The current state of the world has brought about many changes. At the top of most people’s minds are the new safety rules and regulations that have been implemented for starting school. For many this means remote learning and homeschooling. My naturopathic medicine clients, along with friends and family, have been expressing how stressed they and their children are as they navigate these shifts.

I feel is it important to ensure that all pupils, teachers, parents, and families receive resources to aid their mental and physical health during this transition. It is necessary to provide this support to prevent the negative ramifications of overwhelm and to return focus on one’s education. (source, source, source)

As a result, I have compiled a list of helpful articles on how to bring more ease to this turbulent school year. Below, you will find a summary of previous posts that highlight essential oils and blends to assist with alleviating tension and calming the brain. I also have references on foods to nourish the brain and other lifestyle factors to consider.

Finally, I am providing a companion to this blog which lists several other September soothing oils that are often overlooked. It is now posted on my Healing, Health, and Wellness blog at saratoga.com.

Heading Back to School with the Smell of Ease- The Essential List of Back to School Oil Blends for Schoolchildren

Below is a list of three of my favorite essential oil mixtures for enhancing focus, mental fortitude, and a cheerful mood.

• A Calming Blend of Something Citrus– Citrus smells are well-known for their mood and nervous system supporting properties. These scents are uplifting and have been found to ease anxiety when diffused around children. Combine several of your favorite ones, such as orange, lemon, and lime to diffuse while kids are studying. Everyone will enjoy the benefits of this mood boosting infusion!
• A Bright Future Blend– This blend is one I diffuse and inhale regularly to provide molecular support for a healthy defense response, stress relief, memory enhancement, hormone balance, and a happy mood. It contains the grounding oil of black spruce, the soothing scent of lavender, the hormone balancing oil of geranium, memory-enhancing sage oil, and the upliftment of orange oil.
• A Calm Focus Blend- This combination accomplishes the delicate balance of calmness and focused attention while modulating nervous system tone. It combines rosemary, jasmine, peppermint, cardamom, basil, and ylang ylang. It is a go-to to diffuse while prepping for big exams and projects.

Click this link to read more about these blends.

Note: Due to the complexity of essential oil blending, I recommend purchasing one from your favorite, high quality, essential oil manufacturer.

Back to School with Essential Oils for Everyone

In this blog, I review the benefits of using essential oils for supporting the brain and nerves of your favorite avid learner. I highlight how oils can be either stimulating or calming to the nervous system and how this can be used to your advantage. I also review a few studies that demonstrate how peppermint can be used to enhance athletic performance in the event you are, or know of, a sport-participating enthusiast.

Click this link for the full post and to review the list of essential oils that can invigorate or relax nervous system tone.

Essential Oils for Developing Brains and Bodies- Helpful for All Ages and Especially Little Ones

This post provides links to references and resources of using essential oils for brain health and cognition. Read the full post here.

Essential Oils and Anxiety

This article reviews how essential oils are not only beneficial for stress, but also for psychiatric health and anxiety. It has been my goal to release the stigma associated with mental heath and to view it as a physiological, as well as a psychological, response pattern. It is well-documented that the brains of those who have a psychiatric diagnosis function differently than those with “normal brains.”

This post provides some background on this topic and reviews the power of lavender essential oil for anxiety. Read it here.

My “Must-Have” Essential Oils for Basic Back to School Needs & for Managing More Intense Anxiety

These are my must-have oils for back to school: lavender, peppermint, citrus oils, and neroli. Find out why. Read more here.

Supporting Kids with Mental Health Issues in School and Why Essential Oils and Integrative Medicine Shouldn’t Be Overlooked

Children with focus issues are not necessarily struggling from a behavioral problem. It could be they have a brain imbalance. In this instance, one should consider what can be done to support brain functioning. The use of specific types of nutrients, movement, and cognitive therapy are often helpful. Approaches differ based on the individual.

I believe that the understanding and patience we give people with chronic physical diagnoses should also be extended to those with psychiatric and behavioral disorders. For children and adolescents, when their brains are rapidly developing and neural plasticity and pruning are at their peak, being especially sensitive to their newly forming identities is critical.

If you missed this post, please take the time to learn more about this topic here. This is something every parent with a child struggling with inattention should know.

Feeding Your Brain for Better Mind Health

Various nutrients have been shown to provide benefit for cognition and mental health. In this post I review several including folate, omega fatty acids, vitamin K and zinc.  Read more here.

Conclusion

With the additional stress of this year, it is imperative to take nurturing care of our children, ourselves, and our brains. (source) Using essential oils and educating ourselves on how to nourish our minds and enhance our health can help us more serenely navigate through these temporarily, yet extremely turbulent times.

Those in need of additional support should not hesitate to reach out, as there are many factors involved in mental and emotional health. Although it can look daunting, a naturopathic and/or functional medicine doctor can be part of an integrative team and assist to developing a personalized wellness plan based on the individual’s unique biochemical, social, emotional, and spiritual needs.