BACK TO SCHOOL PART I - Essential oils for for concentration, focus and fatigue

Ever wondered how essential oils can help your children (and you) during periods of tiredness and fatigue?  

Whether it's for boosting their concentration or energy levels, or for soothing anxiety and overwhelm, there is a blend and an oil out there that has been demonstrated - in scientific studies no less! - to help with their needs and to help them build and grow into independent young adults.

This week is the first of two blog posts addressing the concerns and difficulties that your brood may face when they get back to the classroom or head off to university.

And this week it is all about concentration, focus and fatigue... which may also be an issue for you!

After the long and lazy summer holidays, the act of setting an alarm and getting up and back into a routine is a challenge, for adults and kids alike.  Combined with that, they have to be on the ball, focused and able to concentrate.  No wonder in the first month of being back at school you can end up with mornings full of bleary eyes, angry outbursts, tears and overwhelmed meltdowns.

I'm a huge advocate for using essential oils to help with some of these tiredness/concentration challenges.

In a recent wide reaching analysis of Pub Med scientific studies, it was concluded that "At the uppermost levels, cognitive functions and behaviors were fully affected by essential oils.  A snapshot summary of a sample of the oils studied concluded that Rosemary essential oil improved cognition using a computerized cognitive task. Spearmint and peppermint essential oils modulated performance during a demanding cognitive task and reduced mental fatigue during a prolonged cognitive task. Petitgrain essential oil could improve performance in the workplace when added to an aroma diffuser in the work room"*

And there are many more studies looking at other invigorating essential oils that have drawn similar positive conclusions.  Plus, alongside all the 'actual science' I've seen the anecdotal evidence in real life both on myself, with my own children and with people and clients that I know.  There's no getting away from it - certain essential oils really DO help with tiredness and mental concentration.

So. How do you use essential oils to boost cognitive performance?

The simplest way is via inhalation - a direct hit from the olfactory bulb into the brain.  It's easy and relatively inexpensive to invest in a diffuser and at Bloom we love using the mini desk ones that can be found here, as they are USB charged, water free and don't make a mess or take up space..  These are great to use for homework/study at home.

For on-the-go use of essential oils, you can add a few drops of oil to a tissue that is kept up a sleeve and inhaled on during the day while at school or at work.

Listed below is a snapshot of some of the key oils that you can use individually.  However it's always better to have a full spectrum blend so we have created our Focus Essential Oil which is available here.  Or if you are a menopausal mum and in need of clearing the brain fog, you can buy a bottle of our excellent Brain Fog Blend here.