It’s difficult to generalise which essential oils or applications are best, as each individual and situation is unique. Likewise, each person’s experience of each season is individual; but there are some general responses we humans experience, to the environment’s changes during each season.
In the season of summer, some typical complaints are over exposure to the sun and sunburn, reactions to the heat, such as heat rash and sweating, insect bites, bee stings or skin sensitivities.
Below are essential oils for key summer hazards with DIY application options and can be a fun summer projects.
Essential Oils for Summer Hazards
Insect Repellent – a personal essential oil spritz bottle which could include Bay, Buddha Wood, Cedarwood, Clove, Cypress Blue, Cypress Pine, Eucalyptus, Geranium, Kunzea, Lavender, Lavender Spike, Lemongrass, Lemon Myrtle, Lemon Tea Tree, Melissa, Oregano, Peppermint, Spearmint, Tea Tree which are all effective.
250mls / 1 cup distilled water, 1 tablespoons witch hazel, 12 – 20 drops of any of the essential oils above. Mix together in a spritzer, shake together and apply to all areas of exposed skin on your body.
Insect Bites – Chamomile German, Cypress Blue, Fennel, Eucalyptus, Geranium, Lavender Spike, Melissa, Thyme, Vertiver help with pain, inflammation, swelling or skin irritation and assist wound healing. You can apply them directly to the bite, or in a compress every few hours .
125mls / 1/2 cup warm water, 2 – 10 drops of essential oil, swill around and dip a clean cloth or cotton wool balls, wring it out and apply to affected area – repeat as needed.
To make a dilute spray, fill a 30ml / 1/8 cup spritz bottle with water. Mix 2 to 3 drops of essential oil in 2 to 3 drops of solubiliser. Shake before use. Spray onto bug bites to experience relief. Always seek medical care if needed. An ice pack can also reduce the symptoms.
Bee and Wasp Stings – Chamomile Roman, Eucalyptus, Frankincense, Lavender, Tea Tree.
Apply these oils directly to the sting, in a compress (see above in Insect Bites) or make a simple paste with 1 teaspoon baking soda, a little water to make a paste and 2 drops of essential oils.
Using 2 drops of essential oils with 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar or lemon juice, apply to help neutralise a wasp sting, as its venom is alkaline. You can apply essential oils every few hours, as needed and always seek medical care if needed. An ice pack can also help the swelling and inflammation.
Sun Overexposure and Sunburn – Chamomile Roman, Cypress Blue, Geranium, Lavender, Tea Tree. Sun overexposure can cause sunburn, a form of ultraviolet (UV) radiation that affects living tissue: an inflammatory response in the tissue is triggered by direct DNA damage by UV radiation.
Using the essential oils in a spritz, cream or lotion really helps (see directions below).
Essential Oil Applications
Spritzes are a wonderful way to stay cool on a hot day, or get immediate relief from insect bites, stings, or sun overexposure. Add 12 – 20 drops of essential oil with an equal number of drops of solubilizer to 100mls of distilled water. Aloe Vera juice is also a wonderful summertime ingredient; packed with minerals, it’s anti-inflammatory properties soothe rashes, bites, sun overexposure and sunburn.
Body Oils, Lotions, Creams or Butters nourish the skin and provide extra moisture and deep hydration; they help the skin to repair sun damage and ageing by stimulating the production of collagen and elastin. Add 12 – 20 drops of essential oil to 100mls of oil, lotion, cream or butter.
Personal Inhalers can be used as a quick pick-me-up, to help with any situation. Learn to use a personal inhaler