breathe freely with aromatherapy & Learn how essential oils can help relieve symptoms of colds & bronchitis

We've successfully navigated through summer and now find ourselves in a new season—Autumn. While fall can be stunning with its vibrant colors and refreshing cool mornings that provide relief for allergy sufferers, it also marks the onset of the cold season.

Maintaining a strong immune system, eating a balanced diet, washing your hands, and avoiding touching your eyes and nose with your hands are effective strategies to prevent illness. However, what steps should you take when you start to feel the symptoms of a cold? In this blog, I will focus on bronchitis, whether acute or chronic. Many individuals, myself included, find that once they catch a cold, it often settles in the lungs, leading to difficulty in breathing and clearing phlegm.

A common cold is a mild viral infection affecting the upper respiratory tract, from the nose to the upper trachea. Symptoms can include fatigue, burning eyes, sneezing, runny nose, coughing, nasal congestion, and sore throat. At the onset of a cold, it's crucial to recognize these symptoms and take steps to prevent them from worsening. Staying home, resting, and consuming plenty of warm fluids like chicken noodle soup or tea while keeping warm can be beneficial.

Over the years, I've found that gargling with warm salty water before bed, avoiding sweets (as they can aid the cold virus and bacteria), taking vitamin C, Echinacea, and drinking teas with Ginseng and zinc help. When my throat is sore, a teaspoon of honey provides relief. However, sometimes a cold can cause inflammation in the bronchial tubes, making breathing difficult and coughing painful. In my case, colds tend to linger because I struggle to expel phlegm due to lung inflammation. I often need to use Symbicort, a medicated inhaler often used for asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease like COPD. It's important to note that the remedy I'm about to share worked for me, but it may not necessarily work for you. Always consult your physician to ensure this remedy won't interact with your current treatments or worsen your condition.

The blend I developed has kept my colds from escalating into full-blown bronchitis. I noticed I used Symbicort less frequently and eventually stopped needing it altogether. It took some time for my body to adapt, but each time I caught a cold, its severity decreased, and I was able to recover more quickly.

Let's discuss the essential oils I incorporated into my blend and the reasons for their effectiveness.

Eucalyptus globulus contains 1,8-cineole, a key component known for its decongestant and expectorant effects, as well as its antiviral, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and analgesic properties. Due to its high 1,8-cineole content, it is recommended not to use this essential oil for children under 3 years old. According to Robert Tisserand, it can be safely used in a diffuser but should not be applied topically. For children aged 3 to 6 years, a dermal dilution of 1% or lower is advised.

Cedarwood Virginian, Juniperus virginiana, is an essential oil that is excellent for bronchitis, coughs, and decongesting the lymphatic system. It aids in respiratory health, relieves stress, and acts as an expectorant to help remove phlegm.

Cypress, Cupressus sempervirens, contains a high concentration of monoterpenes, which have a drying effect on the mucous membranes. This essential oil is excellent for chronic bronchitis, coughing, and asthma due to its antitussive, antispasmodic, and decongestant properties, making it an ideal choice for this blend.

Rosemary, Salvia rosmarinus of the Camphor chemotype, is an essential oil known for its analgesic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antitussive, antiviral, decongestant, expectorant, and mucolytic properties (it helps break down mucus). These qualities make it particularly suitable for relieving coughs, lung congestion, and sinusitis, while also providing a warming effect.

It is important to be aware that certain essential oils can be stimulating and may provoke an epileptic seizure in certain individuals. Both rosemary ct camphor and verbenone have the potential to cause convulsions, so you should consult your doctor before using rosemary if you are at risk.

Note: If you have asthma, I would recommend using only a 1% or less of this blend as it may trigger an attack. Always consult with your doctor.

How to use this blend?

Use the blend by massaging on your chest and throat area whenever you experience breathing difficulties or have a persistent cough and then inhale it from your hands as shown in my video. For children under 3 years old, diffusing these oils is the safest option. For those aged 3 to 6 years, if applying to the skin, ensure the dilution is 1% or less. This means adding 2 drops to a 10 ml bottle of your chosen carrier oil. Never apply the essential oil directly to your skin, as it is highly concentrated and may cause sensitization. Additionally, for children aged 3 to 6 years, apply to the chest only and avoid the throat—keep it away from their face.

Additionally, these blends are intended for short-term use. For instance, if I catch a cold, I would apply the blend until I begin to feel better, after which I would discontinue its use.

Which carrier oil did I used?

In this blend, I incorporated grapeseed oil (Vitis vinifera) due to its anti-inflammatory properties and its ability to absorb quickly without leaving a greasy residue on your skin.

I find this blend incredibly relaxing and comforting, especially when experiencing difficulty breathing due to a cold or chronic airway inflammation. Whenever I sense the start of a cold, this is my preferred blend, and I apply it before bed and upon waking. If you're dealing with a cold, it's advised to use it three times a day. A dilution of 1% to 3% is suggested. Always keep in mind the Aromatherapist's principle: "Less is More."

Additionally, you can use an inhaler to help with breathing between applications, as shown in my video. In my inhaler, I included a few drops of Eucalyptus, Patchouli, and Pine Needles, which are excellent for clearing the sinuses.

So breathe easy and make the most of the fall season while staying healthy and safe by using aromatherapy for relieving symptoms of colds and bronchitis.

Essential oils are generally safe, but there are exceptions. This is why it is important to collaborate with an aromatherapist, as they have received extensive training and are aware of potential risks. An initial consultation to review your medical history and address your concerns is very important.

A cozy aromatherapy setup featuring a teapot, essential oil spray, and herbal inhaler, surrounded by autumn leaves, designed to relieve bronchitis and congestion symptoms.