Flying High with Aromatherapy

If you are as disappointed as I am with the summer weather right now, you may be thinking about jetting away to a warmer climate. But many of you already know from experience that flying can still be quite a stressful experience. The hassle of just getting through airport security and queuing at the check-in is enough to raise anybodys blood pressure!

This year don’t let the stress of flying spoil your holiday, just pack the right essential oils and you’ll be able to relax and take everything in your stride throughout the whole journey. And believe it or not, a careful selection of essential oils can replace a whole arsenal of traditional medicines which saves space in your suitcase and possibly a fortune in excess luggage charges too.

On the road

First you have to get to the airport, so whether you are driving, taking a bus or cab, remember to carry your trusty essential oils in your hand baggage for quick availability. If you are prone to travel sickness put 2 drops each of peppermint and lavender essential oils on a tissue and gently inhale before starting your journey. Should you begin to suffer from queasiness whilst travelling, place 3 drops of ginger and 1 of peppermint essential oil on a tissue and inhale to help settle your tummy.

Peppermint oil is also ideal to keep you sharp whilst driving, and blended together with eucalyptus, cardamon, cinnamon or lavender oil will help you to concentrate better on long journeys. A few drops of each oil on a tissue or cotton-wool ball placed somewhere safe really revives the senses. Rose, neroli, rosemary and peppermint hydrosols also make fantastic instant refreshers, and one will fit neatly into your glove compartment or handbag.

Up, up and away

Travelling can present lots of problems for people who are aeronautically challenged, but essential oils of lavender, geranium and Roman chamomile will all help to relax and calm pre-flight nerves. Just place a few drops of oil on a tissue and inhale for a few minutes before take-off, and again during the flight.

A blend of 1 drop Roman chamomile, 1 drop geranium and 2 drops of lavender on a tissue smells great and is a formula that has proven to work well for many of my clients who get the jitters before flying.

If turbulence begins to make the flight bumpy and you start to feel dizzy or queasy, try inhaling the ginger and peppermint oil blend that I mentioned earlier. Ginger root was used by the ancient Chinese as a very effective cure for upset stomachs, nausea and sea sickness and has been included in almost every culture’s herbal pharmacopoeia since records began. I often think that the essential oil of this tasty root is very under-valued in aromatherapy.

In for the long-haul

Although flying is considered one of the safest methods of travelling in terms of having accidents, it can still present its own unique health hazards. It has been known for a long time that the recirculation of air on a plane can cause a wide range of conditions such as irritation of the eyes and airways, headaches, fatigue and sometimes diarrhoea.

To help prevent these, be sure to take some tea tree or ravensara oil on-board your flight and inhale it from a tissue to protect you against the airborne bacteria. Remember that a sneeze can travel up to 30 feet - so you can’t be too careful.

The latest concern for air travellers has been dubbed ‘economy class syndrome’ and was highlighted a few years back after the death of a 28 year old British woman following a return flight from Australia. This condition is called Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) and is caused by blood clots forming in the legs due to the lack of movement. Because of these concerns, major airlines have begun distributing leaflets or showing videos of simple foot and leg exercises during the flight.

To combat long periods of inactivity, a stimulating blend of eucalyptus and cypress essential oil in a carrier oil can be massaged on the legs (discreetly in the toilet) to keep your circulation active during long flights. Since dehydration appears to be a contributing factor with DVT you should also drink plenty of fluids - but unfortunately not in the form of coffee or alcohol. Typical!

Time travel

Travelling on a long-haul flight usually means that you will cross into a different time-zone and may suffer from the effects of jet lag. Jet lag is caused by the disturbance of normal body rhythms as a result of flying across different time zones, and Melatonin is the hormone in the body that plays a part in controlling daily body rhythms.

The balancing properties of geranium essential oil help to restore the body’s natural sleep pattern, and blended together with ginger, ylang or grapefruit makes a very effective synergy for jet lag. I have found that the best remedy is a nice aromatherapy bath when you arrive at the hotel, that is if your room has a bath of course. If your room doesn’t have one simply use your oils in the shower, make a footbath or vapourise them instead.

Antibacterial defence

When visiting countries where you are advised to drink bottled water due to the poor quality of water, remember to also use it when you brush your teeth as well. If you find that you haven’t got any bottled water to brush your teeth, put 1 drop of tea tree essential oil on your toothbrush before putting on the toothpaste. This will at least give you some added protection against the germs until you can get some bottled water.

If you are bitten or stung by an insect, one drop of neat lavender oil on the area will bring some comfort and help to speed up the healing. Lavender or Roman chamomile hydrosol will also help to soothe the surrounding skin. In the case of bee or wasp stings, remove the sting and apply a cold compress of Roman chamomile. Repeat the compress several times until relief is felt.

Check out our chart in the sidebar for a wide range of versatile travel oils, and pick the ones most appropriate to your holiday plans. If you find you are really short of space whilst packing and can only take a couple of essential oils, be sure to take lavender, tea tree and Roman chamomile with you, since these oils are the most versatile.

Bon voyage!

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