03/09/2024
Tongue Scraping in Ayurveda: Benefits for Children with Autism, ADHD, and Speech Delay
Tongue scraping, or “Jihwa Prakshalana,” is an ancient Ayurvedic practice that offers multiple health benefits, including those that can be particularly helpful for children with autism, ADHD, and speech delay. While tongue scraping may seem like a simple hygiene practice, its benefits go beyond just oral health, offering therapeutic advantages that support overall well-being in children with special needs.
How Tongue Scraping Helps in Autism, ADHD, and Speech Delay:
1. Improves Oral Sensory Experience:
• Many children with autism or ADHD may have heightened or altered oral sensory perceptions, leading to challenges like oral defensiveness, picky eating, or difficulty with speech articulation. Tongue scraping gently stimulates the oral cavity, reducing hypersensitivity and promoting a more balanced oral sensory experience.
2. Promotes Better Digestion:
• Children with autism or ADHD often experience digestive issues, such as constipation, bloating, or indigestion, which can impact their overall behavior and focus. Tongue scraping helps stimulate saliva production and digestive enzymes, which in turn improves digestion, reduces toxin buildup (Ama), and promotes a healthier gut. A healthy gut is crucial for better mood regulation, cognitive function, and emotional stability.
3. Reduces Toxin Build-Up (Ama):
• Ayurveda believes that a buildup of toxins, or Ama, in the body can cause various health issues, including behavioral and cognitive challenges. By scraping the tongue daily, toxins are effectively removed, helping the body detoxify and function optimally. Reducing Ama can support improved mental clarity and cognitive functions in children.
4. Enhances Taste and Appetite:
• Children with autism and ADHD may have issues with food aversion or limited appetite due to a reduced sense of taste or oral sensitivity. Tongue scraping clears the taste buds, enhancing the child’s ability to taste food fully. This can increase their appetite, encourage a more varied diet, and improve overall nutritional intake, which is essential for brain development and growth.
5. Improves Breath and Oral Hygiene:
• Poor oral hygiene is often overlooked in children with autism or ADHD. Tongue scraping effectively reduces bad breath and promotes overall oral hygiene, making it easier for these children to feel comfortable during social interactions and speech therapy sessions.
6. Supports Speech Development:
• For children with speech delay, regular tongue scraping can stimulate the oral muscles and improve oral motor skills. This stimulation can help enhance tongue movement and coordination, which are essential for clear speech and articulation.
7. Encourages Routine and Self-Care:
• Incorporating tongue scraping into a daily routine can help create a sense of structure and self-care in children with autism and ADHD. Predictable routines provide comfort, reduce anxiety, and help these children develop independence in their self-care practices.
8. Calms the Mind and Balances Doshas:
• Ayurveda suggests that imbalances in the body’s doshas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha) can impact mental and physical health. Tongue scraping, as part of a holistic Ayurvedic routine, helps balance these doshas by reducing Ama, promoting calmness, and supporting overall well-being. For children with autism and ADHD, achieving balance can help with emotional regulation and focus.
Practical Tips for Using Tongue Scraping with Children:
• Introduce Gradually: Start by introducing the tongue scraper gently and allow the child to explore it at their own pace. Explain its purpose and make it a fun part of their daily routine.
• Choose a Child-Friendly Scraper: Use a child-friendly tongue scraper made of soft, flexible material. Copper or stainless steel scrapers are ideal due to their antimicrobial properties.
• Make it a Game: Encourage your child by making tongue scraping a game or fun activity. Use songs, stories, or counting to keep them engaged.
• Model the Practice: Show your child how to scrape the tongue by doing it together, modeling the practice yourself.
