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6 DIY Essential Oil Recipes for Respiration: Breathe Easy
Just Breathe with Essential Oils
Essential oils contain active ingredients that can help aid and strengthen the immune system and respiratory tract. Essential oils such as lavender, eucalyptus, ginger, myrrh, peppermint, thyme, clove bud, rosemary, bergamot and lemon exhibit antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antibacterial actions that may help decongest the sinus, opening the airways of respiration, tending to sore muscles and headaches. You can learn more about the healing essential oils benefits for respiration here. For this blog-post, we will share our top tips and tricks for healthy respiration, consider this a useful guide for the cold and flu season.
Essential Oil Recipes for Healthy Respiration
1. Just Breathe Diffuser Blend
This diffuser blend recipe is refreshing and relaxing for the senses. Eucalyptus contains the active compound known as eucalyptol, which exhibits antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that may help fight infections. Additionally, lemon essential oil is known to boost immunity by stimulating the production of white blood cells, while lavender exhibits antibacterial properties that may help strengthen immunity.
Ingredients:
- 2 drops eucalyptus essential oil
- 2 drops lavender essential oil
- 1 drop myrrh essential oil
- 1 drop lemon essential oil
2. Relax and Breathe Easy Diffuser Blend
Peppermint essential oil is a renowned ally for respiratory congestion. It exhibits anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, anti-septic, anti-microbial and anti-infectious properties that may help decongest the respiratory tract, ease sore muscles triggered by colds or flus, while stimulating the nervous system. Additionally, antibacterial actions of thyme and lavender can further synergise this simple remedy for a congested sinus.
Ingredients:
- 2 drops lavender essential oil
- 2 drops peppermint essential oil
- 2 drops thyme essential oil
3. Peppermint Delights Facial Steam
Facial steams are popular folk practices used to relieve nasal congestion. Nasal congestion, colds, flus and allergic reactions may trigger headaches and soreness. This recipe uses the refreshing and stimulating scents of peppermint and eucalyptus, alongside anti-microbial tea tree and frankincense to relieve headaches caused by a congested sinus, alongside loosing the mucus along the respiratory tract.
Ingredients:
- 2 drops peppermint essential oil
- 1 drop eucalyptus essential oil
- 1 drop tea tree essential oil
- 1 drop frankincense essential oil
4. Refresh Your Senses Facial Steam
This simple facial steam recipe is stimulating, revitalising and restoring. Not only will it help to decongest the sinus, it may also energise the senses and help strengthen the immunity.
Ingredients:
- 2 drops lemon essential oil
- 1 drop thyme essential oil
- 2 drops eucalyptus essential oil
5. Simply Breathe - Oil Rub
This essential oil recipe for respiration is a useful preparation to have ready in your medicine cabinet for when you feel your sinus is congested. Rather than having a cooling effect like the above-mentioned recipes, this oil rub is stimulating, warming and grounding.
Ingredients:
- 2 drop ginger essential oil
- 1 drop clove bud essential oil
- 2 drops lemon essential oil
- 1 drop cedarwood essential oil
- 30 ml sweet almond oil, grapeseed, olive or jojoba oil
Directions for use: Massage the oil across your chest, throat and forehead.
Begin at the top of your head. Massage your temples and forehead from the inner to the outer parts of the face. Once you've reached your throat, gently stoke your fingers downwards, towards the direction of your collar bones and heart. On the chest, begin by tapping the local area to stimulate the lymph nodes and blood flow. You can alternate between gentle, repetitive tapping, to deep and upward strokes. Breathe deeply, and repeat for as long as needed.
6. Just Breathe Bath Salts
Enjoy this bath salt recipe for when you feel your muscles are tense from an incoming cold or flu. This bath soak will tend to sore muscles, relax the nervous system, while decongesting the airways of the respiratory tract.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup epsom salt, sea salt or pink himalayan salt
- 1 tbsp carrier oil of choice (sweet almond, jojoba, grapeseed oil)
- 2 drops eucalyptus essential oil
- 2 drops rosemary essential oil
- 3 drops ginger essential oil
- 3 drops pine essential oil
Safe use
Always dilute essential oils in a carrier oil before applying them to the skin, and never apply them neat. Keep oils well away from the eyes, and take care during facial steams as the water and steam are hot. Patch test before use if your skin is sensitive, and keep all oils out of reach of children and pets. Take particular care, and seek advice from a qualified practitioner, if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or have any existing health condition.
FAQs
Which essential oils are popular for the cold and flu season?
Eucalyptus, peppermint, lemon, thyme, pine, ginger and lavender are firm favourites, thanks to their fresh, clearing aromas. The recipes above combine them in diffuser blends, facial steams, an oil rub and a bath soak.
How do I use a diffuser blend?
Add the listed drops to the water reservoir of an aromatherapy diffuser and let it disperse the aroma through the room. Start with a small number of drops and adjust to your preference.
Is a facial steam suitable for everyone?
Take care, as the steam is hot. Keep a comfortable distance from the water, close your eyes, and avoid facial steams if you find heat uncomfortable or have sensitive skin. Stop if you feel any irritation.
Can I apply the oil rub directly to my skin?
Only as written, blended into a carrier oil at the dilution given in the recipe. Never apply essential oils neat, and patch test first if your skin is sensitive.
How should I store these blends?
Keep finished blends in a labelled, dark glass bottle in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight, and out of reach of children and pets.