8 Best Essential Oils to Fight Against Allergies

Allergies can be a painful, uncomfortable, and sometimes debilitating experience to deal with. Essential oils provide an effective, natural way to help manage the symptoms of allergies without needing over-the-counter medications.

Essential oils are derived from plants and can be used in various ways to relieve inflammation, congestion, and other allergy symptoms. By using essential oils, you can find relief from allergies without having to worry about side effects or interactions with other medications.

Essential oils are versatile and can be used in aromatherapy, massage, steam inhalation, and topical applications. Whether you are dealing with seasonal or year-round allergies, essential oils can relieve symptoms and help you lead a healthier, more comfortable life.

What is an Allergy?

Allergies are abnormal immune system overreactions caused by contact with the body’s usual foreign substances. A substance that triggers an immune response is called an antigen, and it is also called an allergen in the case of an allergy.

Allergies are a way for our bodies to protect themselves. When allergens come into our body and contact the immune system, the body may think the allergen is a threat. This will trigger the white blood cells to release histamine to protect the body from further attacks.

Many factors cause allergic reactions. Common allergy types include seasonal allergies, skin allergies, and food allergies. Allergies can cause sneezing, runny nose, tearing, vomiting, nausea, headaches, impaired vision, dizziness, shortness of breath, or even breathlessness.

What are the Most Common Causes of Allergies?

Environment-Due to modern industry, we live in a more polluted environment than before. Pollution can affect the body and cause respiratory allergies.

Habitat- As the population grows, our families get smaller and smaller and stay away from nature. Most materials that make up our furniture and decoration are no longer natural.

The food, medicine, and consumer, product-The composition of our diet have changed a lot. We eat less natural and more industrial and refined foods containing flavor enhancers, dyes, preservatives, etc.

These are not always suitable for our bodies. Drugs and daily necessities such as soaps or creams may also contain sensitizing substances unsuitable for our skin.

Heredity- Children with allergic parents are more likely to have allergies.

Why Can Essential Oils Help Fight Against Allergies?

Essential oils are natural substances made in specialized cells of aromatic plants. Some are known for their antiallergic properties, such as tarragon essential oil or Roman chamomile. Essential oils are also known to strengthen the body’s resistance and immunity and thus restore the body’s physiological self-defense functions.

Essential oils are a natural, cheap, safe way to remove allergy symptoms. They can effectively help our bodies improve their ability to overcome allergies. This article discusses how to use essential oils to quickly eliminate allergies.

Most Common Types of Allergy

1. Seasonal Allergies

Every spring, thousands of people suffer from seasonal allergies. More and more people suffer from rhinitis, asthma, eczema, and urticaria. Symptoms of Seasonal Allergies include:

• A clogged nose or a runny nose
• Throat scratching, itchy palate, sneezing
• Watery eyes, puffy eyes
• Difficulty breathing, dry cough
• Skin problems (small scratchy pimples)
• Some people may have severe allergy symptoms that viruses, hormonal changes, and stress can amplify.
• If the allergy is not treated in time, aggravations such as chronic allergy and repetitive headaches can be noted.
• Stomachaches and vomiting may also be due to the ingestion of pollen.

2. Food Allergies

Food allergies are dangerous allergic reactions to foods or additives. It is estimated that about one-quarter of people are allergic to food throughout their lifetime, especially in early childhood.

The causes of food allergies are the over-reaction of the body’s immune system. When your body feels that certain foods may be harmful, it can easily trigger an immune system reaction to protect itself.

Symptoms of Food Allergy

• Hives or rash
• Swelling and itchy on the face, mouth, lip, throat, or tongue
• Vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, and abdominal cramps
• Dizziness, confusion, fainting, pale appearance, and blue-tinged lips
• Coughing, wheezing, trouble swallowing, hoarseness, tightening of the throat, and shortness of breath

3. Skin Allergies

Many reasons, such as poison ivy, bug bites, chemical products, and some foods, can lead to an allergic reaction on the skin.

The common symptoms of skin Allergies are itching, redness, burning sensation, and swelling. These symptoms may go away on their own in 1-2 weeks without treatment. However, The itches from skin Allergies can be very uncomfortable. Eczema and hives are the two most common skin rashes associated with allergies.

8 Best Essential Oils to fight against allergies

1. Peppermint Oil

Peppermint oil is the best essential oil for skin rash treatment. It has anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, analgesic, and cooling properties which can help relieve the itching and discomfort on the skin. Moreover, It can help get rid of some digestive and respiratory problems. With this essential oil, you can breathe, feel relieved and live easily.

It is a pain reliever, an antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and it works well for many skin conditions that cause itching and discomfort. Peppermint oil also works for varicose veins, ringworm, and irritations caused by poison ivy or poison oak.

• Place peppermint essential oil on your neck when you wake up.
• Make sure that your skin will not be irritated in the process. Only place it on a small patch of your skin beforehand. You can place it again at night or when you are undergoing an allergic reaction.
• You can also use peppermint oil and carrier oil near your nostrils. This will effectively provide instant relief, especially if you have trouble breathing.
• You can also add some drops of peppermint oil to the bathtub filled with water. Soak yourself for 1-2 hours before you go to bed.

2. Eucalyptus Oil

Eucalyptus oil is another beneficial essential oil for food allergies. It contains citronellal with anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties that can be used as an expectorant to clean toxins in the respiratory tract.

Eucalyptus oil can help decongest the nasal cavity and improves breathing. It can also calm the pressure exerted by the inflammation of the sinuses. In addition, It is a natural expectorant with a delightful and invigorating smell.

• Mix eucalyptus with any carrier oil. Make sure that you will mix thoroughly. Do not use eucalyptus alone since this can irritate parts of your skin.
• Place on the neck, chest, and back area and wait for your allergy symptoms to diminish.
• If you want to place it directly on your skin, you can also inhale eucalyptus oil if you put it in boiling water.
• Breathe in the steam but make sure to do this in moderation.
• Alternatively, you can apply 1–2 drops of Eucalyptus oil directly to your temples; this can help eliminate food allergies.

3. Lemon Oil

Lemon Essential Oil can help reduce the symptoms of allergic rhinitis. It can help calm coughs and reduce nasal mucus. It can also help the body eliminate toxins and reduce the inflammatory response to allergens. It is an antiseptic and a bactericide. It also has an anti-stress effect and positively affects mood.

• Mix lavender essential oil(Lavandula angustifolia) with peppermint oil and lavender oil.
• Gargle the essential oils on the base of the mouth before swallowing.
• Do this whenever you have an allergic reaction.
• You can also place lemon oil topically if you have carrier oil to mix before rubbing it on your neck, nostril area, and back.

Note: This oil is not recommended for pregnant women, breastfeeding, and children under seven years. In addition, it should not be used by people undergoing anticoagulant therapy, surgery, and hemophiliacs because it is a blood thinner. It is also photosensitizing.

4. Lavender Oil

Lavender has natural antihistamine properties that are very helpful for your allergic reaction. It can also have a calming and soothing effect on your body. You can use it at night since it can help you sleep better.

• Apply a few drops of lavender oil on your forehead, sinuses, and even your cheeks to stop possible inflammation because of allergies.
• You can also diffuse lavender oil. Again, make sure that you will do it before you go to sleep at night.
• One tip to remember is if you need to bring it with you when you go out, you can place a cotton ball dipped in lavender oil and place it in a Ziploc.

5. Frankincense Oil

Frankincense has a lot of medical benefits that can be very helpful for allergies. Aside from that, it can also be beneficial to treat cuts and burns.

• Mix frankincense oil with a carrier oil, which can be placed on the neck, back, and chest.
• Wait for the effect to take place.
• You can do this every time you have hard breathing.

6. Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is another effective method to eliminate skin rashes and hives. The tea tree oil’s antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial properties can help kill bacteria, molds, and fungi in the house’s atmosphere. It can reduce bronchial congestion, relieves mucus, and calm coughs.

Applying on the skin diluted in vegetable oil calms atopic dermatitis and allergic eczema. In addition, Tea tree oil also can be used to treat ringworm, acne, toenail fungus, and other skin problems.

• Dilute 2–3 drops of tea tree oil with coconut oil first.
• Soak a cotton ball in the oil and apply it to the affected area.
• You can also apply it to the liver area; this can help the liver to flush out toxins.

7. Geranium Oil

Geranium oil can help soothe itches from skin allergies, especially bug bites. It has anti-inflammatory properties that can relieve inflamed skin and boost the regeneration of new cells.

• Add 2–3 drops of Geranium oil to a cotton ball.
• Apply it to the affected area.
• Repeat this process 2-3 times every day.

8. Chamomile Oil

Chamomile can help the airways, relieves headaches, and acts against bacterial infections. It can also help reduce the swelling and itching associated with eczema. Chamomile oil is an effective anti-inflammatory that can treat sinusitis and inflammation of the mucous membranes.

Final Words

• Even though essential oils are natural compounds, you should use them carefully and try to choose organic oil.
• Never apply it directly to the skin; dilute it in vegetable oils.
• Pregnant women and young children should not use essential oils.
• You’d better seek advice from a specialist before using essential oils, especially if you suffer from allergies.