We will not talk for a long time about the unpleasant symptoms of a cold, because each of us felt a stuffy nose and suffered from rhinorrhea. In the treatment of a common cold, medications and folk remedies can be used. If you do not pay attention to the disease in time, the risk of complications increases. In this regard, it is not recommended to be negligent about your health and let the course of the disease take its course. The complex of therapeutic measures increasingly includes essential oil for the common cold. What is its use and how to use it?
The benefits of aromatherapy include harmlessness, minimal risk of adverse reactions, the natural composition of the drug, and the ability to carry out procedures in children. The effect of aromatic oils is:
- enhancing immune defenses;
- inhibition of growth, reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms;
- stabilization of the psycho-emotional state.
The most useful essential oils include lemon, sea buckthorn, camphor, rosemary, eucalyptus, pine, lavender, mint, thyme, and tea tree oil. They are widely used for inhalation, baths, massage, rinsing and rubbing.
Properties of essential oils
For colds, in addition to drugs, essential drugs are widely used. Which medicine to choose?
| Oil type | Action | Recipe |
|---|---|---|
| Camphor | The antiseptic effect allows you to eliminate infectious pathogens. Contraindicated in epilepsy, severe cardiovascular disease. | Used for aromatherapy and inhalation. 5 ml of olive, camphor, and propolis tincture must be mixed. Drip three drops into the nose twice a day |
| Fir | Anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, decongestant, vasoconstrictor action. Has a pungent odor, is contraindicated in children, pregnant women, during lactation, is not compatible with alcohol. | Two drops of fir are dissolved in 15 ml of olive oil. Drip into the nose, drop by drop twice a day |
| Thuja | Increases immune protection, has a vasoconstrictor effect | It is necessary to drip into the nose undiluted, 2 drops three times a day. Shown for aromatherapy use. To prepare a means for washing the nose, pour 5 g of a mixture of chamomile and sage with 80 ml boiling water and leave for a quarter of an hour. Then add 10 drops of oil. |
| Pine | Anti-inflammatory, antibacterial action, reduces the viscosity of the secretion | Most effective when inhaled. Just add two drops to 290 ml hot water |
| Garlic | Antiseptic, immunomodulatory action | Chop the garlic, pour 70% into a small container and pour vegetable oil to the brim. The medicine should stand in a dark place for 2 weeks, remembering to shake the container. After that, you need to filter the product. Dripping two drops three times a day |
| Sea buckthorn | Stimulates tissue regeneration, reduces hypersecretion, has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-edema effect | Bury your nose two drops three times |
| Tea tree | Antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-edema effect, reduces rhinorrhea, calms the nervous system | You can lubricate the area of the wings of the nose, under the nose. It is also recommended to add two drops to 240 ml hot water and inhale the healing vapors. For prevention, you can use the product in an aroma lamp |
| Eucalyptus | Antiviral, disinfectant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory effect, reduces the viscosity of sputum | We mix 5 g of sea salt, two drops of oil, 10 ml of chlorophyllipt solution (alcohol), and 15 ml of warm water. The solution is used to rinse the nose. You can drip your nose with a mixture of equal amounts of eucalyptus oil, mint and boiled water. To prepare another remedy, you need 15 g of petroleum jelly, six drops of eucalyptus and two drops of peppermint oil. First, melt the petroleum jelly, then mix with the rest of the ingredients. Lubricate the wing area of the nose |
| Lemon | Antiseptic, immunomodulatory action | Just drip on a handkerchief and inhale the aromas |
| Rosemary | Powerful bactericidal action | The combination of rosemary, lemon, and eucalyptus can quickly get rid of rhinitis |
| Lavender | Fortifying, antiseptic effect | Add two drops of lavender oil, eucalyptus oil, and tea tree oil to 800 ml hot water |
| Thyme | Antimicrobial action. Used with caution in hypertension | In a liter of hot water, add six drops of 10 drops of eucalyptus, two drops of oregano, five drops of lavender, and thyme |
| Mint | Antiseptic, sedative, anti-inflammatory effect. Can cause bronchospasm and allergic reactions if used improperly | Two drops of mint, eucalyptus, and tea tree are added to hot water (900 ml) |
Healthy recipes
In case of allergic predisposition, diathesis or bronchial asthma, the use of essential oils is allowed only after consulting a doctor.
In case of allergic predisposition, diathesis or bronchial asthma, the use of essential oils is allowed only after consulting a doctor.With rhinitis, essential agents enhance the effect of drugs, strengthen the protection of the nasal mucosa and the immune system in general. Here are some recipes that are used for the common cold:
- for inhalation, combine two drops of mint, eucalyptus, and tea tree;
- inhalation is carried out with a mixture of eucalyptus, lavender, and rosemary, taken in two drops;
- inhalation with an aroma lamp.
To prepare a healing mixture, add four drops of geranium, mint, eucalyptus, and two drops of pine oil to 30 ml of olive oil. A different recipe is also recommended: you should mix a drop of geranium, pine, rosemary, eucalyptus oils, as well as 50 ml of olive oil. In addition, in case of a runny nose, it is recommended to massage the active points.
Therapy in children
In the treatment of colds, essential oils for the common cold for children may be prescribed. It is not worth experimenting with a child, therefore essential oils are used with extreme caution, starting with a minimum dose. It is quite difficult for a child to drip in a nose, so it is necessary to use other methods of treatment, for example:
- hot inhalation can be carried out by adding essential oil (two drops) to 300 ml of hot water;
- you can drop the essential agent on a handkerchief and put it on a pillow near the child;
- Napkins can be soaked in mint or lavender oils and spread around the room. It is especially important to put it near a heat source;
- after foaming a baby bathing product, add two drops of eucalyptus, mint, and four drops of cypress oil. The mixture dissolves in water in the bath and the baby is bathed.
Inhalation allows not only to eliminate the unpleasant symptoms of a cold, but to calm the child and make it easier to fall asleep. Sleep after inhalation is stronger and more prolonged. For treatment, myrtle, pine, eucalyptus and tea tree oil can be used.
Warming procedures, including hot inhalation, are prohibited in case of hyperthermia above 37.3 degrees.
After hot inhalation, it is not recommended to go outside or be in a draft.
Precautionary measures
In order for essential drugs to bring only benefits, it is necessary to follow some rules:
- an allergy test is required before use. To do this, just drop the product on a napkin and inhale once. If dizziness or headache occurs, it is better to refuse to use it.You can also drop the agent on the back of the wrist, and after a day assess the condition of the skin. The presence of an allergic reaction is indicated by hyperemia, itching, swelling of the skin and rashes. During the day, it is forbidden to comb or wet the area with the "allergen" applied;
- if it is planned to apply an essential agent to the mucous membranes, its dilution is required;
- for children under one year old, pregnant women, as well as during lactation, ether procedures are not recommended.
Essential inhalation is a good way to get rid of a cold. However, it is not always possible to completely cure the disease using only aromatherapy. It is most effective to combine inhalation with medicinal drops and warming procedures.
If there is no improvement in the condition within three days, a doctor's consultation is required.
