Allergies already got you down? Try essential oils

This paid piece is sponsored by Avera Health.

When it warms up earlier, it doesn’t take long for allergies to start bothering people. Essential oils can be a great way to help decrease the symptoms of seasonal allergies. Some of the general symptoms of seasonal allergies include:

• Sneezing
• Wheezing
• Nasal congestion
• Coughing
• Itchy, watery eyes
• Runny nose
• Itchy throat
• Stomachache
• Itchy skin
• Hives
• Fatigue
• Irritability

How do essential oils work?

Today’s professional practitioners use approximately 300 essential oils for their healing effects. However, as few as 10 essential oils can cover the needs of most households for antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, pain, mood and relaxation uses.

The most effective way to use an essential oil is through inhalation or application to the skin in a carrier oil such as coconut oil, jojoba oil or olive oil. Pure essential oils have a chemical structure that is able to stimulate the olfactory nerve.

The olfactory nerve is one of your 12 cranial nerves arising directly out of the brain. When you stimulate the olfactory nerve, it feeds back directly into the brain. Different essential oils will differ as to what area of the brain is stimulated. The oil must be smelled for five minutes to stimulate the olfactory nerve. Then it takes 15 minutes for the effect to occur in the brain.

Relieving allergy symptoms

Avera Medical Group Integrative Medicine can help you determine the best combination of essential oils to decrease your symptoms. Our recommendations to help decrease the symptoms of seasonal allergies are listed below.

Essential oil option No. 1

Put one drop each of chamomile and lemon essential oils on a tissue and inhale. You also may add the following combination to your bath:

• Chamomile: 2 drops
• Lemon: 2 drops
• Lavender: 1 drop

Essential oil option No. 2

Dilute the following essential oils in 1 teaspoon of carrier oil and massage the neck, chest and back:

• Chamomile: 2 drops
• Geranium: 1 drop
• Lemon: 1 drop

Other approaches using essential oils

• Eucalyptus can open the respiratory system, reduce inflammation and allow better breathing. So can rosemary, which is slightly more mild than eucalyptus and, therefore, may be more fitting for a child.
• Clove oil is anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial, and can help reduce allergy symptoms.
• Ravensara is another favorite for allergy sufferers. It offers many benefits.
• Peppermint will help open those stuffed nasal passages and can reduce headaches.
• Lavender is a natural antihistamine, anti-inflammatory and very calming. It can help reduce irritation and relax your breathing.
• Lemon improves immunity, relieves respiratory issues, is antibacterial and relieves respiratory inflammation.
• Roman chamomile is anti-inflammatory, relaxing, relieves headaches and eases inflammation. For sufferers of the ragweed allergy, chamomile is in the same family and can make your reaction worse.

In addition to the olfactory nerve stimulation, our respiratory mucosa take up the volatile chemical constituents in essential oils. These chemicals can be measured in the bloodstream within 30 minutes of smelling the essential oil.

You can get the effect in many ways including:

• Sitting in a bath with essential oils.
• Using a diffuser in the bottle.
• Adding a drop or two to your shirt collar.

Another way to use them is by diluting the essential oil in a carrier oil and then applying it to your skin.

Pure essential oils are a highly effective, low-cost, pleasant, easy-to-use and side-effect free tool for anyone’s health benefits. Learn more by contacting Avera Medical Group Integrative Medicine for a consultation.

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