Aromatherapy has undoubtedly been garnering a lot of attention recently as a holistic and alternative treatment to allopathic medicine. And for good reason. Whether you want to improve the health of your body, mind, or spirit, essential oils can help with that. Yes, even allergies!

In the U.S alone, approximately 7.7% of adults and 7.2% of children suffered from seasonal hay fever in 2018. Even with the staggering statistics, not many people are aware that essential oils have excellent healing properties and can be used as a possible remedy for treating allergies. 

Now that you know that you can use essential oils for allergies, let us take a look at some of the best essential oils and ways you can use them. Read below to find out. 

Table of contents:

• Best Essential Oils for Allergies
• Eucalyptus Oil
• Tea Tree Oil
• Peppermint Oil
• Lavender Oil
• Choosing the right essential oils for allergy
• Final Takeaway

Best Essential Oils for Allergies

Eucalyptus Oil

Eucalyptus oil is known to have anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and immunomodulatory properties. It contains an essential ingredient called eucalyptol, which produces a cooling sensation and provides instant relief to soothe seasonal allergies by improving airflow and blood circulation. 

According to an article published in Nature, eucalyptus essential oil inhibits the production of cells that are responsible for causing allergic symptoms such as chemokines, cytokines, etc, and hinders the degranulation of mast cells. 

The best way to use to relieve allergy symptoms is just to diffuse some eucalyptus oil around you and slowly inhale. Alternatively, you can also put a couple of drops of Eucalyptus oil on your pillow, under your pillowcase (so that it doesn’t directly touch your skin) before going to sleep.

Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is obtained from the leaves of the Australian tea tree. It also has known anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties and has the potential to destroy airborne microorganisms. 

A study conducted in 2006 suggests that tea tree oil can be used for treating nickel allergy. Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, undiluted tea tree oil can be used to reduce redness in people who have come in contact with nickel. Alternatively, applying diluted tea tree oil before coming in contact with the metal will inhibit the appearance of an allergic reaction.  

Additional research is required, though, to prove the efficacy of tea tree oil for the treatment of other allergies, such as seasonal allergies.

One of the best ways to use it to relieve allergy symptoms is to inhale or massage a few drops (diluted properly in a carrier oil) onto your skin. You can also directly inhale the aroma from the bottle for a few moments. However, take care not to swallow the essential oil! 

Peppermint Oil

Peppermint oil is known to reduce inflammation because of the presence of a cooling agent called menthol. Although the exact mechanism is unknown, it is believed that peppermint essential oil decreases itching and redness by activating k-opioid and other receptors. 

According to a research study, peppermint oil is safe to be used in pregnant women to treat itching, which is a common allergic symptom.

The best way to use this essential oil is to inhale it by diffusing it oil or combining it with another essential oil, such as lavender oil, to soothe allergy symptoms. This helps in opening up the blocked sinuses and relieving itchy throats. Peppermint oil also helps manage other respiratory conditions. 

Lavender Oil

Lavender oil has also been used as an anti-inflammatory agent to soothe the symptoms of different types of allergies, including seasonal allergies. 

Quite a few studies have been conducted to test the effect of lavender essential oil on allergies. According to one study, this essential oil oil inhibits mast cell degranulation and histamine release in mice and rats. Since degranulation and histamine release are responsible for allergic symptoms, lavender oil might help prevent certain allergic reactions.

Another study performed on rats suggests that inhalation of this oil can help in reducing allergic airway inflammation that usually follows after an asthma attack. 

You can simply put a few drops of lavender oil in a diffuser and inhale the aroma for a few minutes. 

Choosing the right essential oils for allergy

Essential oils do have a plethora of benefits, however, there are certain precautions you should take for best results. Read below to find out. 

• Always do a patch test: Many essential oils can cause contact dermatitis so it is best to do a patch test. Even if you do not have sensitive skin, make sure to use a drop of the essential oil on your arm to determine if you are allergic to the essential oil. If there is no irritation, redness, or swelling, you are good to go.  
• Dilute the oil: Even after a patch test, it is a good practice to dilute essential oils in a carrier oil before applying them topically.
• Check the quality and purity: Be sure to pick an essential oil that is pure. 
• Do not ingest: While you can add certain essential oils to your foods (sparingly!), essential oils should typically only be inhaled, not ingested. 

Final Takeaway

A lot of essential oils have beneficial effects such as anti-inflammatory properties which makes them perfect for remedying allergies, seasonal or otherwise. However, you need to make sure that you are taking the above-mentioned precautions to get the best out of aromatherapy. 

You can browse through our website to discover a wide range of essential oils that can be used to relieve the symptoms of seasonal allergies. Besides the essential oils that we’ve already talked about, to treat the symptoms of allergies you can also use:

WOW Breathe Easy Essential Oil Blend

Simply diffuse a few drops of this oil. It contains healing compounds and it is useful for treating cold, cough, allergies, and other respiratory conditions. It has a soothing effect that opens up the breathing passages to relax your body.

WOW Cold Soother Essential Oil Blend

If you are looking for a powerful blend of essential oils including eucalyptus, peppermint, tea tree oil, and others to relieve cold and soothe symptoms of sore throat, congestion, then Cold Soother Essential Oil Blend is the perfect solution for you. You can diffuse it or use it for a DIY cold-soothing solution that you can spray around your home.