An elementary school teacher, asked about essential oils for focus & concentration in learning & taking tests, settling students down in the mornings, perking them up from after-lunch ‘sleepies,’ and supporting students’ health to prevent illness… Could essential oils do that?
Definitely! Essential oils and essential oil blends have the potential to do all that…and more.
I’ve assembled single essential oils & EO blends that may be helpful for young children in elementary school classrooms and for families at home. Several essential oils serve dual purposes being anti-infectious AND calming OR aiding concentration AND being relaxing…so read through the descriptions to see what you may be interested in trying out.
Essential Oils Improve MEMORY, FOCUS, and CONCENTRATION
*See diffuser notes at the end of the first article in this series: “Preventing Illness by Bolstering Immunity with Essential Oils”
Quoting from the Reference Guide for Essential Oils, compiled by Connie & Alan Higley: “A university in Japan experimented with diffusing different oils in the office. When they diffused LEMON there were 54% few errors, with JASMINE there were 33% fewer errors, and with LAVENDER there were 20% fewer errors.
When oils are diffused while studying and smelled during a test via a hanky, cotton ball or plastic nasal inhaler, test scores may increase by as much as 50%. Different oils should be used for different tests, but the same oil should be used during the test as was used while studying for that particular test. The smell of the oil may help bring back the memory of what was studied.”
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FOREST TREE / CONIFER ESSENTIAL OILS
Essential oils, steam distilled from the needles and bark of forest trees, take you back to nature with their relaxing, refreshing scents of aromatic conifers – fir, pine, and spruce. Inspiring and invigorating, refreshing our senses while relaxing the body with a steadying, calming, balancing effect on emotions. These wonderful essential oils can help overcome feelings of frustration, despair, while supporting feelings of trust and confidence, and encouraging a more positive awareness.
Essential oils to consider: Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea), Cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica), Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menzeisii), White Fir (Abies grandis), Scotch Pine (Pinus sylvestris), Spruce (Picea mariana).
HOW TO USE: For aromatic use. Diffuse or inhale from bottle. (Avoid touching and contaminating the uncapped dripper nozzle of the bottles.)
– Diffuse at home, in classrooms, and the workplace. (These essential oils are antiseptic, anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, and make good disinfectants.)
CAUTIONS:
– Keep ALL essential oils out of children’s reach.
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GRAPEFRUIT (Citrus paradisi)
Grapefruit has a fresh energizing and uplifting aroma. Dissipates negativity, reduces stress & relieves anxiety. Grapefruit also has antiseptic & disinfectant compounds to keep airborne illnesses at bay.
Ingredients: Organic cold pressed grapefruit oil from rind
HOW TO USE: For aromatic use. Diffuse or inhale from bottle. (Avoid touching and contaminating the uncapped dripper nozzle of the bottles.)
– Diffuse at home and workplace.
– This blend may also be used to remove chewing gum & adhesives from your fingers or surfaces.
CAUTIONS:
– May damage plastics / painted surfaces. (Test a small area, first.)
– Keep ALL essential oils out of children’s reach.
– Do not use near fire, flame, heat or sparks.
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LEMON (Citrus limon)
Lemon has a strong, purifying, citrus scent that is revitalizing and uplifting. Lemon consists of 68% dlimonene, a powerful antioxidant. Jean Valnet MD wrote that lemon is a tonic for supporting the nervous and sympathetic nervous system. Lemon also has antiseptic & anti-viral compounds to keep airborne illnesses at bay.
Ingredients: Organic cold pressed lemon oil from rind.
HOW TO USE: For aromatic use. Diffuse or inhale from bottle. (Avoid touching and contaminating the uncapped dripper nozzle of the bottles.)
– Diffuse at home and workplace.
– This blend may also be used to remove chewing gum & adhesives from your fingers or surfaces.
CAUTIONS:
– May damage plastics / painted surfaces. (Test a small area, first.)
– Keep ALL essential oils out of children’s reach.
– Do not use near fire, flame, heat or sparks.
NOTE: Pure therapeutic-quality essential oils may also be used topically & internally, but those applications are not advised for the classroom due to liability issues. Other articles on this blog address those sorts of “personal use” applications.
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PEAKGreen™ 5ml, a GaiasPharmacopeia.com Custom Blend
Another option is one of our custom blends that I find incredibly refreshing. Formulated for aging memory issues, I’m sure it would work well in a classroom situation, since both Rosemary and Lavender essential oils have been found to improve image and number recall in laboratory studies.
SOURCE: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2090506816301944
Ingredients: Rosemary, Basil, Lavender & Peppermint…all invigorating mental clarity essential oils.
~ Available by Special Order ONLY: Email Cynthe[at}EssentialOilsForHealing[dot]com
HOW TO USE: For aromatic use. Diffuse or inhale from bottle. (Avoid contaminating the uncapped dripper nozzle.)
– Diffuse at home and workplace.
CAUTIONS:
The only caveats would be kids/adults who have epilepsy or high blood pressure:
Rosemary & Basil are contraindicated for epilepsy.
Rosemary & Peppermint are contraindicated for high blood pressure.
Diffusing the blend would not be as risky as the molecules will be so dispersed, but definitely it would not be advised for topical applications…..which you wouldn’t be doing in a classroom situation, anyway.
~ Keep ALL essential oils out of children’s reach.
RESOURCES:
Essential Oils Bolster Immunity: Outstanding Teachers Classroom Aides (Part 1 of 3)
Essential Oils to Settle Down & Calm: Outstanding Teachers Classroom Aides (Part 3 of 3)
