As per your request, here we review the most important remedies for summer holidays.
Lavender flower water (hydrolyte)
A remedy that not only must be a part of your vacation kit, but your home first aid kit, too. There is nothing more universal and gentler in the world!
What is a hydrolyte?
Hydrolyte is the by-product of the distillations of essential oils in water steam. Simply put, it is distilled water with a very tiny amount of essential oil (in this case, lavender). The concentration of hydrolyte is usually around 0.02 g of essential oil per 1 litre of water. Such a tiny, homeopathic concentration deems it suitable to be used on skin from the very first days of life.
What are the benefits of hydrolyte?
1. It soothes irritated skin. Particularly good for irritated buttocks, diaper dermatitis, sweat-caused skin problems. Simply spray directly onto damaged skin. The result will appear very quickly.
2. Soothes and cools sunburnt skin (lavender has a miraculous ability to relieve heat).
3. Repels mosquitos! It’s the best solution for infant babies when no other remedies are suitable (0–10-month-old).
4. Soothes skin which was bit by mosquitos and other bugs (larger patches of skin can be sprayed with it). Locally, the best remedy for mosquito bites is PURE lavender essential oil.
5. Heals eye infections. It does not matter whether the eyes are festering since birth, or if the little rascal got something in their eyes – lavender water will be the first to the rescue. Simply soak a cotton pad in hydrolyte and clean the eyes several times a day.
6. Acts as first aid for bruised or otherwise damaged skin, reduces pain, protects from infections, stimulates healing (always have it in your bag when you’re taking your children outside).
7. Indispensable during road trips when the child is hot, irritated or uneasy – “christen” them with lavender water. The aroma is soothing, and the essential oil helps cool down.
8. Lavender hydrolyte is a great alternative to moms’ face tonic. Spray a clean, washed face before applying any cream. It soothes and cools the skin, reduces inflammations and rashes.
9. Soothes post-depilation and post-shave skin (men will appreciate that!). Instant relief for irritation and ‘goose skin.’
Lavender essential oil – one of the most gentle and universal essential oils, suitable for infants and small children. Soothing and warm aroma of lavenders calms down the nervous system and improves sleep, which makes it useful for children (and parents) who experience many new things and cannot sleep in their own beds during vacations.
How to use lavender oil to improve sleep and soothe the nervous system? (Choose one of the listed methods – all at once will be too much!)
1. Aromatize the room where the child is going to sleep. If you’re taking an electric essential oil diffuser with you on vacation, simply pour 4-5 drops of lavender essential oil into it and enjoy the fragrant mist.
If you’re not taking the diffusor with you, I recommend pouring 5-6 drops of lavender essential oil on a cotton pad and place it somewhere near your child’s bed. The scent will soon start evaporating and spread through the room. Or, you can pour a drop (not more) of lavender essential oil on the pillow – the aroma will slowly reveal itself and protect the child’s sleep.
2. If you have a bath at your vacation home, bathe your child in lavender! Just reminding you that pure essential oil cannot be poured into the bath. It must be diluted with salt (one teaspoon), milk (half a glass) or vegetable oil (one teaspoon). 2-3 drops are enough for the baby’s bath. If you only have access to a shower, pour a drop of lavender oil into the baby’s hair-body wash and wash the child from head to toes. It’s a quick method which will not provide the same results as a bath, but it is better than nothing.
3. Emergency help to improve sleep – rub the child’s feet with lavender oil. One drop for one foot. Super effective.
P.S. all of these advices are suitable for adults, too. In this case, however, multiply the number of drops by 3.
Lavender essential oil is also a great friend to your skin! It increases skin healing and regeneration, reduces pain, itchiness and is of great help after getting hurt, cut, burnt, bit by bugs or gotten blisters on feet. In extreme cases, lavender oil can be used pure, applied directly on the skin (directly on bruises, burns, mosquito and bee bites).
Dehydrated or irritated by saltwater, sand or sun, the skin can benefit from the indispensable remedy of aloe vera gel with lavender. I can’t imagine a beach vacation without this product! Aloe vera and lavender gel “Summer Rescue” is suitable for face and body, as well as hair. Apply this light, fast-absorbing gel to burnt, dehydrated or irritated skin for an instant relief. The product contains 99% water and aloe juice. Thanks to the special recipe, moisturizing components get into the deepest layers of the skin. Saltwater and sun-soaked hair will also benefit from the moisturizing aloe vera gel mask. Simply rub the gel throughout the hair, put the hair into a braid or a bun and go to sleep. In the morning, wash out this ‘hair mask’ and enjoy your gentle, easy hair.
Does a long walk hurt your feet? Let “Summer Rescue” save you! Massage the feet and calves with a cooled gel – the lavender essential oil will soothingly relax tense muscles and ligaments and reduce swelling.
By the way, this summer we have created a new ‘saviour’ “ICE Summer Rescue.” This remedy also contains a pleasantly cooling peppermint essential oil. Tired feet and severely sunburnt skin are what this ‘saviour’ specializes in.
The classic saviour with lavender essential oil can be used by the entire family, meanwhile the peppermint option is recommended to be used for everyone over 3 years of age, except for pregnant women. Peppermint essential oil is not suitable for babies and pregnant women.
Tea tree essential oil is an antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal remedy for the whole family. This remedy also must find a place not only in your travel, but home first aid kit, too.
Tea tree oil serves as a first aid oil for skin damages, abscessed wounds, scratched skin and so on. It is also the first and very effective remedy for cold sores (apply directly on the blisters). By the way, more about cold sores: did you know that the herpes virus is provoked by UV? If you noticed that as soon as you go on vacation you always get herpes, buy a lip balm with a UV filter and your troubles will come to an end. I struggled with this problem for many years until I finally realized the real cause.
After a visit to public baths and swimming pools, I really enjoy rubbing the feet of all family members with tea tree essential oil. This acts as an amazing prevention for foot skin and nail fungus! This advice is especially relevant for those who plan to have vacations at large hotels with water parks and so on.
Tea tree essential oil will also help with surprise colds during the summer. This often happens when visiting hot places where almost every room has air conditioning. Holidaymakers are most likely to experience a cold and a sore throat. The first thing you must do as soon as you get a sore throat, runny nose or a cough is to rub your feet with tea tree essential oil. Tea tree essential oil stimulates the immune system (scientifically proven) and helps the body fight the cause of the illness. This method is suitable for babies from 6 months and for all older vacationers!
Make a super effective rinsing liquid to treat a sore throat. You can find salt in any holiday home or hotel, so it’s truly a viable option during holidays.
RECIPE:
1 tablespoon of table salt
5 drops of tea tree essential oil
A glass of warm water
Pour the essential oil on the salt, and pour the salt into warm water. Stir and rinse your mouth. The procedure must be repeated several times a day. This method is UNREAL and super effective! I note, however, that the rinsing liquid is only suitable for those who know how to spit liquids out of their mouths – the recipe is not recommended for kids under the age of 5.
Make sure to have “Bugaboo” at hand to manage a runny nose. My son always gets a runny nose after playing in water for too long. Often this summery cold symptom starts not because the child got cold in the water, but because he was splashing, diving, gargling and so on (the same happens to my husband who windsurfs). Water that gets in the nose irritates and dries out the mucous membranes, so it is only natural that the nose begins to defend itself! The nose does so by cleaning its sensitive mucous with what we call a runny nose.
If you do not have “,” but you have some tea tree essential oil, you can make it yourself! Find 20 ml of vegetable oil (olive, almond, sesame, coconut or any other) and pour 6 drops of tea tree oil in there. That’s it – the perfect remedy for a runny nose! “Bugaboo” should be used to rub under and inside the nose every two hours. Older children can rub their nose on their own (by using their finger), and younger children should have their nose rubbed by an adult using a Q-tip. The remedy is suitable for children from 6 months and the entire family. More about treating a runny nose here.
I would also definitely add mandarin essential oil into my summer first aid kit. It resolves two childish troubles: the eternal tummy problems and… childish mood swings!
Due to a change in environment and different food, the tummy malfunctions frequently during the holidays. Mandarin becomes one of the best remedies for this. This essential oil tones the digestive system, improves digestion, reduces accumulation of gas. Mandarin essential oil will help with constipation (which often happens when you change your environment). What should you do?
Take a teaspoon of vegetable oil or odourless greasy cream/body lotion and add 2-3 drops of mandarin essential oil. Use the cream to massage the child’s tummy. This procedure should be repeated several times a day.
The same should be done if a child complains of abdominal pain or gas retention. By the way, this massage is also suitable for the smallest of babies suffering from stomach aches. A gentle massage, the warmth of parents’ hands and mandarin essential oil work wonders!
French aromatherapists awarded mandarin essential oil with the title of “child saviour” due to its mood-regulating properties. This fragrant assistant is especially suitable for restless, hyperactive, quickly tired, constantly irritated and displeased children. In such cases, the mandarin essential oil can be vaporized in rooms where the child sleeps/eats/plays. Fragrant baths can also be prepared. During the holidays, use this quick method: rub your child’s feet with mandarin oil or give them some of the oil for inhaling rom a napkin or a cotton pad. I do not recommend inhaling this oil from the bottle, because it smells soooo much like sweets, the child might be tempted to taste it, which cannot happen!
For those who chose active holidays and travel a lot, I recommend having peppermint essential oil in their travel bag. It’s a true saviour when you have tired, swollen feet and calves. What should you do? Add 5-6 drops of peppermint essential oil to vegetable oil or greasy cream/lotion and massage sore feet. You will feel instant relief as peppermint oil cools, soothes, relieves pain and swelling. The procedure is only suitable for children from 7 years old! Peppermint oil is not used for skin treatments in infants and young children.
The fresh and cool aroma of peppermint oil is a real saviour when traveling by car, bus, boat or plane and you suddenly start feeling nauseous. Just inhale the peppermint oil straight from the bottle or from a paper towel,
Peppermint will also help with an unexpected headache. Again, you can inhale the essential oil from the bottle or from a paper towel, evaporate with a diffusor or massage your incense and back of the neck with a slightly diluted oil. Peppermint probably won’t replace painkillers, but it will definitely help out for the moment.
By the way, the essential oils of tea tree, peppermint and lavender are excellent additional means of protection against mosquitoes. Be sure to take stronger protection remedies if you travel near water that is full of bugs. Use pure essential oils in addition to regular spray and cream repellents. A simple, quick and effective way of use is the application of PURE essential oil on clothing (trouser leg ends, cuffs, shoulders, hats, etc.). Essential oil doesn’t leave stains, so apply it without a worry on both light and dark clothes. The heat of the body will make the oils evaporate and protect you for quite some time.
When vacating, don’t forget to apply mosquito repellent. You can read an article about natural protection against these pesky summer friends.
Here you go – my version of a summer’s first aid kit. I wish you memorable holidays and a wonderful time with family! Be healthy and happy!
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