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Aromatherapy Travel Insurance - Essential Oils For Your Journeys

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Aromatherapy Travel Insurance -

Essential Oils For Your Journeys

by: Misty Rae Cech, ND

Going on a trip is usually thought of as a wonderful experience, one that you

and your family may have planned and looked forward to for some time. To have

the most fun - to get the most out of the experience - it's important that you

and your loved ones have the means to overcome those little ailments and

discomforts that can make the experience range from mildly unpleasant to

downright unbearable. How can we include a little 'Trip Insurance' to our

already overstuffed carry-ons or mini-vans? Aromatherapy has an answer with

some readily-available essential oils.

 

Motion sickness, bug bites, digestive difficulties, and general travel

weariness - to name a few - are common discomforts experienced when venturing

away from home. A small collection of inexpensive essential oils can provide

great relief from these amusement-threatening ailments. 'Treatment' with these

oils is simple - ranging from inhaling a little oil from a tissue, to adding to

a bath, to drinking a drop with a warm cup of water. And, thankfully, relief

often comes quickly because of the oils' powerful properties and compatibility

with our own bodies.

 

Peppermint and Ginger Essential Oils - Tummy Troubles and Clearing the Head

We'll begin with 'getting there' - any trip starts with traveling. By car,

boat, plane, or otherwise, motion sickness commonly effects many people,

particularly children. This can easily make the 'traveling' portion of your

experience absolutely no fun. Enter Peppermint essential oil.

Peppermint has long been used to calm uneasy stomachs, and is easily used. One

drop (it is strong!) in a cup of warm water, sweetened if you like, can be

sipped before and during the voyage. For the fussy ones, a drop can be added to

a small amount of honey and taken from a spoon for the same effect.

 

Ginger essential oil is also known for it's calming of upset stomachs - a

little inhaled from a tissue or diluted in a carrier oil and rubbed on the

abdomen can bring relief. One can also add a drop of ginger to warm water and

drink as a strong tea - this may be effective for some food-related stomach

issues as well, particularly when combined with the abdomen massage method.

 

Peppermint can also be uplifting to the weary driver or passenger - a drop or

two placed on tissues in the car or near your seat will release the aroma into

your surroundings. Be careful with this oil however, as getting it on sensitive

areas of the skin (directly under the nose, and certainly near the eyes) can

cause irritation. Tissues with the oil on it should not touch these areas

directly.

 

Lavender Oil - the Great Soother

Lavender has been called 'a medicine chest in a bottle' due to its wide range

of effects. The aroma of Lavender is uplifting and relaxing, useful for stress

in congested airports or crowded highways. Breathing this very safe essential

oil is effective for adults and children alike - inhaling drops from a tissue

directly, or from one's placed in your surroundings can help you and

your companions be at ease.

 

Plus Thyme, Tea Tree and Eucalyptus - Cleansing and Keeping Bugs and Bites at

Bay

Lavender essential oil is also an effective wound-healer because of it's

anti-inflammatory, mild antibacterial, and skin-regenerative actions. It can be

used directly in case of burns, mixed 50:50 with Tea Tree and put on band aids

to prevent infection, or blended with Thyme Linalol and Eucalyptus (2:4:2) and

added to a bowl of water for an effective disinfectant wash. Lavender is very

useful for treating bites and stings - just place a little 'neat' (undiluted)

on the affected area. This versatile oil is also a component of an insect

repellent blend comprised of equal parts of Lavender, Thyme

Linalol, and Peppermint, and a double-dose of Lemongrass essential oil. A drop

or more placed on tissue or cloth about your room can keep the insects out of

your space; 3 drops of this blend per teaspoon of carrier oil can be regularly

applied to the skin - or you may mix a similar amount into any lotion you may

have.

Lavender can be used in combination with Geranium, Chamomile, Peppermint and

Eucalyptus oils in relieving the effects of jet-lag. Getting out of this weary

state as quickly as possible makes any trip more enjoyable. This requires

getting yourself and companions in-synch with local time, having good rest at

night and perhaps a gentle lift in the mornings and throughout the day.

 

To get yourself into the swing of local time, relax and be ready for bed with

equal parts of Lavender and Geranium essential oils - Chamomile may also be

used in place of the Geranium, and works especially well for soothing children

(if they are irritable for ANY reason). Add a few drops to a bath or use in a

massage oil. For a morning eye-opener, do the same using equal amounts of

Peppermint and Eucalyptus. You will find these useful at other times when

you need a little clarity and lightening-up.

 

Lemon Oil - the Purifier

Lemon also has some wonderfully diverse uses. It is effective as an

antibacterial, but not so strong as to be an irritant. Adding several drops per

quart to your drinking water will help purify it, and the water can act as a

disinfectant to be used in washing your fruits and vegetables “ the need for

this certainly depends on your location, but it not a bad idea whenever

bacterial contamination may be a possibility. Further, regularly drinking water

with added lemon oil can gently stimulate the lymphatic and digestive systems,

helping alleviate that sluggish feeling that often accompanies extended plane

and car travel.

 

Eucalyptus Oil - For Keeping Cool and Cold Relief

Eucalyptus - the Narrow Leaf variety is a favorite - has a great range of uses

as well. It can cool the body when too hot, and protect it when too cold. It is

found in almost all formulas used to relieve congestion, can support

circulation, and bring lightness to a travel-weary head. Eucalyptus oil can be

used like peppermint to uplift and invigorate during long intervals in an

automobile. It can be added to a cool bath or used on a cold compress in cases

of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (accompanied by, of course, copious amounts

of water and electrolytes!), and used in a similar

manner to reduce fever.

 

Eucalyptus oil may be blended with Geranium as a massage oil (3 drops

Eucalyptus and 2 drops Geranium per teaspoon of carrier oil) to relieve heat

cramps. For congestion relief, to a drawn bath, add 1 drop Eucalyptus, 3 drops

Lemon, 2 drops Thyme, and 2 drops Tea Tree - soak and breathe deeply - or

simply add a few drops to a steaming bowl of water and inhale.

 

These are just a few examples of ways to make your travel experiences more

enjoyable with aromatherapy. With a little effort, you can expand your

knowledge of these oils, discovering further uses, and find other oils that

work well for your particular needs.

These essential oils are readily available, and fairly inexpensive - though

caution should be used when buying oils, as some can be adulterated, and others

are mass-produced with techniques that may limit their therapeutic benefits.

The more pleasant and 'well rounded' an oil's aroma, generally the higher the

quality. Your nose will know! And as with any aromatherapy application, start

slowly - essential oils deserve a healthy respect.

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