Having a cough can really put a wrench in your plans. No matter what caused your cough – whether the flu, a common cold, or chest infection – you're likely looking for a more relaxing way to rest while you recover.

While you can buy certain painkillers, medications, and treatments for the common cold over-the-counter, that's not to say there aren't side effects that come along with the use of these products. Many of them can be detrimental to your health with excessive use. 

Here at WOW Skin Science, we love to see people utilizing the benefits of natural remedies to help support or maintain their overall wellbeing. 

Before we explain why you should consider our essential oil blends for your wellness needs, let's learn more about essential oils and how they could benefit you. Let's dive in.

Table of contents: 

• What Are Essential Oils?
• Are Essential Oils Different from Aromatherapy?
• Essential Oils Vs. Essential Oil Blends
• Can Essential Oils Help Soothe a Common Cold?
• How to Spot a Common Cold
• Invest in a Quality Diffuser
• What Are the Best Essential Oils for Cough?
• Eucalyptus Essential Oil
• Rosemary Essential Oil
• Peppermint Essential Oil
• Frankincense Essential Oil
• Other Natural Remedies for a Cough

What Are Essential Oils?

Often referred to as aromatherapy, essential oils are a form of alternative medicine and a complementary health approach. Essential oils are plant extracts used to help support your health. 

Are Essential Oils Different from Aromatherapy?

While some people may be under the impression that aromatherapy and essential oils are different or serve different purposes, they are the same thing. Essential oils contain the essence of a plant's fragrance. 

Aromatherapy is just another name for essential oils or essential oil therapy. 

Essential Oils Vs. Essential Oil Blends

Essential oils and essential oil blends are two different products. If you've ever reached for a bottle of peppermint essential oil or lavender essential oil, you may have wanted a single type of essential oil.

But, if you wanted multiple essential oils in one bottle, you would reach for an essential oil blend. Essential oil blends include citrus, lavender, tangerine, bergamot blends, peppermint, eucalyptus, and lemongrass.

Essential oil blends result from numerous essential oils combined into one bottle, and people use these blends to help them relax.

Each of these blends serves a different purpose, but by combining a few beneficial essential oils, you may find the right combination for you. The best part about essential oil blends is that once your essential oil collection begins to grow, you can start making your concoctions at home. 

Can Essential Oils Help Soothe a Common Cold?

Suffering from a cold isn't fun. Can essential oils help minimize the symptoms of the common cold symptoms? While nothing can cure a common cold, essential oils can help soothe and relax the body.

Depending on the essential oil and the scents you prefer, you may need to try a few different oils or blends until you find the one you like the best. 

How to Spot a Common Cold

Colds can often be confused with the flu or other illnesses. Both are considered respiratory or sinus illnesses. However, flu symptoms are usually much worse than a mild cold. 

A bad cough is a sign of both the flu and the common cold. Typically, a cough caused by a cold is milder than one caused by the flu. 

Symptoms of the flu consist of a fever or feeling feverish, chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, head and neck tension, and fatigue. 

Cold symptoms may resemble the flu, but typically on a milder scale. 

While a cough is an inconvenience, there are things you can do to help support your immune system while you let your cold run its course.

Invest in a Quality Diffuser

Before you begin your aromatherapy treatment, or purchase the best essential oils you can find, you should buy a diffuser first. A diffuser makes it easy to fill your favorite space with the essential oil scents of your choice. 

After adding your oil to the machine, you'll soon smell the scent of your chosen essential oil or essential oil blend. You can continue to enjoy your day as usual and enjoy the aromas too. 

What Are the Best Essential Oils for Cough?

Using essential oils to help support wellness is a nice way to calm your mind with the fragrances you like most. Here are our top recommended essential oils to help support the immune system: 

• Eucalyptus Essential Oil

Eucalyptus essential oil is a common ingredient in over-the-counter medicines like the chest or vapor rubs you'd find at your local pharmacy. 

Eucalyptus has an antimicrobial effect that could help keep your immune system strong. 

There are several ways that eucalyptus oil can be used to help calm your cough, such as: 

• Rub on the throat or chest. Eucalyptus essential oil can be used as a chest rub. Simply add the essential oil to a carrier oil, then apply topically to the throat or chest. 
• Inhale through steam. Inhaling eucalyptus essential oils may help soothe your cough. Steam can potentially clear your airways and help relieve your throat and lungs. Add the essential oil to a pot of boiling water and inhale the steam once it begins to form above the pot. 

WOW Skin Science Tip: Always remember to dilute your essential oil with a carrier oil before applying it to your skin to avoid irritation. Common carrier oils include jojoba, coconut, or olive oil.

• Rosemary Essential Oil

Rosemary essential oil is similar to eucalyptus as they both have the compound cineole. Cineole could help break up mucus and help support your immune system. 

Rosemary oil is best when used in a diffuser as an aromatic treatment. If you don't want to purchase the diffuser, you can simply add a few drops to a pot of boiling water. 

• Peppermint Essential Oil

It's not uncommon to see other natural care respiratory products containing peppermint oil. The cool and minty aroma of peppermint essential oil can be refreshing.  

If your throat and airways feel exhausted or overused from excessive coughing, you could turn to peppermint essential oil for its potential cooling properties. 

• Frankincense Essential Oil

Frankincense smells earthy, a little spicy, and also a little sweet. Frankincense essential oil is commonly used to help support overall health. 

• Cinnamon Essential Oil

Cinnamon isn't just a tasty, homey spice. It can help support your wellness in essential oils. Simply add a few drops into your oil diffuser and enjoy the sweet, cozy scent.

Other Natural Remedies for a Cough

In addition to aromatherapy, look at these other wellness tips you can do while you rest up and recover. Some of the most effective natural remedies include:

• Tea and honey. Your sinus may feel swollen and tight. Drinking warm tea with honey could help support your immune system. 
  
  

• Plenty of fluids. It's easy to stop drinking water when you don't feel well. Staying hydrated can help maintain your wellness.
• Eat raw ginger. Raw ginger is a bold flavor. Eating ginger raw could help maintain your immune system. 

Trying to kick a lingering cough can be frustrating. Sometimes coughs are caused by allergies, and other times they're caused by illness or infection. While you're spending time recovering at home, turn to aromatherapy and essential oils to help maintain a sense of relaxation.