and I miss the relaxing effects of Vetiver myself. Yesterday I tried putting some on a material swatch again, which is much less intense than smelling straight from the bottle. It worked well enough and produced no headache. I imagine putting it on a tissue might do the trick, too.

My friend said for a week Vetiver was like a miracle for her autistic son, then she didn't see much after that. It's hard to say why. I've read for some people ADHD medications are great for a while then stop working altogether. Could this be a similar phenomenon?

"For there is no greater influence in a physical body than the effect of odors upon the olfactory nerves." Edgar Cayce - Reading #274-7
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Vetiver references:

Vetiver Essential Oil for ADHD -Live Strong

Dr. Terry Friedman

Information on Vertiver on Aroma Web

Mainstream Medicine Aromatherapy links:

Is Aromatherapy Worthwhile? Mayo Clinic

University of Maryland Medical Center on Aromatherapy

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Related Post:

Rosemary Essential Oil Improves Memory - Emerging Scientific Evidence

Some Essential Oils Inhibit MRSA, Strep, & Influenza: Scientific Studies

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A Bit of House Keeping:

**This is not a sponsored post. This blog is an amazon.com affiliate, though. One hundred percent of affiliate profits earned from links on this site will be donated to Kiva, a not-for-profit micro-lending organization that makes no-interest business loans to low income entrepreneurs in the developing world.

This article shares our experience with Vetiver, but it is not intended as medical advice.

This post is linked to Natural Living Momma,





and



Tags: Aromatherapy, Essential Oils, Vetiver and ADHD, Vetiver and Autism.

How I Beat Severe Insomnia With Lightbox Therapy and Blue Blocker Glasses

Insomnia. Yeah, I've lived it. Tossing and turning till the wee hours of the morning. Or, drifting off  just fine only to startle awake a few hours later, unable to fall back asleep. Then there were those waking nightmares where I'd run around the house ranting about this or that, with no memory of it by morning.  And my absolute worst: night terrors and sleep paralysis so jarring that I thought I was having seizures. Clearly my brain signals were set to haywire at night and I was on the verge of full blown Narcolepsy. By day my short term memory grew terrifyingly short and my blood pressure dropped to 52 over 80. Something had to give.

So I did what people usually do in these situations. I saw a doctor. And she did what doctors usually do in these situations. She prescribed Ambien. I was a zombie on Ambien. Another dead end. Doctors couldn't help me and I knew it. I could only help myself. For weeks I immersed in journal abstracts, determined to solve this medical mystery myself.

I uncovered information about Circadian Rhythm Disorders, a cluster of conditions that stem from a person's body clock being off kilter. This can be triggered by medication, work schedule, change in routine, ADHD and other neurological conditions, or by predisposing genetic mutations (clock gene polymorphisms). You can also blame it on blue light frequencies emitted from indoor lighting and those television screens and computers that we stare at all night.  This frequency signals to our brains that it is still daytime, thus suppressing the production of melatonin, a critical sleep hormone.

The key to regulating Circadian Rhythms, and thus melatonin, is exposure to appropriate dark and light cycles. Our eyes need a certain amount light exposure during the day to properly regulate our sleep, mood, and hormones. Yet, modern life hides us inside buildings all day where the light exposure is equivalent to twilight. Then at night, when from a circadian perspective we should be winding down our light exposure, we stare at back-lit screens. No wonder our bodies have days and nights mixed up! Not to mention, prolonged sleep deprivation has been linked to cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Not good. At all.

But alas, I did indeed find a solution to my dilemma in the medical journals. It is called Light Box Therapy and Blue Blocker Glasses. This system resets my circadian rhythms by exposing me daily to light when I most need light and by blocking blue light frequencies when exposure to them would disrupt my circadian rhythms.

LIGHT BOX TREATMENT

What was once thought of as only a treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder is now being researched for a range of conditions from insomnia, ADHD, Bipolar, Dementia, skin disorders, epilepsy, general depression, and fatigue.

This is the light box I use for insomnia.





I sit in front of this for 30 minutes every morning immediately upon waking up at 6:00 a.m. This signals to my body that it is morning, thus keeping my circadian rhythms on track for a 10:30 p.m. - 6:00 a.m. sleep cycle. I also use this for 20 minutes in mid-afternoon whenever I can.

Though I love my light, in retrospect I wish I'd bought one that functions more like a reading lamp.




That way I could do other things like read or use my computer rather than just stare into it.

If I miss a day of light my sleep is usually disrupted for two days since that's how long it takes to reset a circadian cycle.

There are many light boxes on the market and not all are created equal. I chose the Nature Bright Sun Touch because it met all the specifications for an adequate light box (10,000 Lux and UVA/UVB protection), the great price, and its many great reviews on Amazon. Plus, it's made in the USA.  Here is an excellent website for light box reviews.

Advantages:

I sleep!
Increased energy level
Nice mood boost
I'm alert as soon as the alarm goes off. No desire to hit snooze anymore.

Disadvantages:

Sitting in one spot for 1/2 hour.

BLUE BLOCKER GLASSES

I wear these Blue Blocker Glasses after 7:00 p.m. every night to block the blue light frequencies from indoor lighting, my computer, and the television screen. This enables me to still use those devices without disrupting my circadian rhythms.




I chose this brand for the price and because they wrap all the way around. Blue Blockers can be found anywhere from $5 - $100.

It takes two days of wearing these before a noticeable effect on sleep.

Advantage:

-I sleep!

Disadvantages:

-I have to wear these out at night, which makes me look shifty. This might be more of a problem if I were younger, had an active social life, and cared what people think. But at this point in my life I'd rather be able to sleep. I've read they make blue blocker contacts. That's something I will look into.

-If I skip wearing them one night it takes two days to catch up again.

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This article discusses my experience with my Light Box and Blue Blocker glasses, but it does not go into deep scientific detail on how and why they work. I have linked a host of scientific articles and study abstracts at the bottom. Also, here is an excellent book by a doctor from Columbia University's sleep clinic that goes into this subject in great detail. I am just sharing information. Nothing here should be construed as medical advice.


                                   
Book version                                               Kindle version

With that said, I wonder why most doctors choose not to prescribe this system to their patients with insomnia?

Related Post:

How I Beat Severe Insomnia (Part II): Hypnosis

References:

Articles:

NY Times: A Portable Glow to Help Melt Those Winter Blues

Blue-Blocking Glasses to Improve Sleep and ADHD Symptoms Developed

IPAD Insomnia - CNN


Abstracts:

Amber lenses to block blue light and improve sleep: a randomized trial.

The Use of Bright Light in the Treatment of Insomnia

A controlled trial of light therapy for the treatment of pediatric seasonal affective disorder.

Dawn Simulation for Abstinent Alcoholics With Winter Depression

A randomized controlled trial of cognitive-behavior therapy plus bright light therapy for adolescent delayed sleep phase disorder.

Alleviation of sleep maintenance insomnia with timed exposure to bright light exposure to bright light.

Bright light therapy as an add on treatment for medically intractable epilepsy.

Bright light therapy for symptoms of anxiety and depression in focal epilepsy: randomized controlled trial

Light therapy as a treatment for epilepsy

Controlled trial of bright light and negative air ions for chronic depression.

Twenty minutes versus forty-five minutes morning bright light treatment on sleep onset insomnia in elderly subjects.

Helpful website on this subject: 

Center for Environmental Therapeutics

http://www.cet.org/

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*This is not a sponsored post. Any profits earned from my Amazon.com affiliate links will be donated to Kiva, a not-for-profit micro-lending organization that makes no interest business loans to low income entrepreneurs in the developing world and in the United States.

This post is linked to Frugally Sustainable,  Natural Living Momma, and





Tags: Insomnia, Narcolepsy, Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder, Chronotherapy, Light Box Therapy for insomnia, SAD Lights, Blue Blocker Glasses and insomnia.

Okabashi Shoes: Recyclable, Affordable, and Made in the U.S.A

Every summer I look forward to the Okabashi shoe display at Whole Foods. I LOVE their shoes! Here's why:

Affordable

Most of their shoes are under $20 and have a two year guarantee.

100% Recyclable

According to their website, last year Okabashi was able to "reuse over 100,000 pounds of scrap material last year alone, diverting 10 tractor trailers full of waste from our landfills".

Comfort

Normally I can't wear flip flops because their poor support aggravates my back. But these shoes are so comfortable and supportive that Okabashi is the only shoe company endorsed by the American Chiropractic Association.

Made in the U.S.A

I despise shopping because it haunts me not knowing if what I buy was made in some over-seas sweatshop by exploited or slave labor. We vote for the kind of world we want every day by how we spend our money. Since Okabashi shoes are made in the United States, our labor and safety laws assure that my consumer dollars do not fund human misery. Plus, buying American feeds our economy.





Okabashi Shoes on Amazon

Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post. This website is an Amazon.com affiliate. Any affiliate profits earned via Amazon links on this website will be donated to Kiva, an organization that issues no interest business loans to low income entrepreneurs in the developing world and the U.S.

This post is linked to:





Tags: Green shoes, eco-friendly shoes, Okabashi shoes, recyclable shoes, environmentally friendly shoes, eco friendly shoes Louisville, eco friendly brands

Angels in the Moment

At fourteen I hiked Mount Humbug alone. At one point the path narrowed and I lost my footing. As I slid off the edge four arms lifted me to safety. It was a couple in their sixties. I wanted to ask them if they were angels but they were gone. 

If I had gotten to ask they would likely have said that, no, they were definitely not angels, but a mere retired couple hiking the Pacific Northwest. 

I wouldn't have believed them.

Fast forward sixteen years. It's a crisp morning around the turn of the century. I drive my beat up Ford Escort out of our apartment complex into our otherwise affluent neighborhood.

On the street I see a parked van with a man walking behind it and a woman running towards my car. My Jersey brain kicks in high gear. They want to run a scam on me. Better beat it outta here, fast. But her eyes stop my car cold. No, she isn't with this guy. That's primal fear in those eyes.  She's fleeing him.

I lunge onto the passenger side lock, push the door open and yell, "Get in!".

We round the van and I burn his license plate number into my eye sockets.

This would be abductee in the pink hat (I'll never forget that pink hat) hysterically tells me she is visiting her father from out of state. She went out for a morning run when this van pulled over and that guy tried to throw her in it. She grew up here. How could this happen here?

"Then I saw you", she says.

She leans sideways, viewing me in full and asks, "Are you an angel?".

"No", I chuckle, "I'm just a girl on her way to work".

I don't think she believes me.

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I See Mary in a Garden

Sometimes people walk into our house and assume we are Catholic. Of course they would.  What non-Catholic living room contains so much Mary?


There is a large portrait of Mary praying in a garden
and small statue of a veiled Mary atop a bookcase.


Nearby a framed Madonna and child sits on a Moroccan style wine rack.


For over a year I found myself collecting all things Mary with no understanding why. After all, I'm not Catholic like those typically this passionate about their Mary collections. Then it hit me - I was under the spell of an archetype.

Any religious text, mythology, historical tale, or novel contains variations on themes that have played out across human history. Whether a story is literally true matters not because the message endures. Names, places, faces, and times may vary but the basic themes are timeless.

I like to recognize those broad motifs in my own life because this infuses my experiences, even the tragic, with meaning and mystery. It reminds me that I'm never the first or only person to go through anything, which is easy to forget in the thick of hardship. This has gotten me through some intimidating ventures, like the terrifying reality of childbirth. I thought of the tens of billions of women across the ages who proceeded me in giving birth, identified with their collective bravery, and became brave myself.

Then there's Mary. What is more tragic and joyous than watching your beloved son be tortured to death before your very eyes only to witness him ultimately risen to a glorious new life?

I came to identify metaphorically with Mary as a mother because my seven year old autistic son was slipping away from me. In constant pain from an undiagnosed 24/7 Petite Mal seizure disorder, his aggression was constant. He'd drag me across the floor by my hair one minute and hug me the next, until another seizure had him reaching again for hair to pull or arms to bite. Nobody had any answers and there was little reason to believe that would change.

During these bouts, my eyes would often focus on Mary and this gave me strength. I found these images centering because Mary and her beloved son, too, had been to the depths of despair. Not to imply that witnessing my child's deterioration, devastating as it was, is the same as Mary at the foot of that Cross, helplessly watching her son slowly die an excruciatingly painful death. But is there a more helpless feeling than watching your own child suffer, unable to stop it? Every mother decends into that personal hell sooner or later; it's just a matter of degree.


Since childhood I've had this way of imaginatively entering into objects, ideas, or images and experiencing them from the inside out. Though this happens non-verbally I emerge from these episodes somehow changed. And so it was with those Mary images. Over time they transmuted my desperation into an understanding that beyond a shadow of a doubt my son too would triumph over his suffering. This had no rational basis, especially since the doctors told us it was just the Autism and we'd have to learn to live with it. But I knew there was more to it and answers would come.


And those answers did come.

We learned that our son suffered from an undiagnosed seizure condition, possibly since infancy. Now that optimal medication levels have been achieved his development, which stalled for years, has taken off. He amazes us each day.


I've long suspected that my son sometimes reads my mind. Now I'm convinced. I wrote this post in my head as it coalesced around the line "I see Mary in a Garden" from Springsteen's song The Rising, but mentioned this to nobody. Imagine my surprise, then, when my boy walked up to me, leaned his elbows on my knees and asked with a big smile, "See Mary in a Garden?" With tear-filled gleaming eyes, I returned his grin and said, "Yes I do."


My son, too, is resurrected.

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Update: 3/30/18

My son's early and middle childhood were continual bouts of his doing well and then regressing. He has always been verbal, but until the last few years speech was limited to short sentences. He was subsequently diagnosed with migraines, which was what caused much of his pain in the early years.  Migraine conditions in the functionally nonverbal are commonly missed since these individuals cannot explain what is causing them pain. Sadly, pain outbursts and self-injury from their migraines is often labeled "just behavioral" or "just the autism".

Now that his migraines and epilepsy are controlled with Cannabidiol Oil my son is happy 90% of the time. I no longer believe Autism itself has anything to do with his physical pain.

I share this for the same reason I have always shared the end results of his medical mysteries: what if information in our story holds a key for someone else? After her autistic son's aggression was labeled just behavioral, a local mom heard our story and insisted upon an EEG. Her son had undiagnosed epilepsy and behavioral problems reduced dramatically with treatment. 

We were only able to diagnose his migraines because my child was somewhat verbal and could offer clues. "Alex's head is humpty dumpty.", "My head exploded.", and "There is cake frosting in my head." The neurologist took it from there.