Allergies are no fun. From sinus congestion to watery eyes and plenty in-between, many of us are on the hunt for relief when the spring season rolls around. One tactic you might not have considered—which can be quite effective—comes in the form of essential oils (liquids distilled from various plants.) We recently synced up with an expert in the space, so read on to learn about a few of these essential oils and how their powerful properties can help combat those pesky allergy symptoms. [It’s important to note that the following article is not intended to serve as medical advice. We always recommend first consulting your licensed healthcare professional about any form of treatment and be sure to talk to your physician before using any essential oils if pregnant.
Blue Tansy (Tanacetum annuum)
KG Stiles, BA, CBT. CBP, LMT, Founder of PurePlantEssentials.com, notes that this particular oil is her first choice when it comes to allergy relief. “Blue tansy, or Tanacetum annuum for its Latin name, is a bronchodilator which means it can help relax the muscles around the airways,” she says, adding that this oil has incredibly calming anti-inflammatory properties that can help ease some of the swelling and itching commonly related to seasonal allergies. She notes that if you’re dealing with something like a stuffy nose, you can simply add a few drops of the oil into a bowl of very hot water to create an infused steam. “Grab a towel to create a tent over your head, lean over the bowl, close your eyes and inhale the vapors for about 20-30 seconds,” she explains. “You’ll then want to take a rest, cover the bowl so the water stays warm, and repeat the process once or twice more.”
Peppermint (Mentha x piperita)
Next up is an essential oil you might be familiar with: peppermint. Stiles, who also has a book coming out this June called The Best Natural Cures Using Essential Oils, says this is another wonderful option to help unclog sinuses and can offer relief from other seasonal symptoms like a scratchy throat thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties. One study from 2010 revealed that the oil had a relaxing effect on the tracheal smooth muscle of rats, in other words, it was shown to reduce the contractions that cause coughing.
Eucalyptus Radiata
Eucalyptus radiata essential oil comes from the leaves of an evergreen tree native to Australia—and while Stiles points out that Eucalyptus globulus is the more common one—Eucalyptus radiata is her pick when it comes to allergy relief. This oil has a mildly sweet aroma that’s quite refreshing and you can simply dispense a few drops onto a cotton ball and inhale for 20-30 seconds for a natural decongestant—inhaling this oil can also be used to help relieve allergy-related headaches. Other uses include diffusing into the air or mixing with a carrier oil (like almond or jojoba) and applying it to your chest to breathe a bit easier. Note: when adding an essential oil to your skin, the rule of thumb is to dilute 15 drops of the essential oil per ounce of carrier oil before applying, otherwise your skin can get very irritated.
Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
Next up is sweet basil essential oil which has a crisp, herbaceous scent and is yet another you may wish to have in your arsenal when allergy season is in full gear. Stiles points out this oil contains an anti-inflammatory component called Linalool which can help soothe ailments like headaches and sore muscles. You might choose to diffuse into the air, add to a carrier oil and apply to the chest as a natural decongestant, or perhaps apply as a de-stressing foot balm before going to bed (simply add to preferred carrier oil and massage into soles of the feet.)
Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus)
Lastly, lemongrass essential oil contains potent antihistamine properties and can aid when dealing with congestion. You can diffuse it into the air, or perhaps sip a lemongrass tea, which can also offer relief from that “stuffed up” feeling or sore throat. As a bonus, its uplifting scent has been shown to relieve anxiety and promote a state of relaxation.
A few other tips to keep in mind…
We wanted to leave you with just a few additional pointers from Stiles when using essential oils. She notes that some people can be sensitive to certain oils, so you’ll want to introduce yourself to them slowly. For example, if you plan on inhaling an oil like peppermint, put a drop on a cotton ball, inhale for just a few seconds, stop and then see how you feel. Similarly, if you plan on skin application, you might want to dilute the oil into a carrier oil and do a patch test on a very small portion of skin first. Finally, if you’re in the market to purchase essential oils, Stiles says to keep an eye out on the label for the words GC-MS tested (which is crucial for verifying the authenticity and purity of the oil), as well as the common and Latin name of the plant. You should also be able to easily verify where it was sourced from and clearly see a list of all ingredients in the formula.
