3 Recipes for Back to School Success

As students head back to school they can face many challenges. New routines and sleep schedules, meeting new people, challenging classes, homework, athletics, and being surrounded by more germs!

Essential oils can offer emotional, physical, and energetic support and there are a variety of effective recipes that are great for back to school. And of course parents can use these too!

In this post you'll learn how to create a focus inhaler, a germ fighting hand cleaner, and a relaxation blend to help with sleep.

Focus Pocus:

With the start of the school year students may be dragging a bit getting used to the new schedule. Or maybe need a reboot mid-day. Or after a long day of school, perhaps music lessons, practice, or other clubs and activities getting focused for homework can be tough.

Whenever the need for more focus arrises an aroma inhaler is a fabulous tool to promote alertness. By choosing oils that emotionally uplifting and promote circulation and open airways you feel more awake, more alert, and ready for the task ahead.

Making aroma inhalers is easy. An inhaler is a cotton wick housed in a plastic or stainless steel container. You fill it with 15-20 drops of essential oils and simply uncap and inhale to use. Below is a recipe you can whip up and tuck in your child's backpack that they can use easily to boost their focus.

I Got This: Uplifting Focus Inhaler:

Aroma Inhaler

5 drops Rosemary ct verbenone (Rosmarinus officinalis ct verbenone) essential oil

5 drops Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) essential oil

5 drops Orange (Citrus sinensis) essential oil

To make: add essential oils drop by drop to the cotton wick housed in the aroma inhaler or add to a sanitized glass or ceramic bowl and use tweezers to soak up the oils and place in the aroma inhaler.

To use: Uncap and inhale to enjoy the benefits of the essential oils.

Safety: Rosemary may not be appropriate for children under 5. Use at 1% in dilutions in topical applications and with caution with children 5 to 10 due to camphor content. When in doubt consult a qualified aromatherapist. Questions? Contact Tricia

Germs be Gone:

Most essential oils have some level of germ fighting power or support the immune system -- cause when you live in the dirt as plants do you're faced with lots of bacteria, viruses, and fungus.

By combining essential oils with skin soothing aloe you can create an alcohol free hand cleaner that smells great and has germ fighting power.

Take That Germs: Hand Cleanser Blend:

1 or 2 oz PET plastic flip top bottle.

1 oz aloe vera gel (preferably organic)

2-4 drops lavender (Lavendula angustafolia) essential oil

2-4 drops orange (Citrus sinensis) essential oil

2-4 drops tea tree (Melaluca alternafolia) OR makrut lime (Citrus hystrix)essential oil

20 drops solubol (optional) It allows hydrophobic essential oils to combine more readily with aqueous aloe.

Aromatherapists suggest using the lower number of drops (1% dilution) for kids ages 5-10 and larger amount (2% dilution) is ok for older kids or adults. These essential oils kill germs and support the immune system.

Add the solubol and essential oils to the bottle. Shake gently to combine. Add one ounce of aloe, cap and shake gently. Use to cleanse hands as needed.

Sweet Dreams:

Sleep offers so many health benefits and is key for memory formation, growth, repair, immune health, and more. A good bedtime routine and avoiding electronics about 30 minutes prior to bedtime helps the body get ready for sleep.

And this diffuser blend promotes relaxation, soothes the mind, and can help usher in a good nights sleep for both kids and parents. Simply add to a diffuser about 15 to 30 minutes prior to bed and diffuse to set the atmosphere for sleep.

You can shut off the diffuser for younger kids or allow the diffuser to run for longer for older kids and adults.

Sweet Sleep Diffuser Blend:

3 drops bergamot (Citrus bergamia) essential oil

3 drops green mandarin (Citrus reticulata) essential oil

1 drop ylang-ylang (Cananga odorata) essential oil

1 drop or cedarwood (Juniperus virginiana) essential oil

add the essential oils to a diffuser and run as needed to support a healthy sleep environment. Add in a calming bath, a bed time story, a soothing cup or tea, or whatever routine you like. Be sure the room is not too warm or too cool, comfortable, dark, quiet, and conducive for sleep. Sweet dreams!

I hope these recipes are helpful for supporting your back to school transition naturally. Of course we carry lovely synergies and inhalers at Be Kekoa Apothecary and can custom blend products for kids and adults.

Questions? Stop by the shop in Old Town Temecula, use the contact page, or visit the webstore. We are happy to help!

Aromatic blessings,

Tricia