The Winter sports season has started! You have booked your ski holidays and you want to enjoy it 100%?
It would be such a shame to spoil your stay because of little hurts or some aches and pains or some muscular discomfort. I wrote this article to help make your life easier, a memo to put in your suitcase and a list of essential oils to put in your first aid kit so that you can have trouble-free holidays.
The information provided in this post could not be considered as medical information nor engage my responsibility
or that of the Pacific Scents blog as to your usage of essential oils for yourself or anyone else.
I strongly invite you to compare the information with that of authoritative experts and the opinion of health professionals.
What should you pack for your ski holidays?
Clothes
In the mountain, to be well protected against cold and humidity, the ideal outfit consists of 3 layers:
– One breathing layer: thermal underwear (top and leggings), no cotton as it does not get rid of sweat!
– One insulating layer to keep the heat in (for ex, a fleece with a turtle neck)
– One protective layer: a coat and pants that are waterproof and windproof to protect you from the weather.
After ski
Waterproof shoes, warm and with a notched rubber sole, slip-resistant as well as the must-haves for winter: scarf, beanie or balaclava, socks, gloves or mittens… (including one pair of socks for skiing).
For the long winter nights
Comfort and warmth are the keywords: a sporty outfit made of warm sweaters, jeans, after-ski type shoes…
The ski equipment
Sports people who have their own equipment, make sure you don’t leave anything behind. It would be a shame to have to hire equipment that you left at home!
– Skiing equipment: skis or snowboard, shoes, bats, ski poles, sleigh…
– Body protection: helmet, goggles, gloves, back brace, etc…
Accessories
Don’t forget your sunglasses for the coffee breaks on the terrace or the ski goggles for skiing.
To add to my toiletries
A sunscreen with UV A and UV B protection (for my face) as well as a protection stick or shea butter for my lips. Don’t forget to apply regularly whatever the weather, sun or clouds (reverberation is treacherous).
Download our summary chart of the first-aid box and its uses: your winter list
Since nobody is free of the possibility of a nasty cold or a blister, a small first-aid pharmacy is needed with a “survival kit for the ski holidays”. Here are the most important EO for your skiing season:
To avoid tendinitis, aches and pains, joint and muscular pain during ski holidays:
Eucalyptus citriodora EO and wintergreen EO (Gaultheria fragrantissima)
Wintergreen EO: analgesic used by sports people to ease muscular aches, it is easy to use and very effective. It is also anti-spasmodic, so cramps can be avoided. In addition, it dilates blood vessels, which results in muscle relaxation.
Usage: contractures, tendonitis, tears and muscular, joint or ligament pain, strains (all this can happen while skiing, but keep your fingers crossed so it won’t happen).
Eucalyptus citriodora EO : anti-inflammatory, it soothes muscular pain. It will work hand in hand with the wintergreen EO’s analgesic properties.
Usage: 2 drops of wintergreen EO + 2 drops Eucalyptus citriodora EO in a tablespoon of VO and massage in the painful area. Repeat this 3 x a day for a maximum of 5 days.
Counter-indications:
Pregnant women / breastfeeding women, children under the age of six.
People taking anticoagulant medication
People who are allergic to aspirin
To accelerate the resorption of bruising: Italian everlasting EO
You hit the slopes at full speed when suddenly “WHAM”, you fall! In addition to hurting yourself, you are very likely to be bruised. Italian everlasting is the best remedy for bruises in the area of EO because of its ketones. It is also an analgesic and an anti-inflammatory thanks to its composition of neryl acetate. This accelerates coagulation at the level of the blood vessel concerned and stops the blood from spreading under the skin. Within a few days, the bruise will only be a bad memory.
Counter-indications:
- Do not use more than 10 drops of EO a day
- As a precautionary measure, do not use it with children under the age of six.
Against a cold snap, rhinitis, sinusitis, fever…
Eucalyptus globulus EO and Ravintsara EO.
To protect your family from cold snaps or small illnesses such as rhinitis and sinusitis, add to your suitcase:
its antiseptic virtues stimulate the immune system and push back viruses. It is recommended for bronchi-pulmonary infections,
Ravintsara EO:
anti-infectious it prevents eventual viral and respiratory infections (cold, bronchitis, gastroenteritis, sore throats).
To prevent daily aches: Fine lavender EO
Fine Lavender EO is the most versatile of all lavenders. It is the most important one to carry in your first-aid box.
It will look after small hurts for everyone!
Relaxing and appeasing – to help sleep
Children may be excited by a change of environment and/or the increased physical activities and could find it hard to go to sleep. To help them fall asleep, use the Fine Lavender EO, as it has a very well known reputation for being soothing.
For adults, it brings on restful sleep and then you will be again in great shape to go skiing the next day! It also manages stress, so it is useful for those on their first day on the slopes.
Anti-bacterial – for wounds
In local application on a wound until healing (diluted or not in a VO), Lavender EO lessens the risk of infection.
Analgesic– for aches and pains
After skiing, a few drops diluted in a VO will soothe your muscles and make you ready to start again the next morning
Phlebotonic – for heavy legs
If you have sore legs at the end of the day, a venal weakness is probably to blame. This EO stimulates the venal system and takes care of the feeling of heavy legs.
Counter-indications:
1st trimester for pregnant women and babies under six months
For nausea, headaches and difficult digestion: Peppermint EO (Mentha x piperita)
– antispasmodic properties, anti-inflammatory and local analgesic, it fights nausea and is therefore very useful against travel sickness.
– analgesic action, it soothes pain by producing a feeling of cold, which can be helpful with headaches.
– facilitates the release of bile and its secretion through the liver: if you have eaten too much, that you feel heavy and tired several hours after a meal, place 1 drop of peppermint EO on a sugar cube and swallow (to be avoided at night as this oil is tonic and stimulating).
Counter-indications:
- Pregnant women / breastfeeding women, children under the age of seven
- Epileptics, asthmatics or hypersensitive people
- Not to be swallowed without a support (such as a sugar cube) as this EO is irritating.
The 2 BONUS oils
To take care of any even
tuality: Compact Oregano EO
To deal with infectious diarrhoeas or gastro-enteritis: 1 drop of Compact Oregano EO in a LARGE tablespoon of VO, three times a day for two days. For children: same mixture, but in massage on the stomach.
If you or your family often have cold hands and/or cold feet: Cypress EO for those sensitive to cold.
Add one to three drops of Cypress EO in a hydrating cream and massage in the morning to help circulation and reduce the feeling of cold in your extremities.
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Summary of the essential oils to take with you during your ski holidays
–Fine Lavender
–Wintergreen
–Eucalyptus Citriodora
–Italian Everlasting (helichrysum)
–Ravintsara
–Peppermint
–Eucalyptus Globulus
-Optional: Cypress and Compact Oregano
Download our summary chart of the first-aid box and its uses: your winter list
And here we are. Last checking to make sure you have your bookings, tickets and all necessary paperwork (accommodation, fees…), and then also, all what will be needed for the journey: meals, drinks, something to read…
That’s it. I think we haven’t forgotten anything about your ski holidays. Now, even if you have a problem, at least you will know that you have what is needed in your first-aid kit to take care of it effectively. So, ready to go? No excuses left not to go skiing, go trekking or just accompany the children on the sleigh!
