Essential Oils and Memory Enhancement

Did you know the use of essential oils and memory enhancement was possible? It depends on the oil, because some are much better for memory than others. Which oils are best and how does one use them optimally?

Which oils?

1. Rosemary
In ancient Greece, students are said to weave garlands of rosemary into their hair. Why? Because they believed that it (a) strengthened the brain and (b) enhanced memory. Modern research has confirmed that rosemary essential oil contains compounds which benefit the brain.

2. Cedarwood
This is my new favorite! When I've finished using a bottle of cedarwood for other purposes, I keep the empty one at my desk or my reading chair. Out of all the essential oils in the world, cedarwood contains the highest percentage of sesquiterpenes. These are the compounds in the oil that support clear thinking by carrying more oxygen to the brain.

3. Sage
In a 2003 study, young adults were given capsules containing either sage essential oil or a placebo. The one receiving the sage oil performed significantly better on recall tests!

Here's the study info: Tildesley NT, Kennedy DO, Perry EK, Ballard CG, Savelev S, Wesnes KA, Scholey AB. 2003. Salvia lavandulaefolia (Spanish Sage) enhances memory in healthy young volunteers. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 75(3):669-74.

4. Four More Single Oils
Lemon, jasmine, peppermint, and lavender essential oils and memory enhancement has also been studied. In studies, diffusing the essential oil of lemon resulted in a 54% improvement; jasmine, 33%, peppermint, 28%; and lavender, 28%.

Some people even make their own essential oils and memory enhancement blends.

Three Ways to Use Brain-Building Oils
1. Inhale
The easiest way is to inhale from the bottle. Diffusing is also fun, and if you don't have a cold-air diffuser, you can put 4-8 drops of the oil on a cotton ball and place on the vents. Another way is to put a drop on a corner of a handkerchief.

2. Apply Topically
Some people prefer to put the memory-enhancing oils on the edge of their ears, on the back of the neck, on the forehead, on the wrists, or on the big toe. Why the big toe? Because in reflexology, this corresponds to the brain! The Essential Oils Desk Reference recommends diluting with a high-quality vegetable oil. Some people follow this guidance and others don't.

3. Ingest
Some people prefer to put a drop of a memory-enhancing oil in a glass of water at their desk, and others enjoy boiling some water, adding a drop of the oil, and having a cup of tea.

The bottom line?
With essential oils and memory enhancement, which oil to use and how to use it is often a matter of personal choice. My only caution is to be sure to use therapeutic grade essential oils, because I doubt that you want the chemicals of synthetic oils going to your brain. For optimizing the efficacy of your chosen oils or oils, I recommend consulting with the Essential Oils Desk Reference.