February 2, 2015

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Mackenzie Patel

What with the current health craze gripping American society, it is no wonder that essential oils and their many benefits have become popular “natural” remedies in the last couple of years. Essential oils, simply put, are “the blood of plants.” They are concentrated extractions from the leaves, roots, and stems of plants such as basil, lavender, and rosemary. Besides smelling lovely and clearing the head through increased oxidation, essential oils are considered natural remedies for something as mundane as allergies to more serious ailments such as Whooping Cough. Essential Oils, although they may seem “modern” and “Whole Foods-approved” actually go back hundreds of years to ancient Eastern societies. After a little bit of digging online, I found that these healthy plant juices were also used in ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, and India! Aromatherapy as a recognized field was officially created in 1937, but knowing the oils were used long before that lends credibility to their power. Better yet, they are able to be used in a variety of ways, from direct/indirect inhalation to diffusion (i.e. those Bath&Body Works diffusers that can be plugged into a wall socket).

Recently, one of my friends told me about Lena Hunt Co, an online business that sells affordable essential oils and even has a blog detailing the benefits and different uses of essential oils. Find Hunt’s website here. Founded by a Sports Medicine Professional, this company even includes a free consultation with each separate purchase of the more than fifteen essential oil flavors (i.e. Anise, Cinnamon, Clove, Eucalyptus, Lemon, Peppermint, and Tea Tree!) I could just envision myself in a Zen garden with all these intoxicating scents relaxing and clearing my head with a snap of the finger. Find the complete list of products, along with the uses and specificities of each one here.
 


Essential oils may sound ethereal and more for people with chronic headaches or pregnant women looking for an “au natural” cure for sickness, but they have more everyday uses for teenagers as well. These oils are especially helpful when studying, trying to concentrate, or attempting to clear your mind (believe me, I could really use some peppermint or Cedarwood when navigating the complex world of integrals and derivatives). The mind becomes more focused when inhaling essential oils because it leads to increased oxygenation in the brain (leading to more brain activity and secretions of helpful hormones). According to PhillipsEssential.com, these oils also help create “positive associations.” So instead of associating inverse trigonometric integrals with crying, mental breakdowns, and resentful thoughts about how unfair your math teacher is, you will think of the calming effects of Chamomile and Rosewood. At least for me, smelling or chewing peppermint gum always wakes my brain up and clarifies my thoughts; similarly, essential oils sharpen cognitive functioning and can lead to more instances of insight. This higher order cognition also goes hand in hand with neuroplasticity, the strengthening of neural networks that leads to more synaptic connections in the cortices. Because I am a dork, I usually watch Lord of the Rings movies while studying or completing more “procedural” homework assignments (i.e. calculus, computer programming). However, basking myself in the natural glow of essential oils would probably be more beneficial to remembering and mental acuity…(sorry Gandalf).So rather than hitting up the commercialized and prefabricated essential oils section of Bath&Body Works, consider trying out the unique blends of Lena Hunt Co. Not only are the oils high quality, but the professional website includes tips for usage, specific information on each product available, and communication with Lena Hunt herself. Plus, the custom blends start as low as $15 each! Follow Lena Hunt Co on Twitter here. Follow Lena Hunt Co on Instagram here.