ADD/ADHD Treatment: Vetiver Essential Oil

I wanted to share this story of a family that has had a lot of success with using Vetiver essential oil to treat their sons ADD/ADHD.  

Vetiver and ADD/ADHD- courtesy of Wendy & Rob James.  When doTERRA's Vetiver first came out, Wendy and I were very excited. Emily Wright explained how it is an essential oil that has gained a reputation as a great oil that helps with ADD and ADHD concerns.  This was exciting to Wendy and I because we have a child, who although extremely bright, has had a hard time focusing at school. He was failing his math class and was already attending classes with a grade lower. When we would help him with his homework at night, he would show signs of comprehension, but it was nearly impossible to keep him focused. With our painstaking efforts, he was able to keep up with his homework assignments, but would fail miserably on tests where he had to do the work by himself without a parent there to help him pay attention. The school was suggesting that he be dropped another grade level and that he be tested. There initial suggestion was that he would be a great candidate for Ritalin. The thought scared us however because of the documented side effects that would make a parent question whether it's positive effects are worth it. When we first got Vetiver we began applying it to our boy in the morning after a shower. We would put 1 or 2 drops of Vetiver, and 2-4 drops of Balance on his back and rub the oils in along his spine. We would also a couple drops on a clay necklace around his neck or on the front side of his hand between his index finger and thumb. This way if he ever felt himself loosing concentration or feeling scatter brained, he could discreetly put his hand to his nose and inhale. It wasn't more than a couple weeks after we started this treatment, that the principle at his school stopped us one day while we were picking him up and said; "I don't know what you're doing, but keep it up, because it is working wonders." It has been a couple months and we just got his report card, and were excited to see that he has significantly improved his grades, and he requires far less attention to help him with his homework. He is very aware that the Vetiver is what makes a difference in his attention problems, and makes sure that we don't let a day go by that he has access to inhaling Vetiver and we put in on his back. Vetiver is a Base note oil. It will not volatilize quickly. A couple drops on a necklace or on the hand will last for hours. It is a very grounding aroma that smells almost earthy. For me personally, the aroma had to "grow" on me, and now its one of my favorites. Recently, Dr. Terry Friedman MD, did a 2 year study of children between the ages of 6 and 12 years old trying to identify essential oils useful in the treatment of ADD and ADHD. Vetiver was shown to be highly successful with 100% of the subjects over a 30 day period when the children felt "scatter brained". Dr. Friedman used an inhalation method. ** NOTE: The advice shared in this tip has not been evaluated by the FDA. The products and methods recommended are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any illness or disease, nor is it intended to replace proper medical help.

25 Ways to Use Peppermint Essential Oil

doTERRA's Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade Peppermint essential oil is an incredibly potent and highly effective oil that I personally have used to relieve headaches, cold/flu symptoms, reduce fevers and much more. 

1. Rub 4-6 drops in the palm and rub over stomach and around the navel to relieve indigestion, flatulence and diarrhea.
2. Add a drop to herbal tea, to aid in digestion and relieve heartburn.
3. Massage several drops over on the area of injury, to reduce inflammation.
4. Apply it immediately to an injured area (bruised shin, hit on the foot or hand) to relieve pain.  If there is a cut, apply it around (not on) the open wound.
5. Apply a drop topically on unbroken skin, to stop itching.
6. For poison ivy or poison oak, apply on location.  
7. Inhale before and during a workout, to boost your mood and reduce fatigue.
8. To relieve a headache, rub a drop on the temples, forehead, over the sinuses (being very careful to avoid the eyes) and on the back of the neck.
9. To stop hiccups, apply a drop on each side of the fifth cervical vertebra (up three notches from the large vertebra at the base of the neck).
10. Place two drops on the tongue and rub another drop under the nose to improve alertness and concentration.  (Note: be careful not to swallow right away; allow the oil to completely dissolve on the tongue before swallowing.)
11. Diffuse in the room while studying, to improve concentration and accuracy.  Inhale while taking a test, to improve recall.
12. Rub 4 drops on chest and stomach, to relieve travel sickness.
13. Place a drop on the tongue and inhale into the nose and sinuses to relieve congestion from a cold.  It may also be applied over the sinus areas (or to the sinus Vita-Flex points on the feet).
14. Add to food as a flavoring and a preservative.
15. To deter rats, mice, ants or cockroaches, place two drops on a cotton ball, and place along the path or point of entry for these pests.
16. Mix one 15 ml bottle into a 5 gallon can of paint to dispel the fumes.
17. Place a couple of drops in a cup of hot water, and enjoy in place of coffee.
18. To kill aphids, add 4-5 drops to 4 ounces of water in a spray bottle, shake well and spray the plants.
19. Drink a drop mixed in a glass of cold water, to cool off on a hot day.
20. Rub on joints to relieve arthritis or tendonitis pain.
21. Place a drop on the tongue to stop bad breath.  May also be massaged over the liver, if the bad breath is liver related.
22. Inhale the fragrance to curb the appetite and lessen the impulse to overeat.
23. Remove ticks by applying a drop on a cotton swab and swabbing the tick.  (Wait for it to unhedge its head before removing from your pet.)
24. Mix in a footbath to relieve sore feet.  (Keep water agitated while soaking feet.)
25. Put in a spray bottle with water to mist your body to cool it down on a hot day.

How do you use pure peppermint oil? Sound off in the comments section!