Researchers Use Essential Oils to Successfully Treat ADHD Symptoms
How Essential Oils Work Doctors continue to diagnose increasing number of children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). They most often turn to medication that stimulates the central nervous system (CNS) to treat ADHD symptoms. Yet, ADHD drugs can be quite detrimental to children’s health. Some even call them dangerous. As a result, we very much need alternative treatments. Researchers have shown that essential oils may be one such potential treatment. ADHD Diagnosis and Medication Although many people question if ADHD is an actual medical diagnosis, versus just a list of symptoms, the fact remains that many children have difficulty concentrating and controlling their behavior. In response, parents seek help from the medical establishment, which seems to favor CNS stimulants as the primary treatment. Unfortunately, CNS drugs can have some dangerous side-effects especially in children. Lack of scientific testing to diagnose ADHD also means many doctors may use ADHD as a scapegoat for behavioral issues or environmental conflicts. Thus, some children are taking ADHD medication although they don’t really need it. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that about 11% of U.S. children (or 6.4 million) ages 4-17 have been diagnosed with ADHD. In January 2017, the CDC reported the rate at which doctors (mostly pediatricians and psychiatrists) recommend CNS stimulating medication during ADHD visits: CNS stimulant medications were mentioned (i.e., provided, prescribed, or continued) at 80% of ADHD visits by children aged 4–12 years and 81% of ADHD visits by children aged 13–17 years. Clearly, parents have the choice to refuse medication. Yet, these statistics show that the medical professional leans on CNS drugs versus exploring the true reason behind disruptive behavior. Doctors do recommend alternative treatments, such as behavioral therapy and social skills training, but typically in addition to medication. As a result, the real underlying reasons for a child’s ADHD-like behavior are overlooked. Many children start taking medications unnecessarily. A large share fall victim to common side-effects such as sleep problems, loss of appetite, and depression. In addition, behavioral side effects include “psychosis, mania, drug abuse, and addiction.” (source) This is why alternative treatment options such as essential oils are much needed. How Essential Oils Work Essential oils are aromatic, volatile liquids made up of resin and plant extracts. People make oils out of the most powerful part of a plant, such as the seeds, flowers, bark, or roots. The book Essential Oils Desk Reference claims that when a person inhales essential oils, chemical compounds in the oils have the ability to produce physical, emotional, mental and spiritual well-being. People have been using essential oils for these purposes for many centuries. Dr. Terry S. Friedmann, a physician associated with the American Board of Hospital Medicine, examined how different essential oils affect the body. He explains why essential oils work: When the essential oil is inhaled, the micro droplets are carried to the limbic system of the brain, which is that portion that is the processing center for reason, emotion, and smell, [...]