Is diffusing essential oils safe for your lungs?

One of the greatest things about nature is that it has given us effective remedies for different diseases. One of these natural remedies are pure essential oils.

Dry air is truly bad for your nose and respiratory system and it can worsen existing conditions such as dry throat and asthma. So, you can really boost your respiratory health and improve your breathing by using essential oils.

As traditional herbal medicine products essential oils have a wide application in different spheres and they are used for healing and relaxing purposes. No matter if you are sick or healthy, using essential oils will improve your health, make you feel good and more energized.

For example, respiratory tract infections can be healed by essential oils that are naturally derived. They offer symptomatic relief to different respiratory issues.

Essential oils can be used for the effective prevention of different diseases. They are considered effective herbal remedies for the treatment of different respiratory disease symptoms.

Regularly used essential oils can considerably improve your physical and mental health. They provide you with numerous health benefits.

The most important thing is to use them in a safe and effective way so that your respiratory symptoms are relieved and to avoid getting potential negative effects from their use. Essential oils can also relieve respiratory issues caused by pollution and allergies.

Essential oils offer a proven beneficial effect on both your physical and mental health. There are many great reasons why you should start using essential oils in your business or home building.

Essential oils are effective in treating certain health issues and they also act as a preventative treatment for some health problems. Some of them are common garden herbs.

Essential oil diffusers offer one of the best technologies that exist in the aroma industry. These devices are designed to break down essential oils into small particles for inhalation.

Aroma diffusers spread essential oils in the surrounding area in an even way while preserving the natural essence of the essential oils. And that is why essential oils have a powerful effect.

One of the most common respiratory health problems are flu, cold, chest infection. Essential oils can enhance the healing of respiratory tract diseases, fight bacteria and offer effective relief to breathing difficulties and a variety of other symptoms. They can act as a decongestant, soothe inflamed mucous membranes and increase expectoration.

Some essential oils offer relief to symptoms such as cough and cold as they have a soothing effect for the throat, reduce the inflammation, kill bacteria and support the body in its effort to release toxins.

Many studies show that certain essential oil types can relieve sore throat, loosen mucus, decrease mucus concentration and fight inflammation while others are famous for their powerful antiseptic properties that are effective in the fight with inflammation.

Essential oils open the air passages within the lungs and they have a soothing effect on irritated mucosal lining.

Rosemary, peppermint and eucalyptus help the body fight airborne diseases such as colds and they also have a strengthening effect on the respiratory tract. Other types of essential oils that support the respiratory system are lavender, lemongrass, chamomile, lemon, citrus fruits, basil.

Results from a research show that the use of nasal spray containing a blend of different essential oils such as peppermint, eucalyptus, rosemary extract, oregano can relieve symptoms related to cough, sore throat, hoarseness and other.

Essential oils allow clear breathing and they have a wide range of applications in different spheres and places. Some types of essential oils have a proven effect in relieving certain medical symptoms. One of these health issues includes respiratory problems.

There is no doubt that essential oils are one of the most effective over-the-counter natural remedies for fighting different types of respiratory symptoms.

Essential oils are regarded more as effective products for complementary alternative therapy rather than a medical treatment to promote lung health. They allow you to breathe in an easy way.

Studies show that stress and anxiety aren’t good for chronic conditions such as asthma and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).

Although fragrance is one of the common asthma triggers, essential oils in the right dosages can help people decrease their stress levels and as a result relieve their asthma symptoms.

Essential oils are considered safe products in general, but you should never forget that essential should be used with caution. They are strong agents and have an immediate effect.

Essential oils should not be ingested. You should dilute them in a diffuser or mix them with carrier oil. The most commonly used carrier oils are olive oil, coconut oil, sunflower oil, sesame oil, argan oil, grape seed oil and apricot kernel oil.

It’s recommended to use essential oils for medical purposes only after doctor consultation. According to the medical community there is insufficient evidence regarding essential oils and their direct connection to respiratory health. Regular medications are still the best option for healing some of the most serious respiratory disease symptoms.

There are no medically approved guidelines about the proper dosage or strength of essential oils. Sometimes allergic reactions of the respiratory system or the skin may occur.

Don’t skip getting professional medical advice before using essential oils. A doctor will be able to tell you what are the most suitable essential oils for your condition and prescribe you the exact dosage or strength for your health needs.

If you don’t have an existing respiratory health condition, you can be sure that using an essential oil diffuser at your property is perfectly safe for you as long as you are not using too much essential oil. Unless you have allergies the external use of essential oils on your skin isn’t dangerous to you.

You can use essential oils as a complementary treatment for your respiratory issues, if you don’t experience any negative side effects. But you should use essential oils only after consulting with your healthcare provider, if you already have a respiratory issue or you are currently taking medications.

What are the best essential oils that promote respiratory health?

Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus offers natural effective relief to inflammation, pain and muscle tension which is often caused by flu and cold. Essential oil extract from eucalyptus can be also used as a treatment for bronchitis, cough, catarrh of the upper respiratory tract.

Eucalyptus essential oil can soothe cough in different ways. Mix a few drops of eucalyptus essential oil with 1 ounce of carrier oil. This mixture can be rubbed on the chest and the throat.

You can find chest rubs and vapors at most drug stores. Most mass-market remedies for cough and cold contain eucalyptus oil or the main compound of this natural essential oil called cineole or eucalyptol.

In fact, eucalyptol is proven to fight respiratory disease causing bacteria thanks to its antimicrobial properties. For inhalation purposes you can dilute eucalyptus oil in boiling water and inhale the steam.

Eucalyptus oil is used in ointments designed for kids older than 12 years and adults. It’s not recommended to be used during pregnancy and lactation before a consultation with a doctor.

Rosemary

Just like eucalyptus rosemary also contains the healing compound cineole. It’s proven that cineole can reduce inflammation and clear up mucus. You should always consult with a doctor about the best ways to use essential oils for relieving respiratory issue symptoms.

Peppermint

Peppermint is often added to natural treatment products for cough. It is derived by steam distillation from the flowering plant of Mentha. This type of essential oil provides you with many healthy benefits even if you are not sick.

Menthol is a type of peppermint extract. When you inhale this natural extract it offers you a cooling sensation that can relieve a sore throat and numb the pain.

Peppermint oil relaxes the muscles of the windpipe (which are called bronchial muscles). That is why peppermint oil eases breathing for people suffering from coughs.

Peppermint essential oil can be used in different ways. You can either add this essential oil to an aroma diffuser, dilute it in boiling water and inhale the steam or add it to a blend of topical oils.

The use of peppermint essential oil is not recommended for pregnant women and kids under 8. It’s not recommended to apply peppermint oil preparations directly to the chest or nasal area of infants and kids,

Tea tree

Tea tree is one of those essential oils that are effective for infections of the sinuses and their respiratory issues such as influenza, bronchitis and colds. Tea tree essential oil is extracted from the foliage and terminal branches of Melaleuca alternifolia.

Natural tea tree oil stops the growth of the harmful bacteria that is the cause of respiratory problems and sinus infections. The inhalation of tea tree oil offers a relief for coughs and it’s effective for sinus infections.

Australian Aborigines are the first who discovered the amazing benefits of tea tree and started using it for healing purposes. They inhaled crushed tea tree leaves to heal coughs and colds.

Oregano

The essential oil derived from oregano contains a high amount of a healing compound called carvacrol which is effective in fighting respiratory issues.

Carvacrol has an antimicrobial effect on many kinds of bacteria. This natural compound can have an effective role in the treatment of bacterial and viral causes of a cough.

Thyme

Thyme oil (Thymi aetheroleum) is obtained by steam distillation from the flowering parts of Thymus vulgaris.The natural extract from thyme contains phenols, thymol, terpenoids and high levels of carvacrol.

Carvacrol protects your body from bacteria and viruses and also offers effective prevention of respiratory issues. It has a healing effect on bronchial catarrh and it’s also used as a supportive treatment of whooping cough (pertussis).

Thyme oil is not recommended for kids under 5, pregnant women and people who suffer from epilepsy and thyroid gland diseases.

Cinnamon

When we think of cinnamon we don’t actually think of it as a product with medical properties. But cinnamon is actually proven to fight cough symptoms.

The extract from cinnamon fights of the germs that are responsible for the respiratory problems. One of the ways to use it is to add a few drops of cinnamon essential oil to an essential oil diffuser. You can also add it to an essential oil blend and apply it topically to get rid of cough symptoms.

Frankincense

Besides the main application in perfumes and incense, frankincense has also its fame as a remedy for respiratory issues. It’s extracted from the trees of the genus Boswellia. Frankincense has a healing effect for respiratory diseases and it’s especially powerful for asthma, bronchitis, coughs and catarrh.

Geranium

Geranium is well-known not only for its refreshing floral scent but also for its healing qualities. Its healing effect is achieved by the flower’s main compound called Pelargonium sidoides.

If you have a cough, geranium is one of the best herbal remedies you can use to relieve your cough symptoms. One of the most popular ways to use the healing effect of geranium on coughs is to add it to a warm bath or use it in your essential oil diffuser.

Bergamot, cypress and nutmeg

These three essential oils contain the amazing compound camphene which is pretty similar to camphor. The inhalation of camphene provides you with a refreshing and cooling sensation. It contains high levels of antioxidants. As you may already know antioxidants offer protection for the body against disease-causing germs and also decrease the natural damaging effect on cells.

Bitter fennel oil

Bitter fennel oil is extracted from the ripe fruits of Foeniculum vulgare and it acts as a natural expectorant for cough. This essential oil is not recommended for kids and adolescents under 18 years of age.

Anise oil

Anise oil is another effective natural cough remedy. Anise oil extract is derived by steam distillation from the dry ripe fruits of the plant Pimpinella anisum. Anise oil can act as a mucoactive agent and has a healing effect on respiratory diseases and mainly cough that is associated with cold.