I’m adding Essential oils to our travel list.
Here’s why, essential oils come in 3 oz or less size bottles, only require a few drops, they make excellent travel companions and can pack natural health benefits.
In an excerpt of wellandgood.com, certified aromatherapist at the New York Institute of Aromatherapy, Amy Galper, keeps seven oils within reach when she travels. Amy says, “There’s an oil for every travel woe.” Her seven essential oils are Pink Grapefruit, Rosemary, Helichrysum, Sandalwood, Lavender, Chamomile, and Frankincense. She uses Sandalwood, lavender, or frankincense to calm any jitters, Frankincense, Helichrysum, and pink-grapefruit oils on her lower back and neck for stiffness, Lavender or rosemary on your scalp to temper the altitude discomfort and Frankincense, lavender, and chamomile for trouble sleeping.
According to Dr. Axe, a wellness physician, these essential oils have the following benefits:
- Grapefruit oil has antimicrobial effects that help reduce or eliminate strains of bacteria from contaminated foods, water or parasites.
- One of the primary benefits of sandalwood is that it promotes mental clarity when used as an incense or fragrance.
- Lavender is one of the top Essential Oils for Anxiety.
- Helichrysum can be used in dozens of ways to boost health and ward off disease, like treating wounds, infections, digestive problems, supporting the nervous system and heart health, and healing respiratory conditions.
- Rosemary is one of the most powerful herbs & essential oils on the planet. In recent research, it’s been shown to boost nerve growth factor and support the healing of neurological tissue and brain function.
- Frankincense is commonly used in aromatherapy and offers a variety of health benefits, like relieving chronic stress & anxiety, reducing pain & inflammation & boosting immunity.
- Roman chamomile calms the mind, relieves digestive issues, treats skin conditions, reduces inflammation and more.
As for me, I use three essential oils for my travels, Tea Tree oil, Lavender, and Vitamin E.
- Tea Tree oil for its antibacterial benefits and it smells good.
- Lavender for it’s calming benefits and it too smells good. I mostly just inhale its vapors for the effects at bedtime or dab a little on my wrists and/or behind my ears.
- Vitamin E oil for its healing properties and blemishes for my skin.
Before posting this blog, the Dr. Oz show did a segment on essential oils (how timely was that?) and what I learned about using essential oils further educated me and I’m sharing that with you as well. Check out Essential Oils 101 and The Essential Oils Buyers Guide.
A couple of cautions when buying essential oils:
- Carefully read the label and even google the product before you buy it to make sure it is 100% of that essential oil and that it isn’t its less expensive cousin.
- Check with your doctor for allergies and other effects that can affect your hormones, immune system and overall health.
Necessary disclaimer: I am not a healthcare professional, my opinions and information are purely based on my own experiences, likes, and dislikes.
Yours truly,
Ja’Vonne, aka, The Traveling culturati