Aromatherapy First Aid & Travel

Aromatherapy First Aid and Travel Kits

These are natural, easy to put together and great to help protect our skin and soothe us, when we have a wound, have been bitten, or lying in the sun too long.

Aromatherapy essential oils do not need to be an expensive purchase and each oil has multiply uses too – bargain!  If you have any problems sourcing the oils (make sure you get pure essential oils), please let me know and I can get them from my supplier.

Having a simple aromatherapy first aid and travel kit to hand can help save you time and anxiety when situations arise.  The essential oils to have in your travel kit that you can keep in a little Tupperware box are:-

• Chamomile Roman (Chamaemelum nobile) – Anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic effect
• Citronella (Cymbopogon nardus) – Insect repellent
• Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) – A powerful antiseptic and effective on respiratory problems
• Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) – Sedative, anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic
• Ginger (Zingiber officinale) – A powerful expectorant, clearing lungs of mucus
• Lavender (Lavandula officinalis) – Soothing and sedative
• Peppermint (Mentha piperita) – Settles digestive disorders and is anti-inflammatory
• Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) – Antiseptic and a powerful immune stimulant

First Aid Recipes

Travel Sickness

Place 2 drops of ginger or peppermint onto a handkerchief and inhale when feeling nauseous or a drop of ginger diluted in vegetable oil and massaged into the abdomen.

Mosquito Repellent

Mix either 15 drops of Citronella or lavender (not both) into a 30g jar of fragrance and lanolin-free cream (Use sparingly on exposed areas).  Also, add 6 drops of citronella to oil burners to ward off the mosquitoes and gnats.

Bites and Stings

Dab a little neat lavender on the bite or sting to ease discomfort and aid healing.

Minor cuts and grazes

Clean the area with a disinfectant wash – in a bowl of water add:

• Lavender 2 drops
• Thyme 4 drops
• Eucalyptus 2 drops

Sunburn

Add the following drops to 30g of fragrance-free cream

• Lavender 6 drops
• Peppermint 2 drops
• Tea Tree 2 drops

Alternatively, add the above drops to a tablespoon of jojoba and add to a cool bath for 10 minutes to take out the heat from the burn.

If blistering has occurred gently apply lavender neat to the area.

Diarrhoea

Sometimes through eating something off or too much heat this can lead to an upset tummy.  In mild cases this usually last’s 24/48 hours, and the main thing is to stay hydrated using the following re-hydration recipe¹

• 1ltr cooled boiled water or bottled water
• 6 level tsps sugar
• 1/2 level tsp of salt

A warm bath with 4 drops of Geranium and 2 drops of Ginger will help to alleviate the symptoms of diarrhoea and make you feel better.

Sources: Rehydrate.org: http://rehydrate.org/solutions/homemade.htm#recipe

Questions:
What natural products do you use for first aid or travelling?