Aromatherapy Help
for Travel in the Cold Months
Going for a winter trip? Here are aromatherapy recipes for the special challenges of cold weather travel!
Essential oils are powerful healers, with little to no side effects. Pack these recipe mixes in your first aid supplies for relief from the common cold, influenza and other viruses you may develop. For a refresher on how to find true essential oils--not just nice-smelling ones--follow this photo link to Aromatherapy, and look for blue bottle photo.
You'll see the recipes first, with thorough directions for use later. Enjoy!
Baths to help with Colds, Flu and other Viral Infections
Evening Bath Recipe
3 drops Lavender oil
2 drops Manuka
1 drop Ravensara
Morning Cold and Flu Bath
2 drops Ravensara
2 drops Rosemary
2 drops Tea Tree
At the onset of a Cold, with sore throat
3 drops Lavender
2 drops Thyme
1 drop Tea Tree Oil
At the onset of a Cold, if there is a cough:
2 drops Lavender
2 drops Frankincense
2 drops Sandalwood
The recipes above are all designed for an adult bath. For children, reduce the amount to half or one-third. Soak as you like, with more detailed instructions below the recipes.
Baths to Relieve Overworked Muscles
From the many miles travellers log, muscle fatigue often comes. Here are bath recipes to provide relaxation to those overworked muscles:
Evening Soak:
3 drops Lavender
2 drops Marjoram
1 drop Juniper
Morning Muscle Relaxer:
3 drops Rosemary Oil
2 drops Marjoram
1 drop Pine Oil
Cold, Dry Air is Hard on the Skin
Cold temperatures suck humidity from the air, creating very dry air....
...and dry skin conditions. Here is a delightful lotion recipe to pack on your winter trip. (Or to employ at home!)
Alligator-Skin Lotion
4 oz. unscented lotion
5 drops Patchouli oil
10 drops Sandalwood oil
2 drops carrot seed oil (Wonderful for the skin, but a little harsh-smelling.)
Pour lotion into clean bowl, then mix well with oils and return to bottle.
Oils to nourish dry skin: Borage and Evening Primrose. Either of these can be added to the lotion for additional benefit to your skin.
Aromatherapy Blends that help Ease the Winter Blues
Gray skies, reduced activity, a snow- or ice-covered world, together with the lack of green growing things....
...all these factors can contribute to what is called the "Winter Blues." You may know it already: feelings of depression, sadness, a loss of energy.
Essential oils in the citrus family energize and uplift our spirits. And orange, lemon and grapefruit oils are inexpensive! The blends below can help ease the symptoms of the winter blues, as well as providing a pleasing aroma.
Citrus Cheer #1
3 drops Orange
2 drops Grapefruit, or Ginger
Citrus Cheer #2
3 drops Grapefruit
2 drops Cypress
Citrus Cheer #3
4 drops Orange
1 drop Ylang-Ylang
As a bath oil, multiply by 3, until you have a total of 15 drops. Next, pour a soaking bath, and stir in the oil by hand just before hopping in. (Best not to add earlier, because some of the oil may evaporate with the steam!)
To assemble your own bath salts, multiply your recipe by 4, for a total of 20 drops. Combine with 3 cups (450ml) of Dead Sea salt, regular sea salt or Epsom salt, whichever you prefer. Mix well in a clean bowl. (Optional: add 1 tablespoon (12ml) of coconut oil for moisturizing.) Pour into clean bottle or jar with tightly fitting lid.
When ready for use, add 1/2 - 1 cup (75-150ml) of salts to filled bathtub, stir with hand until chunks of salt dissolve, and climb in!
No time for soaking? Create your own aromatherapy air freshener. Use a clean 4 oz. (100ml) spray bottle with fine mister--not one that has held cleaning products nor hair products!
Place either 3 ounces (75ml) distilled water, or half that amount distilled water and half high-proof alcohol in spray bottle. (Important: vodka is suitable; isopropyl or rubbing alcohol are not!) Begin with 20 drops of oil mixture---you must multiply by 4 if using the "Citrus Cheer" recipes above. You may increase this to 30 - 40 drops, if it doesn't seem too strong after a day or so.
Shake well; mist lightly around the room, and let the aroma work its magic on you.
An Aromatherapy Bon Voyage
Using essential oils to relieve common travel complaints shows your health savvy! Have a safe and comfortable trip, wherever you journey.
My thanks to the following sources of information: Aromatherapy, an A-Z by Patricia Davis (c) 2000 and Aromaweb.com
If your travel is in the summertime,
you may like to check out our page on summer travel aromatherapy.
To Healthy Alternative Solutions home page
from winter travel aromatherapy.
