Making plans to travel can be extremely exciting but also a little nerve-wracking.
Some people love the experience of hopping on airplanes, while others find it to be stressful or uncomfortable. Depending on where you’re traveling and the length of your trip, sometimes travel anxiety is hard to avoid.
If you plan to take a trip somewhere soon, you may benefit from using essential oils to keep those travel-related worries at bay.
Can You Carry Essential Oils On A Plane?
Travel guidelines can be tricky to navigate, especially when it comes to carrying essential oils. You may not want to leave your essential oils in a checked suitcase because there is a possibility they could spill or break. If necessary, you can easily pack them in a way that ensures they’ll be protected and arrive safely when you land.
However, if you use essential oils to help ease your travel worries, you probably want to carry them on board with you to use when needed. One thing to note is that most airports have restrictions on what you can bring on board with you. When traveling, the standard TSA rule is that you can bring containers that contain up to 3.4 ounces of liquid, and you can bring as many of these containers as you want, as long as they are individually 3.4oz or less.
Most essential oil bottles are 0.5oz in size, so you should be fine to bring them aboard. Just make sure to pack them well in a ziplock bag in order to avoid any spills or damage to the bottles.
Essential Oils That Kill Germs In The Air
There are plenty of movies and TV shows that portray train stations and airports as romantic settings full of possibility. While there is something special about traveling, the truth is that these settings are also full of germs. People shuffle in and out of these spaces all day, every day.
For the germaphobes reading this article, here are a couple of essential oils that are commonly used to cleanse the air around you (and even potentially boost your immune system).
Tea Tree Oil
This essential oil has powerful properties that can kill bacteria and viruses in the air. This 2006 study looks at how tea tree essential oil has antimicrobial properties that may help fight infections both topically and in the air. In fact, some people use tea tree oil as a natural hand sanitizer because it has been shown to kill viruses such as the flu, E. coli, and more.
Eucalyptus Oil
A 2012 study showed that there are strong antiviral properties found in eucalyptus oil that can help to treat & prevent infections. In addition to these properties, eucalyptus oil has a refreshing aroma that can open airways and relieve congestion with anti-inflammatory effects.
Essential Oils That Give You Energy
Another factor of traveling and vacations is the amount of time and energy it takes to get to and from your destination. Whether you are driving, flying, or taking other transportation– it’s essential to stay alert & awake. Now, you may have a 20-hour flight that you can get some sleep on, but you also will probably suffer from jet lag.
When it comes to traveling, sometimes drinking coffee isn’t enough to keep you energized along the way. These essential oils can help give you a clear mind and boost of energy to stay awake & beat fatigue during your journey.
Rosemary Oil
Rosemary is known to have stimulating properties that can awaken your mind. A 2012 study concluded that when used for aromatherapy inhalation, rosemary oil has positive stimulative effects on mood, brain activity, and other responses.
Lemon Oil
Most citrusy essential oils provide an awakening and energizing effect, especially when inhaling the aroma. The vibrant scent of lemon oil has even been shown to improve productivity in factory work environments. A 2010 study looked at the effects of lemon essential oil aromatherapy and noted that it could improve cognitive function. That being said, it may help you stay alert during exhausting days of travel.
Peppermint Oil
The minty, refreshing scent of peppermint oil is well known to awaken your senses to help you energize. In 2013, a study looked at the effects of peppermint oil on athletic performance. Among the results of this study, it was shown that peppermint oil aromatherapy can help prevent fatigue.
Our boomboom mint variety nasal inhaler pack uses the perfect blend of peppermint oil, spearmint oil, eucalyptus oil, and other natural flavors to give you a refreshing boost of energy and focus.
Essential Oils That Help You Relax
Many people who don’t like to travel will say that it makes them feel nervous or anxious. Traveling is something that forces you out of your comfort zone, which can easily throw off your mood and emotions. In fact, the fear of traveling (known as hodophobia) is one of the most common phobias worldwide.
Your fear may be related to past experiences or more specific concerns like the fear of flying. Most people will have some kind of fear related to travel– some cases more severe than others. It may be common, but it’s still hard to manage. That’s why we wanted to share some essential oils that can help you get rid of those anxious feelings during your trip.
Lavender
Anxious or nervous feelings can feel suffocating at times, especially when traveling. The soothing aroma of lavender essential oil has been researched and shown to provide a calming effect on your nervous system and mental state. Many people use lavender oil to ease their anxiety & soothe their worries while traveling.
Sweet Orange
The sweet orange essential oil has been researched over the years and shown to provide a wide variety of positive benefits. A study in 2013 showed that inhaling this essential oil was effective in reducing stress levels in patients experiencing emotional/anxious feelings.
Geranium
A 2015 study looked at the effects of geranium oil when used for inhalation for aromatherapy. This research showed that the essential oil was able to decrease physical symptoms of anxiety, including muscle tension and rapid breathing and providing mental relaxation.
Our boomboom essential oil "Relax Roll-On" uses the perfect blend of these essential oils and more to ease anxiety & body pains, among other benefits.
Essential Oils That Help You Breathe Better
Traveling may cause you to experience trouble breathing due to anxiety, high altitudes, and other environmental factors. When you need a breath of fresh air to open up your airways on the go, certain essential oils can help you & improve your breathing.
Spearmint
This essential oil has anti-inflammatory properties that can refresh your respiratory system to help improve breathing. It has a minty aroma and soothing effect that can clear your sinuses, making it easier to breathe normally. It also can give you fresh breath during long travel days when you feel the need to freshen up but can’t brush your teeth.
Frankincense
Using frankincense oil for aromatherapy has been shown to benefit patients with COPD symptoms (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). One of the main symptoms of COPD is difficulty breathing, but this 2015 study showed that using frankincense oil was able to act as a highly effective treatment.
Frankincense is also commonly used to help relieve nausea or an upset stomach.
If you are interested in using essential oils to improve your breathing, check out our lineup of inhalers and roll-ons. These products use the perfect blend of spearmint and other essential oils to open your airways for enhanced breathing.
Final Thoughts
While traveling can be enjoyable and exciting for some people, it is a common source of stress for others (especially during a global pandemic). The physical and mental effects of travel-related stress may be tough to avoid, but they are manageable.
With the help of these 10 essential oils, you can prepare for a pleasant experience the next time you travel.