Essential Oils for Teaching & Learning
As an educator, I am constantly looking for ways to create a more pleasant and productive experience for me and my students. Once I started using essential oils and noticed their benefits personally, it only made sense that I eventually integrated them into my instructional practices. As any teacher will tell you, sometimes the smallest changes can make big differences! For me, essential oils have provided a simple and easy way to enhance the learning and teaching experience.
As I explored essential oils and how I could use them while teaching, I found that there are some ways you can use essential oils to support the learning and teaching experiences that are more active and others that are more passive. I’ll explain them below for students, teachers, and parents who are interested in leveraging essential oils to support the learning process.
Using Essential Oils Passively in the Learning Environment
Our sense of smell is very powerful and primal. Scents often evoke emotions and memories without our conscious awareness, but we can actually harness the power of scents to support the teaching and learning processes. By putting essential oils directly into the air we breathe through diffusion, we can influence the experience we have in our learning environments.
Diffusing essential oils can be done in many low-tech or high tech ways, but the basic idea behind essential oil diffusion is supporting the ability of essential oils to penetrate the air so that small particles of the oils can eventually find their way into our respiratory systems and, eventually, used by our bodies on the cellular level to support our health. The best way to diffuse is either nebulizing (cold air) or ultrasonic (water) diffusion. Most of the diffusers doTERRA offers are ultrasonic diffusers, meaning that they use water to disperse the oil into the air. To diffuse in an ultrasonic diffuser, put cool tap water to the fill line and add at least two drops (or more as desired!) to the water. Then, choose the time setting you desire and let it run. You will see a mist released through the hole in your diffuser and begin to enjoy the aroma of the oil you added to the water. Diffusing in a nebulizing diffuser is waterless: take the cap and orifice off of your bottle of essential oil and attach it to the diffuser and choose your settings for time and amount at a time.
If you don’t have a diffuser, there are other ways to enjoy the benefits of diffusing. For example, add some drops of oil to a glass spray-bottle with water and spritz around the room or add a few drops of oil to a porous material (think: wood, fabric, or clay) in the learning area. Whatever way you choose to diffuse oils, you provide a more pleasant environment.
Actively Using Essential Oils to Enhance the Learning Process
If you are looking to get a little more specific and personal about how you use your oils, you might consider the following options for using essential oils to support your teaching or learning experience. These active approaches to essential oil use allow you to enjoy essential oils in a more intense way.
- Add a few drops of essential oil to your palms and cup them over your nose while you inhale deeply.
- Place the oils you desire with fractionated coconut oil in a roller bottle and roll onto pulse points before beginning specific tasks.
- Drop oils on a scarf or face covering to enhance the quality of air you are breathing.
What Oils Should I use?
There is an almost limitless number of possibilities when it comes to selecting oils to enhance your teaching/ learning atmosphere. Essential oils like Basil oil, Douglas Fir oil, Eucalyptus oil, and Spearmint oil contain chemical components that promote calming, grounding, uplifting, or energizing feelings—all of which contribute to a greater sense of focus. Here are a few usage notes/ suggestions:
- Basil oil promotes a sense of focus while studying, reading, or completing other tasks that require mental clarity.
- Douglas Fir oil promotes a positive mood and sense of focus when approaching a project deadline.
- Combine two drops of Spearmint oil, two drops of Peppermint oil, and one drop of Basil oil into a diffuser to create an environment where you can better stay on task.
- Eucalyptus oil promotes feelings of relaxation.
doTERRA also creates amazing proprietary blends specifically designed to support aspects of the learning process, such as:
- InTune® Focus Blend which comes ready to roll it onto your temples and neck to enhance your concentration on the task before you.
- Motivate® Blend also comes in a useful roll-on bottle so that you can easily anoint yourself as you get ready to dive into whatever task ahead!
You can learn more about how to use essential oils and where to get the best oils for your needs by attending an upcoming class or following along on Instagram. I hope to support you in your wellness and education journeys!
Sign up for the Back To School Essential Oils class here: https://calendly.com/drlaurenmoss/backtoschool
Sincerely,
Dr. Lauren Moss