Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) are common conditions among children. If your child has any one of the two conditions, you might be worried how they are going to cope with their following life. The good news is that there are a number of effective treatments for this condition. Nevertheless, these medications usually come with undesirable side effects. For this reason, you might want to opt for natural alternatives—essential oils for ADHD. Below is an overview of 10 best oils you can use to treat this condition.
Top 10 Best Essential Oils for ADHD
1. Frankincense Oil
How it helps: Frankincense oil is one of the most popular essential oils for ADHD due to its ability to improve focus by promoting relaxation and peace of mind. This oil helps address the inability of your child to concentrate or focus by minimizing stress and anxiety.
How to apply: It can be applied on the skin or inhaled.
2. Lavender Oil
How it helps: Lavender has been used to induce sound sleep and promote relaxation long time ago. This flowering herb also helps with concentration and increases focus. This is due to the fact that it helps ease stress levels and calms the mind. According to Medical News Today, studies done on lavender show that it helps with restlessness, depression and anxiety.
How to apply: You should apply one or two drops on the neck or at the bottom of your feet every morning and evening. Some people also use it in a diffuser or inhale it.
3. Vetiver Oil
How it helps: Vetiver is oil made with the roots of some grass first found in India. This oil helps reduce the symptoms of ADHD and ADD in children according to experts. With a warm and earthy fragrance, it is known to promote personal growth and ease tension. Using this oil on your ADHD child can help ground them and improve their focus and concentration.
How to apply: Rubbing the oil into the base of your child's toes helps to control their impulses. As for dosage of starters, start off by applying a single drop of oil on feet or having the oil inhaled in the morning and evening, and then gradually increase the amount of oil cautiously.
4. Cedarwood Oil
How it helps: Cedarwood oil is known to stimulate the thought process and mental synergy, which makes it one of the most effective essential oils for ADHD as it improves focus and attention.
How to apply: To use this oil on your children, apply some on their neck, temples or at the base of the skull. Like the other oils above, the oil can be inhaled directly or used in a diffuser.
5. Ylang Ylang Oil
How it helps: Studies have shown that Ylang Ylang oil possesses sedative properties that are characterized by the reduction of pulse rates and blood pressure. The oil can also make your child more attentive and give them a feeling of contentment.
How to apply: The oil should be inhaled or applied in moderation. It is one of the best essential oils for ADHD.
6. Cilantro Oil
How it helps: Children suffering from ADHD usually have excess heavy metal toxins. Cilantro oil has been shown to help control these toxins. The oil has anti-microbe, anti-depressant, anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic, lead-cleansing, neuro-protective and anti-oxidant properties. Studies have shown that alterations caused by lead in test subjects were dramatically reduced by using cilantro oil extracts. Other studies have shown that the oil helps reduce the concentration of lead in the body through a process known as chelation.
How to apply: You can rub it on your children's body or put it in a diffuser.
7. Melaleuca Oil
How it helps: Melaleuca is a kind of powerful oil with anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties. The anti-inflammatory effects of the oil can also help your child deal with their ADHD. Melaeuca oil helps with the growth of immunoglobulin cells in the body that are usually suppressed in ADHD patients due to the candidiasis and clostridia overgrowth.
How to apply: Inhaling the oil can help improve the body's immunity by growing the cells responsible for immunity.
8. Cypress Oil
How it helps: Cypress Oil is one of the essential oils for ADHD that have strong YANG character. The cypress tree is naturally structured and organized tree. This characteristic is what ADHD patients seek by using the tree's oil. The oil enables you to be structured and clears your mind. The oil can help your child relax whenever they are tense or nervous. If your child's mind is always jumping from one thing to the next due to ADHD, then cypress oil can help stabilize their thought process and emotional reactions.
How to apply: You can just put it in a diffuser or use it as massage oil. Or, mix it with creams and apply the mixture on topical areas. Adding to the bath can also be a good idea.
9. Rosemary Oil
How it helps: Rosemary oil is one of the essential oils for ADHD that have been in use for centuries. In ancient Greece and Rome, students wore garlands of Rosemary on their foreheads to improve concentration. When you use this oil to treat your child's ADHD, it will improve their speed and precision in studying and learning. The oil also helps foster physical and emotional stability.
How to apply: You can rub the oil on your children's bottom of feet or put it in a diffuser.
10. Combine Oils on Your Own
If you want to try out something different, you can always use a blend of the oils mentioned above. You can create a unique fragrance for your ADHD child. Note that the initial fragrance might change with time. You just don't want your child giving off a strange aroma while they are at school. It is, therefore, important to experiment with a few combinations before you settle on one.
Important Notes for Applying Essential Oil for Children
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate the use of essential oils. Therefore, it is advisable to consult professionals before any treatment related to essential oils. This is especially so for children since they are more sensitive to essential oils than adults. When they are used as they should, essential oils can go a long way in improving the concentration and focus of children with ADHD or ADD.
It is worth noting that some essential oils are toxic when swallowed. For this reason, you should not give your child essential oils for ADHD orally. You can only rub the oils on their skin or have them inhale the oil. Also, diluting the oils before usage can avoid irritation to the skin. If you are using the oil on an adult, 2% dilution is recommended. For children, it should be about 1%.
Skin irritation, as the common side effects of essential oils, may present as blotches and painful rashes. The reaction can occur when the skin is exposed to the sun's rays after you have applied the oil or after several applications of the essential oil. Some oils are known to cause adverse reactions of the mucus membranes i.e. the nose, mouth, eyes and genitalia. Seek medical help when symptoms become worse or unbearable.