Aromatherapy is considered a widely practiced complementary medicine that is based on the use of essential oils from aromatic plants, flowers, leaves, barks, and fruits. Essential oils are products obtained from plants through processes such as steam distillation, or various physical means.
From these processes, those desired compounds are obtained, which are intensely aromatic and volatile, as well as not soluble in water. These essential oils can be useful to help us in different areas: cognitive, psychological, in some physical ailments… They can even help you study and concentrate better. And in aromatherapy, they are used in three ways:
- Holistically: oils are used, especially through massage, to treat physical and emotional disorders.
- Clinically: they are used in combination with traditional medicine treatments.
- Aesthetically: probably its most widespread use; here the oils are mostly used through diffusers or added to baths.
Psychoaromatherapy
- Robert Tisserand is one of the most relevant figures in the field of aromatherapy. He belongs to the committee of the International Journal of Aromatherapy, which he founded in 1988, and works alongside doctors and herbalists, supervising all kinds of scientific publications related to advances in this type of oil.
- Years ago, Tisserand demonstrated that some essential oils also had beneficial effects on memory and concentration (in addition to other positive effects on mood, emotions, or physical health). Tisserant was precisely the promoter of the term “psychoaromatherapy”.
- In relation to this, there are some essential oils that can help us study better. Tisserand spoke about the benefits of 4 oils: Lemon (Citrus limon), Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), Black Pepper (Piper nigrum) and Peppermint (Mentha x piperita). These are common, affordable and cheap oils for everyone. In addition, they carry benefits beyond enhancing cognitive abilities.
The importance of personalizing aromatherapy
- Tisserand considered that it was not necessary to always mix several oils (the so-called “synergies”). It is clear that synergies are beneficial in the field of aromatherapy, but in the more specific area of psychoaromatherapy, personalization takes on great importance.
- In addition, not always when oils are mixed there is an improvement in their properties (each case must be assessed specifically, depending on what is intended with the oils and the characteristics of the person).
- In short: in aromatherapy and, more specifically, in aromatherapy to study, personalize and choose the oil that best suits our characteristics and needs will be essential. In this sense, it is recommended to look for an oil (or more than one) that reaches us, that we make our own, and even that we feel like eating. This can favor your success when it comes to helping us study.
How to apply aromatherapy to study?
How can we apply aromatherapy to study? What techniques or utensils will be most useful for us to take advantage of the effects of the oils?
In the field of study, it will be ideal to have an essential oil diffuser. We can also combine the use of this diffuser with frequent sniffing (this can be especially useful when memorizing something very specific).
Finally, taking the oil over the top (preparing a massage oil, for example), can also be positive to get the most out of this technique and that all the aromas of the oils unfold properly.
Essential oils that facilitate concentration and study
We have grouped, according to the objective we have, some of the most used and effective oils when studying:
To improve concentration
- Concentration, also called selective attention, is one of the most important cognitive abilities when studying. This is so because all other cognitive abilities are based on this capacity; without concentration we will hardly pay, we will memorize, and, ultimately, we will have an “active” mind to learn.
- So, to improve concentration, an essential oil that can be beneficial for us is: Peppermint. This oil allows us to focus our energy in a unidirectional way to a specific stimulus.
- It can be especially useful for people who are easily distracted, as well as in subjects that are more difficult for us, or that are especially heavy and/or complicated for us. Many times, they are subjects from which we unconsciously try to “evade”; so, peppermint can be an ally for you in these cases.
Peppermint
The scientific name for mint is “Mentha piperita”. It is a plant native to Europe and the Middle East. Currently, its use is widespread in many areas of the world. It arises from the cross between two plants: water mint and green mint ( mint ).
To enhance reasoning
Lemon is a useful essential oil to improve our most rational part, that is, the one that allows us to reflect, acquire a critical sense of things and reason. It is believed that Lemon can exert a positive influence on our left hemisphere (the rational part of the brain).
Thus, it may be indicated in more emotional people, who find it difficult to develop the rational part in their studies; It can also be useful with subjects such as mathematics, science (physics, chemistry…), etc.
Lemon
Lemon is a widely known fruit. It is used in food, but also in other areas for its medicinal properties. It is a fruit native to Asia, which arrived in Europe in the 3rd century. Lemon essential oil is a liquid extract obtained by processing lemon peel. It is also known as citrus oil.
To assimilate and integrate the contents
Concentration and reasoning ability are skills that are essential when studying, but beyond them, it will also be important to assimilate what we study (that is, the contents of the subjects or subjects).
Black pepper is positive for this purpose, since it helps us to concentrate, to integrate content and, above all, to assimilate it within the previously learned knowledge.
Black pepper
Black pepper essential oil is rich in monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes. These are naturally occurring chemicals recognized for their ability to support the overall well-being of the body.
To get more energy to study
Studying requires a lot of energy, not only physical but also “cerebral” (this implies the use of glucose, an essential molecule for energy). Thus, having energy when studying can also favor not only studying in general, but also our ability to concentrate.
To improve our resistance or energy, Romero is recommended. Any chemotype will do. This oil can help us obtain the extra energy we need to assimilate everything we study and learn. It is especially useful in intense study days (for example, before an exam), and also, it also favors memorization.
Rosemary
Rosemary essential oil is extracted from the plant that bears the same name. The scientific name of the plant is “Rosmarinus officinalis”. The oil is obtained from the distillation of its flowers and leaves.
Find your oil(s)
We have talked about some essential oils that help to concentrate and that also allow you to improve other useful cognitive skills for studying. However, they are not the only ones who help us, since the range is very wide and each one will have to find their own oil (hence the importance of customization).
Aromatherapy experts, who are the ones who can best advise us in this area, recommend not using oils that we dislike, since with them we would only achieve the opposite effect to the desired one.