How to Use Aromatherapy to Fight Stress, Exhaustion and Other Common Woes

Aromatherapy is the therapeutic use of aromatic plant extracts and essential oils; whether breathed in or applied directly to the skin, the extracts can be used to address all manner of everyday ailments, including travel-related stressors from jet lag to digestive trouble. Here, two experts offer their advice on great solutions for common traveler concerns. (Then check out our aromatherapy guide for even more useful information!)

JET LAG: Laurie Tarquati, aromatherapy expert at The Well Spa at theMiramonte Resort & Spa in Indian Wells, California, suggests bringing along peppermint or lavender essential oil (or a combination of both) to inhale prior to and during your flight, train ride or boat trip, a trick she swears will keep jet lag at bay.

More: Another New Way to Fight Jet Lag

STRESS: Run into a travel snag? "Ylang ylang is one of my favorite euphoric oils to slow down the heart rate and help to alleviate anxiety, nervousness, anger, tension and fear," says Tara Grodjesk, president and founder of TARA Spa Therapy. "I often put a drop or two on a tissue and wave it under my nose to breathe it in."

More: 5 Easy Ways to Relieve Stress

SLEEP: Falling asleep in a strange place is rarely easy. To quiet the mind and get the body ready for bed, Grodjesk recommends an ayurvedic trick: massaging the feet with warm sesame oil. She suggests adding a few drops each of chamomile, marjoram and lavender as well, all of which are helpful for sleep. If a foot massage is not an option, Tarquati recommends dropping lavender and marjoram in a diffuser by the bed, or adding the oils to a warm bath.

More: Tips for Getting a Good Night's Sleep

ENERGY: To wake up in the morning and for a continued boost throughout the day, Grodjesk says, "a combination of lemongrass with rosemary will be stimulat- ing and energizing. Breathe in the scent, then apply the oil to your pulse points and temples."

DIGESTION: "Fennel or ginger essential oils rubbed right onto the stomach and abdomen work wonders," Tarquati says. "I don't need Pepto anymore!" Grodjesk adds peppermint to the mix, noting that a peppermint or fennel tea can also help. -Amy Westervelt