It’s Summertime, a Popular Travel Season. Don’t Let Travel Derail Your Wellness Gains. Essential Oils Can Be a Helpful Tool to Stay On Track and Enjoy Your Trip in a Happier and Healthier Way!
As seasons change, so do traveling trends! According to research by the AARP, summer is the most popular time to travel, though spring is a close second (31% and 26%, respectively) (pg. 18). According to the U.S. Travel Association, four out of five domestic trips in 2016 were for leisure. Therefore, “summertime fun-time” is not just a cliché, it’s a statistic.
Many of you are probably looking forward to an annual trip where you can “unplug” and “destress.” Although many consider the safety of their travels, as far as contemplating movement by air vs. ground and making sure they follow safe driving precautions with the crowed roads, some may decide to “let loose” of their healthy behaviors that allowed them to be vital and enjoy life discomfort-free the previous months. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, a time off from “caring” can add to the total toxic load on your body and cause untimely and unwanted symptoms to surface and wreak havoc on your fun.
The Common Vacation Mis-Steps
It is common for people to not “make a fuss,” and “bother” with bringing their non-toxic personal care products, diffusers, regular supplements, and essential oils in order to travel light. I think I’ve provided a vast amount of blogs, resources, and reasons why packing your diffusers, non-toxic personal care products, and essential oils ARE a good idea and worth the “hassle” for any trip. The short answer is to avoid the harmful effects that could ensue from re-toxifying you and your family! (Including the little eyes whose developing bodies are most at risk.)
The good news is, not only will essential oils help you “detox” and not “re-tox”, they can also protect you from exposure, support your body, and calm your mind during the sometimes stressful prep days, clogged roads, or airport wait lines. After all the hard work of the year, why cut your well-deserved trip short due to a run-down and tired body? (By the way, I just found this cute travel diffuser on Amazon for $11.20 that I brought for my trip. It worked great and is light! You can even use your USB port! Diffuser “forgetfulness” be-gone!)
Another “slip” on the road can be tripping into foods which may not be nourishing. It happens to even the most famous health experts. I’m a big fan of avoiding the “diet-nazi” mentality and strive to be gentle around food and food addictions, but I do know when people eat foods that they know are triggers or cause symptoms, they suffer, emotionally and physically. Only you know how far you can go off the wagon before its off the road and heading like lightning speed into a tractor trailer of no return!
The good news is that there’s simple ways to enjoy your food while away and stay healthy. (These can help you to stay relaxed and avoid running after that wagon!) For example, this blog offers suggestions that include packing your own food, bringing snacks, visiting local grocery stores, and more. You can also use essential oils to help appease any unruly and unwelcome increases in appetite and cravings that may derail your healthy intent.
But I’ll Look Like a Health Nut, Dr. Sarah!!
Are you worried you may come off like a crazed-out-health nut? I’ve provided some tips about this previously, such as offering to bring a meal you know you can eat to “contribute” to a gathering. In this way, you don’t feel awkward and can still feel like an “insider.”
Remember though, you are the master of your own destiny. If someone is pressuring you to consume something that hurts you, it’s like asking someone with a peanut allergy to take a chance and let loose on peanut brittle! Why do that when they could be enjoying Paleo Cinnamon Pecan Brittle!?
The symptoms of feasting on foods that you are sensitive to may not be as immediate and obvious as one would have with a severe allergy, but the result of making “them” less uncomfortable does harm YOU.
Why harm yourself!?
You are worthy of treating yourself with respect, just as “they” are.
Okay, it is true you want to be empowered about this information, versus stressed and igniting orthorexia. There’s a fine line. You draw the line.
Enough said.
Essential Oil Companions for Healthy Traveling
Now, the fun part!
Let’s look at some of the tools we can use to stay healthy and enjoy our summer sojourns with pleasure. The goal is to obtain a balance between an unhealthy health obsession and derailing our bodies. This month’s promotions from my favorite essential oils company makes it easy!
Here’s how:
- Grab your oils blend that contains rosemary, lemongrass, and balsam fir and a nutrient-infused brain-healthy-superfood-energizing drink (which contains the wolfberry) to pep you up in a healthy way! This combo can support you to easily stay alert on the road without having to suffer a cascading high followed by a tumultuous energy low from synthetic stimulants. Furthermore, you will be nourishing your body rather than burdening it by relying on toxic energy drinks. Many health experts are concerned with these “energy drinks” because they are loaded with chemicals, sugar, caffeine, and harmful additives. Choose a “wiser” choice with your oil and brain-loving drink to prevent harm and provide you with the benefit of a more dynamic brain while traveling!!
- When the food isn’t “perfect” on your trip, you can ease tummy woes with a few drops of a blend of ginger, peppermint, and spearmint.
- Double up the stress-busting benefits of being outdoors by sniffing cypress oil. This fir oil contains powerful phytoncides that can help support you and your family’s immune system and ease vacation worries during the trip.
- Avoid toxic skin products and consider the skin benefits of patchouli. Not only is it great for the beauty, but it provides support for your immune system and can help keep you discomfort free. (May I humbly suggest manuka oil as an add-on for skin during your travels? It’s my favorite oil for skin right now!)
- Finally, pep up your brain and further support digestion with spearmint oil. A “mild” oil form of the mint family.
So, this month, while you are stocking up on your chemical-free shampoos, soaps, toothpaste, and other personal care products, you can up the ante for safe, healthy, happy travels.
Disclaimer: This information is applicable ONLY for therapeutic quality essential oils. This information DOES NOT apply to essential oils that have not been tested for purity and standardized constituents. There is no quality control in the United States, and oils labeled as “100% pure” need only to contain 5% of the actual oil. The rest of the bottle can be filled with fillers and sometimes toxic ingredients that can irritate the skin. The studies are not based solely on a specific brand of an essential oil, unless stated. Please read the full study for more information.
This material is for information purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prescribe for any illness. You should check with your doctor regarding implementing any new strategies into your wellness regime. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. (Affiliation link.)
