The Best Essential Oils For Colds, Coughs & Congestion

The common cold is caused by a huge range of viruses, and there is no known cure. There are many medicines you can buy at a chemist or pharmacist, but they only help to relieve the symptoms temporarily.

However, instead of looking for a chemical way to alleviate your symptoms, you could instead treat yourself to similar relief by using the best essential oils for colds coughs or congestion.

Colds are a fact of life this time of the year

Colds are, sadly, an inevitable fact of life this time of the year. We’ve all had one at some point, and we all know how weak and achy they can leave us feeling.

The symptoms of a cold can be as simple as a runny nose or a cough or sore throat, but they can also make us feel exhausted and feverish. There are a huge range of essential oils available which can be used as an effective natural remedy to ease your cold symptoms.

Before the advent of modern medicine, oils and other natural remedies were used to help fight the symptoms we still suffer with today. Using essential oils can help to relax you, strengthen your immune system and help your body fight the infection that is making you feel so ill. You can also use essential oils as part of your routine to help guard against the development of cold and flu symptoms.

Which essential oils work well to help relieve or prevent cold symptoms?

Peppermint oil

Peppermint oil is a great essential oil for colds coughs and congestion, it helps to naturally reduce fever, and can help to reduce nasal and sinus congestion. Many commercial cold relieving products use menthol to act as a decongestant, and menthol is found in peppermint oil. Menthol also helps to soothe coughs and sore throats. Peppermint has expectorant properties and so can help you to reduce coughing by encouraging your body to clear your airways.

Eucalyptus oil

Eucalyptus oil is an essential oil that has antiviral and antimicrobial properties. This means that eucalyptus oil can be used to alleviate and prevent cold symptoms. It can help to reduce the inflammation and congestion common to a cold that affects breathing. Eucalyptus essential oil stimulates the immune system and helps to treat chest infections.

Lavender oil

Lavender oil is renowned for sleep supporting properties, which your body needs plenty of when it is fighting the symptoms of a cold. Restful sleep is also very important in preventing colds. Lavender essential oil is also antimicrobial and antiseptic. It helps to alleviate respiratory problems such as coughs and congestion.

Tea tree oil

Tea tree oil is a multipurpose oil and part of many remedies designed to fight colds coughs and congestion. Tea tree essential oil has antiviral properties, as well as antibacterial, antimicrobial and antiseptic properties. It has an invigorating scent and it great for alleviating congestion caused by a cold. Thanks to the strength of tea tree oil as a protectant against bacteria, it also helps to prevent cold symptoms.

Lemon oil

Lemon oil has antimicrobial properties and can help to bolster your immune function. It is very effective at reducing coughs and congestion. It has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, so is also good for helping sore throats.

Rosemary oil

Rosemary oil is great for stimulating the immune system and for helping to remove toxins from the body. It is also very effective at relieving the symptoms of respiratory congestion or infection. Rosemary essential oil alleviates coughs and sinus congestion.

How do you use them?

Essential oils can be used in a range of ways to improve your symptoms. It is always best to check with a certified aromatherapist before you start using essential oil for colds, as they can make recommendations for any allergies you have or medications you take. You should always dilute essential oils, and should not apply undiluted oils to your skin.

Aromatherapy

You can pour a few drops of any essential oil onto a tissue or cotton wool ball and inhale them directly. Steam inhalation of essential oils can be done by adding oils to a hot bath, or by mixing boiled water with essential oils in a bowl and breathing in the steam for short periods of time. You can also use an essential oil diffuser or vaporiser to cleanse, scent and purify the air. These work by mixing purified water with essential oils, and then heating the mixture to diffuse the oils into the environment.

Balm

You can mix essential oils with other ingredients to make a balm that will help you feel less congested and likely to cough. To create your homemade balm for colds coughs and congestion, you should mix your essential oils with a carrier oil such as jojoba oil, olive oil, coconut oil, or sweet almond oil. You should use the essential oils sparingly and mix them fully together with the carrier oil, which will create a moisturising and fragrant balm that can be applied to your chest and neck.

How else can I use these oils?

Steam Inhalation

You can pour your essential oils into a hot bath, or mix them in a bowl to gently inhale the benefits of the oil and clear your airways. We recommend steam inhalation using a large , a towel and just boiled water. Carefully pour the water into the bowl, then add the following essential oils:

• 7 drops of Tea tree essential oil
• 7 drops of Peppermint essential oil
• 7 drops of Lavender essential oil

Then, leaning over the bowl at a distance so as not to get burned by the steam, place a towel over your head and the bowl. This will trap the heat and the oils in the area around you, and you can then breathe in the antiviral and decongesting properties of the oils for a couple of minutes at a time.

Balm

Mixing these ingredients will create a soothing homemade balm. Rub it onto your chest and neck to help relieve congestion.

• 1 tablespoon of any carrier oil (I particularly like jojoba or coconut oil, for the scent)
• 7 drops of Eucalyptus essential oil
• 7 drops of Peppermint essential oil
• 7 drops of Lavender essential oil

That’s it, my tips on the best essential oils for colds coughs and congestion, I do hope this helps to relieve your symptoms!