Is Your Christmas Tree Causing Meltdowns? Healthy Solutions to Keep the Holidays Happy

Christmas trees are kinds of pine trees and as such, they contain terpenes which are extremely fragrant compounds that ascertain the odor of some vegetation and herbs. Typical “scents” that also comprise terpenes involve rosemary and lavender.

Manufacturers use isolated terpenes to build the flavors and scents of numerous every day items, these types of as perfumes, body solutions, cleaners, and even foodstuff. In fact, pine-scented cleaners are generally derived from 95% terpenes. And for this family members, the aromatic oils that give pine trees their fantastic smell were the result in of their child’s habits, temper, and sleeping challenges.

A different compound that can lead to problems and that are in some powerful smelling oils are phenols. Phenolic compounds arrive in lots of kinds together with synthetic petroleum-primarily based food stuff additives, and salicylates identified in crops and meals like strawberries and spices, as very well as some important oils this sort of as cinnamon, clove, thyme, and oregano. In the winter, quite a few persons (together with me!) diffuse these necessary oils and blends and/or use soaps that involve clove and cinnamon. Or some men and women simmer water on the stove with cinnamon sticks and clove buds to scent their houses. And to complicate items even additional, some versions of pine trees can also have phenols in addition to terpenes! This time of calendar year can be 1 in which we are exposed to a great deal increased quantities of phenols.

When phenols are not capable to be damaged-down and detoxified (by a method called sulfation, which is low in a lot of kids with autism and ADHD), they can bring about lots of indications which includes irritability, red cheeks and ears, hyperactivity, aggression towards self and some others, “stimming,” sleeping issues and many a lot more. Terpenes are also processed in a comparable biochemical way, even further depleting this detoxing pathway and the corresponding nutrition.

If you know your little one is delicate to salicylates, terpenes, or phenols (see my salicylate posting), you will probably want to stay away from a common Christmas tree and artificially scented goods.  If you are unsure about their sensitivity to salicylates: you may question by yourself if your baby is normally hyper, irritable, or has crimson cheeks, and other widespread salicylate indicators, or whether or not they crave salicylate-abundant foods these types of as berries, grapes, apples, and ketchup.  If so, investigate salicylates additional.

In truth, because so numerous small children with autism and ADHD react to salicylates (in my nutrition observe I come across an too much to handle the greater part respond negatively when consuming or currently being uncovered to as well several), I’d counsel a cautious tactic to getaway decorating for all family members of a kid with autism or ADHD. I’ll share some ideas down below.