ADHD solution with Vetiver Essential Oil

Properties

Its aromatic effect on the mind is grounding, calming, and balancing, while its other notable actions are antiseptic, antispasmodic, immune-stimulating, warming, sedative to the nervous system, and stimulating to the circulatory system, to name a few.

Vetiver oil’s calming and soothing properties are said to dispel anger, hysteria, and irritability, and reduce neurotic behavior. This in turn reduces stress and tension. These revitalizing qualities make it helpful with physical and mental exhaustion, and for addressing issues ranging from general aches and pains to insomnia and anxious feelings.

Vetiver helps people with ADHD because it is a calming essential oil. Its strong scent has grounding, stress-relieving and nervous tension-alleviating properties. This oil helps balance your mood and also promotes sleep if sleep difficulty is one of your ADHD symptoms. A 2001 study by Dr. Terry Friedman found that smelling vetiver essential oil improved the performance of children with ADD and ADHD by 100 percent. These results were much stronger than lavender’s performance increase of 53 percent and cedarwood’s of 83 percent. However, more research is needed to determine vetiver’s effects on ADHD.

Composition of Vetiver Oil

According to a paper by U. C. Lavania from India,  the chemical composition of vetiver oil is extremely complex. It mainly comprises sesquiterpenes and sesquiterpene derivatives, of which vetiverols, their carbonyl compounds and esters, serve as the main constituents. Their relative abundance normally dictates the quality of the oil.

Three carbonyl compounds are deemed the primary odor-influencing components of this essential oil, which is used extensively to blend oriental-type perfumes and floral compounds, along with other cosmetic and aromatherapy applications. Vetiver oil is also a main ingredient in 36 percent of all Western-quality perfumes and 20 percent of all men’s fragrances, says Lavania. The author adds that the main fibrous smooth roots are important for oil quality.

A separate study, published in the Journal of Essential Oil Research, looked at the chemical composition of selected vetiver essential oils. It found about 110 constituents, mainly sesquiterpenes. The characteristic constituents were beta-vetispirene (1.6 to 4.5 percent), khusimol (3.4 to 13.7 percent), vetiselinenol (1.3 to 7.8 percent), and alpha-vetivone (2.5 to 6.3 percent).

Application

Disperse the scent of vetiver into the air by either using it in a diffuser or diluting a few drops in water and spraying it from a spray bottle. To use vetiver on your skin, put 5 drops in 1 tsp. of carrier oil such as grape seed oil and drop the mixture into a bath. An alternative method is to drop 40 drops of vetiver into 3.5 oz. carrier oil and massage a small amount into your skin. Vetiver has a strong scent, so use less if these amounts are too strong for you.

Warning

Vetiver is expensive to make so many companies mix it with other oils. Therefore, buy it from a reputable retailer, although pure vetiver oil will be expensive. Many essential oils cause irritation to the skin so test vetiver on a small area of skin before applying it to a large area. If it causes a reaction, avoid using vetiver topically and diffuse it into the air instead. Consult a certified aromatherapist for the best method of using essential oils.

ADHD solution with Vetiver Essential Oil