For those who suffer from allergies, change of seasons or the onset of a particular season can wreak havoc on their bodies. An allergy attack can make anyone feel miserable. You end up spending days, or even weeks walking around feeling like you are in a daze or worse still like you are suffering from the flu. A runny nose, sneezing, headache, dry, red and itchy eyes, when all these symptoms hit you together, you know the onset of your allergies have begun. For some people, allergies often have a big impact on the quality of their lives. There are many over-the-counter and prescription medications available to help treat your allergy symptoms, but most of these tend to make you feel drowsy, not to mention you are pumping your body full of chemicals that may have some serious side effects. So what option are you left with? In recent years, there has been a rise in the use of essential oils to help soothe the symptoms of an allergic reaction or allergies. Some of these essential oils are known to have various medicinal benefits and therapeutic properties. Read on to find out how you can use these common essential oils to treat your allergy symptoms and get relief.
How Do Essential Oils Provide Relief from Allergies?
Essential oils are known to work wonders in relieving some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction. Hay fever or allergic rhinitis is one of the most common forms of allergic reaction that affects people. Essential oils help by reducing the pain that is commonly experienced in allergies due to the immune system response. Essential oils also help in reducing inflammation, which is the primary cause of most allergic responses. Essential oils also help to boost your immune system and make your body less prone to allergen triggers. Essential oils can also block the allergens from entering your body. Here are some of the best essential oils for relieving allergies.
Different Essential Oils to Treat Allergies
Peppermint Essential Oil
Peppermint Essential Oil is one of the most commonly available and most effective oils to use for treating allergies. Peppermint essential oil works as a relaxant, an expectorant, and it also has antispasmodic properties. Inhaling peppermint oil helps you clear out the sinuses, get relief from sore throat pain, and it also helps to reduce coughing. Peppermint essential oil is known to provide immediate relief in allergy, as it helps with congestion by helping in clearing out the phlegm. Peppermint essential oil also reduces inflammation and allows you to breathe easy through open airways. The best way to treat your allergy symptoms is you can either dab a couple of drops of peppermint oil on your chest and forehead, or you can place a few drops of peppermint oil into an aromatherapy diffuser. You can also add a drop or two of peppermint oil into your cup of tea to relieve allergy symptoms.
Lavender Essential Oil
One of the most commonly used essential oils, lavender oil is known for being a natural antihistamine and also for its anti-inflammatory properties. Lavender oil is ideal for treating yourself while you are in the midst of an allergic reaction. Lavender oil will help strengthen your body to fight against the allergens and will also reduce several of the painful symptoms associated with your allergies. Lavender oil is also great to apply on your skin if you have rashes and hives from skin allergies. To use this lavender essential oil for relief of allergies, you can simply put a drop or two on your cheeks and around your sinuses to relieve your allergy symptoms. Doing this several times throughout the day will provide immense relief. You can also, of course, add a couple of drops of lavender oil in an aromatherapy diffuser and breathe it in for 15-20 minutes. Mixing lavender oil with coconut or jojoba oil and applying it to the skin where you have developed hives or rashes also helps soothe the irritation in that area. Diffusing lavender oil will also reduce inflammation in your bronchial tubes, helping relieve your cough. Apart from this, another benefit of lavender oil is that it has soothing properties which will help you relax during a particular difficult allergic reaction.
Eucalyptus Essential Oil
Many people around the world actually refer to eucalyptus oil as a “cool oil.” Eucalyptus oil is known to be great in the treatment of respiratory afflictions. The oil is an analgesic, an expectorant, and also has anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, during an allergic reaction, eucalyptus oil can help you clear out your sinuses, help detoxify your body and get rid of any allergens, and also reduce wheezing and chest pressure. Eucalyptus oil is also great for soothing a sore throat, thus providing relief from coughing. You can also mix eucalyptus oil with peppermint and coconut oil to turn it into a homemade vapor rub for treating allergies. As eucalyptus works as a natural degreaser, it works great in clearing up mucus as well. You can also dilute it with water, mix a little sea salt, and then use it to gargle and clear your throat. To use eucalyptus essential oil effectively in allergy treatments, you can put a few drops in an aromatherapy diffuser and breathe it in for 15-20 minutes. You can also try putting a few drops of eucalyptus essential oil in a steaming bowl of water, cover your head and the bowl with a towel and breathe in the aroma deeply for a couple of minutes.
Tea Tree Essential Oil
Known to be a fairly inexpensive oil, tea tree essential oil is one of the most powerful essential oils amongst all the options mentioned here for treating allergies. Tea tree essential oil helps kill allergy triggers in your home and also treats skin allergies. When the tea tree essential oil is diffused into the house, it helps reduce all types of allergens such as mold, fungi, and even bacteria. Tea tree oil is known for being an antiseptic and has anti-inflammatory properties. This is why it can be applied directly to the areas of your skin that is affected by rashes and hives. Due to the oil being extra potent, it is recommended that you mix tea tree oil with a carrier oil, such as jojoba or coconut before applying it directly to your skin. Keep in mind that you should never ingest tea tree oil and it is to be used as a topical remedy only. Also, avoid using tea tree oil mixed with lavender oil on boys who are yet to reach puberty as such a mixture is known to cause abnormal hormonal reactions. Due to this, tea tree oil is usually limited to being used for treating skin allergies. Tea tree essential oil can be used to reduce the redness and circumference of the allergic skin reaction. The best way to use tea tree oil is by putting a few drops in an aromatherapy diffuser to kill the allergens in your room.
Lemon Essential Oil
Due to its versatility, lemon is one of the most popular essential oils. Lemon essential oil is derived from cold-pressing lemon rinds to create the final product. Lemon essential oil not only supports your immune system, but it is also known to support the lymphatic system as well. Lemon essential oil helps to detoxify your body and also boosts the production of white blood cells, thus helping your body fight off any infection that may accompany an allergic reaction at times. Lemon oil is best used by diffusing it into your home’s air so that it will eliminate any allergy triggers in the air. You may also mix few drops of lemon oil with water to spray the air or any surfaces which you come in contact with frequently. On the days when you suffer from intense allergy symptoms, you can also try diffusing lemon and eucalyptus oil mixed together to lessen your allergy symptoms and also lighten your mood.
Conclusion
These are just some of the essential oils that are known to help treat allergies. There are many other essential oils such as frankincense, chamomile, lemongrass, cypress, ginger, basil, etc., which are also excellent for reducing and treating your allergy symptoms in different ways. You need to keep in mind, though, that you should only use 100% pure and organic oils that do not have any additives in them, otherwise they are unlikely to provide any relief. You can also consult your doctor before using them in case you have doubts about whether they will be suitable to your allergic condition or not.
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