Essential Oils for Jet Lag

With essential oils, you can vastly improve your travel experience by being able to sit back and relax during the flight – arriving at your destination fresh without the jet lag! At the end of this article, you will find bonus recipes to have on hand for avoiding the dreaded jet lag and other travel woes like motion sickness, anxiety, and more!

Depending on whether you are a world traveler who has stacked up thousands of frequent flyer miles or someone who has planned an annual vacation to a far-off distant location, you are likely to experience what many refer to as jet lag, which can have a profound effect on your sleep and alertness.

Millions of travelers suffer from this common sleep disorder every day which results from an imbalance in the human body's natural biological clock which tells the body what to do at what time such as when to go to sleep and when to eat. Because of the sudden change in the body’s 24-hour cycle called circadian rhythms, jet lag results from long-distance travel across multiple time zones on high-speed aircraft.

Clockwork: Circadian rhythms measure the sharp rise and fall of body temperature, plasma levels of certain hormones, and other biological conditions which are influenced by the retina’s exposure to sunlight that helps determine when to sleep and when to wake.

When traveling to a different time zone, the body’s rhythms are slow to adjust and remain on the original biological schedule for several days. This condition of jet lag may last for several days with the traveler feeling like it is time to sleep when it's the middle of the afternoon, or staying awake during the middle of the night.

Some of the symptoms you may experience with jet lag include sleep disturbance, trouble falling asleep when flying east, awakening early than usual when traveling west, fatigue and increased irritability, lack of appetite, and dehydration — which may cause headaches.

Bergamot - Citrus bergamia - This mild, yet refreshing citrus essential oil is great for lifting a bad mood. Like grapefruit essential oil, this oil helps to awaken your senses and make you feel more alert.

    Cedarwood - Cedrus atlantica - This oil is considered a natural     sedative and can help to reduce restlessness and anxiety. Due to its     high content of sesquiterpenes, cedarwood enables you to relax and     go to sleep, which in turn helps to reduce fatigue which is one of the     most common complaints from jet lag sufferers. Sesquiterpenes, one     of its chemical constituents is known to oxygenate the brain cells, which enables you to arrive fresh and alert.

Eucalyptus - Eucalyptus globulus - This oil is effective in combating the effects of colds and flu, and perfect for sore muscles and joints. Its health benefits attributed to as being anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, decongestant, deodorant, antiseptic, antibacterial, and stimulating. It can cool the body when too hot, and protect it when too cold. It is used to relieve congestion, can support circulation, and bring lightness to a travel-weary head.

Frankincense - Boswellia carteri - Frankincense has been renowned for its antiseptic properties to eliminate germs and to clean wounds to prevent infection. This oil is also known for being sedative, helping to reduce stress, anxiety, and even anger. Inhaling Frankincense will promote relaxation and calm the mental state.

Geranium - Pelargonium graveolens / Pelargonium asperum - As an essential oil known for its hormone balancing properties, geranium helps to re-balance the body’s hormones such as melatonin which is known as the “sleep hormone.” This oil helps the body in balancing hormones that reset the circadian rhythms thereby reducing the severity of disrupted sleep patterns and other body functions such as hunger, immune response, mood changes, etc.  It works well in reducing edema and fluid retention, promoting circulation and has a stimulating effect on the lymphatic system.

    Ginger - Zingiber officinale - This oil is good for colds and flu, nausea     (including motion sickness), rheumatism, coughs and circulation     issues. It has warming properties that help to relieve muscular     cramps, spasms, aches and eases stiffness in joints.

Grapefruit - Citrus paradisi - Need a pick-me-up? This citrus essential oil with its perky fragrance awakens you from the fog after a long plane ride. It is also an excellent oil to brighten a stale hotel room. This oil is spiritually uplifting, eases muscle fatigue and stiffness, relieves nervous exhaustion and alleviates depression.

    Lavender - Lavandula angustifolia / Lavandula officinalis - As one of     the most popular oils for most essential oil lovers, lavender is a     favorite for relaxation and encourages a sense of serenity, reducing     anxiety while giving a sense of peace and calm. Lavender has been     called 'a medicine chest in a bottle due to its wide range of effects.     Lavender, an exquisite scented purple flower, has been used throughout its existence as a calming and antidepressant oil. Lavender has many uses that help to reduce stress and anxiety. Lavender also helps to combat restlessness and insomnia.

The aroma of Lavender is useful for stress in congested airports or crowded highways. Breathing this safe essential oil is helpful for adults and children alike - inhaling drops from tissue directly, or used in an inhaler recipe below can help you, and your companions at ease. Lavender makes a great addition to one's oil kit to take when traveling.

To get yourself acclimated into local time, relaxed and ready for bed, try blending equal parts of Lavender and Geranium essential oils - Chamomile may also be used in place of the Geranium and works exceptionally well for soothing children (if they are irritable for any reason). Add a few drops to a bath or use in massage oil. For a morning eye-opener, do the same using equal amounts of Peppermint and Eucalyptus. You will find these useful at other times when you need a little clarity.

Lemon - Citrus limon - Lemon known for its citrusy uplifting smell has been used for its ability to help improve digestion and boost energy levels when inhaling its scent. It is beneficial for the circulatory system and aids with blood flow, reduces blood pressure and helps with nosebleeds. Lemon oil can be used to help reduce fever, relieve throat infections, bronchitis, and heal cold sores, herpes, and insect bites.

A study has shown Lemon essential oil to be effective in reducing nausea (tested on pregnant women) through inhalation, which shows Lemon essential oil a necessary part of a travel kit if feeling sick from motion sickness.

    Lemongrass - Cymbopogon citratus/Cymbopogon flexuosus - Like     geranium essential oil, lemongrass supports the body’s hormones and     helps to stabilize and reset the body’s biological clock to overcome jet     lag quickly. Lemongrass fortifies the nervous system and can be used     in the bath for soothing muscular nerves and pain. Lemongrass has     an outstanding reputation for keeping insects away, controlling     perspiration and for treating athletics’ foot.

    This oil relieves the symptoms of jet lag, helps with nervousness and anxiety, and clears headaches. It is useful with respiratory conditions such as sore throats, laryngitis and fever and helps prevent spreading of infectious diseases when diffused.

Marjoram - Origanum majorana - As a comforting oil, this essential oil can be massaged into the abdomen during menstruation, or added to a warm compress to ease discomfort. It is useful for treating tired aching muscles. Marjoram’s pain relieving properties are helpful for rheumatic pain, sprains, spasms, as well as swollen joints and achy muscles. It can be added to a warm or hot bath at the first sign of a cold and is helpful for asthma and other respiratory complaints and has a calming action on emotions. It soothes the digestive system and helps with indigestion, constipation, and flatulence. Marjoram is terrific as a relaxant and is useful for headaches, migraines, and insomnia.

Peppermint - Mentha piperita - This must-have essential oil increases mental alertness and helps you to concentrate during those long hours in the early morning or late afternoon on the plane. Peppermint essential oil fragrance is known to help settle upset stomachs and curb nausea. You can also use one drop of peppermint essential oil (it is strong!) in a cup of warm water and sipped before and during the voyage. For fussy ones, a drop of peppermint oil can be added to a small amount of honey and taken from a spoon for the same effect. Peppermint is also suitable for headaches that occur when dealing with the stress of going through an airport.

Roman chamomile - Anthemis nobilis/ Chamaemelum nobile - With a touch of a sweet apple scent, this calming oil helps to reduce anxiety and settle a queasy stomach. Roman chamomile is known for its ability to bring tranquility and peace of mind.

Rosemary - Salvia rosmarinus / Rosmarinus officinalis - Recent studies have shown this scent to help sharpen the senses and improve memory. This essential oil is known to be a stimulant that can help increase mental focus and alertness.

These essential oils are an indispensable part of your travel kit for helping to promote less stress, anxiety, and other travel-related symptoms. You will also be boosting your immune system while around so many people as well as help improve good sleep before, during, and after the trip.

The following recipes are for products that you can take along with you on the plane. Keep in mind to the liquid limitation rule which is 100ml travel-size containers. You can easily fit all of these products in a ziplock plastic bag.