This past weekend we went on a four-day horse pack trip into the Bob Marshall Wilderness area called the “Danaher.” We covered about 45 miles. Not wanting to be parted with my essential oils for this length of time, I assembled a “Back Country Survival Kit.” This kit includes:
- Mosquito repellent
- Allergy – Inhaler
- Pain & deep bruising relief
- Sore Muscle blend
- Sleep and Restless leg blend
- Constipation blend
- Diarrhea/Nausea/Vomiting
- Cold and Flu stock bottle
- Hand Cleanser in Aloe Vera Gel
For carriers, I included 1 oz. of Jojoba and 2 oz. of Lotion.
I also took along a bottle each of Lavender and Peppermint. Lavender is great for instant spot relief of bug bites (heat) and Peppermint is great for instant bloating/nausea relief and sunburn relief.
The following is a very effective mosquito repellent that we had the opportunity to test!
Wild Roses were abundant
Recipe:
5 drops Peppermint Mentha x piperita
5 drops Cypress Cupressus sempervirens
15 drops Rose Geranium Rosa damascena/Pelargouium Roseum X Asperum
10 drops Pine (Siberian Fir) Abies sibirica
10 drops Catnip (Optional) Nepeta cataria
15 drops Eucalytpus Citradora Eucalyptus citriodora
10 drops Cedarwood Juniperus Juniperus virginiana
5 drops Patchouli Pogostemom cablin
Place in 4 ounces of Organic Peppermint Hydrosol in a PET plastic spray bottle and add 20-30 gtts of Solubal Disperser.
One of the highlights of my trip was rocking in the hammock reading: Awaken to Healing Fragrance, by Elizabeth Anne Jones. It was so fun to ready about how Hatshepsut, Cleopatra and Esther might have used essential oils. (Eight more women to go!)
Wow! What a weekend. If I can just burn this experience into memory and remember the beauty, peace and solitude on a not-so-beautiful day. Thank you for sharing my experience!
Please share your experience with essential oils in the “back country,” whether its hiking, camping, backpacking or horse packing.
Aromatics International owner Karen Williams is a Certified Aromatherapist, RN and CFM. She supports organic farmers and essential oil distillers from around the world.
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
i don’t have any “back country” experiences to share but thanks for mentioning the book. i just ordered it.
Nice. Great reading. Thanks for sharing my experience!
Karen-a four-day horse pack trip into the Bob Marshall Wilderness? You rock!!! That bug repellent recipes sounds excellent, I am going to try it for sure! I love your survival kit, I always feel much easier traveling when I have my oils and blends! Thanks for sharing!
The oils are a must! I especially found Lavender to be beneficial (camp stove burns). I also discovered the simpler the better. The repellent, a winner. The mosquito would land, look around and fly off.