Honoring Our Dad’s

This Sunday, many Americans will be honoring the men in their lives by celebrating Father’s Day. Although we can’t put a price tag on fatherly love, some have tried. According to insure.com, the average amount of time a “normal” dad spent on household chores would earn him an income of $26,150/year. Although earning less than most mom’s in this area, a reverse glass ceiling, this doesn’t factor in dad’s salary for work outside the home. It also doesn’t factor in the fact that dad’s mere presence is priceless for the emotional and physical health of his children.

My point is, dad’s do a lot!  Unfortunately, because of some of our societal expectations and gender roles, as well as the “mismatch” between how men think and the therapies available for mental health, our guys also may be suffering in silence.

 

The “Strong and Silent Type” May Be Bad for Men’s Health

According to an article published on Psychology today, “Men’s Mental Health: A Silent Crisis”:

Numerous researchers have recently stated that there is a silent crisis in men’s mental health. This is based on robust evidence that men have high rates of various mental health issues.

These include elevated rates of suicide and substance abuse, as well as low rates of mental health service use. Sadly, male gender often intersects with other variables to produce even higher rates in some sub-groups.

The article goes on to state that the issue isn’t necessarily rooted in “traditional American notions of muscularity.” It could also be that that the current standard for treatment of mental health isn’t tuned into the needs of men. Specifically, medication and talk-therapy are the mainstay solutions for mood disorders, yet most research finds that men prefer action over words in stressful situations. In other words, men may be more likely to take the medication, but they may not want to talk about why they need it to begin with!

The article continues that a new solution, “men’s sheds,” are now popping up as alternative methods for supporting the troubles that arise on men’s minds:

This may explain the growing popularity of practical interventions such as “men’s sheds.” These are physical spaces where isolated and lonely men can gather together for practical activities such as woodwork and repairs, while receiving valuable peer-support in the process.   

 

Essential Oils May Be an Invaluable Tool for “Men’s Sheds!”

The good news is, as oil lovers, we have access to an action that can show our dad, or the fatherly figure in our life, that we want him to stay happy and healthy for a long time. We can provide him with a gift that blesses him with the tools to promote wellness and increase his chance for living a long, active life… with soundness of mind to enjoy it with the rest of us!

 

Oily Solution 1: Enhance the Aroma of the “Man Shed”

The benefits dad will receive with diffusing essential oils include: stress relief, calming the nerves, avoiding toxic air purifiers, and enhancing his emotional well-being. Sniffing his favorite scents can also help him to gain better control over his emotional responses and behavior when trying times pop up. Finally, through neuroplasticity, we can be at ease that while dad is bonding with his male instincts and diffusing off his emotions with his favorite oils, he’s boosting his brain longevity chances.

 

Blending Up Father’ Day Healthy Diffuser Recipes

Here’s some Father Day’s Oily Gift Ideas and Diffusing Recipes:

The following blends are based on 12 drops per diffuser, but they can be modified based on your individual diffuser drop suggestions.

  • Focus Blend(Peppermint, Orange, Idaho Balsam Fir)
  • The Traveler (Lime, Eucalyptus Radiata, Copaiba or Cedarwood)
  • Alone Time (Northern Lights Black Spruce, Bergamot, Wintergreen)
  • Outdoors (Basil, Northern Lights Black Spruce, Bergamot, Lemon)

 

 

Minty Oily Solution 2: Help Dad Increase His Heart Health

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cardiovascular disease is still the number one killer in America, for men and women. Evidence shows that the more “cardiovascular fit” (CRF) men are, the better their heart and their minds!! A recent study states:

Among men with emotional distress, higher CRF is associated with lower risk of dying, independent of other clinical mortality predictors. Our findings underscore the importance of promoting physical activity to maintain a healthful level of CRF in individuals with emotional distress.

Therefore, why not tuck some peppermint oil into dad’s gym bag? It’s been shown to boost performance for workouts and increase focus, among many other benefits.

 

A Quick Review:

So, here’s your action steps this Father’s Day holiday: (a) put a diffusor in dad’s shed, (b) toss him a bottle of peppermint, and, (c) love on him

 

 

For My Dad

I can’t end without this…

I am so grateful for my dad and all he has done for me and my family over the years. He always taught me to go for my dreams and follow my heart. Dad was one of my biggest cheerleaders for me to become a naturopathic and functional medicine doctor. I am truly grateful for this. Thanks Dad!

 

Disclaimer: This information is applicable ONLY for therapeutic quality essential oils. This information DOES NOT apply to essential oils that have not been tested for purity and standardized constituents. There is no quality control in the United States, and oils labeled as “100% pure” need only to contain 5% of the actual oil. The rest of the bottle can be filled with fillers and sometimes toxic ingredients that can irritate the skin. The studies are not based solely on a specific brand of an essential oil, unless stated. Please read the full study for more information.

This material is for information purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prescribe for any illness. You should check with your doctor regarding implementing any new strategies into your wellness regime. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. (Affiliation link.)