The Fantastic Five--Five Essential Oils to Take on Your Travels

There are some oils that no aromatherapist (or Mom, or adventurer) should leave home without!  Here is my list for traveling.

• Lavender--Lavender essential oil has so many uses.  I have found that it soothes altitude sickness, helps us relax and sleep in a new environment, soothes sunburn, and is great for all of the little cuts, wounds, and owes that one can get at the beach, hiking in the woods, or anywhere.  I have even used it to ease nausea when I ate something that did not agree with me, by massaging my abdomen with lavender in a circular motion.  It has so many uses that it should never be left behind!
• Peppermint--Peppermint essential oil is useful in emergency situations.  I always use it when anyone is involved in an accident that is more than a minor scratch.  Just a drop of diluted peppermint under the tongue can bring someone back quickly if they are beginning to go into shock.  I like to take this one along in a 8% dilution with water and a few drops of stevia.  It is stimulating too, and can help us re-enegize when we feel like our internal clock wants us to sleep in the daytime...  Just a few drops orally can give us an energy boost.
• Basil, Thyme, or Oregano--Any of these three oils would be a great help if one is exposed to any type of virus or bacterial infection.  They can be placed in a capsule (not ahead of time!) and swallowed to give the immune system a real boost.  Or they can be applied to a skin infection topically.  Instead of spending much of your vacation  on the toilet or in a hotel room in misery, you could take several doses of one of these oils on the first day that you feel any symptoms, and it can be gone the next day.  
• Ginger--This is one great essential oil for abdominal issues of all kinds.  It can eliminate the worst acid reflux, indigestion, or abdominal pain (not associated with appendicitis).  Again, I like to use it in a 8% dilution, with water and stevia.  Several drops under the tongue or in a small amount of water can do the job.  It is also helpful for motion sickness, and relieves menstrual cramps in many cases.
• Ruh Juhi Attar, Ylang ylang, or Combava Pettigrain --Or any essential oil that has a stabilizing, calming, and uplifting effect for you personally.  This will become your perfume, your companion on the journey, and your friend.  It is great to have a beautiful aroma to anchor your experiences on your journey.  Aroma is processed in the same area of the brain as memory is stored, and many times aroma can evoke memories that we can not access any other way.  Choosing an oil to help you anchor these memories is fun, and can help you return to them any time that you want to, by inhaling more of your favorite aroma.  

These are my chosen set of traveling aromatics.  There are so many options for these purposes, that I am excited to learn of your choices and would love to hear your stories!

Many thanks,

Kathryn