10 ways essential oils can help while travelling

Essential oils are becoming more and more popular in the home, but did you know that they could help to also improve your travel experience? There are many elements to traveling, whether abroad or just a small staycation, and essential oils can help with anxiety, motion sickness, headaches and many other aliments which travelers may experience, including those when they get to their destination such as jetlag or for an insect repellent. 

Here are our top 10 essential oils for travelling, how then can be used and ways they can help:

·        Lemongrass – an oil for pain relief, tiredness and also as a sedative for the nerves – an invaluable oil for those who get anxious during travel. This uplifting oil can be inhaled from a tissue placed in a top pocket, or under a ladies bra-strap, throughout their journey.

·        Mandarin – good for children’s digestive conditions, including nausea and constipation, as well as for insomnia and stress this is a must for any travelling parent. Dilute the oil into a cream or in a massage oil, apply to the stomach for digestive issues and nausea or to the lower back, massaging in a clockwork direction, for constipation. For insomnia and stress inhalation is the best method, place a few drops on a tissue, or pillow, so that the air is naturally infused.

·        Peppermint – this is a great oil for an upset stomach, a few drops on your pillow to help soothe you whilst you rest, or on a flannel placed on a radiator or fan to help the oil circulate the room, can really help to calm the stomach. This oil can also be used in your car on an air-freshener to help with on-the-go calming.

·        Cornmint – This fantastic oil is really helpful for headaches, migraines, apathy and the digestive system. Dilute a couple of drops cornmint into 10ml of a fragrance-free cream, or carrier oil, and apply to the temples, wrists or directly to the stomach to help ease your travel symptoms.

·        Black pepper is a warming oil used to help muscular aches and pains. Whether you get these from sitting for a long period of time, or from exploring your holiday destination, black pepper can be used to soothe those tight muscles. The most effective method is to add a few drops with some bubbles to a bath to fully disperse it, as the hot water will also help in relieving the muscles pains too. If you don’t have access to a bath then a blended massage oil, or a compress, using this oil is also of great benefit.

·        Citronella – is a fantastic insect repellent, you’ve probably seen all of the candles which are available to buy, but did you know it is an essential oil? A few drops in any room should deter unwanted visitors, to use outside on your veranda add 2–3 drops to cotton balls and place them strategically around the outdoor area. For on the go helpadd a few drops to a tissue placed in a top pocket, or under a ladies bra-strap. This oil is also good for fatigue, jetlag, headaches and fever, so a lovely oil to take with you.

·        Eucalyptus Smithii is an ideal oil for children and can help when traveling in many different ways. Traditionally used for coughs, colds and sinusitis due to its decongestant and anti-infectious properties this makes this oil a great air purifier, as well as being good for aches, pains and headaches. To use this oil to purify the air add 10 drops to a small spray bottle with water – shake well before use as oil and water don’t mix – to spray your linens and surfaces for a fresh and clean surrounding.

·        Tea Tree – a very useful oil for insect bites, bumps, scratches, and drying out pimples, just put a little oil on to make it shrink in size! The anti-fungal properties also make it a great oil to add to any foot care routine you may have whilst out hiking or scouring the local markets, add a few drops to your foot-spa, cream or even to your socks to also help deodorise them.

·        Roman chamomile is reportedly anti inflammatory, with numerous studies providing evidence for this property. Chamomile is a proven analgesic by reducing pain by acting on opioid receptors in the brain to decrease pain signals, mix the essential oils of Roman Chamomile and Lavender together with baking soda and apply to the affected areas to help combat prickly heat.

·        Lavender French – the oil for almost every ailment being analgesic so good for aches, pains and headaches, anti-bacterial to help fight of infections, cicatrisant so good for wound healing and a sedative for insomnia and relaxation and much more. Lavender is great for helping the skin heal & regenerate, and makes an excellent addition to aloe vera gel for sunburn.  You can use this oil using any of the methods above and is a definite addition to any travellers suitcase!

I hope you have enjoyed our blog and found the 10 ways to use essential oils while travelling a useful guide, don’t forget the best methods for each ailment are:

·        Inhalation - nausea, insomnia, jet lag, hay fever

·        Lotion/cream/aloe – diarrhoea, insect bites/repellent, sunburn, pain, stomach upset

·        Direct application – pain, insect bites, cuts and grazes

·        Bath – sunburn, pain, insomnia

And if in doubt ask a qualified aromatherapist! - Happy travelling

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Thank you for reading! Ellie X