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Last week I was on 10 planes in 5 days. It was not the
most
favorable time to fly as the heightened security alerts and
new
restrictions were just put into place banning all liquids
from
being carried on the plane.
I was traveling as a trainer for
Young Living
Essential Oils company for their new product pre-launch regional meetings.
I traveled with two fabulous guys from corporate, presenting
to
groups in 4 different cities in 4 days.
As I was packing for this trip I was mentally preparing
creative
strategies to make sure I would have enough purified
drinking
water during my travels. I am someone who always needs to
drink
water. The thought of traveling without my water bottle
was enough to send me into a dehydrated and panicked state.
I also knew I would have to pack the
essential oil bottles I
normally carry in my purse into my suitcase. That didn't
seem to
bother me as much as being without my water. Boy, was I
mistaken.
Being without oils on my person in this week of travel was
torturous.
I found ways to keep accessing drinking water on and off the
planes, although it did cost a lot of money ($2 - $4 for an 8
ounce bottle). We had to throw our water bottles away at the
gate
to go through security. Then we could buy them again once we
got
into the terminals for our two hour waits. But then we had
to
toss them again before we got onto the plane. If you fell
asleep
on the plane you missed your opportunity to get your glass
of
water on the flight. That happened to me once or twice.
It is said that we don't appreciate what we have until its
gone.
I didn't think that that was the case for me. I love and
appreciate how
essential oils make my life so much easier,
but I
just didn't realize to what degree - until this past week of
travel.
Traveling is a time when I need and want my oils the most.
Here
are some of the reasons why:
--Flying is Stressful
Traveling, particularly flying, is stressful even when we
are
thrilled about our destination. Our daily routine changes as
soon
as the preparation process begins - which could be several
days
before the departure date. Our work load seems to double
because
we have to take care of everything in advance that we can't
tend
to while we are away.
We are already stressed out by the time the day of travel
arrives. The time pressures set in even more intensely as we
need to make sure we get to the airport on time not knowing
the
length of the lines. Then we have to be prepared for
possible
schedule changes or delays.
Help!....Give me my
Sandalwood...!
Where is my
Peace & Calming...?
It used to be that while
riding on the shuttle or standing in lines I could grab for
these
wonderful oils in my purse and put a few drops on my wrists
and
forehead to decrease my stress level. Now with these
restrictions, what's an oiler to do?
--Waiting in the Terminal
What we can't have on the plane we can't have in the
terminal.
An almost two hour wait would include one to two trips to
the
rest room (especially when taking advantage of water
drinking
opportunities).
Being without my essential oil
spray bottle of Thieves (a
constant purse companion) to clean public environments for
personal use was more difficult than I would have expected.
--Too Close for Comfort
I don't like when strangers are in my space. And I don't
like to
be too close to people I don't know. There is no avoiding
this when we fly.
As an intuitive, I am highly sensitive to so many things,
including people's energy. Just by being 2 to 3 inches in
proximity to people I can sense their stuff (that includes
their
smells, their thoughts, and their emotions). I've even had
the
experience of getting nauseated from being near toxic
people,
especially when it catches me off guard. This includes
people
who may have diseases and are receiving highly toxic
treatments
(like chemotherapy, radiation, dialysis), to people who are
on
loads of medications or have lots of toxins in their body,
and
even people who have toxic thoughts or emotions - I feel it
all.
My
essential oils are what always help me with both
protecting my
energy and fending off the toxicity of others. Where is my
White
Angelica, and how about my peppermint? I use White Angelica
over
my entire body (mostly in the energy field) and rubbed on my
shoulders to create a protective force field around me.
Inhaling
peppermint when I am around offensive odors is incredibly
helpful.
Here are two examples of needing my oils on a plane. On one
flight last week I was happy to have the seat next to me
vacant,
but what lurked behind me was a man who must have spent
several hours waiting for his delayed flight in the airport
bar
and smoking lounge. He passed right out as soon as he sat
down and buckled his seat belt. With his head bobbing back
and
mouth wide open, his snoring exhalations propelled alcohol
and
smoke fumes through the space between seats right over my
shoulder.
In another incidence I was seated next to a lovely
older woman resembling my grandmother and smelling like her
too -
Nana's favorite was Jean Nate' powder. Even as a child I
couldn't
stay in her hug for more than 20 seconds because of that
smell.
Normally I would have grabbed my
Purification to dowse my
palms
and create a self made respirator with my hands, but no oils
at
my access! "Help!" "Give me my oils!"
--Prevent Respiratory Infections
Well, there might not be real snakes on the plane, but
there sure
are millions of microbes that like to grow in moist
environments
(the air in cabins is recirculated and humidified). The
unfriendly microbes can take advantage of our stress filled
bodies where some immunities may be lowered. It is not
uncommon
for people to develop upper and lower respiratory tract
infections after flying.
One of my airplane routines for the past nine years of using
therapeutic essential oils in my life was to take a tissue
and
sprinkle my favorite respiratory blends of either
Raven or
RC onto the tissue. I would slip this under my watchband or up
my
sleeve and consistently during the flight I would take an
inhalation through this tissue. Doing so allow the
antimicrobial
activity of the essential oil to line my nasal passages and
prevent the entrance of unwanted microbes into my
respiratory
tract.
--Help for Swollen Feet from Flying
One of the most fascinating experiences I've had with
the oils
is visually witnessing the effect of certain oils on swollen
feet and legs. The oil blend
Aroma Life, known to be
supportive
to the circulatory system, has minimized swollen feet and
lower
leg edema right in from of my very eyes on clients, family
members, and myself. This blend has cypress in it which
balances both the lymphatic and cardiovascular circulatory
systems. It also has helicrysum that is excellent for nerve
tissue.
Another reason to dowse myself with an oil would be to
prevent
feet and leg swelling. I would rub my feet and ankles with
Aroma
Life. If I didn't have Aroma Life, I would use lavender.
--Prevent Travel Sickness
Whether its turbulence in the plane or turbulence in the
stomach,
there are a few
essential oils that can help. I would use
either
peppermint,
DiGize, or ginger. The best way is by rubbing
them on
the stomach or taking a drop internally (I would touch the
side
of the cap to get small amount on my finger and then touch
it to my tongue.)
What to do now that we have to fly without our
essential oil
bottles? Here are some creative solutions to flying without
oils:
- Dowse yourself before you leave the house. Anticipate
what
your needs might be.
Protection - White Angelica;
Respiratory
Care - RC, Raven;
Lower Limb Swelling - Aroma Life
- Make baggies for your oils. Take cotton balls and saturate
with your favorite travel oil. Place in a zip lock baggie
and
mark it accordingly. Carry in your purse, carry-on, computer
or
briefcase.
- General oiling-up. For all around well-being, to feel
grounded
and centered, and when in doubt use
Valor on the bottom of
your
feet.
- Use
Rose Ointment on top of your oil application. It helps
to
seal in the effects.
- Travel with
Thieves Wipes. The bad news is we can't carry
on
Thieves Spray. The good news is we can carry on Thieves
Wipes.
- AromaWear. This gorgeous jewelry is designed to diffuse
essential oils on your person. A great alternative to
carrying
our bottles with us. Call Cathy Gins for special information
on
this high quality essential oil jewelry at 212-255-5126 or
go to:
http://www.aromawear.com
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Direct comments or questions about this article, including
requests for reprint rights, to:
Marilee Tolen RN, HNC - Board
Certified Holistic Nurse
HomeSpaLady™
“. . .natural remedies for health and beauty that you
can do at home!”
Get your FREE “Tips of the Week” at
http://www.HomeSpaLady.com
www.HealingEnergies.com
Learn more about
essential
oils here
856.857.1799
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