Paula Hinton Aromatherapy
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Aromatherapy for Exams and Studying
Posted on 5 April, 2015 at 12:07 |
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As we enter the
summer term students of all ages are burning the midnight oil working towards
their exams. Anything that can help during this busy time is always appreciated
and believe it or not aromatherapy can help in its own way. Carefully selected
essential oils can boost your productivity and your health. Inhalation of an
agreeable aroma can cause many changes to the body, helping to relax, stimulate
and regulate many of our bodily systems. Essential oils have
been used for thousands of years, by many cultures, for improving mental
activity and strengthening the memory. Our sense of smell is the strongest of
the senses and is able to influence brain activity. Via our olfactory bulbs our
sense of smell is linked to the limbic area of the brain, the part of the brain
that is responsible for, amongst other things, our memories and emotions. An
odour (such as an essential oil) can be used to stimulate this part of the
brain helping our brain to function more efficiently. The connection between
new ideas and scent is developed during learning, so that same scent can
trigger the memory when the information is required, such as during an exam. To
use this information recall technique you need to introduce new odours not used
before, a different essential oils for each subject to be learnt. Whilst studying
vaporise your chosen oil close to your work station, then when it is time to
sit the exam take a tissue infused with the same essential oil with you into
the exam room. This will help to recall the information previously studied. Choosing
an essential oil for each subject is the fun bit as there are so many oils that
could be utilised: ·
Rosemary
is the most cephalic essential oil; its sharp camphorous odour stimulates
mental activity, aids concentration and boosts a fatigued brain as well as
enhancing proscriptive memory. A study in 2003 found that participants who
inhaled rosemary oil during an exam displayed significantly higher cognitive
function. It is also a great stress reliever and balancer. (Not to be used if
you suffer with epilepsy or high blood pressure and avoid during pregnancy). ·
Basil
with its sweet, refreshing smell has similar properties to rosemary. It clears and strengthens the mind, improving
poor memory and fatigue-induced distraction and also helps to relieve headaches
associated with stress and tension. (Avoid during pregnancy). ·
Peppermint
is spicy, fragrant oil and a natural ‘pick-me-up’. This oil wakes the mind,
focuses the senses and improves the memory. It is able to provide relief from
stress and mental exhaustion due to its refreshing, stimulating odour. It
clears the mind and increases focus on cognitive tasks. ( Do not use with
homeopathic remedies). ·
Frankincense
has a softer odour than some of the other essential oils mentioned but I had to
include it for its ability to quieten the mind and support focused attention.
This is a lovely oil to use at the end of a hard revision session as it
actively lowers the blood pressure and calms the mind, helping to clear your
head ready for a sound nights sleep. ·
Lemon
has calming and clarifying properties, helping to promote concentration. It
also helps to calm anger and frustration, emotions often experienced whilst
studying. ·
Ginger
for its ability to energise and uplift, helping to alleviate nervous and mental
exhaustion. Also good for calming nausea so a good oil to use to calm pre-exam
nerves. ·
Lavender
is usually thought of as a relaxant that you would use before bed but its
calming properties can help keep emotional stress in check. Lavender has a
soothing effect on the nervous system so as well as calming nervous tension it
can help relieve headaches and migraines. ·
Eucalyptus
has a cooling and refreshing effect that uplifts and clears the head. This
stimulating oil helps alleviate exhaustion and mental sluggishness. It
stimulates mental activity and as it is considered a vasodilator it increases
blood flow to the brain and the rest of the body. More blood to the brain=more
brain power! ·
Geranium heightens
the imagination so is a great oil for all anyone involved all in artistic
study. Research has shown geranium oil has a synergistic relationship with the
chemistry of the brain as it has been found to activate microglial cells which
are integral components in the fight against neuro-degenerative diseases such
as Alzheimer’s and dementia. |
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