Understanding Neurodivergence

Neurodivergence refers to naturally occurring variations in brain function that influence how we think, process information, behave, and interact. It is not a diagnosis, the word emerged from within the community to envelope a whole range of disorders. To us it feels more like a superpower. Common neurodivergent conditions include:

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Learning Disabilities (dyslexia, dyscalculia, nonverbal learning disorder)
• Sensory Processing Disorder
• Executive Functioning Differences
• Tourette’s

A deeper look into understanding neurodivergence

Firstly, it is so important to remember that these conditions are not deficits – they reflect diverse cognitive styles, and should not be a heavy burden on anyone struggling with a different cognitive style. Many neurodivergent individuals have unique strengths like creativity, pattern recognition, deep focus (hyperfocus), or sensory sensitivity. Let’s give an overview of the mentioned conditions to see how we can assist in understanding neurodivergence a little bit better. We will dive deeper into some of these topics in future blogs.

A note on Anxiety

Most people that struggle with one of the listed neurodivergent issues, most likely are under a lot of pressure. This is a key to understanding neurodivergence. They have difficulties that others might not experience and that alone brings on stress and anxiety. Some might have added struggles from the community around them. Perhaps this is a good place to start. You can add essential oils that is generally known to assist with anxiety and emotional stability.

We know some oils can assist with anxiety, mood and emotional stability are oils like lavender, sweet orange, bergamot, rose geranium, and ylang‑ylang. These can all assist to reduce stress and cortisol levels. So, start the day with mood enhancing oils such as lemon along with vetiver for focus. Use one of the OilGrow Blends to do the work – Focus will increase attention span and concentration, Bliss will lift the spirit and energize the day while Forest will help with concentration and stress relief. End the day with lavender, or our signature Calm blend – this will ensure better sleep. This is a good thing for anyone regardless of whether or not they are on the neurodivergent spectrum.

Essential Oils’ role in understanding Neurodivergence

A growing community of parents, educators, therapists, and individuals themselves have shared both anecdotal and early scientific evidence suggesting that certain essential oils may help with common neurodivergent challenges: anxiety, sleep, focus, sensory overwhelm, mood, and emotional regulation. Our aim here is to do an overview list for each category of disorder.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

ASD brings up challenges in social communication, sensory processing, and repetitive behaviours. A pilot study examined aromatherapy blends for sleep and anxiety in autistic children, finding improvements in sleep quantity and quality with minimal side effects. Again, sorting out sleep will greatly improve anxiety and that improves other functions as well.

Known for its calming effects, lavender oil may reduce anxiety and promote relaxation, potentially impacting the amygdala’s emotional responses. Sandalwood is a woody oil that can be relaxing and grounding, potentially helping with stress and anxiety related to atypical connectivity. Rosemary oil is known to enhance memory and cognitive function, this potentially affects the prefrontal cortex and temporal lobes which are involved in these processes. Clary Sage can have antidepressant effects and promote feelings of wellbeing, potentially impacting the limbic system’s mood regulation. Some others that might assist is chamomile, cedarwood, frankincense and peppermint, helping with sleep, sensory overload, hyperactivity, and emotional dysregulation.

ADHD and Cognitive Function

MedicalNewsToday highlighted small studies and anecdotal support for oils like lavender, vetiver, and rosemary in easing ADHD symptoms. In this article it highlights that Lavender inhalation improved sleep quality.  This article from He’s Extraordinary mentions that inhaling vetiver boosted attention and altered brainwave patterns, they mention the research it comes from too.  

Our take on this is that, since ADHD is about inattention and hyperactivity, oils such as Lavender, Chamomile and Vetiver goes a long way to assist because they work in on the receptors that help the brain to calm down and focus. An essential oil such as lemon can affect serotonin and dopamine turnover in the prefrontal cortex. Lavender essential oil has potential to increase alpha and beta wave activity in the prefrontal cortex and impact neurotransmission in the basal ganglia. The best way to get these oils activated in a child’s system is to let them breathe it in, so grab the diffuser and get the right oil for the right situation.

Read more on this in this blog post.

Dyslexia, Dyscalculia and Dyspraxia / Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)

This category deals with a learning difficulty in either one of three areas. Dyslexia for those struggling with reading, spelling, and phonological processing, usually with under-activation in the left temporoparietal cortex, inferior frontal gyrus (Broca’s area), and occipitotemporal region. Dyscalculia for those with struggles in number sense and maths with the brain areas affected being intraparietal sulcus and posterior parietal cortex. Dyspraxia for those struggling with motor planning & coordination and generally due to cerebellum, parietal lobes, and motor cortex issues. We mention these together since we found the same oil could help all three categories with some differences.

Known for its calming and relaxing effects, lavender oil can help reduce stress and anxiety, which can indirectly improve brain function. It also has neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties. Rosemary oil is recognized for its potential to stimulate the brain, enhance mental clarity, and improve memory. It may be particularly helpful in areas associated with cognitive function like the prefrontal cortex and parietal cortex. Frankincense oil is believed to promote brain-healing mechanisms, especially in cases of inflammation and oxygen deprivation. Eucalyptus oil has antiseptic, antioxidant, and antiviral properties, which may help support overall brain health and function.

Essential oils like lavender, rosemary, and peppermint have historically shown potential in affecting brain activity in the parietal and posterior temporal regions, which are associated with the intraparietal sulcus and posterior parietal cortex. Inhaling lavender oil, for example, has been shown to decrease alpha 1 (8-10Hz) activity in these areas. Peppermint oil is also often used to improve focus and concentration, potentially impacting cognitive abilities. 

Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)

Sensory Processing Disorder is a typical response to sensory input (either over- or under-reactive) and is an abnormal connectivity in the somatosensory cortex, insula, and thalamus. Again, using essential oils such as Lavender and Chamomile will assist with relaxing the nervous system. Ensure that you get enough sleep with our Calm blend and increase energy in the mornings with something like Sweet Orange. OilGrow offers a unique essential oil play dough kit that can work for individuals with SPD. The benefits of each oil is given on the back of the recipe card included. Make a dough with Lavender for the days they need to stay calm, a dough with Sweet Orange for the days they need to uplift their mood.

Tourette Syndrome

This is an involuntary motor activity and/or vocal tics. The drive to do the thing your brain says you should not do is overwhelming. Manage symptoms by impacting the nervous system and reducing stress, anxiety, and tics with essential oils such as copaiba. Copaiba essential oil is a wonderful anti-inflammatory and interacts with cannabinoid receptors which can help modulate the endocannabinoid system. This plays a role in regulating various physiological processes like pain, inflammation, and mood. Unlike THC, copaiba’s interaction with CB2 receptors does not produce psychoactive effects.

Known for its calming and relaxing effects, lavender oil may help reduce anxiety and improve sleep, which can be beneficial for individuals with Tourettes, as stress and anxiety can exacerbate tics. Frankincense may help with inflammation and promote brain-healing mechanisms, potentially aiding in recovery from potential brain injuries that could be linked to TS. Similar to peppermint, rosemary oil may enhance cognitive function and alertness, potentially aiding with cognitive aspects of Tourettes.

Recipes on the journey to understanding neurodivergence

1. Calm Overwhelm Diffuser Blend:   4 drops Lavender, 2 drops Copaiba, 1 drop Vetiver – add to diffuser water console, or use our Calm blend.

2. Focus & Clarity Spray or Roller:   20 drops Lemon, 6 drops Rosemary, 4 drops Peppermint in 100 ml water – use as a spray. Or leave the water and add it to a roller bottle with some grape seed oil to use as a roll on. Or just get our Focus blend.

3. Emotional Balance Roller: Dilute 3 drops Bergamot, 2 drops Sweet Orange, 1 drop Clary Sage in 10ml carrier oil, apply to wrists when anxious. You can even get a Bliss roller instead.

Final Thoughts

We hope this overview assisted you with understanding neurodivergence a bit more. While essential oils are not cures for neurodivergent conditions, there’s emerging evidence – both scientific and anecdotal – that they can support sleep, calm, focus, sensory regulation, and emotional balance.  By thoughtfully pairing the right oil with specific challenges – like lavender for sleep, vetiver or rosemary for focus, bergamot or chamomile for anxiety – neurodivergent individuals and caregivers may find a gentle, complementary tool to enrich daily life.

So always keep in mind that essential oils may support, though not treat core challenges within neurodivergent conditions such as anxiety, sleep, focus, mood, and sensory overwhelm. Remember to always start small. Test one oil at a time. To start with, use small amounts (typically one drop) and dilute properly. Then observe the effects before increasing the drops or adding an oil. Professional support is essential for safety and to ensure these aren’t used in place of necessary therapy or medication. And as always, remember to thoroughly read our Responsible Usage Guide.