Focus

When to Use: Body and mind revved up making it difficult to concentrate and pay attention and easy to get distracted. Feeling scattered. Difficulty sitting or standing still leading to constant fidgeting, overactivity, and becoming easily distracted. Becoming anxious, emotional, impatient and/or irritated in social situations, and having difficulty communicating with others. 

Many people, kids and adults, experience symptoms like this--some more frequently, some once in a while. Sometimes these symptoms are given a name, and sometimes they're just part of who we are. Essential oils have been shown to help ease these uncomfortable symptoms. "Focus" blend is safe for adults and children age 2+.

When you're going into a situation where focus, social interaction, and communication are necessary, and constant moving about is not possible, "Focus" essential oil blend can help. Instructions for use are below. 

Description: A pleasant, well-balanced blend of citrus, wood, and flower essential oils makes this blend unique. 

Ingredients and Benefits:

• Green Mandarin - may ease "nervous stomach"
• Bergamot - has been shown to be relaxing and uplifting. May balance mood.
• Bulgarian Lavender - evidence shows it may decrease anxiety and aggression and increase social interaction
• Himalayan Cedarwood - improves focus, supports good sleep
• Vetiver - "Oil of Tranquility". Said to enhance concentration, decrease impatience and irritation, helps control anger
• Ylang Ylang - calm hyperactivity, decrease "meltdowns"  

How to Use: If possible, begin using about 15 minutes before an event in which you anticipate experiencing the above symptoms -- taking a test, making a presentation, attending a social event -- so the uncomfortable symptoms are diminished or eased completely.  If the symptoms pop up unexpectedly, use as soon as possible. 

From the scent jar or inhaler, open and take several deep, slow breaths in through the nose and out through the mouth. As you do this, feel yourself becoming calm, focused, and confident that you will succeed at the upcoming event. Relax your muscles. Continue for 3-5 minutes. Repeat as necessary. 

Roll a small amount of oil on your wrists; bring to your nose for a discrete but deep sniff, or take a discrete sniff from your inhaler if symptoms begin to return. The components of the oils travel directly from your nose to the limbic portion of the brain, where they work their magic. The open scent jar on your desk or where you are working will gently scent the environment, and you can easily bring it closer for a few deep breaths when needed. 

Additional Information: Research has shown that when kids are instructed to "inhale when feeling scattered", inhaling lavender, cedarwood, and vetiver increased performance by 53%, 83% and 100% respectively. Other studies have shown that different essential oils enhance concentration, decrease impatience and irritation, increase alertness, decrease aggression, increase social interaction. Many studies were done using individual oils; in blends the oils can actually potentiate each other, or make the blend more effective. 

Additional Benefits of this essential oil blend: Every essential oil has a range of benefits. The oils I chose for this blend contain components that should ease a wide range of emotional and physical symptoms described here. Additional benefits may include creating a soothing environment for rest, analgesic (may ease head or neck tension), anti-inflammatory, provides respiratory support as a decongestant and expectorant.