The practice of aromatherapy as it is used today goes back hundreds of years, although essential oils have been utilised for their healing properties since Biblical times. While there are many over the counter remedies currently available for the treatment of colds, coughs and flu, it is well worth considering trying natural essential oils to ease related symptoms.
Aromatherapy Oils Treat Colds
The common cold is something that most of us succumb to at some point during the winter months, with symptoms making you feel downright rotten. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways in which aromatherapy may help in both the prevention and treatment of colds. In The Aromatherapy Bible, Farrer-Halls (2005), recommends key types of essential oils used within aromatherapy to prevent and treat colds, to include the following:
- Steam inhalations of lavender, eucalyptus ti-tree oils - helps prevent colds
- Add to bath water eucalyptus, ti-tree oils - cold prevention
- Rosemary oil in burner during day - helps fight cold infection, prevents others catching it
- Lavender oil in burner at night - helps combat infection
- Drops of eucalyptus oil on tissue - helps clear blocked nose
- Garlic twice daily
- Drink chamomile/peppermint tea
In The Essential Oils Handbook, Harding (2008) highlights using vaporizers to help improve cold symptoms, as follows:
- Inhaling steam helps open airways, improves breathing
- Essential oils loosen blockages
- Aromatherapy oils soothe swollen mucus membranes in nose
- Use first thing in morning/last thing at night - when cold symptoms usually worst
Essential Oils Treat Coughs
Essential oils used within the practice of aromatherapy have also been recognised to help relieve those suffering from coughs. Harding (2008) recommends using key essential oils to treat coughs, to include the following:
- Clove bud - eases chesty coughs, opens airways
- Immortelle - helps relieve mucuosy coughs
- Ravensara - eases tight/painful coughs
- Spanish marjoram - relieves chesty coughs, improves breathing
- Tulsi - helps improve chesty coughs, eases bronchitis symptoms
- Cardomon - soothes coughs, chest infections, chronic respiratory problems
Aromatherapy for Flu Symptoms
Another common health problem during the winter months is flu (influenza), which can be particularly nasty for the elderly or those with chronic health conditions such as diabetes. While high-risk groups typically receive flu vaccinations each year, the rest of us may benefit from using essential oils to help prevent catching flu and to improve flu symptoms.
In order to prevent catching flu, Farrer-Halls (2005) recommends taking a hot bath just before bed, with essential oils, such as lavender and ti-tree oil. Once one has gone down with flu, try vaporizing lavender, t-tree, eucalyptus and rosemary oils to help alleviate symptoms.
As highlighted above, colds, coughs and flu are all fairly common complaints, which respond well to aromatherapy essential oils. To relieve cold symptoms, inhaling vaporized lavender oil may help, while chesty coughs benefit from Spanish marjoram and a simple flu prevention approach involves bathing in lavender and ti-tree essential oils.
Sources:
Farrer-Halls, G. (2005) The Aromatherapy Bible London: Godsfield Press
Harding, J. (2008) The Essential Oils Handbook London: Duncan Baird
Kate Le Page - Kate Henning-Le Page writes about eating disorders, body image and recovery issues. She specializes in anorexia recovery.
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