ADHD and Essential Oils

by Stephanie Chambers and Dr Christoph Streicher

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD is the most commonly diagnosed mental disorder in children. In the USA, at least 11 percent of children (4-17 years of age) have been diagnosed with this disorders. It doesn’t go away with the onset of adulthood, so many adults have ADHD.*

The hallmark symptoms of ADHD are short attention span, distractibility, disorganization, procrastination and poor internal supervision.*

Obviously, this is complex disorder and if you think that you, or your children may be displaying some of these symptoms, you may want to research it further and consider getting tested by a qualified mental health professional. Many people think that being diagnosed with ADHD means that you will need to take stimulant medications such as amphetamines (e.g. Adderall) and methylphenidate (e.g. Ritalin and Concerta). But, as many people are now realizing, there are many approaches that help with these symptoms.*

What are some of these non-pharmaceutical approaches?

The Transcendental Meditation technique has been shown to help people with ADHD focus and ground themselves to their bodies. Daily exercise (30-45 minutes) is very important, not only for good health, but for its effect on mental functioning. Adopting a healthy diet (e.g. fresh fruits and vegetables and adequate protein) can also help.*

How can Essential Oils be used to help temporarily alleviate the symptoms associated with ADHD? Dr Streicher recommends diffusing the following Essential Oils as appropriate:

• For short-attention span issues: Mandarin, Tangerine, Orange Essential Oils – as they are soothing, calming, refreshing. Lemon, or Lime Essential Oils – to increase the ability to focus and pay attention. Children often love citrus Essential Oils such as these.*
• For distractibility: Vetiver Essential Oil, Himalayan Cedar Essential Oil and Atlas Cedarwood Essential Oil – for their grounding effects.*
• For anxiety issues: Lavender – to reduce anxiety such as that experienced by those suffering from ADHD. You may also like to see our page Essential Oils For Anxiety and Stress.
• For anger issues: Ylang Ylang Essential Oil – to calm the emotions (but Rose Geranium Oil would be a better choice for children).*
• For mental fatigue: Holy Basil – to help with any lack of energy, mental fatigue, physical fatigue or low self-esteem. You may also like to see our page Increasing Energy & Vitality Using Essential Oils.*
• For physical tensions: Roman Chamomile Essential Oil – to help soothe any physical tensions. It can be diffused or diluted up to 5-10% in Jojoba or Hazelnut oil (25-50 drops per tablespoon) and applied wherever the tension is felt.*

As ADHD as a diagnosis has only been around for the last hundred years, it is not clearly referred to in the classical aromatherapy and Ayurvedic texts, so aromatherapists are still in the process of testing what works and researching the effects.

Disclaimer: *The statements made in this blog have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They are not intended to diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. If a condition persists, please contact your physician or healthcare provider. The information provided is not a substitute for a face-to-face consultation with a healthcare provider, and should not be construed as medical advice.

Original Published: 2015-06-25 / Last Modified: 2025-5-29