How To Focus Your Mind Using Essential Oils

Let’s face it. It’s hard to concentrate right now. There are so many things happening in the world that it can be difficult to get your mind to focus on anything, and it can feel like a battle to concentrate on things that were once simply routine. 

So, what makes it so hard for your mind to focus in stressful times?

Well, let’s take a look at what actually happens inside your brain and then I’ll share with you how using your sense of smell, with the support of essential oils, can help.

STRESS SIGNALS STRENGTHEN THE PRIMITIVE BRAIN SYSTEMS

Let’s say you’re working on a big strategic project at work, or you’re trying to write an article for a blog, or you’re simply deciding what to make for dinner tonight, or even just trying to remember what you have to get done for the day. All of these tasks are considered “higher function” tasks that are processed by your brain’s prefrontal cortex - the “thinking” part of your brain. And this part of the brain is also what helps you focus. 

So, what ends up happening when you’re stressed is that this part of your brain is weakened and the stress signals actually strengthen the primitive parts of your brain. For example, if a tiger starts running at you, you’re going to be extremely stressed, right? In that situation your brain is going to shut down the prefrontal cortex (no time to analyze the situation) and make way for the primitive parts of your brain (your instincts kick in - run!). The good news here is that once you’ve run away from the tiger, your brain is ready to use the “thinking” part of your brain again. It’s short-term. 

But these days we’re not dealing with short-term dangers, like tigers running at us, but rather ongoing, chronic stress caused by the events of our time. Which means that we’re constantly working with our primitive brain and cutting off the part of the brain that helps us do higher functions like deciding what to eat for dinner, or doing our job effectively. And ongoing stress means our ability to focus is significantly affected.

HOW ESSENTIAL OILS CAN HELP

A fundamental part of aromatherapy is using your sense of smell. And what makes your sense of smell different from all your other senses is that odor signals go to two parts of the brain at the same time. None of your other senses does that - not taste, touch, sight or sound. Only smell.  And the two parts of the brain that receive odor signals are your prefrontal cortex, your “thinking” brain and your limbic system, which is your primitive brain. So using essential oils can greatly influence your ability to focus by affecting the “thinking” brain, while helping to manage stress by influencing the primitive brain.

Here are different ways you can focus your mind using essential oils. The selected essential oils have been shown either empirically through centuries of evidence, or analytically through scientific study, to improve concentration and mental focus.

IF FEELING UNFOCUSED WHILE STUDYING OR WORKING:

Skin care blend:

1oz/30ml bottle of jojoba oil (or other carrier) blended with:

4 drops Frankincense (Boswellia carterii)

3 drops Lemon (Citrus limon)

3 drops Coriander (Coriandrum sativum)

Diffuser blend:

5 drops Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

2 drops Laurel Leaf (Laurus nobilis)

2 drops Peppermint (Mentha x piperita)

IF FEELING RESTLESS AND DISTRACTED

Skin care blend:

1oz/30ml bottle of jojoba oil (or other carrier) blended with:

4 drops Frankincense (Boswellia carterii)

3 drops Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens)

Diffuser blend:

4 drops Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

3 drops Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus)

3 drops Lemon (Citrus limon)

IF FEELING INDECISIVE:

Skin care blend:

1oz/30ml bottle of jojoba oil (or other carrier) blended with:

4 drops Clary Sage (Salvia sclarea)

3 drops Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

Diffuser blend:

4 drops Clary Sage (Salvia sclarea)

3 drops Sweet Orange (Citrus sinensis)

3 drops Coriander (Coriandrum sativum)

IF FEELING FORGETFUL:

Skin care blend:

1oz/30ml bottle of jojoba oil (or other carrier) blended with:

4 drops Pine  (Pinus sylvestris)

2 drops Lemon (Citrus limon)

2 drops Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

Diffuser blend:

4 drops Pine  (Pinus sylvestris)

4 drops Laurel Leaf (Laurus nobilis)

3 drops Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia)