Essential Oils for Focus and Mental Clarity

children with ADD and essential oils
Essential Oils for Focus and Mental Clarity

We know that essential oils are the most potent part of a plant. Allowing us to use a small amount of oil to accomplish our desired result. Here are the facts of what Melissa and Vetiver Essential oils can do. Why not use it in its most pure and potent form? That is why I recommended use doTERRA’s Melissa Oil and/or Vetiver Essential Oil.

doTERRA’s Certified Pure Therapudic Grade Essential Oils are so pure you can drink them. That is why putting a drop of Melissa oil in a small bit of water everyday makes using these oils an easy alternative to Prescription Medications.  Diet is an important factor to take into consideration when trying to treat ADD/ADHD without prescription medications. Pairing the recommendations below with doTERRA Essential Oils can make it possible for your child to become medicaiton free. Read how essential oils have helped our son.

Facts that Essential Oils can help

MELISSA OIL

  • Melissa officinalis, or Lemon balm, is a sedative and also relieves spasms, as endorsed by the Commission E, the body of scientists that advises the German government of the effectiveness of botanicals. The sedative effect is attributed to a large group of chemicals called terpenes.
  • It is noted that increased cognition and calmness resulted with the administration of Melissa officinalis, as noted in Neuropsychopharmacology, Oct. 2003.
  • It is suggested to take 1 drop a day with water or under your tongue.

VETIVER OIL

  • In a two year study (1999-2001), Dr. Terry Friedmann M. D. found significant results when children with attention disorders were administered therapeutic essential oils by inhalation.
  • One oil was administered by inhalation 3 times per day for 30 days. An inhalation device was also used at night to administer a continuous inhalation of oil.
    The inhalation of the oils settled the children’s brain waves back to normal patterns and improved scholastic performance and behavioral patterns.
    * Lavender increased performance by 53%
    * Cedarwood increased performance by 83%
    Vetiver increased performance by 100%.

Differential Diagnosis

  • Up to 50% of diagnosed patients may not truly be ADD/ADHD. ADHD is a syndrome of symptoms, not a disorder.
  • Hyperthyroidism: easily differentiated through lab work
  • Depression/anxiety: 30-40% of patients may have both as well as ADHD
  • TOVA Testing (Test of Variables of Attention): developed by Dr. Lawrence Greenberg of the University of Minnesota. According to TOVA Testing, 50% of patients treated are over medicated.

Signs & Symptoms

  • Fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes
  • Easily distracted when playing or doing tasks
  • Does not seem to listen when spoken to
  • Does not follow through on instructions & fails to finish work
  • Difficulty organizing tasks & activities
  • Avoids or dislikes tasks that require concentration
  • Loses things; forgetful
  • Fidgets with hands & feet or squirms in seat
  • Restless; runs or climbs excessively in inappropriate situations
  • Difficulty in quiet play
  • Acts without thinking first; driven
  • Talks excessively
  • Answering a question before the speaker has finished
  • Interrupts others; has a hard time waiting in turn

The Hunter Child

  • Thom Hartmann’s theory that children exhibiting symptoms of ADHD; impulsiveness, creativity, & distractibility are useful skills paramount to hunter-gatherer societies.
  • Clearly, sitting in classrooms, is the norm of the day, however, medicating these young people may be a poor treatment protocol.
  • Review of healthier options without medication may be more beneficial to students, parents, teachers, & communities in the long term.
  • This begins my treatment protocols for ADD/ADHD.

Complementary & Alternative Therapies

  • Nutritional Medicine
  • Applied Nutrition
  • Environmental Factors
  • Botanical Medicine
  • Homeopathic Medicine
  • Psychological Counseling

Nutritional Factors

  • Food Allergies and Hypersensitivities
  • Food coloring & preservatives
  • Caffeine consumption
  • Sugar consumption & intolerance
  • Vitamin, mineral, & amino acid deficiencies
  • Foods containing salicylates such as almonds, apples, citrus & berries are contraindicated secondary to prostaglandin metabolism.

Sugar Intolerance

  • The average American consumes greater than 125 lbs. of sugar per year.
  • Most soda pops contain 12 or more teaspoons of sugar per 12 oz. drink.
  • Clinically, we have found eliminating all processed, refined sugars, including high corn syrup fructose made a dramatic improvement in cognition and performance.

Artificial Colors & Preservatives

  • The little research that has been done with regards to artificial colors, preservatives, and flavor enhancers, such as monosodium glutamate, is overwhelmingly positive for children who wash out these chemicals from their daily diet.

Applied Nutrition

  • Essential Fatty acids regulate inflammatory reactions & nervous irritability. A combination of Omega-6 (evening primrose oil) and Omega-3 ( flaxseed oil) @ 1500 mg bid
  • Ascorbic Acid 500mg – 2,000 mg daily
  • Phosphatidylcholine 25 mg – 50mg daily
  • Calcium- Magnesium 250 mg – 500mg before bed

Essential Fatty Acids

  • Essential Fatty Acids help regulate inflammatory responses and nervous irritability
  • A mixture of fish oils, Omega 6 oils, such as evening primrose oil, and Omega 3 oils, such as flaxseed oil, up to 1,000-1,500 mg bid

Botanical Medicine

  • Melissa officianalis
  • Gingko biloba
  • Vitis vinifera
  • Passiflora incarnata
  • Piper methysticum
  • Melissa officinalis, or Lemon balm, is a sedative and also relieves spasms, as endorsed by the Commission E, the body of scientists that advises the German government of the effectiveness of botanicals. The sedative effect is attributed to a large group of chemicals called terpenes.
  • It is noted that increased cognition and calmness resulted with the administration of Melissa officinalis, as noted in Neuropsychopharmacology, Oct. 2003.

If you would like more information on purchasing Melissa Essential Oil or any other doTERRA Esssential Oil at wholesale please Contact Us or Join doTERRA.

To learn what other essential oils people are having success with visit: http://everythingessential.me/HealthConcerns/ADD.html#page=page-4

To review this article in full visit: http://www.drstevemorris.com/adhd.html

3 responses to “Essential Oils for Focus and Mental Clarity”

  1. […] If you would like to learn more about essential oils and ADD/ADHD please visit this POST. […]

  2. Hi. I commented on your other article about ADHD. I am just starting out with blogging and talk of my struggles with having a child with ADHD. I have been reading more about oils and have dabbled a little in it. She does not sleep at night so I have been rubbing sage and ylang ylang mixed with jojoba oil on her feet at night, but it does not seem to help. She is on meds for focus in the morning and meds at night to help her sleep. We keep trying different combos and none work just right. She seems to do well at school on the meds, but night time is a huge struggle. I struggle with actually going forward with the oils because I have tried so many things and spent tons of money and have been disappointed. I have been reluctant to try the oils because of the expense and not wanting to be disappointed. Also there are so many oils and each kid may be affected by them differently that the trial and error seems overwhelming. I have been trying to find samples of the oils to cut down on the cost until I see if they work with my daughter. Do you have any suggestions on this? I would love to hear about it.

    1. @mostlysanemamas It is a challenge to find a good high quality essential oil, especially off the shelf. That is why I only use doTERRA essential oils. I have tried others in the past and have been left wanting. Have you tried lavender essential oil to help her sleep at night? That would be my recommendation for sleep. You are right to apply the oils with a carrier on her feet. The feet are an excellent place to apply the oils, you can also dab a bit behind her ears at night. I understand the overwhelming feeling and the struggle to do what is best for your child. You do what you can and you just keep going. There is an answer out there for you and your daughter, do not be discouraged. I would be happy to give you a free sample. You can request a free sample of lavender oil through my blog.

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