The Best Essential Oils for Jet Lag

I think it’s safe to say that we all caught the travel bug after the year we had in 2020. Whether it’s jet setting across the globe to make up for a missed family vacation or flying over a new time zone for work, there is one thing that our long-awaited travels have in common: jet lag. 

While a long flight almost always means fun and excitement, it can also mean stress, irritability, disorientation, and drowsiness. Jet lag happens when our circadian rhythms have been disrupted—meaning, our internal clock gets all out of whack due to a disturbance of our normal light and dark cycles. 

To avoid jet lag, it’s important to stay hydrated during your flight and get on the schedule of your destination’s time zone as quickly as possible. In our podcast episode all about hormone health, Isaac shared his best tips for beating jet lag. In this article, I’m going to share how essential oils are some of our favorite travel companions. You’ll discover the top essential oils for jet lag, how to use them, and more.  

Best Essential Oils for Jet Lag 

Lavender 

Feeling wired on a 16 hour flight? Lavender has sedative and calming effects that can help you relax into a deep sleep. Its antispasmodic properties make it an excellent oil for nausea and anxiety that sometimes accompany jet lag. 

To use lavender for jet lag, add a couple drops to the palm of your hand, cup around your nose, and inhale deeply. When you arrive at your hotel, add a few drops to a diffuser or apply a few drops to your pillow before bed at night. You can even add a drop to raw honey and add to tea to soothe yourself before bed. 

Travel bonuses: lavender isn’t just soothing for the mind; it can also be used to soothe inflamed skin that sometimes comes with travel. Add a drop or two to a carrier oil and apply to the face or areas of concern. 

Cedarwood 

Grounding and relaxing to the nervous system, cedarwood essential oil will help with any feelings of restlessness while traveling far. It can also oxygenate the brain, helping you adapt more quickly to big-time zone changes. Inhale cedarwood directly from the bottle during travel to promote relaxation and sleep. You can use cedarwood topically by applying a drop to your pulse points. 

Traveling bonuses: cedarwood has potent antiviral and purifying properties that make it a great option for building immunity in a crowded environment 

DoTerra Serenity 

DoTerra’s Serenity blend is the perfect combination of calming oils for the mind and body. Serenity can help support an easy transition during a big travel day by helping with insomnia and restlessness. 

Add a few drops of serenity to Epsom salts and soak in a nice hotel bath. You can also add a few drops to your pulse points, pillow, or travel diffuser. 

DoTerra Balance 

Balance is another blend that can support jetlag and restlessness by easing travel anxiety. This grounding blend can be applied to the soles of the feet before leaving to travel. It can also be diffused after arrival to help decompress and settle in. 

Other Oils to Support Travel 

Nausea and Motion Sickness  

If you get an upset stomach when you fly, which may cause you not to be able to fall asleep, try using these essential oils for nausea and motion sickness. 

Ginger: improve digestion, stop nausea, boost circulation

Peppermint: relax muscles of stomach, improve digestion, reduce feelings of sickness 

DoTerra Digestzen: great for indigestion, motion sickness, diarrhea, tummy aches 

Hygiene and Immune Support 

Traveling isn’t what it used to be. Heading to the airport can put us all in a vulnerable state, welcoming sickness and germs at every turn. Keep these oils on hand to boost immunity. 

Lemon: antimicrobial, mood booster, immunity strengthening 

Frankincense: antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, reduce stress, grounding 

DoTerra Onguard: antimicrobial, kill germs, protects immune system 

If you are planning on traveling anytime soon, make sure to bring essential oils with you. Check out my favorite essential oils travel kit for convenient traveling. With our favorite essential oils for jet lag, nausea, and immunity, plus Dr. Bronner’s organic hand sanitizer, you’ll be all set.