Ah, Patchouli oil - people seem to love it or hate it. This well know essential oil has a somewhat deserved reputation as scent of Hippy generation (according to one source, it’s use began as a mask for odor of a particularly cherished herb), though it’s traditional use dates back hundreds, perhaps thousands of years. Today, Patchouli oil has a well-deserved reputation in aromatherapy, with it’s deep, musky, and sweet odor, and Earth and Fire balancing energy. It is an exotic aroma that can forever leave an imprint on olfactory memory.

Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin) is a perennial herb native to Southeast Asia, growing wild in Sumatra and Java at elevations between 3,000 and 6,000 feet – though it’s cultivation is more pervasive in lower tropical jungles. This bushy plant grows to height of 3 feet, having a strong stem and soft, hairy leaves. For essential oil production, plant is cut two or three times per year, with best quality oil derived from leaves harvested in wet season. The leaves are hand picked, bundled or baled, and allowed to partially dry in shade and ferment for a few days before oil is extracted via steam distillation (Patchouli oil is now becoming available as a CO2 extract in limited quantities). The fermentation process softens plant’s cell walls, easing extraction of oil.

The relative ease of it’s cultivation, and it’s high oil yield keeps price of true Patchouli essential oils relatively low. It is important to note however, Patchouli is one of few essential oils that improve with age (others being Frankincense, Cedarwood, Sandalwood and Vetiver), and that a properly aged Patchouli oil is much more desirable than a fresh one. Over time, oil looses a harshness that many find distasteful, and adds a sweet top note. As it ages, oil turns from light yellow to a deep amber, with aroma becoming smoother and more rich. Principal constituents of oil include: Patchoulol (25-35%), Alpha-Bulnesene (12-20%), Alpha-Guaiene + Seychellene (15-25%), and Alpha-Patchoulene (5-9%).

If one parent has Adult ADHD, then their child has a 50% chance of inheriting it. If both parents have it, a child is almost 90% likely to have attention deficit disorder. This means there may be more than one ADHD child in a family.

What this means is that attention deficit disorder hyperactive children who have trouble concentrating and sitting still are born to hyperactive ADHD adults who have trouble organizing their day and staying focused on tasks.

This is a real problem, because ADHD child does best in a very structured environment. ADHD child adult ADD They function best when there is a definite routine followed hour by hour...day by day.

Yet they are born to parents who are unorganized and unstructured - this is where family problems start. That is why most ADD ADHD specialists recommend that family go into counseling as a group, or that parents get trained in how to handle children who tend to be difficult.

If you cannot afford a therapist trained in attention deficit disorder or if your insurance does not cover this service, you may want to join a support group through CHADD. Books like Conquer ADD ADHD help you.