When you feel congested and your nose is stuffy, essential oils can make you feel better. Having allergies, a cold or the flu is miserable. Your nasal passage and sinus cavities become inflamed, mucus builds up and it’s hard to breathe. If you do not treat it property, it can turn into sinusitis, bronchitis or some other serious respiratory disease.
Fortunately, you can treat your symptoms naturally with essential oils. They’re safe and very effective when used correctly.
Best Essential Oils to Use for Congestion and Stuffy Nose
Being congested and having a stuffy nose is very uncomfortable, but you don’t have to deal with the postnasal drip, pain and discomfort when there are so many essential oils available to help. Certain oils have therapeutic properties that can help clear congestion, loosen mucus and get rid of that stuffy nose so you can breathe easy again.
Here are some of the best essential oils for stuffy nose and congestion:
- Tea Tree
- Lemon
- Peppermint
- Lime
- Oregano
- Rosemary
- Pine
- Orange
- Thyme
- Eucalyptus
Some of these oils have antiseptic, anti-viral and anti-inflammatory properties that will help dissolve mucus and eliminate congestion. These include the rosemary, peppermint and oregano essential oils. Others like the eucalyptus and pine fight bacteria and help to reduce the odds of you becoming sick when you encounter allergens, germs or viruses in the future.
Some essential oils are too strong to use on children but the following oils are gentle and normally safe for kids suffering from congestion and stuffy nose.
You can use all of these essential oils in a variety of different ways to help relieve your congestion and stuffy head.
Ways to Use Essential Oils for Stuffy Nose & Congestion
One thing that makes essential oils an excellent choice for treating these symptoms is their flexibility. You can use them in different ways with excellent results depending on your particular need. For example, you can use a diffuser to relieve your symptoms.
Diffusing oils allows you to breathe the particles into your lungs where they can begin clearing up your congestion and sinus infection right away. A humidifying diffuser also puts moisture back into the air, which helps relieve congestion.
Steam inhalation is another great option. Simply add a couple drops of tea tree, peppermint or lavender oil to a bowl of hot water, close your eyes and lean over the steam for a few minutes. Inhale the vapor to loosen mucus, open up your nasal passages and clear up the congestion. You can also use the essential oils in a hot bath. It has the same effect as you breathe in the vapor from the steam in your bath water.
A third option is to apply the oils topically. Dilute the essential oil with carrier oil and apply it directly to the sides of the nose, over the sinus cavities and on your temples. Be careful not to get the solution in your eyes. You can also use an essential oil vapor rub recipe to create a solution that will clear up your congestion and help you breathe easier when applied to the chest area.
Essential oils will clear up congestion and get rid of that stuffy nose so you feel better fast. You’ll be back to your normal routine before you know it. They’re a natural alternative to over-the-counter and prescription medicines that is safe, easy to use and very effective.
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