Calling all hay fever sufferers! We’ve got an all natural, simple answer to reduce your symptoms.
We all know essential oils work wonders for the mind and improving mood, but did you know some essential oils have physical benefits too?
In this blog, we’ll discuss which essential oils can naturally ease hay fever symptoms and how to use them.
Contents
- What Causes Hayfever?
- Can Essential Oils Cure Hayfever?
- Best Essential Oils For Hayfever
- How To Use Essential Oils For Allergies
-
Essential Oil Safety
What Causes Hayfever?
Hay fever is an allergic reaction to outdoor or indoor substances, like pollen. Some common symptoms of hay fever include, sneezing, itchy eyes, blocked nose, headache and red or watery eyes.
It is usually worse between March and September, when the pollen count is at its highest. The type of pollen that can cause it varies between each person. The most common pollen allergies are to grass pollen and tree pollen.
Can Essential Oils Cure Hayfever?
Essential oils can help reduce some hay fever symptoms, but they are not a cure. Currently, there is no proven cure for hay fever so the best we can do is reduce the symptoms and provide some relief during hay fever season.
Best Essential Oils For Hayfever
Peppermint Essential Oil
The menthol in peppermint oil has the ability to open airways, reduce nasal congestion and reduce mucus, which can help ease a blocked nose.
Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender has been found to have natural antihistamine and anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce overall hay fever symptoms.
Eucalyptus Essential Oil
Eucalyptus has anti-inflammatory properties and it is very effective at clearing mucus and reducing inflammation from irritated airways.
How To Use Essential Oils For Allergies
Diffuser Blend
This is a simple way to fill a room with these effective essential oils. Simply add a few drops of the essential oil to your diffuser and let it do the rest!
You can either use one essential oil on its own or blend them together to benefit from all of their natural properties.
Here’s a simple essential oil blend…
- 4 drops peppermint oil
- 4 drops eucalyptus oil
- 4 drops lavender oil
Topical Application
Another way to inhale essential oils is by using them topically. Simply applying diluted essential oils to the chest will help reduce a blocked nose, headache or sneezing. If you experience histamine induced skin inflammation due to hay fever, you can apply the diluted essential oils to the affected area.
To make the essential oils safe to apply to the skin, you need to dilute them in a carrier oil of your choice. Some carrier oils we recommend are jojoba oil, grapeseed oil or coconut oil.
- Carrier oil 100ml
- Peppermint oil 1.5g
- Eucalyptus oil 1.5g
- Lavender oil 1.5g
Direct Inhalation
For short but instant relief, inhale peppermint or eucalyptus essential oil. Simply hold the bottle about 10cm away from the nostrils, and slowly inhale.
We do not recommend doing this for a long period of time as it can cause irritation or make your symptoms worse if it is done too frequently.
Essential Oil Safety
Essential oils are concentrated oils, so they cannot be applied directly to the skin. If pure essential oil makes contact with the skin, it may cause irritation, redness, sensitivity or an allergic reaction.
When inhaling essential oils directly, be careful to not do this for a long period of time. You are inhaling the pure, undiluted oil and it may irritate your airways after a while. When using essential oils in a diffuser, they are being diffused in small amounts so this shouldn’t cause irritation. However, if you notice any adverse effects, stop using them immediately.
Continue Reading
Now you've got some hay fever recipes to try, why not read more?
- Want more natural remedies to reduce congestion or a runny nose? Try our natural vapour rub recipe when you have a cold!
- Learn about other essential oils like lemon essential oil with this in depth blog!
- Find out how to use essential oils to keep flies out of the house with this recipe!
Which essential oils work for your seasonal allergies? Let us know on our socials! Tag us on Instagram or Facebook or use our hashtag #thesoaperyuk
