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5 All-Natural Items Nervous Fliers Should *Always* Pack in Their Carry-On
Simple ways to overcome your fear of turbulence this holiday season.
Plane cabins are cramped, smelly and noisy places. Between the crying babies, uncomfortable seating and freaky turbulence, it’s easy to see why so many people suffer from in-flight anxiety!
But constantly tightening your seatbelt and maintaining a vice-like grip on your armrests can be exhausting. Your intense perspiration and heightened sense of awareness can leave you feeling drained, and the in-flight food doesn’t exactly settle an uneasy tummy.
Luckily, there are, however, a few natural items you can pack in your carry-on to help calm your nerves while flying. Keep reading to find out our top 5 picks!
Did you know?
About one in six people have a significant fear that prevents them from flying, and about one in five regular flyers use alcohol or prescription drugs to 'help' them through a flight.
(Better Health)
1. Essential Oil Blends
Essential oils are incredibly powerful. More than just pleasant scents, they offer many therapeutic and healing benefits. To ease stress, try lavender or frankincense. For energy and balance, try grapefruit and lemon. For jet lag and motion sickness, try peppermint and ginger.
When you’re flying, roll your own custom blend on your temples, wrists, neck and behind your ears, or pop a few drops in your diffuser jewellery. Essential oils can help to reduce emotional tension and anxiety, calm your nerves and alleviate the stress of flying.
If you don’t want the hassle of creating your own blend, try this Calm Infusion from Flora Remedia. With white chestnut, elm, beech and holly, it’s perfectly floral and fresh, while still offering soothing and centering benefits.
2. Aromatherapy Dough
Sometimes when you’re nervously waiting to board your plane, you just need something to do with your hands, instead of clenching your fists. Aromatherapy dough is the perfect solution!
As you knead the dough, the essential oils are not only vapourised and inhaled but also absorbed through the skin, providing fast and effective anxiety relief. The tactile nature of the dough has a calming and soothing effect. In fact, moulding the dough for just 5-10 minutes can occupy your mind and help you feel much better!
This Travel Time blend from Mohdoh is the perfect combination of Rosewood, Mandarin and Petitgrain essential oils. If florals are more your style, you’ll love this Mohdoh Calm blend with Rosewood, Ylang Ylang, Jasmine and Lavandin.
Did you know?
There’s a 1 in 11 million chance of being involved in an aeroplane accident.
96% of passengers survive airline accidents.
Flying is 200 times safer than driving.
(Fly Right)
3. Soothing Face Masks
There’s nothing more relaxing than a little pamper time, and when you’re mid-air you definitely need it! Applying an organic sheet mask (or a set of under eye patches) while flying will not only help you combat dry skin but also offer a welcome distraction.
And if you're embarrassed at all, just remember that celebrities do it, flight attendants don't care, and sometimes, the pursuit of a peaceful, relaxing flight is worth the ogling. So kick back, close your eyes and take a deep breath. You could even try one of these apps for nervous flyers while you complete your beauty treatment!
4. Rescue Pastilles
Instead of chewing gum or mints on take-off to stop your ears from popping, why not try sucking on a rescue pastille? These pastilles from Bach Flower Remedies offer natural stress relief in candy form. They’re sugar-free, alcohol-free and come in delicious flavours like blackcurrant and raspberry.
The pastilles contain natural flower essences said to help you feel calmer, stress less and stay in control. In fact, one study shows they’re just as effective as over-the-counter stress relievers and traditional pharmaceutical drugs, but without any of the known adverse side effects.
5. Ginger
Ginger has long been used in traditional Japanese Kampo, Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine as an anti-inflammatory to relieve indigestion and nausea. But it can also relieve the symptoms of motion sickness and travel sickness.
If you’re the type of nervous flyer who gets an upset tummy, these Ginger Calm supplements from Bloom are a must-have for your carry-on bag! Simply pop one 30 minutes prior to travel and it will help to ease your unsettled stomach. Sipping on Ginger Ale while flying is also said to help!
