What essential oils are good for colds and coughs?

The six most commonly used antitussive essential oils include: eucalyptus essential oil, peppermint essential oil, rosemary essential oil, lemon essential oil, oregano essential oil, and tea tree essential oil.

The six best essential oils for cough relief

1

Eucalyptus essential oil (Eucalyptus)

Eucalyptus essential oil is a A great essential oil for cough relief because it has an expectorant effect and can help your body get rid of microorganisms and viruses that are making you sick. It also dilates your blood vessels, allowing more oxygen to enter your lungs, which can help if you're coughing and having trouble breathing. In addition, eucalyptol, the main component of eucalyptus essential oil, has antibacterial effects on many bacteria, viruses and fungi.

The best way to use eucalyptus essential oil as a cough relieving essential oil is to diffuse it at home and put 5 drops of essential oil in a diffuser before going to bed. You can also apply eucalyptus essential oil topically on the chest and neck to reduce the severity of cough. It is recommended to use a small amount at first, such as 1 to 2 drops. Remember, try to avoid applying it to children under 2 years old. Before using it on children, you can do a patch test to ensure that they will not have any adverse skin reactions.

2

Peppermint essential oil

Peppermint essential oil is a top cough suppressant essential oil because it contains menthol, which has dual antibacterial and antiviral effects. Menthol also has a cooling effect on the body, and can clear your nasal passages when you have sinus congestion. Peppermint can also relieve itchiness in the throat when coughing, and has antitussive and antispasmodic properties.

Research studies on healthy adults show that peppermint essential oil can relax bronchial smooth muscle and increase ventilation, which is why athletes often use peppermint essential oil to improve athletic performance. Peppermint can reduce the severity of coughs and increase respiratory rate and breathing capacity.

The best way to use peppermint essential oil to relieve coughs and respiratory diseases is to diffuse it at home or in the office. Add 5 drops of peppermint essential oil to the aroma diffuser; or sniff it directly against the mouth of the bottle. The smell of essential oil; you can also apply 2 to 3 drops of peppermint essential oil (recommended to mix 1:3 with base oil) on the chest, back of the neck and temples (be careful to avoid around the eyes). When applied topically, you can use it alone or mix it with coconut oil and eucalyptus essential oils.

Note that people with sensitive skin can test a small amount first, and do not use peppermint essential oil on children under 2 years old. (Personal experience, if it is therapeutic grade peppermint essential oil, when children under 2 years old have a fever, dilute 1 drop of peppermint essential oil more than 20 times and it can be used)

3

Mystery Rosemary essential oil

Rosemary essential oil has a relaxing effect on the smooth muscles of the airways and helps relieve coughs. Like eucalyptus essential oil, rosemary also contains eucalyptol, which can reduce the frequency of coughs in people with asthma and sinusitis. Rosemary also has antioxidant and antibacterial properties, making it a natural immune booster.

The study found that a spray containing eucalyptus, peppermint, oregano and rosemary essential oils could improve symptoms of upper respiratory tract disease in 26 participants in the treatment group. Researchers noted that by inhaling the oil blend five times a day for three days, participants experienced greater improvements in symptoms, including coughing, sore throat and hoarseness. After just 20 minutes of inhaling the essential oil spray, participants noticed improvements.

To use this essential oil to treat coughs, you can add 5 drops of rosemary essential oil to the aroma diffuser, or add 2 drops of rosemary essential oil to half a teaspoon of coconut oil, mix it and apply it to the chest and Periphery. Note: Children under 4 years old should not use rosemary essential oil, and it is not safe for pregnant women.

4

Lemon Essential Oil

Known for its ability to strengthen the immune system and support lymphatic drainage, lemon essential oil can help quickly relieve cough and cold symptoms. It has antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties, making it a great tool to support immunity as you battle respiratory illnesses. Lemon essential oil also benefits the lymphatic system, protecting the body from external threats by improving blood circulation and reducing swollen lymph nodes.

There are several ways to use lemon essential oil to relieve coughs,

Diffusion: add 5 drops of lemon essential oil into the aroma diffuser and diffuse it at home or in the office. Add drops of eucalyptus essential oil;

Apply: Mix 2 drops of lemon essential oil with half a teaspoon of coconut oil, apply and gently massage the neck to help lymphatic drainage (lemon essential oil is photosensitive, it is recommended to apply it at night ).

Oral administration: If you take lemon essential oil orally, be sure to choose pure and high-quality therapeutic grade essential oil. Add 1 to 2 drops to drinking water or (one to two tablespoons) honey for oral administration.

Cleaner: In order to relieve coughing, you must first determine what is causing the cough. You can use lemon essential oil to kill bacteria or viruses in your home, which may help with coughing. Add a little white vinegar and about 20 drops of lemon essential oil to a glass spray bottle filled with water to create a natural cleaner that can clean kitchen, bathroom or other surfaces.

5

Oregano essential oil

The two active ingredients in oregano essential oil are: thymol and carvacrol, both of which have powerful antibacterial properties and antifungal properties. Research shows that oregano essential oil, due to its antimicrobial activity, can serve as a natural alternative to antibiotics, which are commonly used to treat respiratory conditions. Oregano essential oil has also shown antiviral activity, and since many respiratory illnesses are actually caused by viruses rather than bacteria, oregano essential oil is especially beneficial for relieving conditions that cause coughs.

To use oregano essential oil to relieve cough, you can put 3 to 5 drops of oregano essential oil into an aroma diffuser and diffuse it at home or at work. You can also mix 2 to 3 drops of oregano with an equal amount of base oil (such as coconut oil, diluted at least 1:5 for those with sensitive skin) and apply it on the chest, back, neck or soles of the feet. To treat coughs caused by bacteria, add 1 to 2 drops to a glass of drinking water twice a day (according to my personal experience, oregano essential oil is highly irritating and has a bad taste. It is best to drop it into an empty capsule and swallow it with warm water. Down). Because oregano essential oil taken internally may interact with certain medications, it is recommended that you check with your health care provider before use. It is also recommended to take oregano essential oil internally for up to two weeks.

There is not enough research to show that oregano essential oil is safe to use during pregnancy, so I recommend using it with caution during pregnancy and talking to your health care provider first. I do not recommend that children under 5 years of age take oregano essential oil internally. If you are applying oregano essential oil to a child's skin, dilute 1 drop with 1 teaspoon coconut or olive oil and apply to the soles of the feet.

6

Tea tree essential oil

According to reports, the first people to use tea tree were the Bundjalung people in northern Australia. At that time, they crushed the leaves. Inhale the scent of this leaf to treat coughs, colds, and wounds. The best-studied benefit of tea tree essential oil is its powerful antibacterial properties, which kill harmful bacteria that cause respiratory illness. Tea tree also displays antiviral activity, making it an effective way to address the root cause of coughs and as a natural disinfectant. In addition to this, tea tree essential oil has an uplifting scent that can help relieve nasal congestion, coughs, and other respiratory symptoms.

To use tea tree to treat coughs, you can put 5 drops of tea tree essential oil into an aromatherapy machine and diffuse it at home or at work. You can also smell the smell directly from the bottle, or dilute it with half a teaspoon of coconut oil. Mix 2 drops of tea tree essential oil and apply to chest and neck. Tea tree essential oil should not be taken internally and should not be used during pregnancy.

Notes

It is very important to know whether the essential oils used to treat coughs are 100% therapeutic grade essential oils, especially during pregnancy, nursing a child, or when planning to take essential oils internally. sex.

Of these six cough essential oils, eucalyptus, rosemary and tea tree essential oils should not be used during pregnancy. If you are pregnant and plan to use oregano essential oil, talk to your health care provider before doing so. When using essential oils to soothe your child's cough, it's a good idea to put eucalyptus, peppermint, lemon, oregano and tea tree essential oils into a diffuser and diffuse them. If you are applying these essential oils to children, be sure to mix a large proportion of base oil with a small amount of essential oil before applying. It is recommended beforehand to test the sensitivity of the skin with a small amount.