Summer is a time of outdoor play on the beach and in the mountains, frequent camping and of course, yoga retreats and play.

Before packing your bags for your next adventure, take a look at the below essential oils and blends that are bound to make your summer healthier, more holistic, and even safer.

1. Essential Oils for Increased Summer Energy

Peppermint: This essential oil is fresh, invigorating, and most importantly, cooling.  A study performed Dr. William N. Dember of the University of Cincinnati found that inhaling peppermint essential oil increased mental clarity and accuracy in the students subjects, Natural Living Ideas reported.

Peppermint is also helpful for adjusting to differences in elevation.

2. Jellyfish Stings

You may have heard the old wise tale that if you’ve been stung by a jellyfish, you sould pour urine to counteract the toxin. However, what you really should do is rinse the sting with ocean water and treat it for swelling and pain.

A well-known essential oil blend to use topically includes:

> Lavender

> Tea tree

> Rosemary

According to experts, use a cool essential oil compress. If the pressure cannot be tolerated from the compress, spray a diluted essential oil mist on the sting.

3. Sunburns

Essential Oils can be vital to healing sunburns, as they can relieve pain, reduce swelling, and prevent scarring. To start, you may want to grab refrigerated aloe vera gel to cool the area and then apply the following essential oils:

> Lavender

> Helichrysum

> Calendula

> Chamomile

According to organic chemist and author of “Medical Aromatherapy: Healing with Essential Oils,” Kurt Schnaubelt, “There is probably no other oil in current circulation which so predictably and reliably heals and rejuvenates the skin like helichrysum.”

3. Poison Ivy, Sumac + Oak

Nothing’s worse than a lovely weekend hiking and camping, followed by an itchy week of poison ivy, oak or sumac.

To sooth the hot, itchy rash that comes, try a cool compress of:

> Lavender

> Tea Tree

> Chamomile

Hope you find relief.

4. Preventing Bug Bites

Throw out your store bought bug spray; while it may be effective, it’s full of toxins and instead, try these essential oils:

Lemon Eucalyptus — Lauded by the Environmental Protection Agency as a “biopesticide repellent,” it’s also been shown to reduce the number of Lyme Disease carrying castor bean ticks that attached to humans by half

Thyme and Clove — These were the most effective natural mosquito repellents from a selection of essential oils tested, protecting for one and half to three hours.

Juniper — It was found to be effective at repelling larval ticks.

5. Treating Bug Bites

Use a blend of these oils:

> Lavender

> Frankincense

> Tea tree

> Calendula

Chamomile

6. Staying Hydrated/ Eliminate Jet Lag

Citrus Oils: This essential oil blend is great for exercise recovery (recipe here), is also ideal for travel. Combine lemon, grapefruit, lime, orange and/or tangerine oils with a pinch of salt and several drops of oil, my own antioxidant, antibacterial and super hydrating drink.

Staying well-hydrated will make your jet lag go away.

7. Reduce Swelling in the Feet/Ankles

Try blending:

> Geranium

>Aroma Life

> Citrus Fresh

> Cypress

You will likely want to keep these handy for jet lag as well!

8. Reduce Illness

Planes, trains, and boats are breeding grounds for germs, so stocking up on oils like the Thieves essential oil or spray can be essential in preventing illness.

In addition, everyone loves the smell, so you won’t bother your neighbors.

How do you incorporate essential oils into your summer travels? Weigh-in below.

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