Essential Oils for Traveling
Your body undergoes a lot of stress and changes when traveling. Most people suffer from travel anxiety, jetlag or even just low energy levels when traveling. We found that lavender, peppermint, and eucalyptus essential oil can help counteract some of the negative side affects from traveling. Even if it’s a short road trip or a long flight, there is at least one essential oil to use with FÜM that can help make your travel experience smoother.
Regardless if you are conscious of it or not, anxiety and stress levels are elevated when traveling. Our body's routine is shifted as we are in a different environment, which can take a toll on our body. An easy way to counteract our mind and body getting tense is lavender essential oil. Lavender's main component Silexan is shown to have an anxiolytic effect; meaning, lavender oil has a similar soothing effect on the body as some prescription sleep and stress aids. By combining Lavender with a FUM inhaler (learn more about FUM here), you can subdue anxiety. Lavender helps calm the nerves, while FUM helps the lavender reach the body more effectively and guides you to breathe deeper.
Lavender can also help with jetlag. Most traveling leads to some sort of time change. And known from personal experience, that time change can be extremely frustrating; its pitch black outside, but your head is in a different time zone and cannot fall asleep. The relaxing nature of lavender can help to soothe the mind and body to sleep.
The combination of FUM and Lavender is a powerful soother that can help make your travel experience more relaxing.
Another factor of jetlag is wanting to sleep, when it's only midday at your destination. I understand the struggle of wanting to enjoy where you are, but also feeling exhausted from the time change. I found that the quickest, best way to counteract jetlag and adjust to a new time zone to not give into the temptation to sleep. By forcing myself to stay awake and waiting to sleep at the appropriate time in my new location, I can shift my body to the new time zone more smoothly. Forcing yourself to stay awake, especially after a long journey is tough, but peppermint can help. Peppermint essential oil is a powerful energizer that helps awaken the mind and clear brain fog with its refreshing and stimulating aroma. Using peppermint in your FUM can help you stay alert and awake so you can fight off jetlag. And even if you aren't experiencing jetlag, Peppermint oil can help give you more energy and clear the grogginess from traveling so you can enjoy your destination as soon as you arrive.
Peppermint oil is also helpful for those who get motion sick, especially in cars, planes or on ships. Inhaling peppermint can also help relieve the uneasy feelings and dizziness. Peppermint oil can relax the gastrointestinal system, resulting in increased serotonin and substance P levels, which acts as a neurotransmitter reducing nausea and vomiting. Therefore, by using peppermint essential oil in your FUM, you can help relieve the unsettling feeling of motion sickness, while it also allows you to breathe deeper.
Since we are exposed to many germs when we travel, we are at a higher risk of getting sick when we are away from home. And the last thing you want is to arrive at your destination or come back from vacation sick. Eucalyptus oil can help prevent this. Many studies reveal that eucalyptus oil's main compound, eucalyptol, can be a powerful fighter against bacteria, viruses and fungi, while also boosting your immune system. Using eucalyptus oil in your FUM when traveling can help prevent your likelihood of getting sick so you can have a relaxing vacation and travel experience.
Eucalyptus can also help with bloating and inflammation that may have been caused by traveling. Often times, I feel bloated or my ankles swell when I have been inactive on a flight for long periods of time. Eucalyptus can act as an anti-inflammatory, it can be helpful to use in my FUM to relieve pressure and inflammation in the body.
For someone who has experienced the best and worst of traveling, I've learned some tricks that help make my travel experience better. Planning ahead is always is a good idea. By planning ahead and packing the right tools to help my body, I can enjoy the trip and be ready to go as soon as I reach my destination. When I travel I always bring my little FUM pouch with three FUMs. Each have a different oil in them so I don’t have to switch out the inserts or carry around bottles of oil, which can take up precious space in my suitcase. Also, if you keep the FUMs in the pocket cases, it keeps them clean and the oils potent, helping them last during my whole trip. It’s so convenient that you can FUM anywhere. Since there is no smoke and no vape, you can FUM on planes, trains and in cars. FUMing is a personal aromatherapy inhaler that helps keep your body feeling its best so you can enjoy the journey and your destination.
Don't forget to pack a FUM + the Essential oils your need on your next trip!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jocelyn's passion to help others drives her work here at FUM. Jocelyn uses her research knowledge to bring information to the FUM Family on how to improve health. She graduated with a degree in Business Management and Organizational Communication from University of Ottawa and currently lives in Calgary, Canada.