We’re now in peak summer holiday season with many of us choosing to travel abroad for our much-needed annual break. Whilst we hope that our holiday abroad is going to be an amazing experience there are unfortunately a few potential health hazards to negotiate along the way – from eating different foods that may have been prepared less than hygienically and sharing airspace (and germs) with fellow travellers, to dealing with the heat, humidity, minor injuries and local insects!
So, why not be prepared and take along your own fragrant pharmacy, with a small selection of 100% natural essential oils to combat a wide range of common holiday upsets. Our Home Essentials Kit is perfect for home and away, containing 8 amazingly versatile essential oils (5ml) in a handy plastic container that’s perfect for popping in your suitcase as your emergency travel kit!
Our Home essentials aromatherapy kit contains:-
French Lavender essential oil: Useful for bites (animals and insects), blisters, bruises, bumps, burns, cuts, dry flaky skin, fatigue, fever, heat exposure, heat exhaustion, heatstroke, headaches, infections, insect repellent, insomnia, jet lag, sore muscles, prickly heat, upset tummy, rashes, sprains/strains, sunburn, sun stroke, swelling, thrush, wounds.
Eucalyptus globulus essential oil: useful for bites (animals and insects), colds, fever, hay fever, heat exposure, heat exhaustion, heatstroke, infections, itching, jet lag, sore muscles, prickly heat, rashes, sunburn, sun stroke, swelling. Do not use during pregnancy.
Rosemary essential oil: useful for colds, concentration, fatigue, headaches, sore muscles. Do not use if epileptic or during pregnancy.
Lemon essential oil: useful for bleeding, colds, cuts, fatigue, fever, infections, wounds. Take care with sensitive skin and do not apply to the skin before sun exposure.
Peppermint essential oil: useful for constipation, upset tummy, fatigue, fever, heat exposure, heat exhaustion, heatstroke, headaches, indigestion, insect repellent, itching, jet lag, sunburn, toothache, travel sickness, vomiting. Do not use during pregnancy or with babies/young children.
Tea Tree essential oil: useful for athlete’s foot, bites (animals and insects), blisters, colds, cuts, infections, insect repellent, spots, thrush, wounds.
Sweet Orange essential oil: useful for anxiety, colds, constipation, diarrhoea, insomnia, upset tummy. Do not apply to the skin before sun exposure.
Citronella essential oil: useful for anxiety, athlete’s foot, insect repellent, sore muscles. Take care with sensitive skin and do not use during pregnancy.
How to use your essential oils safely while on holiday
Firstly, remember that you should never apply undiluted essential oils direct to the skin. Lavender and Tea Tree are the only two exceptions to this rule, however these should only be used neat in very tiny quantities (1-2 drops), and only in certain situations. If you prefer not to use them neat, mix up to 2 drops in 5ml of carrier oil or another suitable base product (e.g. cream, lotion or gel). Always seek advice from your doctor before using essential oils if you are pregnant, have existing medical conditions or are taking any medication.
Essential oil blends for your summer travels
Here are some simple aromatherapy blends that you might find useful for your travels!
Anxiety
If you’re feeling anxious, maybe about flying, or just need a little extra help to relax and unwind, pop a few drops of Lavender and Sweet Orange essential oil onto a tissue or into an aromatherapy inhaler and sniff as and when required. Or, make up a pulse point oil in a little roller ball bottle with 10ml of carrier oil and 4 drops of essential oil.
Antiseptic wash for cuts, grazes and minor wounds
Add 5-6 drops of Lemon or Tea Tree essential oil to a bowl of cooled, boiled water and use to wash the affected area with cotton pads or a clean cloth.
Bruises, burns, blisters, cuts, grazes and minor wounds
Apply a couple of drops of neat Lavender oil to the affected area to help prevent infection and encourage healing.
Fatigue
Don”t let tiredness stop you enjoying your precious holiday. Pop a few drops of Lemon, Rosemary and/or Peppermint into an aromatherapy inhaler and sniff to increase alertness and energy. Alternatively sniff the oils direct from the bottle top.
Headaches
Mix 50ml of Aloe Vera Gel with 10 drops of Lavender and 2 drops Peppermint. Apply to the forehead, temples and back of neck. If you’re able to, you could also make a soothing cold compress. Pop a few drops of Lavender and Peppermint oil in a bowl of icy-cold water. Place a flannel into the water to absorb the oils, then wring out and place across your forehead and temples. Repeat the process when the flannel warms up.
Hand sanitiser
Mix 250ml Aloe Vera Gel with 10ml of Witch Hazel Hydrolat and 3 to 4 drops each of Peppermint and Tea Tree essential oil.
Heatstroke / heat exhaustion
If you have a bath at your accommodation try immersing your body in cold water to which you’ve added 4 drops each of Lavender and Eucalyptus essential oil.
Insect bites
Mix 1 drop of Peppermint essential oil with 10ml Aloe Vera Gel and massage into affected area to cool and soothe.
Insect repellent
Mix 100ml Witch Hazel Hydrolat (or water) with 30 drops total of Citronella, Eucalyptus and Tea Tree essential oil. You can also pop a few drops of Citronella oil onto your hairbrush and brush through your hair before going out.
Insomnia
Pop 5 drops of Lavender essential oil onto a tissue and place inside your pillow case to help you sleep.
Jet lag
Pop 2 drops each of Peppermint and Eucalyptus in your bath water. Or, if you’ve only got a shower, pop 1 drop of each oil onto a wet flannel and wipe all over your body after washing.
Sniffing the oils mentioned above for fatigue will also help!
Muscle pain
Mix 3 drops each of Lavender and Peppermint into 12ml of carrier oil or Aloe Vera Gel and massage into affected area in an upwards direction towards the heart.
Prickly heat
In her book, The Fragrant Pharmacy, Valerie Ann Worwood recommends a warm bath with 4 drops each of Lavender and Eucalyptus oil to help soothe prickly heat. You can also use the sunburn spritz recipe below.
Spots
If the heat, or sunscreen has caused an eruption, apply 1 drop of neat Tea Tree oil direct to the spot / blemish with a clean cotton bud.
Sunburn
Mix 100ml of Chamomile Hydrolat (or water) in a spray bottle with up to 30 drops total of Peppermint and Lavender essential oil. Keep in the fridge if you can and spritz onto over-exposed or irritated skin. Alternatively, mix 50ml Aloe Vera Gel with 15 drops of Lavender and 5 drops of Peppermint.
Travel sickness
Pop a couple of drops of Peppermint essential oil on a tissue and inhale as required. Alternatively, you can pop a few drops of oil into an aromatherapy inhaler.
Tummy troubles
For nausea try sniffing Peppermint off a tissue, from an inhaler or simply from the bottle top. For all other kinds of digestive upsets try massaging the tummy very gently in a clockwise direction with 2 drops of Peppermint in 10ml of carrier oil. Sweet Orange can also be used in the same way and is great for constipation, cramps, diarrhoea and wind.
As you can see the aromatherapy oils in our Home essentials kit have a myriad of uses for home first aid and for your Summer holiday travels. It is also far more cost effective to buy the kit, than the individual oils – so you save money too!
Wishing you a very happy and healthy holiday!
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