Essential Oils for ADHD

Are essential oils for ADHD useful? The study Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) by Terry S. Friedmann, M.D., measured the brain waves of children with ADHD. He divided the children into three groups and gave them one of three essential oils to inhale three times a day for thirty days. He then measured the brain waves again. The results were as follows:

• Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides) calms and balances the nervous system and at the same time stimulates the circulatory system. The vetiver group showed a statistically significant improvement.
  
• Cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica) has high a concentration of sesquiterpenes, which improves oxygenation of the cells of the brain. The cedarwood group showed an improvement but it was not considered statistically significant.
  
• Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) has both a sedative and a stimulating action. The lavender group showed no improvement.

The Essential Oils Desk Reference recommends if you want to try vetiver for reducing the symptoms of ADHD, diffuse it for 15 minutes four to eight times a day.

Also, Young Living makes three blends that might be useful essential oils for ADHD:

• Brain Power contains sandalwood, cedarwood, melissa, frankincense, blue cypress, lavender, and helichrysum and is designed to clarify thought and develop greater focus.
  
• Peace and Calming contains tangerine, orange, ylang ylang, patchouli, and blue tansy. It is considered gentle enough for young children.
  
• Clarity contains basil, cardamom, rosemary, peppermint, rosewood, geranium, lemon, palmarosa, ylang ylang, bergamot, Roman chamomile, and jasmine. You can use Clarity to help restore mental alertness.