There’s no worse feeling than when you’re sitting at your desk and you start to feel a bit lightheaded, a bit warm and feel that familiar tickle in your throat. As much as you want to think it might just be dry air or fatigue, you know in your heart of hearts that a cold is coming on.
While modern science has made astonishing strides, it has never found a cure for the common cold and probably never will. There are basic tips that are always advisable: drink a lot of fluids, rest and eat nutritious foods. I really like using essential oils when I’m suffering from a cold. Not only do they alleviate symptoms, but they do so in an all-natural way.
Here are the essential oils that I swear by when battling a common cold. They won’t zap your cold overnight, but they will alleviate your symptoms and give you an improved feeling of wellness.
Tea Tree Essential Oil
If you’re into essential oils, then you probably associate tea tree oil with treating acne and blemishes. That’s because it’s one of the best all-natural antibacterial oils in existence. Acne sufferers love the way a tiny drop of tea tree oil can eradicate a pimple in a short amount of time.
The same way tea tree oil eradicates acne is the same way that it soothes cold symptoms. Its antibacterial properties help to clean out the nasal passages and throat. Its sharp and almost minty aroma are also incredibly soothing. I love to put a few drops into a steaming bowl of hot water and then breathe deeply when I’m sick, along with some of my other favorite illness-fighting oils.
Peppermint Essential Oil
To me, peppermint will always be the granddaddy of essential oils. When I have a hectic schedule, I love dabbing a little on my wrist and taking a whiff whenever I feel stressed. It instantly soothes me and relieves my stress.
Peppermint oil is potent. If your nose is stuffed up, breathing in peppermint oil can help to unblock nasal passages. It’s a great addition to any essential oil steam. If your cold is giving you a tension headache, the peppermint oil will also help to relieve that as well.
Lemon Essential Oil
Did your mother ever insist that you drink cup after cup of orange juice when you were sick as a child? That’s because all citrus fruits are rich in immune-boosting vitamin C. This is why I love to add lemon essential oil to a bath or steaming pot when I’m sick. Not only is its fresh aroma absolutely soothing, but it gives my steam a little added boost of vitamin C.
Eucalyptus Essential Oil
I adore the smell of eucalyptus. It reminds me of being at a luxurious spa. Much like peppermint oil, it has a potent aroma and acts as a decongestant. If you really want to clear your nasal passages, try adding peppermint, eucalyptus and tea tree oil to a bowl of piping hot water and breath in deeply. You’ll be amazed at how much clearer you’ll feel and how much better you can breathe.
Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender oil does have an antimicrobial property, but that’s not even the main reason why I love it so much when I’m sick. Remember how I said that rest was the best medicine for the common cold? Lavender is the best aromatherapy for anyone trying to fall asleep. I love to add a few drops to my diffuser, set it on my nightstand and peacefully drift off to sleep. No matter how bad my cold symptoms are, I find that lavender really helps me to fall asleep.
When it comes to fighting a cold the natural way, I love to boost the effects of my essential oils with clean eating and great nutrition, namely fresh and organic produce blended into smoothies or juiced, in addition to lots of quality teas. When you combine these natural solutions with a lot of rest and relaxation, colds are speedily eliminated.
About the Author: Sally Wong is a writer and natural health expert. As a Chinese-Canadian immigrant, Sally was inspired by her mother’s therapeutic massage practice in their hometown. She is a practitioner of yoga and Tai Chi. Sally is passionate about holistic medicine as a natural solution for basic issues and symptoms.
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