The start of a new school year is always bittersweet for me. I adore summer and the time home with my kids. But I also look forward to returning to the structure of school days and the tiny bit of alone time I get when everyone is away! The start of a new year brings excitement and apprehension. Essential oils can help you and your kids have a great school year!
One of the best oils for studying is peppermint. In the book "Butterfly Miracles with Essential Oils" LaRee Westover explains that peppermint oil stimulates the mind, increasing the ability to focus and concentrate. Dr. Dembar of the University of Cincinnati discovered in a
research study that inhaling peppermint oil increased the mental accuracy of
the students tested by up to 28%. You could try diffusing peppermint before a big study session. If that's too strong, put a few drops on a cotton ball and keep it in a Ziploc bag (a great way to use oils at school!). Whenever you need a pick-up, open the bag and have a sniff!
Butterfly Express has 3 blended oils that help with mental alertness, memory, and concentration. They are Crystal Clear, Focus, and IQ.
Crystal Clear clears and energizes the mind and increases mental alertness. This blend is very effective when studying or needing to
remember difficult or complicated data. It helps to organize the thought
processes, allowing more accurate recall later.
Application: Crystal Clear can be applied on the brow, along the back of
the neck, on the wrists, and on the temples. It is also useful diffused or
placed, 1 or 2 drops only, in a bath. A few drops on a cotton ball placed next
to you will help keep you alert and awake for a project that needs finishing.
Focus increases mental alertness, clears that "foggy" feeling, and helps to alleviate mental confusion. It is a
great aid to students and others when they face the need to commit something to
memory quickly and be able to recall it with ease later. It also helps us to overcome self-defeating behaviors and negative thought patterns that prevent us from achieving our goals.
Application: This blend can be applied to the areas on the feet that
relate to the neck, head, and brain. These are found on the big toe, both top
and bottom. Focus can also be applied to the wrists and temples. This blend can
be diffused, but it is best to do so for short periods of time only; cinnamon,
cinnamon berry, and ginger are very strong oils for diffusing. They may cause
headache or a burning sensation in the nostrils.
IQ alleviates mental fatigue and increases mental alertness.
It aids in concentration and memory. It is particularly useful when one is
over-tired but must continue on until a project is completed. IQ contains
frankincense, sandalwood, and helichrysum. These oils are high in
sesquiterpenes and cross the blood/brain barrier to cleanse, nourish, and carry
oxygen to the brain.
Application: This blend can be diffused, applied to the neck and throat
or under the nose, or worn as a perfume/cologne.
If you have a nervous student who has anxiety about going back to school, testing, etc. try Tranquility. Tranquility can help us develop inner strength, patience, understanding,
and confidence. Tranquility promotes relaxation and relieves anxiety, stress,
tension, and depression.
Application: Tranquility can be diffused, worn as a perfume, 1-2 drops in a relaxing bath, applied anywhere on the body, or placed on a cotton ball in a Ziploc bag to be sniffed as needed.
When the kids go back to school, they bring home lots of germs! Deliverance is the perfect oil for keeping your immune system healthy. It's anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal. Another great alternative to Deliverance is SpiceC. It has the same properties as Deliverance, but with a more pleasant aroma.
Application: Diffuse, apply 1-2 drops (diluted) to the feet and over the thymus, placed on a cotton ball in a Ziploc bag to be sniffed as needed, in homemade hand soaps.
For kids who have a hard time at school, with or without an ADHD diagnosis, you could try any of the above oils to help them concentrate. Butterfly Expressions also recommends using together Millenia, Tranquility, and Victory specifically for ADHD.
Application: dilute and apply Millenia along the spine and/or feet. Diffuse Tranquility, especially during the early hours of the night; carry an
essential oil diffuser of either one, or both. Apply Victory to the feet.
Have a happy and healthy school year!
