Which essential oils might help me focus?

Oils are wonderful for mood and focus. If you're feeling a bit out of sorts and can't focus on the task at hand, essential oils have a brilliant way of working with the body to influence brain activity. If you think about it, it's not so hard to believe that essential oils can work in this way - our sense of smell, courtesy of our olfactory system, is the strongest of our senses and our olfactory sensors have a direct connection to the brain.

"Each olfactory neuron has one odor receptor. Microscopic molecules released by substances around us—whether it's coffee brewing or pine trees in a forest—stimulate these receptors. Once the neurons detect the molecules, they send messages to your brain, which identifies the smell. There are more smells in the environment than there are receptors, and any given molecule may stimulate a combination of receptors, creating a unique representation in the brain. These representations are registered by the brain as a particular smell." (1)

Think about it - instead of relying on stimulants such as caffeine, alcohol or sugar (an overuse of which can have detrimental effects on our health and wellbeing), we can use natural plant extracts of the highest quality. They're safe (when used correctly), economical (especially when compared with the cost of poor health and long lists of medication) and easy to use.

Check out this great experiment conducted by a third grade student in the US using dōTERRA essential oils to see whether certain essential oils could improve focus, test scores, and overall classroom behavior. 

"Over the course of the study, most of the class felt less tired, seemed more alert, and students had an easier time remembering answers and paying attention during lessons. The class average for the math test jumped from 83.5 percent to 93.1 percent by the end of the second week. “My study shows that diffusing essential oils improves our class behavior. We were able to remember our answers and stay focused throughout the day.” Fallon is very excited for next year’s science fair. She is planning on doing another experiment with doTERRA essential oils!

1. Increased focus and alertness
2. Improved overall mood
3. Math test score improved by 10 percent"

The way I use essential oils when it relates to mood is to diffuse a blend of oils that are well known for their effects on concentration or I dilute and apply them topically. A great place to apply oils when it relates to mood is to the mastoid bone behind the ears or the occipital triangle at the base of the neck. You can also rub a drop or two between your palms, close your eyes and inhale.

As always, it's important to address the underlying issue. Why are you finding it hard to concentrate? Do you need to address overstimulation so you can get your work or study done or perhaps you're physically and mentally tired and need stimulation. Different oils will have different effects on the body so it's important to get your hands on a good resource or two so you have something to turn to when you want to make yourself a blend to diffuse or apply.

I've used many oils over the years and the company I've chosen to align myself with is dōTERRA. You can get your oils for the same wholesale price as me by clicking here. Setting up a wholesale account with me to guide you ensures you have the support you need to incorporate these oils into your day-to-day life with ease.

Okay, so which oils would I choose to help me get sh!t done? Let's see...

Concentration / Focus
In Tune - Focus Blend
Lavender
Lemon
Douglas Fir
Petitgrain
Peppermint
Orange
Cardamom
Frankincense
Myrrh
Vetiver
Cedarwood
Cypress
Juniper Berry
Eucalyptus
Rosemary
Sandalwood
Ylang Ylang

Alertness
Wintergreen
Peppermint

Focus attention
Frankincense

Brain function/cognition
Cinnamon
Clove
Marjoram
Rosemary

Reduces confusion
Basil
Clary Sage
Rosemary

Stimulates creativity
Helichrysum
Myrrh
Peppermint
Petitgrain

Stimulates imagination
Geranium

Reduces mental distraction
Myrrh

Energising
Cassia
Fennel
Grapefruit
Lemongrass
Rosemary
Spearmint
White Fir

Relieves mental fatigue
Black pepper
Eucalyptus
Ginger
Lemongrass
Peppermint
Rosemary
Spearmint
Thyme

Removes frustration
Ginger
Lemon
Ylang Ylang

Promotes inspiration
Clary sage

Supports memory
Black Pepper
Coriander
Rosemary
Sandalwood
Thyme

Promotes mental clarity
Basil
Patchouli

Mentally stimulating
Basil
Rosemary

Motivating
Basil
Ginger

Encourages self confidence
Basil
Clove
Cypress
Fennel
Tea Tree
Peppermint
Rosemary
Thyme
Wintergreen

Combats worry
Juniper berry
Roman chamomile

How do I get these oils for myself? 

Visit my doTERRA store to open your own wholesale account and get your own essential oils for the same price as me! Or ask me for more information. 

If you're ready to go ahead and access wholesale prices for yourself, there are step by step instructions here.

References: 

(1) NIH - National Cancer Institute

Johnson, S. (2015) Evidence-based Essential Oil Therapy - The Ultimate Guide to the Therapeutic and Clinical Application of Essential Oils (1st ed.).

The essential life: a simple guide to living the wellness lifestyle. (2015). Total Wellness Publishing.

Which oils may help me with discomfort and aches and pains?

While I've always been open to the use of natural medicine to support me and my family through illness, it took the discovery of these beautiful, high quality essential oils to give me the confidence to make aromatherapy blends for myself. It's so liberating to know that you can learn about the therapeutic benefits of these oils in order to address day-to-day concerns. I haven't popped a pain relief pill or anti-inflammatory medication for years and usually suffer through a headache or sore muscles or PMS but now the oils have made me more proactive in dealing with pain. 

Addressing these issues with essential oils is nothing new - people have been doing it for thousands of years. However, feeling empowered to safely and responsibly use these oils to address these issues myself in my own home is life-changing.

While many oils have anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, we all know they also have the capacity to support our emotions. So imagine the double whammy you get from supporting your body's innate healing capabilities with the oils' ability to lift your mood or calm you!

I like to make on the spot blends to deal with acute issues that way I can make them to suit not only the issue I want to address but also the person. Children need a lower ratio of essential oils to carrier oils, so I don't want to make up a blend that could be too strong for them and also I don't want to have 15,000 bottles around the house for occasional use. I love having my oil collection to use and blend and adapt on an ad hoc basis. 

For pain relief, I would use my oils topically over or around the area in question. For on the spot use (such as sprains, headaches, cramps, 'growing pains' and/or muscular aches), I would use a teaspoon or two of carrier oil (such as Fractionated Coconut Oil or Sweet Almond Oil) and pour it into a small bowl (or even my palm). I then add the required amount of essential oils. My children are all over 6 years old, so I usually dilute to around a 1 - 2% dilution, which in the case of a teaspoon of carrier oil, is one or two drops of essential oil. Some oils aren't safe for use on young children so please be sure to check with a reputable reference / source before application.

So, which oils can we use to support our bodies through pain such as headaches, migraines, muscle aches/ pain, and period pain? 

To soothe a headache
Some oils known for their headache soothing abilities are:
Roman chamomile
Frankincense
Ginger
Lavender
Rosemary
Basil
Coriander
lemongrass
Peppermint
Spearmint
Thyme

It's also important to consider the root cause of your headache, whether it be a food issue (intolerance, blood sugar, hunger), sinus, muscle tension or stress.

To soothe a sinus headache
Oils that can help with pain over the sinuses are:
Melissa
Cedarwood
Rosemary
Peppermint
Cilantro

To soothe a headache caused by blood sugar imbalance
Cinnamon
Cassia
Smart & Sassy - the metabolic blend
On Guard - the protective blend
Zendocrine - the detoxification blend
Coriander
Eucalyptus
Fennel
Geranium

To soothe a tension headache
Frankincense
Peppermint
Past Tense - the tension blend
Ice Blue - the athletic blend

For general pain relief
Basil
Bergamot
Birch
Black Pepper
Cassia
Cinnamon
Clove
Coriander
Eucalyptus
Fennel
Frankincense
Geranium
Ginger
Helichrysum
Juniper Berry
Lavender
Lemon
Lemongrass
Marjoram
Oregano
Peppermint
Roman Chamomile
Rosemary
Sandalwood
Spearmint
Tea Tree
Thyme
Vetiver
White Fir
Wintergreen

When you need an anti-inflammatory cream, try:
Basil
Bergamot
Birch
Black Pepper
Cedarwood
Clove
Cypress
Frankincense
Geranium
Ginger
Helichrysum
Lavender
Lemon
Lemongrass
Lime
Marjoram
Myrrh
Oregano
Patchouli
Petitgrain
Roman Chamomile
Sandalwood
Spearmint
Tea Tree
Thyme
Vetiver
White Fir
Wintergreen
Ylang Ylang

To relieve bone pain
Wintergreen

To soothe earache
(never put oils IN the ear)
Basil
Lavender
Tea Tree
I've also successfully used DigestZen to soothe an earache.

To alleviate menstrual pain/PMS/cramps
Cinnamon
Clary Sage
Coriander
Cypress
Juniper Berry
Lavender
Marjoram
Oregano
Roman Chamomile
Rosemary

How do I get these oils for myself? 

Visit my doTERRA store to open your own wholesale account and get your own essential oils for the same price as me! Or ask me for more information. 

If you're ready to go ahead and access wholesale prices for yourself, there are step by step instructions here.

References: 

Butje, A. (2017). The Heart of Aromatherapy - An Easy-to-Use Guide for Essential Oils (1st ed.). Carlsbad, California: Hay House, Inc.

Johnson, S. (2015) Evidence-based Essential Oil Therapy - The Ultimate Guide to the Therapeutic and Clinical Application of Essential Oils (1st ed.).

The essential life: a simple guide to living the wellness lifestyle. (2015). Total Wellness Publishing.

Which essential oils can help me relax?

I was chatting with a friend over the weekend. She's recently received her Home Essentials Kit but is a little overwhelmed by it all. That's totally understandable - here is this kit of oils and everyone is raving about their uses and benefits and how life changing they can be ... but where do you start?

She thought it would be beneficial to know which oils could be used in different situations, such as when you want to relax or when you want to focus or when you want to be uplifted and cheered. I'm going to do a series of posts on groups of oils, characterised by their reported therapeutic benefits.

I've used my reference books to make blends over the past few months and have had huge success with mood, pain, focus, sleep, hormonal issues and even a caffeine addiction. There's no denying these oils are powerful but they're useless if you don't know how to use them!

My first post is about the oils we can use to support us when we want to feel calm and relaxed or when we want others - such as our kids ;) - to calm down.

It's a very gentle, non-confronting way to use essential oils to help you fall asleep at night or perhaps to stay balanced and calm during a stressful day or situation. You can apply the oils topically (in a balm, body oil or massage blend) or diffuse them in an ultrasonic diffuser to disperse the oils into the air as you work or sleep.  

To relax
Some oils known for their relaxing and calming properties are: Lavender Peace/Serenity, Whisper, basil, bergamot, roman chamomile, Melissa, petitgrain, spikenard, and wintergreen.

To sleep
Oils that have particularly sedating properties are: Lavender Peace/Serenity, bergamot, cedarwood, clary sage, cypress, frankincense, geranium, juniper berry, lavender, lemon, lemongrass, marjoram, myrrh, sandalwood, spikenard and ylang ylang.

To manage stress
Oils that have the ability to support the body during stressful times are: Balance - the grounding blend, basil, cardamom, cedarwood, clary sage, frankincense, grapefruit, helichrysum, lavender, lemon, lemongrass, lime, marjoram, orange, patchouli, roman chamomile, rose, rosemary, sandalwood, spearmint, spikenard, tangerine, vetiver, ylang ylang. 

To calm tantrums
Balance - the grounding blend, chamomile

To soothe feelings of sorrow and grief
Console - the comforting blend, cypress, frankincense, marjoram, Melissa, rose, vetiver

To alleviate worry and anxious feelings
Peace - the reassuring blend, juniper berry, roman chamomile, basil, bergamot, cedarwood, clary sage, coriander, fennel, frankincense, lavender, lime, marjoram, Melissa, orange, petitgrain, spearmint, spikenard, tangerine, vetiver, ylang ylang.

How do I get these oils for myself? 

Visit my doTERRA store to open your own wholesale account and get your own essential oils for the same price as me! Or ask me for more information. 

If you're ready to go ahead and access wholesale prices for yourself, there are step by step instructions here.

References: 

Johnson, S. Evidence-based Essential Oil Therapy - The Ultimate Guide to the Therapeutic and Clinical Application of Essential Oils (1st ed.).

The essential life: a simple guide to living the wellness lifestyle. (2015). Total Wellness Publishing.

Chocolate Spearmint 'Nicecream.'

I hope you like my latest 'nicecream' flavour. It's dairy, gluten and yucky additive free with a beautiful secret ingredient to avoid having to use artificial colours. 

Spirulina is a nutritional powerhouse with around 60% highly digestible protein (comparable to eggs), containing all essential amino acids and is a great source of antioxidants. Spirulina has 26 times more calcium than milk and is an excellent source of iron, which makes it great for vegetarians, vegans and during pregnancy. Check the purity of your spirulina so you can be sure it isn't contaminated with pesticides and herbicides. This is the one I like to use.

Many refer to Spirulina as one of the most nutrient dense foods in the planet. It's a shame it doesn't taste very nice! I like to take it in tablet form but the powder is great for smoothies and ice cream such as this! In this recipe, the Spearmint oil and the maple syrup balance out the banana flavour and the spirulina is not detectable at all. 

Chocolate Spearmint Nicecream
(Serves 4 - 5)

• 5 frozen bananas (peeled and cut into bite sized pieces prior to freezing). You can even buy organic frozen banana in the supermarket now if you want to make this immediately and don't have any in the freezer. 
• ~~~~1 tspn powdered spirulina
• ~~1/4 cup coconut cream
• 1 Tblspn maple syrup (or honey) 
• 8 drops dōTERRA spearmint essential oil

Throw all ingredients except the Spearmint oil in your Thermomix or high speed blender and blitz for 20 seconds, gradually working up to speed 9. Scrape down the sides with your spatula, add the spearmint oil and blitz for 10 more seconds on speed 8. It should be beautifully creamy. 

Choose your own dark chocolate or chocolate chips to mix through or sprinkle on top and voilà! Deliciously healthy icecream!

Reference: Moorhead, K., Capelli, B., & Cyseweski, G. R., PhDP. (2011). Spirulina Nature's Superfood (3rd ed.). Kailua-Kona, HI: Cyanotech Corporation.