How to Help Relieve Allergy Symptoms Using Essential Oils

Let’s tackle how to combat allergies of all kinds with natural remedies, lifestyle changes, and, of course, essential oils for allergy symptom relief! With the ever-changing pollen season, many people battle allergies nearly year-round. If you’re one of them, you know that allergies come in many shapes and forms and can hit at any given time.

At its core, they are just another manifestation of inflammatory illness – a plague on our generation – and there are a variety of ways to use essential oils for allergies. Whether you’re looking for how to use essential oils for food allergies or an allergy EO recipe to relieve symptoms, this report can help.

Best Essential Oils for Allergies

The term “allergies” covers a broad range of issues, which means you won’t find just one treatment or preventative measure to match it. Many claim that these four essential oils for allergies are the best:

• Lavender (used to calm the system)
• Peppermint (used to open up the sinuses)
• Lemon (used to cleanse the body)
• Cannabis (used to reduce inflammation and autoimmune reactions)

Quick applications of essential oils for allergies recipes:

1. Many people have benefited from ingesting 1 drop of each oil in a gel capsule filled with olive oil and/or diffusing a blend. Don’t exceed one time per day for more than 7 days.
2. Be sure to try my Essential Oils for Allergies Roll-On recipe for instant support!
3. Inhalation works very well to ease breathing as well. Try using a blend of these oils in a personal inhaler.

The scientific literature hasn’t validated these approaches and there aren’t any endorsed essential oils for allergies or an allergy remedy, per se. But when we look closely at manifestations of allergies, we can easily find remedies that might help bring relief.

There are many kinds of allergies, and you might have a combination of them or just one. To generalize the main ways allergies show themselves, you might have the following list:

• Seasonal (Respiratory)
• Skin
• Food

Other factors might be whether the allergy symptoms are topical, like hives, or systemic and chronic, which must be considered before you start using essential oils for allergies…

Using Essential Oils for Seasonal Allergies

For the sake of categorization, we’ll mostly discuss nasal allergies – congestion, sneezing, runny or stuffy nose – here. Technically, asthma is a key component of respiratory conditions and carries plenty of nuances in cause and treatment. But, like food allergies, asthma can be life-threatening since adverse reactions can make breathing difficult. Aside from good diet and lifestyle habits to help alleviate the symptoms, DIY treatments are inadvisable, especially outside of the care of a skilled physician.

With that out of the way, nasal and respiratory allergies are the most common forms of allergies and are the cause of that dreaded seasonal attack. This kind of respiratory reaction occurs when the body targets something inhaled as if it were a virus. Common allergy triggers, for example, are pollen or pet dander. The resulting inflammatory response is not unlike the common symptoms of a cold when the body is attacking actual invaders.

Unlike the other allergies we’ve discussed here, nasal and respiratory allergens are not easy to avoid since most of them are airborne and pervasive. Instead, the focus for remedies and medical treatments usually lies in controlling the symptoms of allergies.

Essential oils are best inhaled for respiratory symptoms, allowing them to move through the airways to help clear the passageways. Will they work even if you have a runny nose? Yes.

• Diffusing lavender essential oil is a standout choice, not only helping to suppress symptoms and clear the airway but also to modify the immune response. (2)

You might also consider minimizing airborne pathogens and chemical pollutants by changing the kinds of cleaners you use in your home. Indoor air pollution via conventional cleaners can be a major aggravator for allergies and asthma. (3) Switching to DIY, all-natural products for cleaning can protect your family’s airways while keeping your home fresh.

Using Essential Oils for Skin Allergies

Allergic reactions that appear topically carry their own sets of variables, from severe reactions to merely itchy skin, depending on the cause. You might even react externally to something you consume.

Allergies that manifest on the skin can be itchy or painful, cause swelling and redness, sensitive skin, and other unpleasant symptoms. Once you’ve identified the allergen, the reaction typically subsides when you avoid the trigger. If it’s something you really need relief from, though, there are things you can do to ease the immediate reaction and allergic response. WebMD’s remedies include (1):

• Cooling it down
• Soaking it in a soothing substance
• Using an anti-itch cream via topical application

Making a compress of something like ground oats, it suggests, can help to soothe the inflammation and itching from allergic contact dermatitis, bringing natural allergy relief.

• Natural Remedy Application: Essential oils that are cooling and have anti-inflammatory properties can be helpful for relieving symptoms of an allergic reaction on the skin. If you know you’re not allergic to any of them, some options to dilute into a carrier oil include frankincense, lavender, and peppermint essential oils.
• A strong anti-inflammatory carrier oil like calendula-infused coconut oil is suggested, though calendula may be a problem if you have a ragweed allergy, as they share the same family!

Using Essential Oils for Food Allergies

When it comes to essential oils and food allergies, we have to keep in mind that some of the most dangerous allergic reactions come with a food allergy. The anaphylactic response to a peanut allergy is the hallmark in our minds as a medical condition that puts allergic individuals at serious risk. Sometimes, a severe reaction can be triggered by as little as cross-contamination exposure to peanuts.

Food allergies can be a reaction to one or many foods or additives, and the reactions are just as varied. A true food allergy involves the immune system – as all allergic reactions are an over-response from the immune system – and, according to Johns Hopkins, will include symptoms like these (4):

• hives (localized or widespread)
• swelling (lips, tongue, face)
• nausea, discomfort, vomiting, stomach pain
• shortness of breath, cough, wheezing
• pale appearance, fainting, weak pulse, dizziness, confusion
• blue-tinged lips or face
• tightening of the throat, hoarseness, trouble breathing/swallowing
• itchy mouth or tongue

It’s important to distinguish the difference between food allergies and food intolerance. Food intolerance may be uncomfortable and unpleasant, but it is also potentially treatable through gut healing and other remedies. A food allergy, on the other hand, poses a different kind of risk, and it’s dangerous to experiment with treatments.

Focusing on gut health can be a huge part of healing the body when dealing with both food allergies and general allergies. For example, probiotics may help with respiratory allergies! (5) While you may not be able to completely overcome food allergies without help from an allergist, you can begin to heal the body at the source of the problem.

Learn more about how to heal your digestive system naturally with our Heal Your Gut Summit.

Natural Remedy Application:

• Work with a Healthcare Professional: For food allergies, it’s best to work closely with an allergist to help adapt to and hopefully overcome the allergy. While we can play with potential combinations of oils and remedies for some allergies, food allergies are no game.
• Relieving Congestion: Essential oils shine here, and many oils work well against nasal congestion and respiratory concerns. When allergies are “acting up,” try an essential oil steam to break up the congestion.
• Steam Diffusion: Drop 1-2 drops of your chosen oil or a pre-mixed blend of oils into a bowl of boiling hot water. Be sure to choose oils that are not mucus membrane irritants and are non-sensitizing for this application! Lean your head over the bowl and breathe the steam in. Stay here for 5-10 minutes. For extra intensity, drape a towel over the back of your head to trap the steam. Suggested essential oils to include eucalyptus, peppermint, and lavender.

5 Essential Oils for Allergy Symptom Relief

Whether you’re dealing with seasonal allergies, skin sensitivities, or other respiratory issues, essential oils can provide natural relief and support for allergies. Here are some essential oils that are known for their soothing and healing properties for allergies:

1. Peppermint Oil: Peppermint oil is well-known for its ability to alleviate symptoms of respiratory allergies. It acts as an expectorant, helping to relieve congestion and promote easier breathing. It also has antimicrobial properties that can help fight off allergens and prevent respiratory infections. Peppermint’s natural antihistamine properties will help bring relief.
2. Lavender Oil: Lavender oil is a popular choice for allergies due to its calming and anti-inflammatory properties. It can help reduce inflammation in the airways and soothe irritated skin caused by allergies. Additionally, its relaxing scent can help alleviate stress and promote restful sleep, which is beneficial for those with allergies.
3. Eucalyptus Oil: Eucalyptus oil is commonly used for its decongestant properties. It can help clear nasal passages and relieve sinus pressure caused by allergies. Its antimicrobial properties also make it effective in preventing respiratory infections. However, it’s important to note that eucalyptus oil should be used with caution, as it can be toxic if ingested or used undiluted on the skin.
4. Tea Tree Oil: Tea tree oil has powerful anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, making it useful for treating allergic reactions on the skin. It can help reduce redness, itching, and inflammation caused by hives, eczema, or contact dermatitis. However, it’s essential to dilute tea tree oil before applying it topically to avoid skin irritation.
5. Lemon Oil: Lemon oil is a natural antihistamine which helps reduce the body’s allergic response. It can also act as a detoxifier, supporting the liver in eliminating toxins that can trigger allergies. Lemon oil can be diffused, added to a warm bath, or diluted and applied topically for relief.

It’s important to note that essential oils should be used with caution, especially for individuals with sensitive skin or respiratory conditions. Always dilute essential oils in a carrier oil before applying them to the skin, and perform a patch test to check for any adverse reactions. It’s also recommended to consult with a healthcare professional before using essential oils, especially if you have any underlying health conditions or are taking medications.

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