If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) or ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), you know that managing this can be a challenge. They are not talked about enough, but there are many natural remedies for support! So when it comes to ADD or ADHD, you can live a life that is full, healthy, and thriving.
ADD & ADHD AT A GLANCE
* Essential oils can access parts of our brain that other therapies cannot
* Oils can help rewire negative emotions attached to focus or a sense of calm
* Supplements can provide necessary nutrients for the brain and body
* Each person is a bit unique and may respond better to a specific oil or supplement, so keep trying until you find your best fit
Before diving into the remedies, it's essential to understand what ADD and ADHD entail. These conditions can affect attention, impulse control, and hyperactivity. People with ADD may struggle more with focus and organization, while those with ADHD often exhibit hyperactive and impulsive behaviors. The good news? There are holistic approaches that can complement traditional treatments.
Essential oils are a great tool when it comes to supporting focus! Essential oils have tiny molecules that can effectively cross the blood brain barrier, they work with our brains through aromatherapy, and can help us address emotions attached to focus as well.
We can also supplement with essential oils, high-quality herbs, and specific nutrients that the brain and body need.
When you combine these habits and tools, you can create a unique support system for yourself when it comes to managing ADD and ADHD!
ESSENTIAL OILS FOR CALM AND FOCUS
Some of the best essential oils for calm and focus are those that are high in sesquiterpenes – Cedarwood, Vetiver, Frankincense, Spikenard, and Sandalwood.
Sesquiterpenes are a powerful focus tool! They help with oxygenating the pineal and pituitary glands, which are responsible for producing hormones related to sleep and stress. Sesquiterpenes also stimulate Beta Wave production in the brain, which helps with focus. When we are performing a difficult task or working on a problem, our brain increases the amount of beta waves. Sesquiterpenes stimulate and support that natural production and therefore ability to focus.
These compounds also help delete negative information in the cellular memory, making them extremely helpful tools when experiencing or processing trauma of any kind (chemical, medical, physical, emotional, relational).
Cedarwood: Often associated with grounding and stability, Cedarwood can help promote clarity and focus. It's great for calming racing thoughts and can be particularly useful during study or work sessions. Cedarwood is high in sesquiterpenes, a constituent that specifically helps to calm brain waves to a slower state. With ADD or ADHD this can take brain waves from an overactive state to one of focus and concentration.
Vetiver: Often praised for its soothing properties, Vetiver can help calm the mind and enhance focus. Many people find it beneficial during times of distraction as it is also high in sesquiterpenes. Apply this oil to the back of the neck, diffuse it, and apply it along the spine.
Frankincense: This ancient oil is known for its ability to promote mental clarity and emotional balance. A few drops in a diffuser or on the back of the neck can create a serene environment conducive to concentration.
Lavender: This calming oil is known for its soothing and relaxing properties. It can help reduce anxiety and promote relaxation, making it easier to focus. Diffusing lavender or applying it topically often helps to calm anxious thoughts, especially when paired with anxiety-reducing Bergamot.
Peppermint: With its invigorating scent, Peppermint can help increase alertness and energy. Diffusing it during study time or applying a diluted blend to your wrists and back of the neck can enhance focus and cognitive function.
GeneYus: KidScents GeneYus contains a blend of essential oils that work well together to promote a sense of calm and focus. Frankincense, Vetiver, Sandalwood and Cedarwood are high in sesquiterpenes and are specifically supportive of calming brain waves into focused or even meditative states. These oils combine with other oils like Northern Lights Black Spruce to create a blend that promotes a productive, calm and grounded atmosphere.
USING OILS FOR FOCUS
When creating your support tools, make sure to include at least one oil that is high in sesquiterpenes (Cedarwood, Vetiver, Sandalwood, Spikenard or GeneYus). Peppermint is crisp and altering and wonderful applied to the back of the neck for focus. Lavender helps to calm the mind and body if there is an overly active component. And both Peppermint and Lavender work even better when it is layered over one of the sesquiterpene-rich oils!
Apply chosen oil(s) to the base of the hairline/brainstem area.
Drop chosen oil(s) onto the scalp and/or apply to your hands, then run through the hair to make a ‘hair diffuser'.
* Make a Focus Roller to use during work, homework, school, meetings or anytime to help focus the mind:
* To a 10mL roller bottle add:
* 15 drops Frankincense
* 10 drops each Vetiver, Cedarwood
* 5 drops Peppermint
* Fill with a carrier of choice. Apply over the heart, back of the neck, on the wrists liberally and frequently. If needed, up the drops of oil to meet your specific needs.
* Place a drop of Vetiver, Cedarwood or Sandalwood into your palm, rub your hands together, then cup your hands over your nose and breathe deeply for a few minutes.
SUPPLEMENTS FOR ADD AND ADHD
Supplements can make a big difference when it comes to managing Add and ADHD. Focusing on nutrient dense supplements and those with brain building blocks like B vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids can go a long way!
Green Omega 3s: Omega-3s are known for their benefits when it comes to brain health and cognitive function, and this can be especially helpful for those with ADD/ADHD.
Super B: A blend of B vitamins that can help support energy levels, brain function, and overall wellness, Super B provides the body with the tools it needs for emotional balance and mental clarity. B vitamins are water soluble, so they need to be replenished every day.
NingXia Nitro: NingXia Nitro is a delicious, energizing wolfberry drink infused with essential oils, botanical extracts, D-ribose, Korean ginseng, and green tea extract to support alertness and cognitive and physical fitness. It is a small tube that can be consumed on its own or mixed into NingXia Red for even more antioxidant support. This is our favorite supplement for getting rid of the brain fog and focusing.
NingXia Red: This antioxidant-rich drink can support overall wellness and energy levels. Packed with vitamins and nutrients, it's a great addition to your daily routine for sustained energy and focus. It also reduces stress and promotes healthy sleep! If there were one supplement you could start for managing ADD or ADHD, NingXia Red would be the one!
OTHER LIFESTYLE TIPS FOR ADD OR ADHD
* Eat a nutrient-dense, whole foods diet. Focus on leafy greens, grass-fed meats, and healthy fats such as coconut or avocado. Eliminate processed foods as much as possible.
* Eliminate food dyes, artificial flavors, and processed sugar. These things add fuel to the fire when it comes to ADD/ADHD. For sweeteners, use natural sugars like honey or maple syrup.
* Support detoxification. Exercise, hydration, and practices like dry brushing can help your body detox more efficiently.
* Prioritize sleep. Sleep is essential for a healthy brain, ADD or not! Prioritize healthy sleep and rest. If you are struggling, consider adding Deep Night Essence and Super Magnesium to your supplement routine.
* Manage stress. Incorporate mindfulness practices like yoga or meditation, and consider using calming essential oils like Lavender or stress-relieving blends like Peace & Calming.
- Bailey Lowe
Certified Functional Nutrition Coach
Young Living Brand Partner
(989) 245-5358
As I continue my nutrition training, one topic keeps coming up.. GUT HEALTH. There are so many people out there with chronic health issues that have no idea that focusing on their gut health could make all the difference!
Do you struggle with Hormone imbalances, Acne, Auto Immunity, Headaches & Migraines, Skin Rashes, Weight Gain, Allergies, Fatigue/Lack of Energey, Food Intollerances, or Brain Frog? These could be signals from your body that you need to focus on your Gut Health.
When symptoms like these happen, it is our body giving us a signal that something is not right. Rather than treat the symptom, wouldn’t you like to get to the root cause and fix it? So let’s talk about our gut health and why it plays such an important role
Your gut is full of a bunch of little microbes or bacteria, good and bad. The key to gut health is keeping hour gut flora (bacteria) balanced. And did you know that 70% of your immune system is in your gut?!?! So if that balance is off, guess what else if off! Yup, your immune system!
Another amazing fact about the gut is the Brain-Gut Connection. Serotonin is our bodies “feel-good” neurotransmitter and 95% of Serotonin is produced in the gut! Can you see why an off balanced gut can cause things like anxiety and depression?
Let’s switch gears and talk about what disrupts your gut health.
- Processed foods
- Stress
- Infections
- Inflamation
- Low Stomach acid
- Environmental Toxins
- Nsaids (Advil, Ibuprofen, Aspirin)
- Antibiotics
- Herbicides & GMO’s
- Artificial Sweeteners
- Steroids
Now that we know what to avoid, how to we repair our gut health?
- Probiotics - getting those good microbes is so important! EVERYONE should be taking a daily probiotic! Your kids too! Fermented foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha, kefir, and yogurt are some ways to get probiotics into your diet too.
- Digestive Enzymes - Many people do not have enough digestive enzymes that are necessary to help metabolize and digest their food. These are essential for those with minor food sensitivities (lactose, gluten, etc) to aid in digestion, reduce bloating, and other symptoms .
- Prebiotics - These are what your good guy gut bacteria feed on, so super important! Some supplements have prebiotics and here are some great foods to add to your diet to get prebiotics - Banana, asparagus, garlic, onion, leeks, Barley.
- Antioxidants - antioxidant rich foods are a huge part of fighting oxidative stress and inflammation in our body! Things like wolf berries, pomegranates, blueberries, green tea, cacao are all great sources of antioxidants. We drink a wolf berry antioxidant drink everyday that makes this step so easy.
- Reduce Stress - This can seem like the hardest thing to do, but taking a few minutes to get on top of your stress when you feel it creeping up can make all the difference. These are some of my favorite quick de-stressors - Take a few deep breaths, stop and write down three things that I am thankful for, listen to a quick guided meditation, put my phone down and read a chapter of a book, go for a walk.
If you read through this and are serious about improving your gut health, let’s do it together! Rather than starting the year off with fad diets we are getting to the core of the problem, fixing our gut to be healthier and feel our best!
I’ll be sharing specific steps to finally get your Gut health in check.
