Essential Oils and Summer Travel

1. Essential Oils for Sunburn

Obviously it is always best to use sunscreen, cover up, wear a hat, hydrate often and seek shade in the hottest parts of the day to avoid sunburn, but sometimes (especially us Brits!) get so excited about getting to a warm, sunny place that we forget to re-apply our creams and get into the shade as often as we should!

Lavender (Lavendula Anguvstifolia)

Lavender Essential Oil is one of the safest we have in Aromatherapy. It is a wonderful skin healer and is one of the few essential oils that can actually be applied neat to burns (as well as in blends). It is safe for just about everyone and as well as its analgesic, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, it is also very calming and balancing.

Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum Nobile)

There are two varieties of Chamomile – Roman Chamomile is the one you want here (the other is German Chamomile, but this has different properties). Roman Chamomile is well known for being a very calming Essential Oil, and it is wonderful added to the skin in a blend, or you could put a few drops in a tepid/cool bath too, to ease sunburn. It is anti-inflammatory and analgesic, so helps with the pain and discomfort. Safe for everyone, including babies and children.

Peppermint (Mentha Piperita)

The menthol active ingredient in Peppermint Essential Oil brings anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antiseptic qualities to the blend, and is very cooling. It helps to relieve the discomfort of sunburn and has a numbing effect, acting as a natural painkiller. It stimulates the cold receptors in your skin and dilates blood vessels. Safety Note: Peppermint Essential Oil is not safe to use on babies or children, or in pregnancy.

To Blend : I would use 30ml of a Sweet Almond Base Oil, then 6 drops of Lavender, 4 drops of Roman Chamomile, and 2 drops of Peppermint, and apply to the affected areas. You could also substitute the Sweet Almond Base Oil for an Aloe Vera Gel if preferred, as this is also a wonderful cooling agent, or you could add some of the Gel to the Essential Oil blend, and mix together.

Obviously the best thing we can do to avoid sunburn, is to find some shade and avoid being outside in direct sun, during the hottest parts of the day.

2. Essential Oils for Insect Bites

One of the downsides to any holiday is the pesky mosquitos and other insects that like to feed on us! Like suncream with sunburn, we can apply all the anti-bite creams and mosquito body and room sprays to try and keep ourselves safe, but somehow they still often manage to get through!

Essential Oils can be really useful in treating the itching, inflammation and pain associated with these bites and stings. They are a natural way to relieve discomfort and promote faster healing. Some of these are as follows:

Basil ct Linalool (Ocimum Basilicum)

Basil Essential Oil can reduce inflammation and irritation caused by an insect bite, and can also help to protect the skin from infection, as it is antimicrobial and antifungal, and is also a great repellent. Safety Note: Avoid use on babies, children, in pregnancy or on those with sensitive skins.

Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus Globulus)

Eucalyptus Essential Oil is a great insect repellent and is perfect used for insect bites, healing the skin and it is slightly cooling too. It has anti-inflammatory and pain relieving properties, and as it is also antibacterial, it can help to protect the skin from infection. Safety Note: Eucalyptus is generally safe for everyone, but it is dangerous if ingested by children, so please keep it high up where they are not able to reach it.

Lavender (Lavendula Angustifolia)

Wonderful for insect bites as well as sunburn, is Lavender Essential Oil. It is a fantastic skin healer and can also be applied neat to bites and stings (as well as in blends). It is safe for just about everyone, and as well as having all the properties mentioned before, it is very soothing and calming. It can help with the itching and pain we get from bites and stings from a wide variety of insects.

Tea Tree (Melaleuca Alternifolia)

Tea Tree Essential Oil is brilliant for insect bites and stings. It is antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and a great immunostimulant too. It is great for a variety of skin infections and skin conditions. It is also a safe oil for the vast majority of people.

To Blend : I would use 30ml of a Sweet Almond Base Oil, then 4 drops of Tea Tree, 3 drops of Eucalyptus, 3 drops of Lavender and 2 drops of Basil, and apply to the affected areas. You could also substitute the Sweet Almond Base Oil for an Aloe Vera Gel if preferred, as this is also a wonderful cooling agent, or you could add some of the Gel to the Essential Oil blend, and mix together.

3. Essential Oils for Travel Sickness and Digestive Problems

There may be many times we suffer with tummy problems during our summer holidays. We may suffer from travel sickness on planes, boats, buses, coaches or in taxis. We may have digestive issues from eating food that our bodies are not used to eating, from drinking local water or ice cubes, or by having food that is poorly prepared, inadequately stored or just not cooked properly. Many Essential Oils are good for travel sickness and our digestion – here are a few:

Ginger (Zingiber Officinalis)

Ginger Essential Oil is fabulous for our Digestive System. It is carminative, anti-inflammatory, stomachic and antispasmodic, as well as being a good pain reliever. It is warming too, and really helps with diarrhoea and constipation, nausea and travel sickness. Safety Note: Do not use on babies or children, as it is too stimulating.

Lemon (Citrus Limonum)

Lemon Essential Oil is a lovely cleansing oil, which supports our Digestive System, and it is an amazing tonic for our liver and gallbladder, so a very good choice for all digestive-related issues. It also has neutralising acids which can help to relieve nausea. It also blends really well with the other two oils mentioned in this section. Safety Note: Do not use in direct sunlight – better applied once back inside, as with prolonged use it can be phototoxic.

Peppermint (Mentha Piperita)

The cool and minty aroma of Peppermint Essential Oil works well to ease an upset stomach and nausea. It is the best Essential Oil for motion sickness, and well known for benefitting the digestive tract. Safety Note: Peppermint is not safe to use on babies or children, or in pregnancy.

To Blend : I would use 30ml of a Sweet Almond Base Oil, then 4 drops of Ginger, 4 drops of Lemon, and 4 drops of Peppermint, and apply to the affected areas.

Try to always keep yourself and your family well hydrated when you are away – this is extremely important in hot temperatures, and when you are travelling. Just water is fine, or why not add some slices of fresh lemon and/or peppermint to give you a really refreshing pool-side drink? Or if you’re on an all-inclusive, at least try to apply the ‘one water to one beer’ idea!

Try to keep covered up in the heat too, by wearing long-sleeved lightweight t-shirts and trousers or skirts if you are likely to burn, or pop on a light sarong when walking around. Make sure you wear a hat to keep the intense heat off your head! Holidays are much more fun without the sunburn and/or heatstroke!

If you are going away this summer, I wish you a very happy, healthy holiday, free of airport troubles, sunburn, insect bites and tummy upsets! Enjoy!