Taking Aromatherapy with you on an Airplane
Friends,
When I went to Florida on vacation, I brought with me as many oils as I could fit into a sandwich bag. The rest: shampoo & oils for skin, etc. I put into a sturdy cooler in my luggage.
These are the oils I carry with me: Peace and Calming, Thieves waterless hand purifier, Peppermint and Lavender, Stress Away (I love that Vanilla), Slique Essence, Lemon, Valerian, Valor, Harmony, Breath Again, Tea tree, Frankincense, RutaVala, and many many others.
For those who are scared of flying, I have to share this experience.
Without revealing names, this person scared of flying for the past many years, was sitting next to me. This person is very dear to me, but is not always open to using essential oils. Therefore, while waiting for the plane to take off, I put Valor on my temples, and opened different bottles, one at a time: Lavender, Peace and Calming, and of course, Valor. If Lavender worked to stop an epileptic seizure, it should work for this, I was certain.
AND IT WORKED!!! His brain took on a different thought process, and found a strategy to cope with the situation! "It only took a second to change all my thinking."
A great experience, hopefully not forgotten.
from Message Scent News 2 June/July 2012 Volume 8 #4
Taking your essential oils with you on a plane is not as simple as it once was. Since 2006, when liquids on-board a
flight first became known as a possible threat to passenger safety, government agencies at first banned all liquids to
be carried on board planes, and then relaxed their restrictions slightly to allow for small amounts of liquids to
be carried on a flight (there are still no restrictions on carrying previously permitted liquids in checked baggage,
just in items carried on-board a plane).
The easiest way to take aromatherapy with you on-board a flight currently is to avoid these restrictions
altogether and to just take essential oils that have already been absorbed into a tissue, wipe, handkerchief, cotton
ball, wick, or a decorative clay or terra-cotta pendant, where they can be taken out and inhaled or used to
wipe down a surface as needed.
If you still do want to carry the essential oils or other liquids on the flight with you, it is best if you know the rules.
Carrying Liquids on U.S. Flights (3-1-1 Rule) In the United States, the TSA has currently imposed what it calls the 3-1-1 rule for carrying liquids on board an airplane with you. Simply put, this rule states that all liquids must be in
containers that hold 3 liquid ounces or less, all containers with liquids being carried on must be contained in
1 closed zip-top plastic bag that is 1-quart (or less) in size. That zip-top bag must also be pulled out of carry-on
bags to be screened separately when going through security. This rule covers any type of liquid, lotion, paste,
cream, or gel. This rule does make a few exceptions for baby and medical supplies (see www.tsa.gov for more
details on exemptions to this rule), but pretty much covers any type of essential oil, massage oil, liquid soap,
shampoo, toothpaste, lotion, beverage, liquid or gelled food (such as jams and cake frosting), and even gel shoe
inserts.
If you don’t want to check your baggage, or desire to keep your essential oils or other liquids with you on board the plane, you may wish to condense these liquids into smaller glass or plastic containers in order to maximize the variety of liquid items you can carry with you. A few ways for doing this include:
a Place essential oils in smaller 5 ml, or 5/8 dram glass vials, using larger containers for oils you will use more
often.
Place lotions, soaps, shampoo, conditioners, and other personal care liquids,creams, and gels in smaller 1 oz.or 2 oz. containers.
To bring a small amount of toothpaste with you, squeeze the desired amount of toothpaste into the corner of a small sandwich bag, and then twist the bag closed just above the toothpaste, and use a twist-tie or tie the bag in a knot to secure. Cut or tear the tip of the corner where the toothpaste is to squeeze the toothpaste outwhen needed.
Dealing With Pressurized Cabin Air
The pressurized air that is re-cycled through an airplane cabin can often feel stale and dry, and can intensify
any feelings of airsickness that may arise. To help counteract these effects, try bringing either a small spray
bottle with water and a few drops of peppermint oil to mist the air around you, or make your own moisturizing
wipes to wipe down your face, neck, and arms.
Airsickness
According to the Reference Guide for Essential Oils, by Connie and Alan Higley, essential oils of ginger, nutmeg, peppermint, and spearmint applied to the feet, temples, and wrists can all be effective at counteracting the feelings of motion sickness that can arise on flights. Inhaling the scent of peppermint oil from a tissue, inhaler, or aromatic pendant can also help calm feelings of nausea.
Disinfecting/Sanitizing (seats, luggage handles, etc.)
As with any situation where many people share a confined space, there is always a much higher probability of
coming in contact with other people’s germs while you are flying. The most likely places you will come in contact
with these germs will be places other’s hands have touched, such as on armrests, trays, in-flight literature, lavatory
handles, seatbelts, call buttons, and luggage handles. For a quick disinfecting, Thieves wipes that have been
pre-prepared with an anti-microbial oil or oil blend can be used to wipe down areas you will likely be touching
constantly, or to wipe off and disinfect your hands before eating or touching your face.
Calming Children
Sitting in a confined place for a long time can often be trying for young children. To help them calm down,
Valerie Worwood recommends in her book, The Complete Book of Essential Oils & Aromatherapy, using
a massage oil made with 15 drops of chamomile in 2 tablespoons of a carrier oil. Massage a small amount
on the child’s legs and feet. Other oils that are good for calming include Peace & Calming, lavender, cedarwood,
jasmine, onycha (benzoin), and ylang ylang.