Top 10 Essential Oils For A Cough
You might be finding it difficult to breathe correctly and you might even be up all night coughing due to a lingering head cold. It’s just that time of the year, and you won’t go anywhere without seeing people coughing into their arms and wiping their noses.
If your cough won’t go away, it’s time to visit the doctor. However, if you are still stuffed up from a head cold that has traveled down to your chest leaving you miserable...there’s an essential oil for that. In fact, there are multiple!
Essential oils contain antibacterial and soothing properties to potentially reduce the duration of your sickness and make you feel so much better – instantly!
Best Essential Oils For Cough
Check out the top 10 essential oils that combat a nasty cough below.
Peppermint Essential Oil
Known best for containing menthol, peppermint essential oil is great for a cough and an itchy throat. If you take a trip down the medicine aisle for colds, so many products will be labeled ‘mint’ or ‘menthol,’ and this is by no coincidence. One study showed that menthol inhalation makes people simply feel better, enough said!
The cooling sensation of menthol acts as a numbing agent and relaxes the bronchial muscles within the windpipe according to another study. You can breathe in peppermint oil directly or use it in carrier oil as a menthol rub. Pregnant women and children under 8 are advised against using peppermint essential oil.
Thyme Essential Oil
A powerful antimicrobial to fight respiratory distress, thyme essential oil can be used to combat tract pathogens in the respiratory system. Research shows that the best way to reap the benefits of thyme essential oil is by diffusing it rapidly and inhaling it directly.
Frankincense Essential Oil
You can easily use frankincense essential oil in a bath and inhale the steam to help relieve cold symptoms such as a cough. The oil is great for respiratory infections and can all-around boost your mood. Though most commonly used in perfumes or incense, it is also very valuable in treating asthma, bronchitis, head colds, coughs, and catarrh.
Oregano Essential Oil
Oregano doesn’t just season your food to perfection, its essential oil can treat numerous ailments. The oil contains a powerful compound called carvacrol which is an antimicrobial agent that fights off germs and bacteria. If your cough is caused by a virus or a bacterial infection, oregano essential oil can help treat it effectively.
Tea Tree Essential Oil
Another good option for fighting bacterial infections is tea tree oil. Though it is most commonly used topically for open wounds and acne, when inhaled, tea tree oil harbors the same infection-fighting properties. In order to inhibit bacterial growth, diffuse tea tree oil in boiling water or your diffuser and inhale it directly.
Geranium Essential Oil
The geranium extract is highly studied and researched, with many positive benefits that have prevailed. The oil is connected with helping to relieve upper respiratory tract infections such as bronchitis. One study even showed that administering liquid drops of geranium oil relieved common colds and reduced their duration. Researchers also concluded that out of many studies, all but one showed that geranium relieved cough symptoms. Try adding a few drops to your diffuser or in your bath to get rid of your cough!
Cinnamon Essential Oil
Cinnamon is another essential oil that is being studied all over the world for its infection-fighting properties and agents that help it combat a cold and cough. The spice commonly used in baking in cooking actually has a reputation for fighting bronchitis and preventing the spread of bacteria. One study found that inhaling cinnamon essential oil while it’s in a gaseous state (for a short period of time) can stop respiratory tract pathogens from spreading.
Cypress Essential Oil
Cypress works a lot like bergamot and nutmeg essential oil and even contains the same molecule called camphene. This molecule can reduce respiratory tract fluid according to studies. To help reduce your congestion and cough, steam cypress oil in a bowl of hot water and breathe in the aroma.
Nutmeg Essential Oil
In studies, nutmeg essential oil has been shown to decrease respiratory tract fluid in rabbits. So, why not give it a shot? Inhaling nutmeg essential oil has the potential to make a big difference if you are suffering from a cough or other respiratory issues.
Bergamot Essential Oil
This citrus fruit tastes like an orange but looks like a lime. Its essential oil is made from the rind of the fruit and is used to treat many conditions such as the common cold and cough. If inhaled, bergamot essential oil can relieve congestion because it also contains the powerful molecule known as camphene. According to one study, inhaling camphene can reduce respiratory tract fluid.
The History Of Using Essential Oils To Treat Colds And Cough
For thousands of years, essential oils have been used by cultures all over the world to treat nearly every impossible ailment. Ancient Egypt is the true birthplace of essential oils - they were used to treat illnesses, make perfumes, and were even used in the embalming process. Using essential oils for medicinal practices was a part of everyday life and the most common way to heal from illnesses and associated symptoms.
What is now known as Eastern Medicine, or Ayurvedic Medicine, was the primary way of caring for illnesses thousands of years ago. In fact, ancient people would use a very common method that we use today to get the essence out of a plant - by distilling and using animal fat to bring out the oil. Ayurvedic medicine began in ancient China and India - another place that began capturing the essence of plants thousands of years ago.
The decline of using natural remedies for illnesses happened around the 19th century due to vaccines being created and the invention of medicine that we still find on shelves today. However, over the past 20 years, essential oils have made a comeback in treating minor ailments such as colds and coughs, rather than using over-the-counter medicines. In the past 20 years, we have seen a steady rise in the study of essential oils and their healing properties as well as research proving the health benefits of inhaling essential oils.
All-natural medicine is climbing its way up to the top in terms of methods of healing, and more than likely, you see ads for essential oils on a daily basis as well as see them in stores for fair prices. They won’t be going anywhere soon due to common research and studies proving their health benefits happening every day!
The Best Ways To Use Essential Oils
There are so many incredible and easy ways to get essential oils in your body and reap the amazing benefits of having no cough and a clear head. These are all very conventional ways to take care of yourself with essential oils, and you don’t even need fancy equipment (though it is tempting) to intake the essence of your plant choice.
Let’s take a look at the most common ways people utilize essential oils as well as how to do it yourself!
1. Use A Diffuser - Aromatherapy
Diffusers are one of the most common pieces of equipment used to inhale essential oils. Over the years with the rise in popularity of using essential oils, diffuser choices are far and wide, as well as expensive to very inexpensive. Most diffusers work by adding water and a few drops of your favorite essential oil and then pushing the ‘on’ button. You’ll see the steam start blowing out of the top, and from there, you can easily inhale the steam and start feeling better. Always clean your diffuser between uses so there is no mold or algae buildup. Aromatherapy is the most popular way to get essential oils into your body.
2. Steaming Method - Aromatherapy
If you don’t have a diffuser, don’t worry! You can have your own DIY diffuser and all you need is a bowl of boiling water, your favorite essential oil, and a towel to wrap around your head. Simply boil some water and add a few drops of the essential oil you’re going to use, then wrap the towel around your head and inhale the steam for a few minutes. Do this 2-4 times a day to relieve symptoms of a cold and cough.
3. A Rub - Topical Application
The second most popular way to enjoy the benefits of essential oils is by rubbing them directly onto your body in the form of a massage. Not only will the essential oils seep through your pores, but you will also be breathing the scent in. Many chest rubs for colds and coughs already contain essential oils and essential oil compounds within them! You can make your own chest rub for your cough by mixing any of the oils listed above with a carrier oil such as coconut oil. Mix the two together and apply to an area that you can easily breathe in! You can also purchase pre-made and all-natural essential oil rubs online.
4. Eating Or Drinking Essential Oils
Warning! Not all essential oils are edible. Many on the list above would not be very good to drink or eat. But some of them you will see on everyday labels of drink and food products! Lavender has become a very popular addition to food and beverages, and even though lavender isn’t listed above, it is the most popular essential oil to treat almost every ailment, even a cough! Though the taste may not be all ‘there’ yet, herbs are extremely powerful and in order to receive the many benefits, eating them is sometimes necessary!
Final Thoughts
Used for thousands of years to treat the common illnesses and symptoms that follow, essential oils are there for you when you’re tired of taking over-the-counter medicine that can potentially cause other problems. It’s a natural way to take care of the annoying symptoms of a head cold such as congestion and cough, and there are many essential oils you can choose from to aid in your recovery.
Always remember, if your cold and cough persist for longer than a week, seek medical attention. We are not licensed professionals, nor do we intend to be, we just speak on the power of essential oils that have proven benefits in studies and research. Always talk to your doctor or physician if your cough is accompanied by other uncomfortable symptoms that make you unable to perform daily tasks.
Essential oils are a tried and true method that can heal many different ailments, and the oils listed above will push so many positive benefits on you and will overall calm your tired body down. When used appropriately, essential oils can make you feel like a brand-new person!