Have Essential Oils – Will Travel
Essential oils are a worthy addition to the traveller's kit
bag. When travelling through Egypt their uses became much more than one would
expect!
During a break from my
Aromatherapy studies in London, I set out on a trip with my girlfriend to
Egypt. I'd always been fascinated with Ancient Egyptian culture and impressed
by their diverse knowledge and documented use of essential oils. Not only were essential oils sourced and used
for the sensual pleasure imparted through perfumery, they also played a
paramount part in ceremonial worshiping and for general health and wellbeing. To
my surprise I was about to find out how resourceful a few essential oils could
be.
We arrived at Cairo Airport in
the wee hours of the morning excited and apprehensive about our new
adventure. Little did we know about
bungling taxi drivers in Cairo. It didn't help that the only directions we had
for accommodation was our out-of-date 'Lonely Planet' guide. An hour of hap hazard driving and we finally
arrived at a place that the driver, very convincingly, told us was paradise!
Yeah, right…
Now I know for a fact that the
Ancient Egyptians took cleanliness seriously.
There are even ancient records of an essential oil deodorant recipe
dating back to 1500BC. For those Egyptians who were quite decadent, bathing
more than once a day in different temperature baths with perfumed oils was one
of a number of beauty-enhancing rituals.
But of course that was Ancient Egypt, which on comparison bared little
resemblance to our 'paradise' accommodation in modern day Cairo. Cleanliness
was obviously not a priority, not by any means… no siree!!! Anyway we were exhausted and decided to stay
regardless. After a weary day we both
looked forward to a restful night sleep only to discover that our beds would
reveal another not so pleasant surprise, bed mites …aghhh!
Fortunately, I brought some
essential oils on the trip and pulled out my trusty bottle of (antiseptic,
insecticidal, parasiticidal, deodorising, sedating) French Lavender and put a
few drops on some tissues that we placed strategically in the bed. Egyptian
mummies had the right idea, ritually embalmed in Frankincense and Myrrh and
firmly wrapped in bandages…nothing gets in and nothing gets out.
Essential oils are a must when
travelling. Fortunately for a little forethought we survived sharing trains
with farm animals, overcrowded bus trips with lunatic drivers and need I say
almost disappearing into the desert by camel… but that's another story.
Your essential oil travel kit
should contain: lavender, chamomile, geranium, peppermint, ginger, tea tree and
thyme.
About the Author
Angela Power has a background
spanning 25 years as a health professional profiling a career in medical
nursing for over 15 years and as a Natural Therapist since 1988. She has been
practicing aromatherapy with oriental medicinal principles for over 18 years
and enjoys writing articles on essential oils and their uses and benefits. She
is renowned for her ability to provide knowledge through her real life
experiences and her Garden Apothecary website provides further articles on the
therapeutic use of Essential Oils.
