Hello lovely folks, it's a quick recipe installation on the blog this week, and the recipes are all things Summer related.
INSECTS!
First off, I'm going to tackle how to use essential oils to deter insects, and, if you do get bitten how to use oils to help heal the bites and reduce itching.
The key to dealing with insect bites is to deter them from biting you in the first place. Apart from the obvious (cover up with lightweight clothing, especially ankle socks in early evening for mosquitos) there are plenty of natural solutions out there that can be easily used to help in the deterrent battle.
Easily available from most health stores and a cheap oil to buy, this is probably the most well known oil used to deter things that fly and bite. Add a few drops to a burner or atomiser, or, if you're travelling and don't have a burner or atomiser to hand, add a few drops to a bowl of hot water and place near open windows / balconies / on outside tables to keep them at bay. Also add a couple of drops to clothing to deter them from coming near you. Avoid placing directly on the skin as this oil can be an irritant, instead make up either of the spray/oil blends (see below for recipe)
Lemongrass Essential Oil
Another easily available and cheap essential oil - you can use this in exactly the same way as you would Citronella (a few drops in a burner/atomiser/bowl of hot water near open windows; a couple of drops on clothing etc) Also avoid placing directly on the skin as this oil can be an irritant
Peppermint Essential Oil
Avoid directly undiluted application to the skin as this is another irritant, and use as described above.
Eucalyptus (Lemon) Citridora Essential Oil
Also easily available and relatively cheap. This much gentler oil than those listed above is an efficent detterent for flying insects. The oil contains a high content of citronellal - the same chemical component found in high quantities in Citronella essential oil, but unlike Citronella doesn't have the same risk of skin sensitisation. However, still avoid direct contact with the skin and use blended with a base (either spray or oil - see recipes below)
Anti-Bite Essential Oil Blend
This makes a 10ml bottle of pure blended essential oils, small enough to take with you when travelling
80 drops Citronella
40 drops Peppermint
40 drops Eucalyptus (lemon) Citriodora
40 drops Lemongrass
You can use this blend neat in burners and atomisers (approx 6 drops), on tissues placed near your bed at night (approx 2 drops), on dark clothing (approx 1 drop on cuffs, sleeves, socks etc)
Anti-Bite Body Oil
Start applying this blend a few days before you leave for hols and use daily while away. You will need a 50ml glass bottle, and will need to dilute the concentrated essential oil blend described above using the following method:
- Take 50ml of base oil (e.g organic olive oil, grapeseed oil, sweet almond oil)
- add appox 5-10 drops of the essential oil blend to your chosen base oil. our into your 50ml bottle of oil.
- These essential oils can be skin sensitisers, so apply sparingly and always conduct a patch test on your inside elbow before applying to the entire body / exposed areas of skin
Anti-Bite Spray
This recipe allows you to make a spray that you can apply topically to your skin for evening or daytime protection (patch test first if you have sensitive skin). You can also use this spray to spritz the air / environment around you to deter the biters from coming near.
You will need a 100ml bottle
- Pour 10ml of high proof alcohol e.g vodka into a small jug (the alcohol allows the essential oils to disperse into the water base)
- Add 40 drops of the essential oil blend detailed above to the alcohol and mix together
- Add the combined alcohol / oils to 90ml of boiled and cooled, or distilled water
- Spritz onto skin for a protective layer, or spritz around you and onto clothing. Avoid the face.
TUMMY BUGS, TRAVEL SICKNESS OR INDIGESTION!
I'm sure most of you have had a bout of upset tummy when on your hols at one point or another. While you do need to let the illness pass through your system, you CAN use essential oils to help deal with feelings of nausea and discomfort.
Ginger Essential Oil
A great oil for all things relating to digestion. I like to sniff from a tissue, or if I have the raw root to hand, then slice an infuse in boiled water with lemon and sip slowly to help settle your tummy
Rosemary Essential Oil
A great oil to use when the upset tummy has been caused by germs or bugs. The aroma is instantly refreshing if you are feeling queasy. As with the ginger, a little freshly picked Rosemary infused as a herb in boiled water is great to help settle the tummy
Peppermint Essential Oil
Another oil that is naturally antibacterial and can help with upsets that have been caused by germs or bugs. This oil is particularly good for travel sickness as inhaling it from a tissue helps clear the head and deal with any vertigo or motion related issue. Another great herb to infuse and drink as a tea, or take peppermint tea bags with you on your travels. Great for indigestion and over eating!
Cardamom Essential Oil
Used on the Indian sub continent for millenia as a digestive settler and tummy calming aid, the Cardamom essential oil smells instantly soothing if you are feeling ill or queasy. Can also be infused whole and used a 'tea' to help settle and cleanse
Tummy settling 'tea' recipe for travel sickness or over indulgence
2 sprigs fresh peppermint, 1 sprig fresh rosemary, 1 slice of lemon - boil the kettle and add the herbs to your cub, pour fresh water over and allow to steep for a approx 3-5 minutes before removing and drinking
Travel Nausea tissue blend
Add 2 drops of ginger, 1 drop of cardamom and 1 drop of peppermint to a tissue. Inhale deeply when travel sickness overwhelms you. Try to keep you eyes closed or look at a far horizon - whatever you do, don't look at your phone or try to read.
Sickness tummy massage oil - for travel sickness (apply before you travel) or over indulgence or food poisoning (apply after you have eaten)
Add 10 drops of ginger, 5 drops of rosemary, 5 drops of cardamom to a base oil of 50ml. Conduct a patch test before use as Ginger can be a sensitiser for some skin types.
Massage gently in across the abdomen in a clockwise direction, following the natural flow of the large intestine. This helps alleviate discomfort and work with the natural flow and movement of the bowel.
SUNBURN!
Everyone gets caught out sometimes, even when you feel like you are regularly applying your high factor creams.
My go-to essential oil that I always take on travels as it can be applied neat to insect bites and almost neat to sunburn is Lavender.
This oil has a multitude of uses, which is why it makes such a good travel companion. You can add a drop to your ginger herbal tea if the tummy bug is caused by a bacteria. You can add a drop neat to insect bites to stop the itching and help them heal.
And you can apply it almost-neat to sunburn. Get hold of some olive oil and add approximately 10 drops per tablespoon. Massage well into the sunburn and let the olive oil (which contains natural squalene and helps with collagen renewal) and the lavender do their work.
Always conduct a patch test of course, as I am suggesting a high % of essential oil use here, and your own skin needs to be sure that this won't cause a flare up.
I hope there has been some useful info here - safe travels, and let me know if you have any questions!
xxx
Marie @ Bloom
marie@bloomremedies.co.uk