Mind Essential Oils

With the month of May being finals week for all those college students, I have decided for this article of the WON Escentuals that we would focus on the essential oils that increases brain function.  Many of us, not just students, want help with our mental function. Our olfactory sense is the closest to our limbic system, which controls emotions, learning, and memory. The limbic system contains many different parts of our brain. One in particular is the hippocampus, which is mainly associated with memory and specifically long-term memory. The hippocampus is one of the first areas affected by Alzheimer’s disease. When essential oils are inhaled through the nose, tiny nerves send an immediate signal to the brain and go straight to work on the systems that moderate our minds. This is how a simple essential oil can have huge effects on the brain.
Due to the vast medicinal chemical components in these essential oils they can not only aid in memory function but they also can be very effective in helping people who suffer from ADHD or chaotic thought. Since essential oils hit the limbic system so quickly they can bring a persons focus back rather rapidly. Research has shown that when diffusing one of these essential oils 3 times in a day for a month, decreased symptoms of ADHD in children by 53 percent. That is an amazing improvement!
Below is a list of the top essential oils to improve brain function:
 

• Peppermint oil: the menthol component in peppermint stimulates the hippocampus, which controls mental clarity and memory. Wakes up the mind and focuses the senses.
• Basil: stimulates the nervous system, helps brain fog, poor memory and fatigue-induced distraction.
• Rosemary: improves prospective memory, long-term memory, and mental arithmetic. A team of psychologists at Northumbria University, Newcastle found rosemary improved memory by 75%.
• Cypress: revitalizes the nervous system, increases objectivity, improves concentration, and helps focus thoughts
• Cinnamon: boosts the activity of the brain and makes a good brain tonic
• Juniper: increases activity of the brain and neurons

 
Here at World of Nutrition we have made two blends that are specified for brain function. “Cognitively Superior” is a blend geared towards memory, retention, and increasing overall brain function. “Motivated Focus” is a blend for ADHD or chaotic thought, and can help keep you on track when studying. Both of these blends can be diffused or made into a roll-on with carrier oil. Below I have also provided a roll-on blend that you can make at home.
 
Brain Tonic
(makes one roll on)

• 6 drops Rosemary (improves long term memory)
• 5 drops Peppermint (stimulates the hippocampus)
• 3 drops Cypress (revitalizes the nervous system)
• 2 drops Cinnamon (boosts activity of the brain)

 
Fill the rest of the roll-on with a carrier oil of your choosing (jojoba oil, coconut oil, or sweet almond oil). Apply to temples, forehead, behind ears, or back of neck where the brain stem is located at the base of the skull. Apply 2 x day for best results or as needed.

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