Taking a trip is typically viewed as a pleasant experience, one that you and your family may have anticipated for some time. To have the most fun and get the most out of the experience, it is essential that you and your companions have the means to overcome the minor diseases and discomforts that can make the experience anywhere from slightly unpleasant to terrible. How can we fit a small amount of "travel insurance" into our already overloaded luggage? Using easily available essential oils, aromatherapy provides a remedy.
Motion sickness, insect bites, stomach issues, and general travel fatigue, to mention a few, are frequent discomforts encountered when traveling. These amusement-threatening diseases can be effectively treated with a modest collection of affordable essential oils. Treatment with these oils is straightforward, ranging from inhaling a small amount of oil from a tissue to adding a drop to a warm cup of water to ingesting a drop with warm water. And, happily, given of the oils' potent characteristics and compatibility with our bodies, relief is frequently experienced rapidly.
Every trip begins with travel, so we'll start with that. By car, boat, plane, or any other mode of transportation, many people, particularly children, suffer from motion sickness. This could make the "traveling" element of your experience quite unpleasant. Enter peppermint essential oil.
Peppermint has been used for centuries to soothe upset stomachs, and it is simple to use. One drop (it is potent!) in a cup of warm water, if desired sweetened, may be consumed prior to and during the journey. The same effect can be achieved by adding a drop to a tiny amount of honey and consuming it with a spoon for those who are particular.
Ginger essential oil is also recognized for its ability to settle troubled stomachs; a small amount inhaled through a tissue or massaged onto the abdomen can provide relief. Adding a drop of ginger to warm water and drinking it as a strong tea may also be useful for some food-related stomach disorders, especially when accompanied with the abdominal massage technique.
A couple of drops of peppermint essential oil sprinkled on tissues in the car or near your seat can diffuse the invigorating aroma throughout your surroundings. Caution is advised when handling this oil, as it might irritate sensitive regions of the skin (immediately under the nose and especially around the eyes). Tissues containing oil should not come into direct contact with these places.
Lavender has been referred to as "a medicine cabinet in a bottle" due to its many properties. Lavender's aroma is energizing and calming, making it useful for relieving tension in congested airports and highways. Adults and children alike can benefit from breathing this extremely safe essential oil; inhaling droplets directly from a tissue or from a diffuser can help you and your companions relax.
Due to its anti-inflammatory, moderate antibacterial, and skin-regenerating properties, lavender essential oil is also an efficient wound healer. It can be applied directly to burns, blended with tea tree oil and applied to bandages to prevent infection, or combined with thyme linalol and eucalyptus (2:4:2) in a bowl of water to create an efficient disinfectant wash.
Lavender is particularly effective for treating insect bites and stings; simply apply a small amount "neat" (undiluted) to the affected region. This versatile oil is also a component of an insect repellent blend consisting of equal parts of lavender, thyme linalol, and peppermint, as well as double the amount of lemongrass essential oil. A drop or more sprinkled on tissue or fabric about your room can keep insects out; 3 drops of this combination per teaspoon of carrier oil can be applied to the skin frequently, or a similar amount can be mixed into any moisturizer.
Lavender can also be combined with geranium, chamomile, peppermint, and eucalyptus oils to alleviate jet lag symptoms. Leaving this exhausted state as soon as possible makes any journey more enjoyable. This includes synchronizing yourself and your traveling partners with local time, obtaining adequate rest at night, and possibly taking a little stimulant in the mornings and throughout the day.
Relax and get ready for bed using equal quantities of lavender and geranium essential oils; chamomile can be substituted for the geranium and is particularly effective at calming children (if they are irritable for ANY reason). A few drops may be added to a bath or massage oil. For a morning eye-opener, use peppermint and eucalyptus in equal proportions. You will find these beneficial whenever you require a little clarification and lightening up.
Lemon also has a wide variety of applications. It is effective as an antibacterial, but is not irritatingly potent. Adding a few drops per quart to your drinking water will help purify it, and the water may be used to wash your fruits and veggies as a disinfectant. Whether or not this is necessary depends on your area, but it's a good idea if bacterial contamination is a possibility. In addition, drinking lemon oil-infused water on a regular basis can gently stimulate the lymphatic and digestive systems, helping to ease the lethargic sensation that frequently accompanies long-distance aircraft and car travel.
The narrow-leaf form of Eucalyptus is a popular and has a wide range of applications. It may cool the body when it is overheated and shield it from the cold. It is found in nearly all decongestant preparations, helps assist circulation, and can deliver relief to a travel-weary head.
During long car rides, eucalyptus oil can be used similarly to peppermint to enliven and refresh. In cases of heat exhaustion and heat stroke, it can be added to a cool bath or applied to a cold compress (along with large amounts of water and electrolytes!) and used similarly to relieve fever.
To alleviate heat cramps, eucalyptus oil may be used with geranium as a massage oil (3 drops eucalyptus and 2 drops geranium per teaspoon of carrier oil). For congestion relief, add 1 drop of eucalyptus, 3 drops of lemon, 2 drops of thyme, and 2 drops of tea tree to a warm bath, soak and breathe deeply, or add a few drops to a bowl of steaming water and inhale.
These are but a few instances of how aromatherapy can enhance your vacation experiences. You may enhance your understanding of these oils, discover more applications, and locate other oils that meet your specific needs with no effort.
These essential oils are commonly available and relatively inexpensive, but caution should be exercised when purchasing them because some are contaminated and others are mass-produced using methods that may diminish their medicinal efficacy. Generally, the higher the grade of an oil, the more pleasant and "well-rounded" its perfume. Your nose will let you know! Start carefully, as with any aromatherapy application; essential oils deserve a good amount of respect.
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