This year’s allergy season has been brutal for many, and it comes as a tease, considering when the weather is nice many of us prefer to be outdoors. However, being outside can cause your allergies to flare up and can quickly turn a good day into a bad one. It’s natural to want to reach for an antihistamine when your allergies flare up. However, depending on the type you take, it can come with a host of unwanted symptoms, so, understandably, many are attempting alternative treatments for relief. One alternative treatment method is using essential oils for allergies. While essential oils cannot completely take the place of allergy medication, they might offer you some much-needed relief.
How Can Essential Oils Help?
Since many essential oils have antiviral, antifungal, and antimicrobial properties and can help fight off inflammation, essential oils may help support the healing of the immune and respiratory system. So using essential oils for allergies can result in an improvement of symptoms.
How Do I Use Essential Oils?
Unless already diluted, you must never use essential oils directly on your skin. Generally, essential oils need to be mixed with a carrier oil, and then it can be rubbed into your wrist and neck, or even behind the ears and onto the nose. Essential oils can help freshen up the air and offer relief from nasal congestion when diffused, inhaled through steam (placing a few drops into hot water, placing a towel over the head, breathing in the steam), or direct inhalation.
Before you give essential oils a try for the first time, test your oils before using them on your body or breathe them in at full strength. Please do so by diluting the essential oil in question and then test it out through inhalation or by applying some on non-sensitive skin. Also, unless you have consulted with your doctor, do not take essential oils internally. Most essential oils are for external use only.
Try These Essential Oils for Allergies
• Frankincense
• Clove
• Cinnamon
• Tea tree
• Peppermint
• Black cumin seed
• Lavender
• Thyme
• Ravensara
• Rosemary
• Lemon
• Oregano
• Eucalyptus
Frequently Asked Questions
Essential oils cannot completely replace allergy medication but may offer some relief from allergy symptoms. They are considered complementary treatments that can support the immune and respiratory systems, potentially reducing inflammation and improving symptoms.
Many essential oils have antiviral, antifungal, and antimicrobial properties, along with anti-inflammatory effects. These qualities can support the healing of the immune and respiratory systems, which may lead to an improvement in allergy symptoms such as nasal congestion and inflammation.
Essential oils should never be applied directly to the skin unless already diluted. Generally, they must be mixed with a carrier oil before applying to the wrist, neck, behind the ears, or near the nose. They can also be diffused, inhaled through steam, or used via direct inhalation for nasal relief.
Yes, always test essential oils before using them by diluting and applying on non-sensitive skin or inhaling a small amount to check for adverse reactions. Additionally, do not ingest essential oils unless under the guidance of a doctor, as most are meant only for external use.
Some of the essential oils that may help relieve allergy symptoms include frankincense, clove, cinnamon, tea tree, peppermint, black cumin seed, lavender, thyme, ravensara, rosemary, lemon, oregano, and eucalyptus. These oils have properties that might reduce inflammation and improve respiratory function.
Yes, essential oils can be diffused to freshen the air and may provide relief from nasal congestion. Additionally, inhaling steam infused with essential oils can help open nasal passages and ease breathing during allergy flare-ups.