Even before I was stuck in the house with my kids 24/7, I used essential oils. I love how they can infuse an entire room and change a mood or create an enhanced atmosphere. When trying to help my kid navigate life with ADHD and anxiety, I soon began to learn about the benefits of essential oils for ADHD kids.
What are Essential Oils?
Essential oils are plant extracts (leaves, roots, stems and flower parts) that have been distilled into concentrated forms.
As early as 4500 B.C. essential oils were used for medicinal purposes. Essential oils have been used throughout the world for thousands of years since to improve physical and mental health, enhance emotional well being. It’s not clear how these oils improve emotional well-being. The limited research that is available point towards that the essential oils send chemical messages to parts of the brain that affect mood and emotion.
ADHD Essential Oils for kids
One of the main benefits of essential oils for children with ADHD is that they seem to improve some of the common ADHD symptoms children experience. Most notably: difficulty sleeping, anger control, lack of focus, frustration, mood regulation, hyperactivity, anxiety and inattention. ADHD symptoms last a long time and they can go from moderate to severe. One of the biggest difficulties I found with my kids is that their ADHD symptoms interrupt the ability to function in daily life. It impairs learning ability, school/work performance, social habits, relationships and self confidence.
Before looking into the route of medication for my ADHD son, we tried non-medical natural remedies. Some supplemental ways to deal with ADHD we tried were ‘green’ therapy, changing his food (cutting our processed food and dyes), and cognitive behavior therapy. We also learned about essential oils and how they can help children with ADHD.
Recent studies published in the American Medical Association Journal show that child diagnosed with ADHD who inhaled essential oils (vetiver, lavender and cedarwood) three times a day for 30 days saw results. Administered via an inhalation device in the evening settled the children’s brain wave activity. I believe the essential oil inhalation gave them the ability to calm themselves and sleep, and overall relaxation led to the improved school performance and behavior they experienced.
Don’t misunderstand me. ADHD essential oils for ADHD kids are not a miracle cure, but can help with certain symptoms. I am finding this to be even more helpful as my son is entering his teen years with all the emotions and anger that comes with that.
Best essential oils for ADHD kids
With hundreds of different essential oils and thousands of different blends, there are a lot of essential oils for ADHD kids to chose from. Below are some of the best essential oils for ADHD kids that I have come to love.
Lavender
Sleep is such a difficult thing for my ADHD kids, we always have lavender around. Lavender is known for skin healing properties and is commonly used to reduce stress and improve sleep. Creating a calming atmosphere will also help reduce hyperactivity in ADHD kids. Regular use of lavender has also been shown to improve the immune system too.
Lavender essential oils are likely the most common essential oil that is available in the most options/dilutions. From room sprays, creams, pillow sprays, bath additives and more, you will find lavender products everywhere.
Ylang Ylang
There is something about the name ‘ylang Ylang’ that I like saying it. What’s even better is the benefit Ylang Ylang has on improving mood. Throughout history ylang ylang has been used as a natural anti-depressant and helps with attentiveness and calms hyperactivity. Ylang Ylang has sedative properties and is an antibacterial, antidepressant, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antispasmodic, disinfectant, nervine, sedative, vulnerary.
Bergamot
Sweet Bergamot has been used as a deodorant, antibiotic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, sedative, analgesic, antidepressant, disinfectant, and digestive aid. This is one of the essential oils that have numerous benefits like pain relief, fever reducer, muscle spasms and helping with digestive system. This last trait of improving constipation is important if your ADHD kid is also you anxiety kid!
For ADHD kids, Bergamot works as an antidepressant and sedative. It helps with sleep and improved mood.
This is one of the essential oils that has a warning. Keep Bergamot out of direct sunlight. Sunlight exposure can cause it become poisonous. So store Bergamot in a dark place.
Chamomile
Chamomile essential oil is great for relaxation and a sleep aid. Chamomile has been said to have a similar effect of pharmaceutical treatment of ADHD, without the side effects. It helps with depression and sleep by resembling serotonin and noradrenaline re-uptake inhibitor, better known as SNRI. It is known to have a sedative-type effect that can address the hyperactivity in ADHD.
Try a chamomile tea to help your child relax at the end of the day and more easily fall asleep. If your child isn’t a tea drinker (like my son), try using it in a diffuser or rubbing a few drops on your child’s feet before bed.
Vetiver
This is one essential oil I had not heard about before looking into using essential oils with ADHD kids. Vetiver has an earthy smell and traditionally was used to scent fabric, woven into baskets and used as window coverings. For ADHD kids, vetiver helps improve concentration and reduces hyperactivity, both of which go towards helping with sleep. Recent studies are showing that vetiver is beneficial for learning and memory processes. Basically, it has a stimulating effect to improve alertness and task performance.
This one being a little less ‘flowery’ was more preferred by my son. You can rub a few drops onto your kid’s feet before school or bed, but I would dab a bit on my son’s wrists so he could benefit from the ‘grounding’ effect all day.
Copaiba
My kids love Copaiba because they say it reminds them of their dad’s smell after he smokes a cigar. It’s also becoming more popular with places like Young Living who sell essential oil starter kits. Copaiba has been shown to activate human serotonin receptors vital for relieving anxiety to have a positive effect on emotional wellbeing and calmness.
Mine never had this problem, but I do know others who massaged copaiba essential oil on their kid’s abdomen at bedtime to help prevent bedwetting.
Cedarwood
Originally this wood was burned to create a fragrant air, Cedarwood essential oil promotes serotonin, which our brain takes and uses to create melatonin. So, it helps children sleep and feel rested. If your kid is like my son whose legs hurt, cedarwood essential oil also helps reduce muscle spasms.
Frankincense
This is probably one of the most popular essential oils used for incense. Traditionally used for skin aliments, frankincense has been shown to reduce stress and negative emotions, which ADHD kids can be full of. On top of helping reduce meltdowns, it has also been shown to help ADHD children stay focused.
Mandarin (Orange)
Traditionally a Chinese medicine, this is one of the better essential oils for helping reduce anxiety. Mandarin or orange is a great one for kids because it is a scent kids already know and love. Mandarin essential oil also has the benefit of acting as a sedative to helping sleep.
Sandalwood
I first fell in love with sandalwood in Australia. I never knew there are different types (Australian, Indian and African) which have different levels of scent. Although Australian and African essential oils are more popular, Indian has the most intense aroma. Sandalwood essential oil is an antiseptic, induces relaxation to intestinal tract (helps with gas and constipation). For ADHD kids it improves concentration and memory and helps with anxiety and restlessness.
Peppermint
This essential oil helps sooth digestive issues, clear the digestive tract, helps aching and sore muscles and works great to relieve headaches. In addition to the aroma helping improve alertness, which improves concentration and memory, peppermint also relieves gas pain.
Essential Oils suited for ADHD symptoms:
Essential Oils for Hyperactivity
Lavender
Camomile
Vetiver
Frankincense
Ylang Ylang
Essential Oils for Child Anxiety
Sandalwood
Mandarin
Ylang Ylang
Lavender
Frankincense
Ginger
Essential Oils for Focus and Memory
Vetiver
Sandalwood
Peppermint
Frankincense
Lemon
Rosemary
Essential Oils for Sleep Problems
Chamomile
Lavender
Vetiver
Ylang Ylang
Cedarwood
Bergamot
Mandarin
Essential Oils for Relaxation
Ylang Ylang
Chamomile
Sandalwood
Essential Oils for Behavior, Depression & Mood
Ylang Ylang
Bergamot
Copaiba
Frankincense
Chamomile
Download a free PDF cheat sheet of Essential oils for ADHD Kids
Are essential oils safe for kids?
When asking the question ‘are essential oils safe for kids’, you need to first look at the quality of the product. One important thing to know what you are using and where it comes from. You are paying for the ‘essence’ and a lot of suppliers will cut corners and provide you with less than ‘pure’ essential oils. Purchase therapeutic grade oils, and keep in mind that essential oils are not regulated by the FDA or any food/drink associations.
For this reason and because children are more sensitive, all of the oils mentioned in this story are safe for children over the age of two. Essential oils with children should only be used externally or by inhalation. NEVER give essential oils orally to kids. Like all chemical substances, essential oils should be kept out of the reach of kids.
Also, essential oils are highly concentrated. When using essential oils on kids’ skin essential oils should be not be used topically or ‘neat’ as they call it and should be mixed with a carrier oil such as jojoba, oil coconut or grapeseed oil. It is also advisable to do an allergy test by applying a small amount of the diluted mixture to a small area of the body. If signs of allergic reaction appear (redness or burning), do not use.
The main ways people use essential oils are:
- Inhaling, usually through an aromatherapy diffuser.
- Absorbed through the skin by applying a diluted oil topically
- Adding to a bath or used in hand or foot massage.
Ways to use Essential Oils for ADHD kids
- Diffusers are popular. My kids love to get their turn to choose which essence we use in the diffuser. It spreads to the entire room and everyone benefits from the oils. He has a diffuser in his room that doubles as a night light and when we diffuse lavender it has proven to be very helpful with sleep. If you have a teenage son, it also helps mask the ‘teenage boy’ smell too.
When looking at ways to lessen ADHD symptoms, essential oils for ADHD kids is a great option. Involving kids in the discussion about essential oils also helps them become cognitively aware of what they are feeling. Letting them know what is going on and choosing an essence that will help their ADHD symptoms will help them feel in power and control.
- Diffuse meltdowns. I usually can’t get my stuff together to do this when my son is in the middle of a meltdown. But if you are able to try diffusing Ylang Ylang when your child is having a meltdown to mellow out feelings of anger and stress and improve relaxation.
- Before bed we spray lavender oil pillow spray on my son’s pillow. We find this helps him to slow down his thoughts and anxiety, which helps him sleep.
- During bathtime try adding a couple of drops of ylang-ylang or lavender essential oil to your child’s bath before bed to improve sleep.
- Infuse your child’s bed. Add a couple of drops of lavender essential oil to baking soda. Sprinkle the powder over your child’s mattress. Leave for a few hours and vacuum up the powder – the scent will stay. Put on clean sheers and you have neutralized any odors and infused your child’s bed with calming lavender scent that should last a few weeks, or until the next time you change their sheets.
- Get creative! Create your own blend of mixes.
- Roller ball bottle with diluted essences is great to help kids keep focus. Diluted citrus (orange and grapefruit are our favorite) with rosemary oils helps with focus and mood. peppermint and lemon is a great mix. This is something easy your kid can throw in their pencil case or lunch box at school.
- A more recent way to use essential oils is the popular necklaces and bracelets that allow you to diffuse essential oils wherever you go throughout your day. Chose some of the essential oils for focus and memory or essential oils for stress and anxiety.
Are you having success with essential oils for ADHD kids? Let us know below what mix you are using, how often and any advice you have.
