The Vetiver Essential Oil ADD Experiment---The Hows and Outcomes

In other words, part 2!

Yesterday I posted about the hows and whys of using Vetiver essential oil for ADD/ADHD. I got so carried away with all the information that I decided our personal story needed to wait until today. If you missed yesterday's post, I suggest your read it first to lay the foundation.

Mija has never been diagnosed with ADD or ADHD. I think there are some definite short attention spans that just arise from being having a sanguine personality! (After all, somewhere else there has to be something more interesting and fun than the schoolwork I'm doing.)

Personally, I suffer with ADCD:

See, I just went "squirrel"!! Now, back on topic.

If you read the original post, you know that we started with just Vetiver and applied it to her big toes.

We noticed a difference immediately in attitude, attention and work quality. BUT there one caveat...

No essential oil can change a heart's 

willful, sinful desire.

Using Vetiver oil allowed us to see that some physical or personal elements were affected by the oil, but it did not have any affect on those times when willfulness was demonstrated in attitude and effort (or lack there of). To us this became a secondary benefit of Vetiver because it provided assistance in better seeing the character changes that continue to need to be addressed. It showed that it was not all outright disobedience nor was it all a physical or mental nature. 

We did change how we used it. While sometimes mija still requests some for her toes, we now usually diffuse it.

Here is the mixture I've been using

6 drops of Vetiver

6 drops of Lemon

4 drops of Ylang ylang or Bergamot

The Vetiver is a given. 

Lemon is amazing. It promotes clarity of thought and purpose. There was a research study (which I haven't eyeballed yet) which showed a dramatic improvement in mental accuracy and concentration and test scores increasing as much as 50%. I have not even mentioned all the physical/health benefits! Besides, it just smells "purdy". 

The Ylang ylang or Bergamot are current choices we are making for hubby and me. Might as well oil up the whole family!

I am ordering some Cedarwood oil to use in addition to the Vetiver to see if it makes a further difference. 

Never too many oils!

The Vetiver Essential Oil ADD Experiment---The whys and wherefores

Back in September, I shared about our first day of

school and my use of Vetiver essential oil to help with attention during school.

I promised to get back with my results and insights, so here I am!

First, let me tell you a little bit about the Vetiver/ADHD connection.

Dr. Terry Friedmann did a study on the benefits of using Vetiver, Cedarwood, and Lavender essential oils with ADD/ADHD children. Now I'm going to be honest with you. The study was very small, but many essential oil people treat it like the Holy Grail AND misuse it. Let me explain how.

If you look at the actual study Dr. Friendmann admits that when it came to ADHD/ADD, Vetiver had good results, Cedarwood worked pretty well, but Lavender made little difference. Some essential oil people I have seen, however, give all three equal billing in being useful for attention deficit. They are not.

Here are the words of the good doctor himself,

In summary, based on this study, I would not hesitate to recommend the use of the essential oil 

Vetiver in the treatment of children diagnosed as having ADHD. I would even consider using the 

essential oil Cedarwood in situations where Vetiver was not available or other cases in which Vetiver 

was not appropriate. 

 Certainly, the essential oil Vetiver proved to be the treatment of choice between the three 

different oils used in this study. 

From my reading, I agree that to be an accurate finding from his study.

As far as the size of the study, that part does not bother me because there have been a lot of anecdotal evidence which I have found interesting and supportive.

The results of the study and others experience are not surprising when you consider the qualities of Vetiver and Cedarwood.

Cedarwood stimulates the limbic region of the brain and stimulates the pineal gland. It has calming and purifying properties.
Vetiver:

Okay, I've dished the dirt about Dr. Friedmann's study and what Vetiver does, tomorrow I'll tell you about what has been going on with us personally.

Make sure to check out PART 2--The Hows and the Outcomes by clicking HERE!

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How American Homeschoolers Measure Up

Source: TopMastersInEducation.com

Friday Funny---Homeschool Barbie

Homeschool Barbie™

Submitted by CSandkc 

Need a Christmas gift for your sheltered home schooled children? Well now there's Homeschool Barbie™!

Homeschool Barbie™ is just the toy for your precious little angel. She has a fresh, clean complexion and simply styled hair to show forth her natural beauty. And because she loves her family so much, she keeps right on smiling as she rises with the sun and works until long after they're in bed, and she has the eyes to prove it. (Coffeemaker and mood enhancers not included.)

Homeschool Barbie™ comes modestly attired in a denim jumper with an embroidered t-shirt for warm months and a turtleneck for winter. And no bare legs and flip-flops for this doll--her legs and feet are properly covered with dark tights and comfortable shoes. As an added bonus, Homeschool Barbie's™ underclothes are painted on. So, even when your daughters are interrupted at play, your boys won't be scandalized by the sight of a naked Barbie™.

SEE THE REST HERE!!

Moving Home & School

We are going to be moving this week. It's been a little overwhelming. We no longer have a minivan, so we can't carry as much to storage with each trip and of course, we can't move any of our regular stuff in until this weekend.

I was facing a January full of moving, homeschooling, Cubbies, and homeschool group.

Thankfully, I shared my load with ladies at church which brought a quick response of prayer. Also, other mom's jumped in to take over my responsibilities in the homeschool group this month. A big blessing was the encouragement and advice I received.

Then I felt a little ashamed because I had actually written about moving for the Home Educating Family Blog before!! Apparently, I needed to relearn what I wrote!

See if you can glean from it the first time as I review it!

We recently had the challenge of moving. It was not a planned move, and we only had two weeks’ notice, so challenge is the correct word in my opinion!

Thankfully, it was during the summer. We do not “officially” school during the summer, although a lot of learning takes place. The fact that we were free of formal educating, of course, added in our transition. Here are some things I did before we moved to prepare us for next school year after the move.

• Remember that living skills are learning skills. My daughter was old enough to help with the move somewhat. She learned how to put boxes together. She helped pack boxes and had to consider how to actually place things in a box and not just toss things in a box! She observed the strategy in packing what you need least first and what you need most last. Life skills are education.
• 
  

- See the rest at: http://hedua.com/blog/moving-home-and-school/#sthash.jC4NRVWi.dpuf

Friday Funny--Seven More Lies about Homeschoolers by Blimey Cow

Appreciation Notes for a Homeschool Mom

My daughter like to make cards and notes for individuals. Sometimes I'm actually the recipient!

After a long day of hitting the books at home, it was a big blessing to receive this...

I'm the best teacher!! I know the rest of you really try, but obviously, I'm the best.

But not only do I rock at teaching!

That's right. I'm the best mom in the WORLD!  What makes me qualified for this title you may ask?

Apparently, I like to cook. Well, I cook but actually I don't really like to do so. 
But this one was the kicker!

Okay, this is true. I do rest a lot. I'm not sure how it qualifies me as best mom in the world, but I'll take it. I do appreciate how THIN this picture makes me look!

Have you been shown appreciation lately?

Quote--Laura Ingalls Wilder

“I believe it would be much better for everyone if children were given their start in education at home. No one understands a child as well as his mother, and children are so different that they need individual training and study. A teacher with a room full of pupils cannot do this. At home, too, they are in their mother’s care. She can keep them from learning immoral things from other children.” 
~Laura Ingalls Wilder

Friday Funny---Beware the Homeschooler

I've been busy! Homeschool Subbing!

I've been hit and miss the past few weeks because I've been busy.

Some friends' baby came a month early and ended up needing intestinal surgery (she's doing much better but is still in the hospital recovering).

Needless to say, momma needs to be with the baby, so I watched the four other ones for a few days and finished home schooling the two older ones for the rest of the school year.

Two Blackfoot and one Crow
Signing "Girl loves friend"

It was a blessing to be able to help this way and gave all the homeschool girls a chance to see how the other half does it.

• First grade vs. Third grade
• Several vs. One
• Set curriculum vs. Eclectic/Classical
• Traditional vs. Flexible

It all worked out fine. I dusted off some of my multi-grade teaching skills from when I was in the classroom and adapted them for our situation.

We had a really "hard" day the last day together. We reviewed poem the two younger ones had learned throughout the year. This was also a review for mija who had learned the same poems about 3 1/2 years ago.

Then we finished reading The Borrowers. It took about an hour, but it was worth it. It has provided a lot of discussion during our times together.

I must have done something right during my subbing because I was awarded with the ultimate teacher appreciation gift...

  

The Benefits of Homeschool for One

Photo Credit: Home Educating Family Blog

Today I'm over at Home Educating Family Blog. Come check out my article!

Staying on my Wall--my new article at Homeschool Survival

I have a new article posted at Homeschool Survival. Sarah's goal for the site is it to be refuge for homeschoolers who are going through hard times. Let's face it. We all go through them at times.

• death in the family
• messy house
• lack of car
• health issues
• unemployment
• you get the idea

My article is about homeschooling during my husband's recent unemployment. It's entitled, Staying on my Wall. I'd love for you to go check it out!

Infographic of Homeschool Statistics--Apologia

An Education Contrary to the Will of God

I subscribe to sermonaudio.com. I received emails with audio links from various pastors (including mine) recorded sermons. I don't always listen to them because of time and, well, just listening to a sermon is hard for me, but I'm working on it.

It did catch my eye, however, when I saw the title "An Education Contrary to the Will of God" with a tag of "Government Schools".

The message is 37 minutes long. I listened to it while I played worked on Pinterest. He makes a lot of truthful and insightful points although he does it in a very judgmental way. BUT maybe those who don't see the dangers of the public school system need to be challenged. I don't know.

Here's the link to the audio. Tell me what you think.

Moving Home and School & Well Planned Day Giveaway reminder

Photo courtesy of Home Educating Family 

Today I'm posted over at Home Educating Family Blog. It's entitled Moving Home and School. It's about a few things I did during our recent move to help prepare for this coming school year. It really has helped! We're ready to go!

Please check out my article...HERE


Also, don't forget my giveaway for a subscription to Home Educating Family's planning software "My Well Planned Day." The giveaway ends this Wednesday, Aug. 22 at midnight.
Here's the link to the review or
Go ahead and enter now if you haven't done so already!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Linked to:
 

Homeschool Freebie of the Day

If you've been around, you know I love FREE!!! Let me let you in on a freebie secret. Sign up for Homeschool Freebie of the Day! Every week you get an email of the freebie they will offer each day of the week AND if you sign up, you will also receive emails for freebies only offered to subscribers. I've gotten tons of great things from this site!

So, sign up for Homeschool Freebie of the Day.


Don't forget some more freebies and good deals!

Friday Funny--The Dangers of Homeschooling

Friday Funny--Two Views of Homeschooling

Friday Funny

There's nothing like being able to home school on the run!  ;-)

Friday Funny--The 14 Days of Homeschool

Just in time for Friday, The Home Scholar shared this on FaceBook.