Essential oils for water sports
Let me share a little secret with you. Did you know that I love scuba diving?! But I guess you never knew that when I first started I had some serious problems with my ears and sinuses. I was not able to get down well and surfacing was sometimes even more painful.
At one point I was ready to give up this wonderful sport for good as each dive become frustrating and painful in the end. I am glad I did not because I love and enjoy the feeling of floating free amongst nature’s most precious colourful coral reefs teemed with life.
So in order to overcoming my ear and sinuses problems I was lucky to have my mother in-law with me who is a scuba-diving fanatic and also a very successful naturopath. She only let me complain once and instantly got some of her magic potions for ear and sinus health, as well as some extra tiger balm out. A combination of these, plus two or three extra treatments with Multi-Integrative Kinesiology Activity (MIKA), and I was back in the water a few days later again happy as can be.
Since that day I have hardly had any problems again with my ears and sinuses, and if I did, then these were only very minor and short-lived. My personal experience taught me a valuable lesson about the instant effectiveness of holistic and natural health.
Today when I plan a diving holiday I make sure I pack my own dōTERRA essential oil creation which I mix up in a 20ml bottle before I leave home.
When you are scuba diving, snorkelling, swimming or do any other water sports, you are always at risk of developing a swim ear or a head cold.
I use my oil-blend as a preventative and after diving and will share my recipe with you below. Some essential oils have antimicrobial or antibacterial properties, which are useful for fighting off viral and bacterial infections. They are a good alternative to synthetic medications.
I have full confidence in the quality of dōTERRA‘s essential oils because they are CPTG Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade®. If you are keen to get your own dōTERRA Essential Oil collection click the following link below which will take you to our How To section.
Complementary essential oils for scuba diving and snorkelling
My favourite dōTERRA Essential Oils for diving are:
Peppermint Oil
Eucalyptus Oil
Oregano Oil
Tea Tree Oil
Relieve a stuffy nose
Steam inhalation is one of the best to prevent, or treat onsets of head-colds and sinus congestions. This practice involves combining essential oils with hot water to create therapeutic steam. It is recommended to only add 3-7 drops of essential oil to boiling water in a large pot or heatproof bowl. I personally use 2 drops of Eucalyptus Oil, 2 drops of Peppermint Oil, and 1 drop of either Tea Tree Oil or Oregano Oil.
Then use a towel to cover your head, and breathe gently through your nose for about 1 to 3 minutes at a time. Make sure you keep your eyes closed to prevent eye irritation. You can repeat this 2 or 3 times over 30 min, but always allow for intervals where you get plenty of fresh air.
Diffusers disperse essential oils throughout the air, allowing them to dilute before being inhaled. This is a less potent method of inhalation. I use this during the night. You can additionally add Lavender Oil to the mix for better relaxation and improved sleep.
Ear Infections
If you are treating an ear infection, make sure you never put pure essential oil onto your skin or into your ear as this can cause irritations.
I would use 1 tea spoon of carrier oil for every 1 drop of essential oil. You can either massage this gently around your ears and sinus or let a cotton ball soak it up which you then place gently over your ear. I do this practice after each dive or after snorkelling to prevent any onset of ear infection.
Do not stuff the cotton into your ear as you may not get it all out again.
KP∞Unity´s own pre-mix for water sports
Fill up a 15ml bottle half way with organic coconut oil
Then add
3 drops of Peppermint Oil
3 drops of Eucalyptus Oil
2 drops of Tea Tree Oil
1 drop of Oregano Oil
Top up with more organic coconut oil and shake very gentle to mix.
SAFETY STOP FIRST!
If you are inexperienced with using Essential Oils you should do a small skin patch test to assess how your body will react to the substance!
You should not apply essential oils directly to your skin. Always dilute them with a carrier oil, water, or lotion. Popular carrier oils include organic coconut oil, jojoba oil and extra virgin olive oil.
You do this by first diluting your essential oil or blend, and then spreading the mixture on roughly a 3cm x 3cm area of skin. Your inner arm is generally a good place to try this. If you don’t experience any irritation or inflammation over the next 24 hours, it should be safe for you to use the essential oil.
Inhaling essential oils is a powerful way to rid any onset of head-colds and sinus congestion. However, if you inhale them in high doses or for long periods, you may experience dizziness, a headache, and nausea. If this occurs stop immediately and seek fresh air.
Do not stuff the cotton ball into your ears as you may not get it all out again.
If you feel unwell and cannot equalise your ears, do not go diving.
If you are unsure about your ear and sinus health, always consult with a registered general practitioner.
