The 5 Best Essential Oils for Allergies
Depending on the time of year, allergies can be such a burden to your day-to-day life. Runny noses, itchy eyes, congestion, dry cough, and skin irritation can all be related to seasonal allergies or allergic reactions.
These symptoms typically occur when something, typically harmless, has entered the body that is being rejected by the immune system. The symptoms listed prior are irritating and annoying, however, are seemingly harmless and can be treated with over-the-counter medications, or other natural remedies.
In instances where your body reacts with anaphylactic responses, the person should always carry an epinephrine injection with them as this response from the body can be fatal if gone untreated. Epinephrine is a drug form of our naturally produced hormone, adrenaline. It has been proven to reverse severe allergic reactions and save lives. If you are severely allergic to certain foods, medications, beverages, or other substances, you should bring it to the attention of a medical practitioner immediately and follow strict guidelines from a professional.
However, if you are someone who struggles with seasonal allergies, or other minor irritations due to weather changes, seasonal changes, or particles found in the air like dust or pollen, you may find some relief by implementing the use of essential oils into your daily routine. Using essential oils for allergies can be effective when used correctly, and have been a great relief option for many people. Continue reading to learn more about the 5 best essential oils for allergies.
Lemon
Eucalyptus
Tea Tree
1. Lemon Essential Oil
A study conducted in 2012 conducted an experiment to discern whether nasal sprays containing lemon pulp and oils would be effective in relieving allergy symptoms in the nose. The study found that the nasal spray with lemon in it did in fact help relieve symptoms -- and the researches suggest that this may be a good alternative to other forms of medicine. Lemon has been known to have antibacterial properties that can aid in eliminating or reducing irritants in the nasal cavity.
Consider using a lemon EO in your diffuser throughout the day, or try direct inhalation to find nasal congestion relief. We do not recommend using lemon EO topically as citrus-based oils can leave the skin more sensitive to UVA and UVB rays which can cause more easily burnt skin when exposed to the sun.
2. Eucalyptus Oil
If you are experiencing symptoms affecting your upper respiratory tracts, like a sore throat, cough, or hoarseness... you may find some relief by using eucalyptus. A study found that combining eucalyptus with a blend of other EO's significantly reduced the symptoms in participants with upper respiratory tract concerns.
Though this study has some positive results, there has yet to be further research conducted on this topic and should be taken with a grain of salt. If the solution is used safely, there should be no major health risks by implementing eucalyptus into your daily diffusing routine.
3. Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is an effective antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal solution which can be effective when treating skin irritations. Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, tea tree oil has been known to reduce inflammation of the skin caused by allergic reactions. That being said, tea tree oil should always be diluted properly, and not over-used as it is very potent and can cause further irritation like contact dermatitis.
4. Peppermint Oil
Peppermint oil is known for its cooling sensation and has been used to treat coughing and congestion. Peppermint is a soothing oil that has been studied to relax muscles. When peppermint oil is diluted and applied topically to the neck or chest area, it can relax the throat muscles that are flexed causing the cough reaction. Peppermint can also be directly inhaled to ease coughing.
You will often see the ingredient menthol in common cough suppressants like vapor rubs and cough drops. Peppermint has very similar properties to menthol and can be used in similar ways.
5. Frankincense Oil
Frankincense an oil that contains anti-inflammatory properties that may aid in relieving inflammatory allergy symptoms like skin irritation, congestion, or sinus inflections. A study was conducted to see if frankincense would help relieve symptoms brought on by bronchitis and the results were promising. The symptoms that saw relief included inflammation of the airways and infection. If your allergy symptoms are similar to those of bronchitis, you may find great relief by using frankincense oil.
How to Use Essential Oils for Allergies
Before getting into which essential oils will be the best option for aiding seasonal allergies, it is important that we discuss how you should be using the essential oil. Essential oils are very potent solutions that can come along with negative side effects if they are not used correctly. Make sure you are using them safely by following the guidelines listed below. As always, be sure to check that the brand of essential oils you are purchasing has reputable reviews and testing of their products. If the oil is not high-quality, or pure, you will not see any benefit from using them. Typically, if the brand cannot provide quality assurance, there is a chance the oil may contain fillers and synthetic fragrances that are not concentrations of the raw ingredients themselves. There are great essential oil brands that do provide this type of information, and we have reviewed them for your convenience here.
Inhalation
Inhaling essential oils is also known as aromatherapy, which has been studied for years and proven to help aid relief in some respiratory concerns. Direct inhalation can be helpful when helping to clear up nose or chest congestion. One to directly inhale your essential oils safely would be mixing the EO of choice, with a carrier oil, and putting a couple of drops into the palm of your hands and rubbing them together, then breathing the scent in deeply for several breathes. Using a carrier oil is always recommended when putting essential oils directly onto your skin. If you do not have a carrier oil (like jojoba, coconut, or almond oil) handy, take a tissue and drop some essential oil onto the tissue and proceed to inhale the scent directly from there.
Direct Allergen Targeting
Some of the oils we will discuss later in the article can be helpful in killing pesky allergens like dust or mold which can aggravate allergies. In this instance, it may be helpful to create a mix of essential oils, water, and vinegar to spray directly on surfaces where the allergen is present. Mix 1 cup of water, 1 tbsp of white vinegar, and a total of 20 drops of your choice of essential oils to spray onto surfaces. Leave the solution on the surface for a couple of minutes, and then wipe it away.
Diffusing
Diffusing is one of the most popular ways to use EO's. For this method, you will need to purchase an essential oil diffuser. Read about our favorite ones by clicking here. Diffusing your oils is a great, low-risk method that can be very helpful when relieving allergy symptoms. You can leave your diffuser running for around 3-5 hours a day which is great for subtle, yet effective relief. What's great about diffusing oils is that you can combine different oils together in the diffuser to create an all-powerful-allergy-symptom reliever that diffuses into the air in your home all day long.
Topical Application
The topical application of essential oils may be helpful in relieving skin irritations that occur as a result of an allergic reaction. Applying essential oils topically can be quite effective if they are diluted correctly. You should always dilute your EO with a carrier oil before applying them to the skin. You can do this by mixing 2-3 drops of the essential oil of choice, with 10-12 drops of a carrier oil. Some great carrier oils you can consider are jojoba, coconut, almond, grapeseed or extra virgin olive oil. If you are treating areas of the skin which are prone to breakouts, consider using jojoba, almond, or grapeseed oil. Coconut or olive oil may be too thick for the face and clog your pores.
Frequently Asked Questions
What essential oil is an antihistamine?
Lemon essential oil acts as a natural antihistamine as it can relieve built-up mucus and aids inflammatory reactions brought on by your allergy.
Can essential oil diffusers help with allergies?
Diffusers can definitely help aid allergies by killing bacteria in the air, or aiding allergy symptoms you may be having. Lemon oil, frankincense oil, tea tree oil, and peppermint oils are all great options for aiding allergy symptoms via diffusing them into the air.
What gets rid of allergies fast?
Seasonal allergies are bodily reactions that people typically have to life their lives with. These allergies come up seasonally with the changes in weather. Using an antihistamine is your best option when wanting to clear up symptoms of allergies quickly, however, if you are looking for a more natural solution to your allergies, essential oils may be able to help. Consider using lemon oil, tea tree oil, peppermint oil, eucalyptus, or frankincense oils to find relief.
What essential oils are good for allergies and asthma?
When considering using essential oils to relieve symptoms of seasonal allergies or asthma, you will want to research which essential oils are anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial. These properties will help aid the response from the body to fight off the allergen. Eucalyptus oil, peppermint oil, lemon oil, frankincense oil, and tea tree oil are all good options.
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