The Nine Best Essential Oils for Sinus Infections & Congestion
Which Are the Best Essential Oils for Coughing?
Do essential oils work for postnasal drip?
Eucalyptus oil contains eucalyptol, which helps the body to easily break down mucus and phlegm, making it an excellent remedy for a variety of respiratory problems. These include asthma, cough, cold, nasal and chest congestion, runny nose, sore throat, bronchitis, and sinusitis.
Intranasal steroids, or steroid nasal sprays, are a good first option for treatment of nasal congestion on postnasal drip. They can decrease inflammation and drainage in the nasal passages and sinuses. ... Steroid nasal sprays
Peppermint oil contains menthol, which helps to open airways and clear out your mucus. Studies have shown that peppermint oil can also fight bacteria, which is one of the triggers of sinus congestion. Testing on animals has also shown that peppermint oil helps to reduce inflammation.
These self-help steps can help relieve sinusitis symptoms:
Healing oils like lavender, frankincense, thyme, eucalyptus, sweet marjoram, and tea tree can eliminate mucus, relax the body, and calm your cough, says Lohman who suggest adding 15-18 drops in one ounce of unscented lotion. “You can blend any of the oils together depending on your preference,” she says.
Chronic sinusitis can be caused by an infection, growths in the sinuses (nasal polyps) or swelling of the lining of your sinuses. Signs and symptoms may include a blocked or stuffy (congested) nose that causes difficulty breathing through your nose, and pain and swelling around your eyes, cheeks, nose or forehead.
Herbs for Sinus Relief
If you happen to have a bath tub, you can put a few drops of peppermint oil in it during your bath. Alternatively, you can put a few drops of it in a bowl of warm water. Breathing in the steam can help with stuffiness and help other sinusitis symptoms to subside.
Some essential oils may ease symptoms of a cough or cold by soothing the throat, fighting bacteria, and reducing inflammation. Research has shown that using a nasal spray containing a blend of eucalyptus, peppermint, oregano, and rosemary extracts can improve a sore throat, hoarseness, and other cough-related symptoms.
Peppermint oil is used as a natural decongestant and fever-reducer. It contains menthol, an ingredient found in topical rubs that helps relieve congestion. A 2003 in vitro study demonstrated the viral activity of peppermint oil. Menthol is also used in many cough drops to help soothe sore throats and quiet coughs.
These self-help steps can help relieve sinusitis symptoms:
Try using a medicine that thins mucus and improves sinus drainage (mucolytic). Guaifenesin is a commonly used mucolytic. Mucolytics are often combined with other medicines such as cough suppressants. Acetaminophen can be found in many forms and comes in different doses.
These remedies also help if your problem with mucus and phlegm progresses to a post-nasal drip.
Your doctor may also suggest some self-care steps you can take to help reduce mucus, such as:
Over-the-counter decongestants like pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) can help reduce congestion and eliminate postnasal drip. Newer, nondrowsy antihistamines like loratadine-pseudoephedrine (Claritin) can work to get rid of postnasal drip. However, these are more effective after you take them for several days.
What dries up sinus drainage in the throat? Several medications may help dry up sinus drainage in the throat: Decongestants help reduce swelling in the sinuses, which can help reduce mucus. Antihistamines help reduce inflammation from an allergic reaction. Expectorants help thin mucus and make it less sticky.
Treatments
Blending essential oils by fragrance
Peppermint essential oil A study concluded that the inhalation of menthol does not actually relieve symptoms, but people who inhale it feel better anyway. To get the sensation of relief from your cough, you may want to try inhaling peppermint essential oil with your diffuser or a bowl of steaming water.
Essential Oils for Respiratory Health
While some over-the-counter treatments can help reduce symptoms, there are also many effective natural remedies.
How to Clear a Stuffy Nose
Let's take a closer look at some of the at-home treatments that may help a runny nose.
Drinking enough liquids, especially warm ones can help with mucus flow. Water and other liquids can loosen your congestion by helping your mucus move. Try sipping liquids, like juice, clear broths, and soup. Other good liquid choices include decaffeinated tea, warm fruit juice, and lemon water.
Infections in your respiratory tract — most commonly colds — can inflame and thicken your sinus membranes and block mucus drainage. These infections can be caused by viruses or bacteria. Allergies such as hay fever. Inflammation that occurs with allergies can block your sinuses.
Your doctor may also suggest some self-care steps you can take to help reduce mucus, such as:
The inhalation of essential oil vapors is not generally dangerous, but very intensive inhalation for more than about 20 minutes may lead to respiratory distress and/or neurological symptoms, such as headache, nausea, burning of eyes and throat, cough, shortness of breath, or slowed breathing in young children.
Eucalyptus oil is a well known essential oil for respiratory support. It helps to clear congestion, reduce mucus, and open airways. It is also wonderful for relieving fatigue. Eucalyptus Diffuser Blends are a great way to take advantage of all the benefits this oil offers.
Self-care steps
Calming a wet cough
Getting rid of phlegm and mucus at home
How to get rid of excess mucus and phlegm
Chronic sinusitis can be caused by an infection, growths in the sinuses (nasal polyps) or swelling of the lining of your sinuses. Signs and symptoms may include a blocked or stuffy (congested) nose that causes difficulty breathing through your nose, and pain and swelling around your eyes, cheeks, nose or forehead.
Frankincense Oil There is a vast number of essential oils but today, we will be focusing on Frankincense Oil, otherwise known as the King of Essential Oils. What Is Frankincense Oil? Frankincense or Boswellia sacra is obtained from the dried resinous sap that is secreted by the Frankincense tree.
Blending essential oils by fragrance
There are a number of treatment options, including home remedies and over-the-counter medications:
Toxicologist Ron Kirschner, MD, also warns of their danger. "Ingesting essential oils like camphor, eucalyptus oil, tea tree oil or pine oil has been associated with changes in mental states and seizures. Ingesting lavender oil can cause severe allergic reactions and pennyroyal oil can give you toxic liver damage."
In the meantime, if you've just started hacking, you can try to soothe your throat with these remedies.
How to Calm That Cough
A simple way to thin it out is to drink more water. Other methods you can try include: Take a medication such as guaifenesin (Mucinex). Use saline nasal sprays or irrigation , like a neti pot, to flush mucus, bacteria, allergens, and other irritating things out of the sinuses.
What dries up sinus drainage in the throat? Several medications may help dry up sinus drainage in the throat: Decongestants help reduce swelling in the sinuses, which can help reduce mucus. Antihistamines help reduce inflammation from an allergic reaction. Expectorants help thin mucus and make it less sticky.
Water and other liquids can loosen your congestion by helping your mucus move. Try sipping liquids, like juice, clear broths, and soup. Other good liquid choices include decaffeinated tea, warm fruit juice, and lemon water. Your drinks shouldn't be the only thing that's warm.
Getting rid of phlegm and mucus at home
Stay hydrated and warm Drinking enough liquids, especially warm ones can help with mucus flow. Water and other liquids can loosen your congestion by helping your mucus move. Try sipping liquids, like juice, clear broths, and soup. Other good liquid choices include decaffeinated tea, warm fruit juice, and lemon water.
Take a breath that is slightly deeper than normal. Use your stomach muscles to make a series of three rapid exhalations with the airway open, making a "ha, ha, ha" sound. Follow this by controlled diaphragmatic breathing and a deep cough if you feel mucus moving.
How to Help a Cough at Night: Try These Tips