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Traveling can be exciting, but it can also disrupt sleep, meals, routines, and the quiet time we normally have at home. For someone living with the effects of a brain injury, planning ahead can make the experience feel much more manageable.
Along with medications, medical information, hydration, snacks, and other travel necessities, I like having a few familiar aromatherapy products nearby.
Here are five of my favorites for a simple travel wellness kit.
1. DigestZen® — For the Travel Tummy
Different foods, long travel days, and changes in routine can sometimes leave our stomach feeling less than happy.
doTERRA DigestZen® is an essential-oil blend containing botanicals traditionally associated with digestive comfort, including ginger and peppermint.
Ginger itself has a long history of traditional use and continues to be studied for its properties.
→ Shop DigestZen®
2. Deep Blue® — After a Long Travel Day
Sitting in a car or airplane for hours can leave the body feeling stiff and tired.
Deep Blue® combines several aromatic botanical ingredients, including wintergreen. I like the idea of incorporating a topical comfort product into a travel routine after long periods of sitting or activity.
Research has also explored topical preparations containing ingredients such as wintergreen and peppermint in relation to musculoskeletal discomfort.
→ Shop Deep Blue®
3. Turmeric — A Botanical Worth Knowing
Turmeric has been used traditionally for centuries and is now extensively studied for compounds such as curcumin.
Rather than thinking of turmeric as a treatment for brain injury, I prefer to view it as one of many botanicals that can be incorporated into an overall wellness lifestyle.
And remember—turmeric isn’t limited to an essential oil. The spice itself can be a delicious addition to meals.
→ Explore Turmeric
4. Lavender — Create a Calmer Environment
Travel can be overstimulating: unfamiliar surroundings, crowds, noise, schedules and disrupted sleep.
That’s where I love lavender.
Its familiar aroma can become part of a calming evening ritual. Try diffusing lavender in your accommodations while winding down, meditating or preparing for sleep.
Lavender and its aromatic preparations have also been the subject of research involving stress, anxiety and other areas of neurological health.
→ Read: Lavanda — Un Ritual Natural para la Calma y el Bienestar
See what we did there? 😉 This links directly to the lavender blog we just fixed.
5. Peppermint — Fresh & Invigorating
Peppermint is one of my favorite aromas when I want something fresh and stimulating.
Peppermint preparations have also been studied in relation to tension-type headaches. That doesn’t mean peppermint treats a brain injury, but it makes it an interesting aromatic botanical to know about.
Follow product directions carefully, particularly for topical use, and avoid applying essential oils too close to the eyes.
→ Shop Peppermint Essential Oil
Create a Travel Routine That Works for You
Essential oils are only one small part of traveling well.
If you’re living with a brain injury, your travel plan might also include extra rest, hydration, regular meals, medications, reduced stimulation, comfortable transportation and plenty of time between activities.
Most importantly, listen to your body. A successful trip doesn’t have to mean packing every minute of every day.
Sometimes slower travel is better travel. 🌿
Explore More
→ Shop My Favorite Essential Oils
→ Discover Travel & Wellness Ideas on Pinterest
→ Explore Naturel Vitality Wellness
Educational information only. Essential oils are not treatments for traumatic brain injury. Follow product directions and consult an appropriate healthcare professional about medical conditions, medications, pregnancy, or individual safety concerns.
Sources
- Khodaie L, Sadeghpoor O. Ginger from ancient times to the new outlook. Jundishapur Journal of Natural Pharmaceutical Products. 2015;10(1):e18402.
- Hebert PR, Barice EJ, Hennekens CH. Treatment of low back pain: the potential clinical and public health benefits of topical herbal remedies. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2014;20(4):219–220.
- Prasad S, Aggarwal BB. Turmeric, the Golden Spice: From Traditional Medicine to Modern Medicine. In: Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd ed. CRC Press/Taylor & Francis; 2011.
- Hatami Bavarsad N, Bagheri S, Kourosh-Arami M, Komaki A. Aromatherapy for the brain: Lavender’s healing effect on epilepsy, depression, anxiety, migraine, and Alzheimer’s disease: A review article. Heliyon. 2023;9(8):e18492.
- Göbel H, et al. Peppermint oil in the acute treatment of tension-type headache. Schmerz. 2016;30(3):295–310.