I was reading some of the articles on the Escapeartist.com website and it struck me that I should share some of my expertise regarding the use of essential oils with all you fellow travelers.  So here are a few tips that might prove very useful to you as you flit about the planet. First let me define essential oils for those of you who might not be familiar with the term.  They are liquid oils extracted in a very specific manner using ancient techniques with modern equipment from various plants, bushes, shrubs, flowers, roots and sometimes seeds found around the world.  These substances protect plants from diseases and other environmental dangers just as nature designed them to do.  Some of the oldest oils came from Egypt and were used by the Egyptian kings and queens dating back to 4500 BC.  The aromatic oils were used as perfumes as well as for medicinal purposes.  Some of you might recall the mention of frankincense and myrrh in the Bible.  Well, at that time, these oils were like precious metals and were highly valued in a monetary sense.  Health practitioners, shamans, “witches”, etc. were all using these oils which many of them mixed into their own formulas using specific mixtures for curing or controlling various ailments.  Thanks to the open attitudes of modern European health practitioners and the recent influences of Asian healing techniques,  many medical doctors have begun using therapeutic oils again.  There are many dramatic stories about the uses of lavender oil, for instance, during World War II in France to heal wounded soldiers – but that’s another story. The oil must be a therapeutic grade (highly concentrated) from a reputable company that only uses the purest source materials and the cleanest extraction methods and equipment.  Dr. Young's Essential Oils is an example of a company that produces very high quality products and  there are also some British companies  that have good products (see references below).  You have to be careful of the many diluted versions, meaning the essential oil is mixed with some other base oil and the final % of the essential oil is quite low; therefore, the oil will not be therapeutic in nature and will not have the desired effects.  The diluted oils can still be used as lotions for massage therapy, relaxing aromatherapy and general soothing and enhancing skin conditioning.

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The first essential oil that I bring with me is called wintergreen.  This is to help counteract the harmful effects of the highly filtered and re-circulated air in the airports, airplanes and other closed in hallways and tunnels that we walk through in terminals.  Only a few drops of this oil, when applied directly onto the skin under the nose, will keep your sinuses clear and will get rid of any harmful bacteria lurking in your nose.  As soon as the effect or the aroma seems to disappear you can apply a few drops again.  The wonderful thing is that it has a strong but very pleasant mint-like fragrance and I've never had any of my fellow passengers complain about the aroma. I have found that the wintergreen oil is just wonderful, especially on those long overseas flights.

If you are a frequent traveler to China, you might look for a small, flat clear white glass bottle with the Chinese text and a picture of a plant on the bottle.  Otherwise, take a look in your neighborhood Asian market, wintergreen is most certainly found there.  If not, order on line from any of the suppliers listed at the end of this article. As long as it's therapeutic grade, it will work well for you.

The second essential oil that I like to carry with me when I travel is lavender (lavendula).  Apply a few drops of this wonderful oil under the nose as well as behind the ears and the inside of you wrists.  The effect is a calming and soothing one, counteracting the stress of standing in long lines, airport security checks, luggage and passport control, etc.  Use this oil once you get settled into your seat and also after you have found your hotel room or settled in with your relatives.  It is an excellent therapeutic oil to counteract any stressful situations.

The lavender oils that come from France are the best and I make an effort to find some at the local apothecary whenever I'm in France.  Since much of the modern lavender production comes from the south of France, you should have no problems finding it in most cities and villages all over Europe.

I have also used lavender oil on funny skin conditions.  You know how your skin can dry out in the airplane and during long waiting periods in the airport terminals.  Use just a little bit of the lavender to bring moisture back to the skin.  I generally carry a small bottle of some good lotion to use generally to keep my skin nice and moist but for really dried out areas, the lavender oil is great. You can even use the lavender as a perfume behind the ears if you are allergic to perfumes, as so many people are nowadays.

The third essential oil that is also very helpful to have with you when you travel is Australian tea tree oil or melaleuca.  This fantastic oil acts as a general antiseptic so it comes in handy for minor cuts and bruises of any kind.   I use a small cotton wad or makeup remover pad to apply a few drops to the affected area or areas.  A lot of people get skin rashes or other forms of irritations to the skin when traveling, perhaps from eating strange foods or from having to be working in unsanitary conditions.  The melaleuca oil is a real miracle oil and I've had many occasions to use it with great results.  It has a very strong, pungent aroma that is not really unpleasant, it's just strong and you do get used to it after using it a few times.  The tea tree oil seems to be more potent than the lavender when used on skin conditions so test smaller areas first if you have a real problem. 

The other real caution in using melaleuca oil particularly, is to wash your hands afterwards so that you do not by accident rub your eyes with the oil on your fingers.  If this happens, your eyes will sting like crazy for a while and they might even get a little red.  It’s not really dangerous, it’s just uncomfortable until the normal fluids of the eye wash the oil away.  But it's always better to be cautious in this case.

How's your brain working after 8 hours (or more) on an overseas flight?  I tend to be really fuzzy and really just want to sleep somewhere as soon as the plane lands.  Well, pull out your little bottle of rosemary (rosmarinus) and waft the aroma under your nose a few times, and, bingo! you're back to functioning again.  It's a so-called activating oil, has a very pleasant aroma, and can be used frequently without any side effects of any kind. By the way, this oil is also terrific for your hair, just 2-3 drops mixed with a few drops of lavender and applied directly to the hair is great just before you go to bed.

There are many wonderful oils derived from the citrus family which are also very useful.  I tend not to bring too many of these oils because they could cause problems if you will be spending any length of time in the sun, out on the golf course for example.  So use the citrus oils with caution if you'll be spending time vacationing outside.  If you're working in an office inside all day, no problem.

A general word of caution when you first start using the therapeutic oils.  They are very concentrated so the effects are powerful.  Each individual reacts differently so I suggest you test these oils at home beforehand so that you know how much you tolerate.  When you're trying a new oil, test one drop on a small area of skin first maybe on the wrist or on the inside of the arm.  If the skin gets red or feels warm or hot, put a few drops of vegetable oil on the same area.  This will dilute the therapeutic oil and the redness will disappear in a very short time.  Wait at least 30 min. before you try another oil in another area.

If you use cosmetics and other personal care products, try not to apply the therapeutic oils in the same area.  You might have a bad reaction because of the various chemicals blending.  I've not had any bad reactions myself but we're all very different in our chemical makeup so just being careful is common sense.

If you can go and wash your hands after you've applied some therapeutic oils (and who doesn’t look for any excuse to get up and out of those totally uncomfortable airplane seats) get up and do so.  We often rub our eyes during travel and inadvertently could get some of the oil residue into our eyes.  Again, these oils are complete 100% natural substances and will in most cases not be harmful in any way.   Do use these oils sparingly rather than liberally, think of them as medicines rather than lotions, and all will be fine.

You’ll be amazed how effective these therapeutic oils can be, how little space they require (1 oz or .5 oz or 15ml bottles), how fragrant they are and how they really can save you in many situations, e.g. when you're in a foreign country and don't speak the language but you need something for your cold or cough.  By the way, putting wintergreen directly onto your chest will help with coughing fits especially at night when you need a good night's sleep.  Also put a few drops under your nose and you'll be able to function in the morning. 

By the way, I do carry these onto the airplane and I’ve so far had no trouble at all getting through security.  I have a small quilted bag with compartments that hold the bottles upright and keep them from banging into each other. This little square carrying bag also keeps them from spilling into my purse.  For the male traveler I would suggest perhaps wrapping them in paper towels or Kleenex tissues separately and placing them in your shaving kit.  Let me just mention here that I would not use these oils after shaving, because they are too concentrated and might cause a mild irritation (since your skin is already irritated). However, a diluted melaleuca or lavender in a neutral base oil would work for you.  The melaleuca has a strong musk fragrance that would seem more masculine perhaps than the lavender oil but this is strictly a personal preference issue.

I hope that these tips about using essential oils will help you in your many travels from now on.  Aside from my occasional travels to Europe, I’ve used them very successfully in my medical massage therapy business.  They’re relatively inexpensive ($8-12 per bottle), will last a long time if you remember to seal the top properly after each use and store them in a dark area (no direct sun) when not in use.  These therapeutic oils  will become your most valued travel companions!