We had a glorious sunny day last Saturday and this turned my thoughts to holidays. Many people take an emergency 1st aid kit with them on holiday. In mine, there are homeopathic remedies, and, of course, essential oils, which have more than earned their weight and place in my suitcase on journeys to Thailand, Australia, the Seychelles, India, Ireland, Turkey, USA, Lanzorote, Hong Kong, Singapore and Tokyo.
A few years ago in India, I thought I was doing pretty well 2 weeks in, when all around me had already succumbed to…yes, you’ve guessed it…Delhi Belly, until I woke with cramping in my stomach and a fever. D.B. had struck with a vengeance! A day in bed with intermittent loo breaks, sleep (or should that read a day on the loo with intermittent sleep breaks?)and peppermint essential oils (Mentha piperita) diluted in lotion and rubbed onto said belly at regular intervals, and I felt loads better. Able to stand upright and put one foot in front of the other, though not able to nor indeed had any desire to, partake in any food for several days. A sure-fire way to lose weight as you can imagine, though not one I’d recommend by any means.
Other essential oils I find a must on hols are lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus), lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia), geranium (Pelargonium graveolens), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) and grapefruit (Citrus grandis).
Lemongrass is great to repel the mossies, and also refresh and deodorise certain hotel rooms. Lavender, soooh useful of course…insect repellent, antiseptic and healing for bites and grazes (that reminds me of a time when I very badly cut up my right leg by falling down a drain in the
Seychelles
– don’t ask! – well ok then…it was pitch black and I was on my way to a hotel for a necessary cocktail, and no I hadn’t already been in a bar. Shock must have played a part as I promptly pulled myself out of the drain and made it to the cocktail lounge as if it was completely normal behaviour to drink cocktails on a beautiful, balmy evening in the tropics with blood gushing down my leg. Needless to say, more sensible people than I brought me to my senses performed necessary first aid and sent me packing.
Back to the oils…lavender also for sunburn (I often holiday with a friend who when I’m slapping on factor 20, she’s applying factor 8 very scantily on pale skin, so my lavender
comes in very useful – no it’s not Dympna, she’s usually well covered up with her factor 30), also most soothing after a long flight.
Tea tree always helpful for cleansing and healing cuts, grazes, for sore throats and dastardly spots that appear the minute you step foot into a club (hmmm maybe in my younger days, eh?). Geranium, rosemary and grapefruit are great for getting over long flights too.
(Do bear in mind if you’re using essential oils, please do check out their safety issues first.)
Home or abroad - happy aromatic holidays, enjoy! Doreen
www.quantummetta.co.uk
