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By K. Kindermann
If you travel you have most likely experienced jet lag, aching
muscles, sunburn, anxiety, nausea or ravenous mosquitoes. When we
are away from home, we don't always have the time or know-how to
find a qualified doctor to relieve these common ailments, however
by packing a few small bottles on your trip, you can help yourself
feel better with one whiff or drop of these vital essential oils.
Essential oils are pure concentrated oil distilled from various
plants. Due to their concentration, it's important to know that
a little bit goes a long way. There are several ways of using essential
oils as aromatherapy. The easiest method is to simply inhale the
aroma straight from the bottle. This can work as a quick fix for
headaches and travel sickness. Another effective therapy is to put
a few drops in steaming hot water, put a towel over your head and
inhale the vapors. This is excellent for respiratory complaints.
Massage, hot or cold compresses (a towel soaked in hot or cold water
with a few drops of essential oil) work well to alleviate sore or
cramping muscles, rashes, burns or inflammations of the skin. A
few drops in your bath is an excellent way to immerse yourself in
their healing properties.
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Lavender is the most soothing of all the essential oils. A cold
compress of lavender is fabulous for relieving sunburn or any kind
of burn as well as bruises and insect bites. It is a sedative, excellent
for aiding sleep and soothing tension headaches and frazzled nerves.
Sprinkle some drops on your pillow for a restful night's sleep or
on a tissue and stuff the tissue in the air conditioning vent of
your hotel room or airplane. Tense muscles are relaxed by applying
a hot compress of lavender to the effected area. A lavender bath
is a perfect way to send you into dreamland.
Peppermint is particularly effective for relieving nausea, indigestion,
stomach cramps, headaches, colds, fevers, fatigue, sore muscles,
tired feet and bad breath. Sometimes several deep breaths from an
open bottle can alleviate headaches, fatigue and nausea. For more
serious cases, recline with a hot or cold compress on the effected
area. For an acute sprain or strain, apply alternating hot and cold
compresses in five-minute rotations. Soak tired feet in hot water
with a few drops of peppermint oil. When in flight, apply a few
drops of peppermint onto a tissue and stuff in the air conditioning
vent to prevent circulating viruses from entering your system. This
is also a nifty way to freshen up a stuffy hotel room and bring
you energy for those early morning meetings. Peppermint makes a
natural mosquito repellent as well by adding a few drops into a
carrier oil such as almond oil. This will also relieve the itching
of insect bites. Peppermint is a strong essential oil, so a little
bit goes a long way, especially in a hot bath; use only 2-3 drops.
Too much in the evening may disturb sleep patterns, however when
you need an energy boost, it is very enlivening.
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Tea Tree, a member of the eucalyptus family is a natural antiseptic
good for fighting infections such as wounds, abscesses, athlete's
foot, rashes, cold sores, insect bites, respiratory and sinus infections.
For most of these conditions a daily drop of the oil on the effected
area should do the trick or diluted in a carrier oil for more sensitive
skin. For respiratory and sinus infections, inhaling the steam from
a bowl of hot water and a few drops of tea tree oil is an effective
therapy. Hot and cold compresses twice daily should heal stubborn
skin infections.
Geranium is especially effective for balancing one's complexion,
mood-swings and menstrual cycles. Emotionally uplifting, geranium
is wonderful for soothing anxiety and diarrhea resulting from a
nervous condition. Physically it is very detoxifying, preventing
and reducing cellulite, poor circulation, and fluid retention. Geranium
also helps heal burns, acne, eczema, herpes, dermatitis, bruises
and wounds.
Deep breathing can bring relief to many ailments, so be sure to
take time for at least three slow, deep breaths and let the healing
aroma enter your body, mind and soul.
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