Essential oils are good for so many things. Including stuffy noses.

They really do make me feel better when my sinuses are plugged. That’s why essential oils are my “go to” remedy when allergy season hits.

Fortunately, my hay fever is relatively mild. I don’t take drugs. My symptoms aren’t so intense that I suffer a lot, at least compared to other people.

So all I need to use is a little bit of essential oil. Actually, I typically use two of my favorite essential oils together. For some reason, this combination seems to clear my stuffy nose fast. The effect lasts until at least the next day.

For me, essential oils work immediately. So there’s no need to buy OTC allergy medication or see my doctor for a prescription.

Everyone is different. I can’t claim or promise that you’ll enjoy the same type of relief as I do. But I think it’s good to share my own experience.

Since I’m not a doctor I can’t give medical advice. So I encourage you to work closely with your own healthcare provider.

Also, my hay fever is not complicated by asthma or anything else. If I did have asthma I wouldn’t use essential oils unless they were cleared with my doctor.

Essential Oils for Stuffy Noses

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Many other people besides myself use essential oils for allergy relief. At least judging by the number of nasal relief type blends on the market.

These are ready to use. Some need to be mixed with a carrier oil if you plan to put them on your skin. (In general, any essential oil that’s full strength needs an oil carrier base if you plan to use it on your body.)

Sometimes I mix my oils with a carrier and put a little under my nose. Other times I just put a drop or two on a cloth and leave it nearby. (This is my favorite way to use essential oils during allergy season.)

I like to do this when I’m working because essential oils also help me focus. They seem to clear my head as well as my nose.

Another way to use essential oils is to put them in a cold air diffuser. I own one of these and generally run it before company comes. It makes the house smell good without toxic chemicals.

Just, please, don’t make the mistake of ingesting essential oils. This should never be done without strict medical supervision. Some oils should never be ingested at all. This includes eucalyptus essential oil, a common ingredient in nasal relief blends.

If you don’t already own essential oils, a number of companies sell ready to use breathing blends. (Nearly every essential oil company sells them.) One company I can recommend is Edens Garden, which has a Breathe Easier Synergy Blend, which you can see below.

The Breathe Easier blend contains lemon, peppermint, eucalyptus and rosemary essential oils. It’s believed that using multiple oils together is more effective than single oils.

What Essential Oils Are Used To Clear Sinuses?

A number of essential oils are thought to be good for clearing the nasal passages. I am actually amazed at how well they work for me.

My two favorites are peppermint essential oil and eucalyptus essential oil. These are the two oils I put on a small cloth when I wake up in the morning, and it’s going to be a stuffy day.

Here’s what I do. One drop of peppermint essential oil and one drop of eucalyptus oil go on a small washcloth. Then I keep it by my computer, where I sit, drinking my morning coffee.

These oils also help with runny eyes too.

Actually, a few years ago a plumber came to my house on a warm summer morning. His allergies made him miserable. But this essential oil recipe really seemed to help.

Lavender essential oil is also said to be good for congestion. But it doesn’t seem to work for me. (However, it’s still one of my favorite essential oils because it has so many uses.)

Be aware that not all essential oils are safe for children under 10. (They shouldn’t be used at on children under 2.) However, Plant Therapy sells a special blend for young ones called Sniffle Stopper that contains only KidSafe essential oils. You can see below.

Can Essential Oils Help Stuffy Noses?

Those of us who use essential oils often are very attached to them. But do they really work? Is it our imagination? Or is it the placebo effect, where we think something will work, so, therefore, it does?

The good news is that science has proven that certain essential oils can help hay fever symptoms. One study that ran in the medical journal Evidence Based Complimentary Medicine found that inhaling essential oils helps relieve symptoms and helps improve the quality of life in people with seasonal allergies.

I should note that the oils studied were not peppermint and eucalyptus essential oils, the ones that I use.

But the results nonetheless are encouraging. You can read more about this study here.

Disclaimer

These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Pregnant women should not use natural remedies unless under medical direction.